Category: Pilton

TSB in Pilton earmarked for closure

The TSB bank branch on Boswall Parkway is among 164 to be closed, TSB has announced. Edinbugh’s Corstorphine and Gorgie branches also face the axe.

TSB blames “a significant shift in customer behaviour” as more customers bank online. (Perhaps more customers ‘choose’ to bank online as more and more of their local branches are shut down? – Ed.)

Debbie Crosbie, Chief Executive of TSB, said: “Closing any of our branches is never an easy decision, but our customers are banking differently – with a marked shift to digital banking.

“We are reshaping our business to transform the customer experience and set us up for the future. This means having the right balance between branches on the high street and our digital platforms, enabling us to offer the very best experience for our personal and business customers across the UK.

“We remain committed to our branch network and will retain one of the largest in the UK.”

THIS ‘RESHAPING’ WILL SEE THE TSB CLOSE ONE THIRD OF IT’S BRANCHES

Robin Bulloch, Customer Banking Director at TSB, said: “Alongside these changes, we will continue to invest in our remaining branch network to offer high quality banking services, fully integrated with improved digital capability.

“We are working to ensure the transition towards digital – which is being seen right across the economy – is handled sensitively and pragmatically for our colleagues and customers. We’re taking steps to support vulnerable customers and those in rural locations.”

The latest figure is in addition to the 82 branches it said it would close in November, when TSB set out plans to save £100m by 2022.

Unite trade union described the TSB’s announcement as “a dark day for the finance sector”.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “These bank closures are extremely concerning and a sign of the impact that Covid-19 is having on the economy in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“In recent years there have been a number of bank closures which affect people’s access to banking facilities and makes it harder for people to manage their finances.

“It is crucial that bank employees who are being made redundant are fully supported in finding new roles and any training for those roles.”

Drive-through flu vaccination clinics open in Edinburgh

Drive-through clinics have been opened by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (EHSCP) in Edinburgh this weekend to make it as quick, safe and easy as possible for people to get their flu vaccine.

The clinics will continue to operate on weekends in October and November and each site can vaccinate up to 500 people a day.

As well as over 65s, pregnant people and those at risk due to existing health conditions, this year unpaid carers and those who lived with people who shielded during lockdown will be offered a free flu jab.

By developing flu drive throughs, everyone entitled to a free flu vaccine from a household can attend at the same time. For those who don’t have access to a car, a series of walk through clinics are being arranged and Edinburgh locations will be available on the NHS Inform website once confirmed.

Keeping the people of Edinburgh safe and healthy is a priority, so before the jab is administered, a nurse will ask some questions to make sure it is safe to administer the vaccine. The person receiving the jab doesn’t need to leave their car and will also be asked to wait 15 minutes before leaving the clinic to ensure there’s no reaction to the vaccine.

If you are eligible for a free flu vaccine, or for more information, go to www.nhsinform.scot/flu to find out where you can get your jab in Edinburgh. If you qualify for a free vaccine you’ll be given a time to attend a clinic after completing a short questionnaire.

Judith Proctor, Chief Officer for the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “As part of our mission to support a caring, healthier and safer Edinburgh, we’re committed to making it even easier to get a flu vaccine this year. The flu vaccine is an important health protection measure and we want to make sure that everyone who is eligible has access to the vaccine.

“To keep the people of Edinburgh safe, and to respect physical distancing measures, we have confirmed a range of Edinburgh venues to offer access to the flu vaccine, including a drive through service at sites across the city. This is the first time a drive through model has been used for vaccinations in Scotland, and could provide a blueprint for how to deliver vaccination programmes successfully in the future.

“Details of where people can go to receive a flu vaccine will be available on the NHS Inform website.”

Blackhall Medical Centre, Muirhouse Medical Group, Crewe Medical Centre and Davidson’s Mains Medical Centre patients will be directed to a walk-through facility at Pennywell All Care Centre or the drive-through at Scottish Gas HQ on Granton waterfront.

First Home Fund pilot success

First-time buyers have less than a week to apply for the pilot First Home Fund, which has helped thousands to enter the property market.

The new scheme has been particularly popular since the housing market reopened in June, and is expected to support more than 8,000 households into home ownership by the end of the financial year.

Homebuyers who are completing purchases this financial year have until 6pm on 2 October to apply.

The fund, which offers first-time buyers loans of up to £25,000 for their deposit, was launched in December 2019 to pilot a new approach to supporting first-time buyers. The pilot will now be evaluated, with the results expected to be published in January.

However, recognising its early success, the Scottish Government intends to reopen for applications in the new year for home purchases completing in 2021/22.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “The pilot of our First Home Fund has been a huge success, helping thousands of people own their first home.

“The fund has been especially important since property sales resumed over the summer, and we invested a further £50 million in July to help ensure that first-time buyers could still access the market despite changes to mortgages caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“While the scheme is almost fully subscribed for 2020-21, I am pleased to say that I will reopen the pilot for the next financial year, and look forward to announcing further details of this in due course.

