Work begins on Royston School site

Work starts on modern care home on old Royston school site

Construction work has begun on a major project to build the city’s latest new care home as part of continued investment in services for older people in Edinburgh.

The Royston care facility off Boswall Parkway will provide accommodation for 60 residents who are currently living in other City of Edinburgh Council care homes across the city. The care home is being delivered by a partnership of the Council and Hub South East Scotland Ltd and is being built by GRAHAM Construction.

Councillor Cammy Day, Health, Social Care and Housing Vice Convener, was joined today by Richard Park, Operations Director of Hub South East and Michael Graham, Group Executive Chairman of GRAHAM Construction to cut the first sod at the site on the fomer Roston Primary School site.

The new home will provide high quality facilities including en-suite bathrooms, spacious bedrooms and group living areas and is the sixth to be built in Edinburgh as part of the Council’s strategic plan 2012-17.

Loal councillor Cammy Day, who represents the Forth ward, said: “Our goal is to create homes for life for older people in quality residential accommodation which meets modern standards. This new facility will offer a caring and supportive service, as well as a good quality of life.

“Despite budget pressures and changing demographics, we are committed to delivering the best quality care possible through our Live Well in Later Life strategy.”

Richard Park said: “Having already successfully delivered a number of facilities in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, on time and on budget, I am delighted to be marking the start of this new care home in Royston.

“As a Hub project, once complete, not only will it be a high quality facility for residents and staff, it will have also delivered a number of community benefits for the local area – from apprenticeships and work placements to the involvement of small businesses.”

Michael Graham said: “It’s a real privilege to play our part in helping all the future residents enjoy their lives to the full, both as individuals and as a community. We’re absolutely determined that they’ll have the very best facilities and quality of construction.”

Power of Food Festival is fast approaching …

North Edinburgh plays a major part in this month’s Power of Food Festival with events and activities in Blackhall, Drylaw, Granton, Leith, Muirhouse and the Botanics to name just a few …!

Hello everyone!

It’s an amazing privilege to be in a position today to launch the programme of Edinburgh’s first Power of Food Festival, only five and a half months after we decided to turn the original idea into a reality. It’s been a bit of a mad time getting everything in place, but really exhilarating to see it all coming together thanks to the efforts of a wide range of individuals keen to share their resources, skills, energy and passion. And how appropriate to be launching such an initiative on Volunteers Week! Volunteers are at the heart of community food growing and of the centre of the Festival.

We look forward to seeing you in one (or several!) of the 15 gardens of the Festival on 20-21 June and hope you enjoy the celebration!

Best wishes from

The Power of Food Festival Committee

Rebecca Crowther

Christine Giraud

Marie-Amélie Viatte

After months of preparation, The Power of Food Festival is pleased to announce an exciting programme of free events organised by each venue in line with what they do best: connecting people!

From well established award winning gardens, to new grassroot food growing projects, the diversity of the initiatives which feature in the programme will surprise and delight Festival goers. Venues open on the weekend of 20 and 21 June include a library, an office block, a secret garden, and a farmhouse which is undergoing an incredible transformation!

A citywide celebration

From Portobello to Wester Hailes, Granton to Blackhall, Tollcross to Old Dalkeith Road, and many others in between, every corner of Edinburgh will have a garden celebrating the joy of community food growing. There will be a rich menu of events suited for every taste, for children and adults alike, including: children’s poetry writing, bug hunting, storytelling and sharing, choir music, conversations on nature, food and sustainability, wind band, foraging, cooking and eating, as well as practical gardening workshops, and the launch of Edible Edinburgh Food Charter of a Sustainable Food City.

In association with Sustrans, visitors can also join in a guided bike tour of the
gardens (free but ticketed). Bookings can be made online.

Whether on foot or on two wheels, visitors can plan their Festival trip and keep up to date with the latest events and information via The Power of Food Festival website (details below).

A Festival for everyone

Why not invite your friends and family to take part in the first Edinburgh Power of Food Festival? The weekend will give everyone a chance to meet people in their local community, to join those who are transforming the city landscape everyday, and to give a deeper meaning to the word ‘community’. Maybe it will be the beginning of a great adventure: who knows where The Power of Food will take you?

The full programme of events can be accessed here: PoF Programme

Come with family and friends to The Power of Food Festival

Celebrating community food growing and local change makers

summer solstice weekend 20-21 June

W: poweroffoodfestival.wordpress.com E:poweroffoodfestival@outlook.com

Twitter @PoFFest FacebookEdinburghPowerofFoodFestival

Power of food poster 2

As we see it: Youth Forum looks at local crime

Read all about it! North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum newspaper investigates attitudes to crime in Forth

North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum would like to invite you along to the launch of our new newspaper which focuses on the perceptions of crime in the Forth Ward through the eyes of young people. We shall also be seeking opinions on ways we can develop this work and our future plans and ideas.

