Pilton – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Community engagement takes centre stage at North Edinburgh Community Festival

Where: West Pilton Park
When: 12pm – 5:30pm, Saturday 11 May 2024
Social Media: Instagram – northedinfest, Facebook – northedinburghfest, Twitter – northedinfest

The third North Edinburgh Community Festival will take place on Saturday 1th May 2024 in West Pilton Park. The park sits in the heart of North Edinburgh and draws its audience from Pilton, Muirhouse, Granton, Drylaw, Davidson Mains, Silverknowes and Wardie.

The event which has grown year on year is a fun, free to attend, family day out for new and existing residents to enjoy – promoting opportunities, creativity, enhancing community cohesion, reducing social isolation and celebrating the diversity of the area.

The Festival is going from strength to strength with over 100 local groups, organisations and charities taking part and providing workshops, information and activities – from glitter tattoos to video games, from dodgeball and football to obstacle courses and interactive theatre.

In the open area at the far end of the park we will have the Army, Marines and the Airforce in attendance showing as well as the Scottish Fire Services.

This year and moving forward, one of the key aims of the festival will be to work with young people in North Edinburgh and encouraging young people to take the reigns for future events and festivals.

One of the ways to engage with the young people is through music and over 600 young people from across North Edinburgh have taken part in the Tinderbox Garage Band Challenge, creating their own new music for the event. The winners will perform their original tracks on the main stage at the festival.

The music for the festival has been curated by local organisations Tinderbox Collective and Granton Youth’s Mixtape Music Club.

There will be more than 30 acts playing over the afternoon including over 160 performers, almost all of them from the local neighbourhood. On the outdoor stage, highlights include the incredible Fischy Music, Ama-zing Harmonies Choir, Heritage Of India Through Dance and Edinburgh Ukrainian choir.

On the indoor stage we have an exciting lineup of youth bands who are part of ‘North By North West’ a collaboration project between 5 youth music organisations across North Edinburgh the aim is to get the very best emerging talent out onto the Edinburgh music scene.

From the slick electronic pop of Muirhouse local (and BBC Introducing alumni) Laurent, Granton rapper Leon Highway, or the pop-rock stylings of Drenched in Dreams – we’ve got something to suit all tastes. Look out for amazing youth artists A420, Kieran Crosbie, Mezari, and Trisha Muco finishing out the festival in collaboration with players from Tinderbox Orchestra.

Head into the Sports Hall of West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre to find Tinderbox Games Showcase, an exhibition of playable games made by young game designers of all ages from North Edinburgh.

These will be featured alongside an exciting new escape room made in collaboration with young people from Granton Youth, which draws inspiration from trips to the Granton Hub archives and the area’s rich history, as well as a selection of games made by previous winners of the East Lothian Game Jam.

You’ll discover a mix of digital, physical and table-top games made by the next up-and-coming generation of game designers and creators from the neighbourhood.

Look out for Granton Youth’s stall advertising its youth work provision, which includes work with local schools, detached youth work, counselling for parents and young people, open access youth clubs, family support, and Mixtape – our music club.

This year we are extremely excited to have so many of the Edinburgh Festivals joining us on the day.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival Society will have street performers on the day and will be handing out free tickets to shows at this years Fringe Festival under their new Fringe Days Out Scheme which offers free Fringe vouchers and Lothian bus tickets to people who wouldn’t normally get to experience the Fringe.

The Edinburgh Science Festival are back with bigger and better street performance style science shows as well as their cargo tricycle for their science demonstrations.

And there will be storytelling activities for families from the Edinburgh International Book Festival Citizen Adults Writing Group plus loads of free books for children.

North Edinburgh Arts have a host of activities planned across their two large marquees this year. There will be drop-in arts activities for children and families, carpet bowls, and information on their newly refurbished and extended building opening later this year.

There will be family-friendly performances by commissioned artists, selected by local children from Forthview Primary School and Pilton Youth, as part of the Creative Encounters project, delivered in partnership with Imaginate, the Childrens Festival and North Edinburgh Arts.

And there will be storytelling activities for families from the Edinburgh International Book Festival Citizen Adults Writing Group plus loads of free books for children.

Of course, there cant be a festival without a parade and this year North Edinburgh Childcare have stepped up and organised the parade which will leave from their premises at 1130am and make its way along Ferry Road Drive around West Pilton Park and entering the park for the official start of the festival at 12noon.

The theme is Superheroes and any families looking to join in are most welcome. Pulse of Place will lead the parade and if you are around North Edinburgh on Saturday 11^th May, you’ll most certainly hear the parade before you see it!