“In the meantime, first-time buyers will still be able to access shared equity schemes including Help to Buy (Scotland) and LIFT (the Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers), and I would encourage them to consider these options.”

Cameron McKenzie, who bought a two-bedroom flat in Pilton through the fund, said: “Thanks to the First Home Fund we bought our first home far earlier than we ever imagined, especially during these uncertain times! The application process was easy to understand and Link staff were very helpful.”

The First Home Fund was launched with an initial budget of £150 million. The Scottish Government invested a further £50 million in July in response to reduced availability of higher loan-to-value mortgages caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

Change to flu vaccination process at Crewe Medical Centre this winter

Crewe Medical Centre will not be carrying out flu vaccinations in the surgery this winter.

Instead there will a drive-thru and walk-thru hub instead which will commence mid October. Details of where this will take place and dates will be confirmed at the start of October.

Alternatively you can contact your local pharmacy.

Social Enterprise Award for Spartans Alternative School

Spartans Alternative School have won an international award for a social enterprise created by their students.

Bethany Marshall (below left, pictured with Ashey Telford) explained: “At the Spartans Community Football Academy’s Alternative School we created artwork using paint and footballs.  

“We then learnt how to use photoshop and to create digital drawings that became designs for our mugs. The mugs where then sold to raise money for UEvolve. This was our chosen charity for our social enterprise ‘Creative Collaborstions’.  

“We have been working on this since February 2020 to raise awareness of young male mental health. Despite Covid-19 we continued to develop the social enterprise.

“As a result we won a social enterprise award and featured in the schools edition of the Big Issue.  We have since sold a total of 100 mugs 50 Big Issues and we have 30 mugs still to sell.  We’re proud to announce we have just received the Social Enterprise World Forum award 2020 for Health and Wellbeing.”

Spartans Alternative School manager Emma Easton added: “We still have more mugs to sell as sales were hampered by timing of Covid lockdown. Profits are going towards U-Evolve to support young men’s mental health – this was the charity our students chose.”

To purchase mugs (£10) or Big Issues (£2.50) please email Emma at emmaeaston@spartanscfa.com

TOGETHER: Men’s Support Service at Pilton Community Health Project

TOGETHER is Pilton Community Health Project’s new support service for men!

Upcoming events include walks & mindfulness sessions, as well as one-to-one support.

Find out more:

Website: https://buff.ly/2Yb1lZK
Facebook: https://buff.ly/334vdtX…

See more

Second COVID newsletter produced

North Edinburgh’s COVID-19 Food Share Consortium has produced a second newsletter.

The limited print run eight page publication will initially be distributed through the Group’s food distribution network and will also be available at local projects and offices.

For further information please email northedinnews@gmail.com

NEN_2_8pp_A4_AUG20_LRDownload

Mind, Body & Soul: SHE school programme

SHE new high school programme Mind, Body & Soul has launched.

SHE providing a blended learning approach with our educational partners.

Our groupwork programme supports young women (S1-S4) to manage stress and anxiety, develop techniques to improve confidence and self esteem and silence their inner critic.

Promoting self healing and improving skills to move forward and embrace life.

For more information please contact shescotland@outlook.com

What can you use the internet for? A digital survey

What If…North Edinburgh? (WINE) is a programme run by First Port to support local people to develop social enterprises to create jobs and do something worthwhile in the community. Run by the manager, Julie Smith, it has assisted people over the last year to start up businesses doing sewing and tailoring, running markets and making crafts.

WINE offers workshops, training and discussions on various topics from ‘what is a social enterprise’ to managing your finances. It started a digital training course for local people just before lockdown, to include things like using social media, creating your own posters, how to sell online. That had to stop, but Julie is keen to offer training, this time online. She wants to know what would be useful for people.

“I got a really good tutor in from an organisation called Mhor Collective”, Julie explained. “They do a lot of work around what people want to learn, their motivation etc and don’t just have a set course they deliver. It’s tailored to people’s needs.

“Since lockdown, we’ve all seen how important having access to the internet it. But it’s hard if you can’t afford broadband or data – and if you have to share one tablet or phone between a whole family. I know a lot of people will have been doing home schooling too online, a very new thing for everybody!

“I’m doing a survey of people in north Edinburgh to find out what they’d like to learn to do, or do better using technology. We can then put on a course based on those needs. It’ll be great to build on the skills people already have and maybe identify some digital champions locally who can then go on to support others.”

The survey is straightforward and shouldn’t take too long.

“It’s important we get as many views from as many people as possible. If you need a paper copy of the survey, let me know. And pass it on to others!’’

The survey can be found online here WINE digital survey

If you have any questions about the survey or the other work WINE is doing, please contact Julie Smith: julie@firstport.org.uk or phone 07763 869 556.