NEYPF`s Crime Perception Newspaper Launch

@ West Pilton Neighborhood Centre

Wednesday 3^rd June 2015

5:30pm – 7:00pm (Registration from 5pm)

Refreshments are provided

All at the Forum hope to see you on the night!!

Searching for Teddy McDougall

Does anyone remember Teddy McDougall?

An American woman is trying to trace her husband’s childhood friend from the Pilton area. Can you help?

This is just a shot in the dark, but it is a very sincere and hopeful request.   I know Edinburgh is a very large city, and I assume “McDougall” may be as common a surname there as “Smith” is here in the States, but this is my request:

There was a boy named Teddy McDougall who lived on Pilton Walk (?) near my husband, John Geddes Martin, Jr., when he was a boy and his family lived on Granton Road in Edinburgh.   Teddy had some sort of affliction, possibly epilepsy, which caused some limitations for him, but he was very artistic. John was, and is, a very kind person and spent time with Teddy when other boys in the neighborhood shunned him. My husband was born in 1947, and he was slightly younger or older than Teddy, so Teddy’s year of birth would have been probably within the range of 1945 – 1949.

John and his family came to the USA in 1964. He kept in touch with Teddy through Teddy’s mother, Lily McDougall, for several years but eventually lost touch.   I believe Teddy’s father, Jack McDougall, might have died while the Martins were still in Edinburgh, but I’m not certain about that point. John’s parents have passed in recent years (John Geddes Martin, Sr., in 2005, and Catherine Gilhooley Martin in 2008), so we cannot ask for more information they might have remembered.   Recently when an old family friend visited, we were told that Teddy had been sent to live in a nursing facility while still a young man.

John had a stroke some years ago and one of his constant thoughts is about Teddy.   We would very much like to locate Teddy and try to communicate with him if he is able.

Considering the information I have provided, is it possible Teddy might be a member of your family or extended family?   Can you offer any suggestions how we might locate him or determine if he and his mother are still living?

I have “googled” to search for Teddy, Edward, or Theodore McDougall and for Lily, Lilly, or Lillian McDougall, but to no avail.   I’ve also searched for nursing homes in Edinburgh but found there are MANY.   I did go to the website for carehome.co.uk and sent an email through their site providing some of the information included in this email to ask if there is any way to determine if and where Teddy resides.

It is true we have no urgent medical or other reason to locate Teddy, only that it would please my husband to contact Teddy, and hopefully Teddy will remember John and be pleased also.

Thank you for considering this request and for any help you might provide.

Gratefully,

Susie Martin

15124 Catawba Circle, South

Charlotte, NC, USA 28104

Spartans Fund for Grim appeal tops £5300

Magnificent support for family devastated by Crewe Terrace fire

North Edinburgh and the wider community has dug deep to contribute to a fund set up by Spartans to support a valued volunteer who’s Crewe Terrace home was destroyed by fire on Thursday. Spartans set up an appeal for donations on Thursday evening – and just 36 hours later over 200 donations have been pledged and £5300 raised!

It’s a magnificent effort for a hugely popular volunteer – known as Grim O’Grady, Gary Betts set up Spartans Connections for players with disabilities over a year ago and the initiative has grown and grown.

Grim is still heavily involved in the setup and was at Spartans’ Ainslie Park home, just minutes away from his own family house in Crewe Terrace, when he first noticed the fire.

Spartans club secretary John McCabe told BBC Scotland news: “Grim saw smoke in the distance and made a joke saying ‘I hope it isn’t my house’ and then five minutes later his son phoned and said it was their house on fire.

“He was in an awful panic as he was worried about his pets. His whole house is gutted and his family only have the clothes on their backs, they have lost everything else. He is such a great man that we felt we must help him in any way we can so he can buy food and clothes and pay for accommodation.”

John McCabe went on: “We have had a big response from the community and Central Taxis has given him taxi vouchers so he can get around during this hard time. He does so much for people in north Edinburgh that they want to help him.”

While it’s fortunate that no-one was injured in the blaze, sadly the family pets could not be rescued and perished in the fire.

Grim has issued a statement on behalf of his family through the Spartans Connections website. Thanking Spartans, the community, he said:

“Obviously no amount of money can bring back our much loved pets but the community spirit that’s been brought about from our Spartans family is unbelievable.

“It’s incredible to see how far the hands of friendship have spread. Lynne, Jamie & myself are very humbled by how much has been given in the short & tragic time of these horrific events. It would have been a lonely horrible & isolated time had our community not come together.

“We’d like to thank everyone for their kindness, it has been such a crutch to know when we were at our lowest there were so many wonderful folk there to hold out their hands & pick us up. Showing great respect. We will be round to thank everyone soon.

“We are going to come back to our community as soon as we can find a place. We want to get back to where we belong & with the help of all our wonderful community begin to pick up the pieces & start again. Thank you all for showing such compassion and all your donations.”