Other activities on the day include:

Important information from around 80 third sector organisations
Badge making with Pilton Community Health Project
National Galleries of Scotland’s Art in the Open electric cargo-bike for a sustainable art making workshop
Storytelling with Muirhouse and Granton Libraries
Human tower building with Colla Castellera d’Edinburgh
Horses from Edinburgh Equilearn

Each year the festival provides free food – the amazing RRT (Rapid Relief Team) hand out a few thousand burgers and will return again this year.

There will also be free food from Bangla Kitchen and Multi-Cultural Family Base.

This year we have yet again a larger food presence with some new vendors but as always there is cap on the cost of food at £5.

Lyndon Cane from RRT says “RRT is pleased to support North Edinburgh again by providing the signature burger meal at the North Edinburgh Community Festival.

“Care and Compassion is at the heart of what we do, and this event is important for us to attend so we can widen our support to communities during times of need.”

North Edinburgh Community Festival really does have the community at its very heart and we can’t wait to see everyone on the day.

Menopause Goals at Spartans

‘Celebrating the Second Half‘

There are around 400,000 women in Scotland who are of menopausal age. Too many of them will feel like they are alone.

For some it’s still a taboo subject which can lead to a lack of discussion and understanding. Every area of their life impacted and, often, left with crippling social isolation.

Menopause Goals is a pilot programme that aims to harness the power of football to help – thanks to a collaborative effort from the Scottish FA, St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation, University of Glasgow, and menopause expert Maria Anderson.

The initial 12-week course – held at St Mirren Park – saw 25 local women, who each had to address a number of issues brought on by the menopause, report improvements with symptoms, a greater sense of empowerment and, overall, better mental health.

The plan is to roll the programme out across Scotland so it can be delivered by other football clubs and charity groups – and it’s coming to Spartans here in North Edinburgh this month (see poster).

Corrie Campbell (Scottish FA, Football Social Responsibility Officer) explained: “So far, the power of football has tackled a lot of issues, but menopause is one of the few remaining taboo subjects that impacts so many people.

“A lot of people are still embarrassed to talk about it, whether it’s in the workplace or within their own family and friendship groups.

“I think there’s a real opportunity for football clubs around Scotland to make a difference.

“We came together to form Menopause Goals because there’s a need for education and knowledge for women in Scotland and we’re really excited about it.

“The tagline is ‘celebrating the second half’ and we want to help provide the tools, knowledge and confidence so people know their life isn’t over when they’re perimenopausal or postmenopausal.

“The University of Glasgow’s research department conducted an evaluation of the project using various methodologies.

“The pilot spanned 12 weeks and involved 25 participants experiencing symptoms at different menopausal stages.

“The Menopause Goals leadership team – including Gayle Brannigan, Chief Executive of St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation, and our menopause expert, Maria Anderson – organised weekly in-person sessions, complemented by online resource sharing.

“The pilot aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge about menopause and their personal journeys, helping them comprehend the impact on their well-being, relationships, and professional lives.

“The research outcomes will pave the way for a resource that enables the implementation of similar programs in football clubs throughout Scotland. This resource will also contribute to government objectives, given that menopause is a focal point in the Women’s Health Plan.

“Looking ahead, the objective is to leverage football’s influence. This innovative resource aims to educate and empower volunteers and staff within football across Scotland, providing them with tools and knowledge to support women gradually.

“The goal is to enable women to comprehend the complexities of menopause, fostering logical thinking about their body’s needs. By applying their learning in manageable steps, women can reduce symptoms, boost confidence to communicate with health professionals, and articulate their needs effectively.”

Goal reached as The Big Match raises £20,000

Businesses from across Edinburgh came together recently to play in the second annual Big Match, raising £20,000 for The Yard.

Celebrity chef Tom Kitchin and former Hibs star Darren Dods were among those in action at Ainslie Park as the business community rallied round to support the day.

“It’s been an incredible effort from everyone and the total of £20,000 is amazing,” said organiser Steve Currie, of Murray and Currie Property in the Capital.

“It was such a great day and I was delighted to reach our goal this year with all the money raised going to The Yard, which does such a fantastic job for young disabled people and their families.”

The Yard, which is based in the centre of Edinburgh with other locations in Dundee and Kirkcaldy, offers disabled youngsters and their families the chance to experience creative and adventurous indoor and outdoor play in a well-supported environment.

Chief executive Celine Sinclair, added: “On behalf of our entire team at The Yard, well done to everyone who took part in The Big Match and a huge thank you to Murray and Currie and everyone who donated.

“This donation is hugely appreciated and will go towards helping even more of the families, young people and children that we support.”

