Happy 15th Anniversary, NEN blog!

NEN PUBLISHED OUR FIRST BLOG POST ON THIS DAY IN 2011

The very first NEN blog post was published on this day in 2011. The post read:

Hello, and welcome to the brand new NEN blog.

For those of you not already familiar with the newspaper, we are a local community paper serving the North Edinburgh community. We’ve been here for over thirty years.

This blog, along with our new Facebook page and Twitter stream, represents our first foray into the world of social media.  We really want to encourage more participation, more questions and ideas from the North Edinburgh community – both online and offline – and hope that these new tools will help us to do that.

We already have a good website, where you can always find the latest edition of the printed newspaper. The blog won’t be replacing that, but will instead be there to show people the latest news about the area, and also to help us cover the current funding crisis we are facing as an organisation.

Above all, we want to include your input on the blog – be it ideas for stories, comments, pictures and events. So get in touch!

The NEN’s website was sadly deleted when funding ceased but our social media presence continues on both Twitter and Facebook and the blog is still going strong with 10 – 12 posts daily.

2025 was the NEN blog’s busiest ever year with 36,000 visitors. As I write this we’ve published more than 38,000 posts – all of these remain accessible online – and we’re currently on a run of publishing on 2749 consecutive days.

When the NEN office in Crewe Road North closed much of the NEN archive material was lost, but thankfully some of our picture library was salvaged and can now be found at granton:hub (Madelvic House), where the volunteer archive team has also collated all remaining hard copies of the North Edinburgh News newspaper.

Hopefully, between the physical archive and the NEN blog, you can find all you need to know about our community’s rich history – and we’re adding to that history every day!

What does living in North Edinburgh mean to you?

Fresh Start, with the Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership, are running online events on 12th & 13th May to allow residents to discuss how our services can adapt to fit what matters to you, the people that live and work in the area!

Join the conversation on Wednesday 12th May, 1-2.30pm by registering here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/…/tZYsd…

Or Thursday 13th May, 7pm – 8.30pm, by registering here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/…/tZ0qcu…

Please share around your networks and get the conversation going!

Granton pupil tests positive for Coronavirus

A Granton Primary School pupil has tested positive for COVID-19, it has been confirmed.

The information was revealed to councillors at a full council meeting this morning.

Local North and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson said: “I am in touch with the Head Teacher and the Council, and will continue to monitor this situation.

“The Council have said that they are working closely with NHS Lothian’s Health Protection Team to provide parents and the wider school community with information and reassurance.”

Dr Duncan McCormick, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, NHS Lothian and Chair of the Incident Management Team (IMT), said: “NHS Lothian is investigating after a child at Granton Primary School in Edinburgh tested positive for COVID-19. The pupil is self-isolating at home with their family.

“A multi-disciplinary Incident Management Team (IMT) has been established to assess the situation and decide any next steps required.

“Enhanced cleaning measures are in place in schools in line with national guidance. The Health Protection Team has traced close contacts of the case.

“Following a robust risk assessment by the expert group, the school will remain open and pupils should continue to attend as normal. Appropriate advice has been provided and anyone who came into close contact with the case has been told to self-isolate for 14 days. The situation will continue to be closely monitored.

“For anyone else, the risk to their health is extremely low, but they should continue to be vigilant and aware of the symptoms.

“If you experience a high fever, persistent cough or loss of taste or smell, you must self isolate and book a test via the national COVID-19 helpline on 0800 028 2816 or go to www.nhsinform.scot”.

  • more to follow

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support in North Edinburgh

Local organisations have put together a booklet listing mental health & wellbeing support services in North Edinburgh (see below).

If you need support call the new Community Wellbeing Helpline on 0131 332 8773.

First meeting of Inverleith Neighbourhood Network tonight

‘Starting to establish neighbourhood networks’

We’re now setting up neighbourhood networks across Edinburgh. They will bring together community groups, voluntary sector organisations and local councillors to identify what matters to their neighbourhood. Continue reading First meeting of Inverleith Neighbourhood Network tonight

Neighbourhood Networks: exciting new chapter for community planning?

Community groups, voluntary sector organisations and local councillors will come together across the city this month for the inaugural meetings of the new Neighbourhood Networks. Continue reading Neighbourhood Networks: exciting new chapter for community planning?

National Awards for local youth projects

Two local projects have scooped awards at this year’s National Youth Work Awards. Spartans Community Football Academy picked up the National Raising Attainment Award for their work with vulnerable youngsters in North Edinburgh, while the Action for Children Heritage and Inclusion Project has won the National Equality and Diversity Award, sponsored by BBC Children in Need. Continue reading National Awards for local youth projects

Voluntary Sector Forum meets on Monday

Forth & Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum meeting will take place on:

Monday 18th March, 9.30 – 11.30am

at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

Among agenda items to be discussed will be the possible withdrawal of EVOC’s  support of the city’s Voluntary Sector Forums.

There will also be an update on the ongoing funding crisis faced by local projects.

 

 Capital Coalition votes through £33 MILLION cuts package

Ray of hope for projects hammered by Health & Social Care grant cuts

Up to 200 council jobs in the Capital will go as the SNP-Labour administration passed a controversial austerity budget which sees £33 million of cuts to vital public services across the city.  Continue reading  Capital Coalition votes through £33 MILLION cuts package