To make a donation go to

www.justgiving.com/fund-for-grim

Crewe Terrace fire: Spartans come to the aid of ‘one of our own’

Spartans Academy sets up appeal fund

GRIM O’GRADY FUND

You might know that Grim (or Garry to give him his Sunday name) came home (Thursday 14 May) to find his family house in North Edinburgh had been destroyed in a fire. Grim and his family have lost all their possessions including his wonderful dog Buster and their cats.

To help Grim and his family quickly get back on their feet we have set up a collection for them via the Spartans Academy just giving website.

Everyone right across Spartans knows Grim and the fantastic contribution he makes, especially to the Spartans Connections programme. He has given up so much to help a large number of people within the North Edinburgh community and we’re hoping the Spartans, Lowland League and Scottish Football communities can help him in his time of need.

The football club will start the collection with a contribution of £500. If you would like to make a contribution but cannot do it online, please hand it into the Academy office and let them know it is for the Grim O’Grady Fund. If you want to contribute by cheque please make it payable to our charity, The Spartans Community Football Academy.

Our thoughts are with Grim and his family.

Make an online donation at www.justgiving.com/fund-for-grim

So far (Friday 9am) the appeal has raised over £17000 – keep giving!

Flat destroyed in Crewe Terrace fire

Thirty firefighters battle Crewe Terrace flat inferno

Firefighters battled for over three hours to bring a fierce blaze in an upper villa flat in Crewe Terrace under control today. Five appliances and more than thirty firefighters attended the fire which broke out around 11:30 this morning (writes Dave Pickering).

At one point it was feared that the fire would spread to neighbouring properties. One Crewe resident said: “The fire was in the attic conversion and you could see the flames quite clearly. The fire had got quite a hold, the house was well alight but the firemen did a great job – it couldn’t have been easy to deal with that.”

It’s understood no-one was injured in the fire but the house has suffered extensive damage. Investigations are now under way to ascertain the cause of the fire.

PIC: Gillian McGuinness McFarlane

Jobs Fair in Muirhouse

Muirhouse Library and Shopping Centre will host an Employment and Learning Fair between 10.30am and 1.30pm this Thursday (14 May).

The event is aimed at both adult jobseekers and young people looking for advice and support to get into work or learning in North Edinburgh. Organisations attending the event will include employability providers from the local area as well as employers with vacancies to fill.

Community Renewal is one of the organisations involved in the jobs fair, and emplyment adviser Diana said: “Previous events have resulted in jobseekers securing interviews on the spot so jobseekers are advised to come prepared with CVs and dressed to impress!”

A message from Mark Lazarowicz

I would like to thank all those who gave me their support in the general election held on 7 May. I was proud of the way we took our message to every street in every part of Edinburgh North & Leith, and although we were unsuccessful, I am sure that the efforts of our team were one of the reasons why I received more votes in 2015 than in the 2010 election.

I have been extremely privileged to have been able to serve the people of Edinburgh North & Leith as their representative in Parliament since 2001, and I thank them for giving me that opportunity.

I congratulate the successful candidate Deidre Brock on her victory. Like all MPs, she can be contacted at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA, switchboard 0207 219 3000.

My constituency office will now close down, and as I am no longer an MP I will not be able to deal with any constituency work. However, Malcolm Chisholm MSP continues to have his constituency office at 5 Croall Place, Leith Walk and can be contacted for any Scottish Parliament matters in the Edinburgh Northern & Leith constituency.

Charity fundraising? It’s a snip!

Little Princess Chrissie raises £1000 for children’s charity

Little Christina Downie heard her mum talking about a small charity and took it upon herself to do something to support other children. The six year old Forthview pupil decided to get her hair cut for charity – and she’s raised over £1000!

Proud mum Dawn explained: “Back in February Chrissie heard me talking about Little Princess Trust, a charity provides real hair wigs to children who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment. She told us that she wanted to help the charity and she came up with the haircut idea herself.

“She is a very kind wee girl who always thinks and cares about other people so when we saw how determined she was we knew she would see it through.

“We thought at first we might raise a hundred pounds or so, but people have been so generous. The school, neighbours, my mother’s workmates have all supported Chrissie and she’s raised over £1000, with still more to come!”

Christina’s Aunt Ashley, who’s a hairdresser, popped in to family’s West Pilton home on Friday to cut Chrissie’s hair. She took around eleven inches off the length – and that hair will soon be turned into gold for the Little Princess Trust!

When the snipping was over Dawn said: “It’s really nice but I feel a bit weird – Chrissie’s hair hasn’t been that short since she was about a year old!”

Fortunately wee Christina likes her new look. She said: “I look different and it feels funny at first but I’m glad I’ve had it done.”

Ah, well. Hair today, gone tomorrow! Fundraising? It’s kid’s stuff!

https://youtu.be/YJciVFZd5aU