Thoughts have already turned to next year’s event, which will once again take place at Ainslie Park with a confirmed date of Friday, 7 March 2025.

Edinburgh youth charities hit Young Start funding jackpot

SPARTANS ARE AMONG THE LOTTERY WINNERS

Dean & Cauvin Young People’s Trust has today (WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH) been awarded funding from the Young Start programme to continue delivering their vital support services to vulnerable young people in Edinburgh.    

Funding of £99,347 was awarded to the 300-year-old charity as part of a total of more than £1.5 million awarded to 19 Scottish organisations supporting children, teenagers and young adults across the country. 

Young Start, delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, awards dormant bank account funding to projects that help young people reach their full potential.   

Spartans Community Foundation also received funding of over £99,000. They will use their Young Start award to provide a three-year project to support 450 young people aged 10 to 18 through regular weekly clubs, workshops, day trips and residential trips.

The project, based at Ainslie Park in Pilton, will support children and young people from the immediate surrounding areas. The group will also support the young people in developing self-advocacy and communication skills. The project builds on the group’s experience of youth work in North Edinburgh and its partnership with other agencies.

Other Edinburgh-based projects to receive funding are:

The Venture Trust (£95,292)

This group will provide a two year project to support 110 young people aged 16 to 24. The group will support young people through intense complex challenges such as adverse childhood experiences, trauma, poverty, abuse and periods of homelessness and substance use issues.

The project aims to provide a preventative approach to these complex issues and avoid high-risk behaviours. The group will support young people from West Lothian, Midlothian, and Edinburgh.

U-Evolve (£91,505)

The group will provide a therapeutic programme of support to young people aged 11 to 18 in Edinburgh.

This programme has been developed by young people, and in response to challenges
young people face with their mental health and wellbeing. This project will benefit 300 young people and 36 volunteers over the course of three years.

Youth Theatre Arts Scotland (£67,386)

The group will provide disadvantaged young people aged 16 to 24, who want to work in youth theatre with opportunities to train in youth theatre leadership, gain work experience, obtain accredited qualifications in youth work, and develop their CVs and interview skills.

The two and a half year project will benefit 100 young people and 40 volunteers.

 Dean & Cauvin Young People’s Trust provides a range of support to vulnerable young people including helping with addiction and homelessness, supporting young parents, and family breakdowns.   

Jay, aged 20 from Edinburgh, accessed Dean & Cauvin’s residential services with the help of her social worker, when she was 19 years old and had just given birth to her baby boy, Bob.  

Jay said: “I was quite ill after giving birth to Bob – I had a blood clot and a collapsed lung, so I had to spend quite a bit of time in hospital.

“When I was better, I had nowhere to stay. There was no space with any of my family members, and having a six-week-old baby made it so much more urgent that I found a home. My social worker managed to find me a space at Cauvin House.”

Dean & Cauvin’s residential service – Cauvin House – provides accommodation to young parents and their children, as well as ongoing parenting support and assessment, to help keep families together.

One year after Jay moved into the shared accommodation, an individual flat became available for her, which she was able to transition into.

Jay said: “It feels amazing to have our own space. Living with Bob in the shared accommodation was obviously so much better than the alternative – being homeless – but having got a wee flat for us is giving me so much independence.

“I still get a lot of help from the staff – I had a really bad period of mental illness a while back and began self-harming, and my support workers were always there for me and have helped me come back out of that and be mentally well again.”

Jay says thanks to the charity, she’s looking forward to the future and hopes to go back into education.

She explained: “I was studying childminding at college when I got pregnant, and now I feel like I’m in a good position I want to go back and finish it when Bob goes to nursery.

“I’m so thankful for everything the staff at Dean & Cauvin have done for me – they’re like a second family – they’ve been there through it all with us.”  

Lianne Thomson, House and Community Service Manager at Dean & Cauvin Young People’s Trust said: “We are deeply grateful for the Young Start funding as it has enabled us to continue making a real difference to the lives of our young people.

“It has helped us to provide vital support and resources to empower and impact the lives of the families we work with. I am immensely proud of Jay’s progress and it has been a privilege to join her on her parenting journey.”  

Announcing today’s funding, The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “Support services such as Dean & Cauvin are such important resources around the country for so many young people like Jay to help turn their lives around in moments of real difficulty.  

 “We are always keen to support projects that put Scotland’s young people at the heart of the development and running of services. If your group has an idea how you would make this happen, then we’d love to hear from you.”          

Young Start helps young people aged eight to 24 become more confident and play an active part in realising their potential. Funding of up to £100,000 is available for youth led projects.

Groups can apply by emailing advicescotland@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or calling 0300 123 7110.          

  Find out more at:

https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/young-start      

Ends       

Young Start Table of Awards March 2024.pdf

Tomorrow: Businesses team up for Big Match charity clash at Ainslie Park

Businesses from across Edinburgh come together to raise money for The Yard

Businesses from across Edinburgh and the Lothians are teaming up this week to raise money in the second annual Big Match charity fixture.

Some of the city’s prominent private banks, legal firms, finance brokers, property developers and estate agents will be among those running out at Ainslie Park on Friday afternoon in a bid to raise as much cash as possible for The Yard, which runs adventure play services for disabled children, young people and their families in the east of Scotland.

Former Hibs star Darren Dods and ex-Dundee defender Matt Lockwood will also be pulling on a strip, as will celebrity chef Tom Kitchin as Commercial City take on Residential United.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural The Big Match, where Edinburgh’s property sector came together in aid of the Turkey-Syria earthquake appeal, Friday’s event has again been organised by Steve Currie of Murray and Currie Property in the capital.

Steve Currie said: “I’d like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who has made this possible.

“I’m delighted The Big Match is now an official charity after our successful application to become a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO).

“We have secured the services of our loyal supporters and partners to achieve this status and ensure the charity is reputable, credible, ethical, and professional in delivering all its objectives. It’s been a team effort from everyone.

“Friday promises to be a great occasion which will raise vital money for The Yard which offers disabled children and young people and their families the chance to experience creative and adventurous indoor and outdoor play in a well-supported environment.

“It’s particularly exciting to have former professional players Darren Dods and Matt Lockwood taking part, while I’m sure Tom Kitchin will be demonstrating some tasty touches as well!”

Celine Sinclair is chief executive of The Yard, which is based in the centre of Edinburgh with other sites in Dundee and Kirkcaldy, and she said: “We are incredibly grateful to be chosen as a charity partner for The Big Match, the money raised will go a long way towards helping us deliver vital services for disabled children and their families.

“We directly support over 2300 children and young people from 16 different local authorities, and are reliant on fundraising as well as governmental support. A huge thank you to everyone who’s involved in this charity match, we’re hugely appreciative of the support. And, good luck to the teams on Friday.”

Kick-off is 3.45pm and a Just Giving page has been set up for donations:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/steven-currie-1708676927412?newPage=true

Spartans Holiday Multisport Camp

Free multi-sport fun!

Lunches & snacks provided.

For kids 8-12yrs from North Edinburgh.

Meet at entrance of CCHS/Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.

stefansantjer@spartanscf.com

07891234965 for info Single/multi-day options.

PYCP: Back with a bang next week!

NEW YEAR, NEW PROGRAMME

WE’RE BACK

PY clubs are back with a bang next week!

Please have a look at our programme below as we have a bunch of new opportunities including new Drop Ins to help young people create CV’s and apply for jobs, extended P1-4 clubs and targeted group work provisions

We can’t wait to see you all next week – if you’re joining any groups for the first time please grab a consent form!

#YouthWorkMatters

#YouthWorkWorks

Spartans: Off The Bench programme

OPEN DAY INFORMATION SESSION

TUESDAY 16 JANUARY from 4 – 5pm

I’d like to inform you about a new programme starting here in late January for 16 – 25yrs.

It’s an ideal programme for school leavers who haven’t got anything lined up and/or aren’t quite yet ready to make the step into more formal education or employment.

We are holding an Open Day here at The Foundation on Tuesday 16 January from 4 – 5pm for all those who are interested.

See above for information – any questions please just let me know.

Jamie Tomkinson (Youth Worker)

Spartans Holiday Programme

The holidays may be about to start but our Christmas programme will ensure that there are activities available during the festive season, beginning with Fridays FooTea Christmas dinners!

Check the information and remember there’s food etc available each day!

#HereForGood

Spartans Pop-Up Shop & DJ Event

WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER from 5 – 6.30pm at SPARTANS

In September this year, our young people held a successful Art Exhibition at the arts venue Out Of The Blue Drill Hall. At the opening event of CREATE TO ESCAPE, the young people sold prints of their artwork and raised just over £600 for for the charity Turn The Tables DJ, which offers workshops to improve mental health for those affected by homelessness.

Following on from the success, there will be an ART POP UP SHOP & DJ evening where some of our young people will be doing a DJ set, demonstrating the fantastic work they have been doing with their Music teacher Hope, here at the Alternative School. There will also be a chance to purchase some of the incredible Artwork by young people.

Wednesday 13.12.23 5-6:30pm

Spartans at 94 Pilton Drive, upstairs in the Robinson Trust Suite

Please come along and support our young people in their final fundraising effort for this worthwhile charity which they chose to support!