One Parent Families Scotland are planning cookery classes for single mums and dads and the kids at Craigroyston Community High School.
The classes will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (10am-12.30pm) from 7 – 16 April.
If you would like to improve your cooking skills while learning how to cook nutritious meals on a budget, contact Tom Carroll on 07814 078139 or email: tom.carroll@opfs.org.uk
Hello all,
The North Edinburgh Physical Activity Forum (NEPAF) is nearly two years old already! PCHP has been leading NEPAF since it began in June 2013 and we are really keen to evaluate its usefulness.
It would be very helpful if you could take 10 minutes to answer the following questions and get them back to me by Wednesday 18 March. We will bring the responses together to discuss at the next NEPAF meeting in April.
1. Is NEPAF helpful, and if so how?
2. What has the impact of the forum been for you and/or your group/organisation?
3. Who have made connections with?
4. Have you done anything differently?
5. Have you started any new pieces of work as a result?
6. Do you have more information, access to more resources?
7. How often would you like to attend?
8. When is the best times/days for you to attend?
9. Do you think NEPAF should (Please tick as appropriate)
– Respond to consultations from local or national government
– Hold networking meetings
– Have meetings with speakers
– Influence decision makers (have a collective voice locally and nationally)
– Plan and deliver events together
Thank you very much for your time – we look forward to seeing you at the next meeting,
Lianne Pipskyj
Development Worker – Physical Activity, Pilton Community Health Project
Telephone: 0131 551 1671
North West Carers are moving home next week. The local organisation won’t be moving too far, however – the Carers are ‘flitting’ from Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre down to the Prentice Centre in Granton Mains.
Manager Angela Dias said: “We are moving to new premises on Wednesday (18 March). Our new address is: The Prentice Centre, 1 Granton Mains Avenue,
EH4 4GA. Our email addresses and website address will remain the same as now, as will our telephone number.
“We would expect communications to be working as normal, however please bear with us if there are complications with our telephone and email systems within the first few days. We will put a mobile number on our website on Wednesday which will provide a default communication system in the unlikely case of any unforeseen difficulties.”
www.nwcarers.org.uk
angela@nwcarers.org.uk
North Edinburgh Credit Union AGM TONIGHT!
North Edinburgh Credit Union’s annual general meeting will be held
on Thursday 12 March at 6.30pm
at NECU Office, 63 Wardieburn Drive
The Credit Union has been around since June 1986 and is getting a bit ‘tired’ – especially the current volunteers! If you want your Credit Union to continue we need volunteers who are younger and have fresh ideas to take the Credit Union forward.
We have at last updated our Rule Book and extended our Common Bond to taek in Live and/or Work in the designated map area, which has also been extended to Silverknowes, Craigleith, part of Comely Bank, Fettes, Ferry Road to Newhaven Road and down to Newhaven harbour.
The current committee has been talking to a new group called Water of Leith Credit Union (Community Bank) who have lots of new ideas (including technology) which would help take this Credit Union forward. Some of their committee will attend our AGM to give a short presentation and answer questions.
Why not join us to hear their views?
North Edinburgh Credit Union
Police Scotland have reported more progress in the fight against crime on Edinburgh’s streets
Police in Edinburgh investigating a firearms discharge in West Pilton have charged three men as part of wider disruption activity linked to the enquiry.
Officers responded to calls to West Pilton March in the early hours of Tuesday 3 March after gunshots were fired at the front door of a house.
Through information gathered from the local community during the subsequent investigation police identified three men aged 20, 23 and 25 in connection with a number of other crimes, including housebreaking, robbery and bail offences which had occurred across the city.
The three have since appeared in court and are all remanded in custody. Enquires are continuing into the firearms discharge and anyone who can assist police with their ongoing investigation is asked to come forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Houston said: “The local community in West Pilton have been extremely helpful during our enquiries into the firearms discharge and as a result of this investigation, three men have subsequently been charged.
“I would like to thank the public for all of their assistance so far and would again request that anyone who can help us trace those responsible for the firearms discharge to contact police immediately.
“In addition, anyone wishing to report any further criminal activity can also get in touch by contacting 101 or making an anonymous call to the charity Crimestoppers on 08000 555 111.”
In a separate development, enquiries into a Portobello armed robbery have led to arrests for crimes committed in Craigcrook Road.
A 21 year old man old appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday facing charges in connection with an armed robbery at a Ladbrokes betting shop in Portobello on Monday 2 March.
Enquiries in relation to this robbery led to the subsequent arrest of a man and woman in connection with an attempted robbery in Liberton Gardens and a housebreaking and vehicle theft in Craigcrook Road.
Both offences took place on Monday (9 March) and the pair aged 20 and 21 appeared in court yesterday.
In addition, a 25-year-old man has been charged following a robbery in Magdalene Gardens on Sunday 8 March. The male has also been charged with a firearms offence following a disturbance in Lochend Drive the same evening.
Detective Inspector Alan O’Brien said: “As a result of vital intelligence from the public, alongside extensive investigation from police in Edinburgh a number of individuals are now in custody in connection with various incidents, which took place in the Capital over the past week.
“We are continuing with our enquiries to identify others believed to be involved in the Portobello robbery and would again request that anyone with information that can assist with this investigation comes forward.
“Police Scotland is committed to tackling violent crime and offences where weapons are used. Whenever we receive reports of this nature we will conduct a thorough investigation to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”
Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
I saw the NEN’s piece about the MVP (Mentors in Violence Prevention) training on 24 March at Pilton Community Health Project.
There is also a session for parents on
Monday 23 March
at 6pm in Craigroyston Community High School.
A couple of senior pupils from the school will help to take parents through the approach, which promotes positive relationships and gives young people the confidence and skills to challenge bullying, violent or anti-social behaviour.
It’s aimed at parents of older primary school children who will be trained in MVP when they start at Craigroyston or Broughton High School, and parents of High School children are also welcome.
The session shouldn’t take longer than an hour and a half, and child care is available if planned in advance. If anyone is interested they can book through me on the details below.
Sarah Neal
CLD Worker (Community Learning & Development & Total Craigroyston)
Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, Pilton Drive North. Tel: 0131 552 5700
‘Low pay is a moral scandal in our country’ – Mark Lazarowicz MP
Mark Lazarowicz MP is supporting Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy’s plan to address the problem of low pay by offering employers tax rebates when they increase their staff’s pay to the living wage of £7.85 per hour.
Under the plans, employers would receive a tax rebate of up to £1000 for every low paid worker who gets a pay rise.
The average rebate would be £445, meaning that if every low paid worker across Scotland was given the living wage, business would get a windfall of over £180 million.
•a 25% fall in absenteeism
•80% of employers believing the living wage has enhanced the quality of the work of their staff
•66% of employers reporting a significant impact on recruitment and retention within their organisation
Over 400,000 Scots are currently paid less than the living wage – with an estimated 39,000 in Edinburgh alone – and Scottish Labour argues the living wage is best for business and best for fairness.
The North & Leith MP said: “Low pay is a moral scandal in our country and it is also holding our economy back. This plan to extend the living wage could lift thousands of Scots out of low pay. We could give a pay rise to as many as 39,000 workers in Edinburgh alone.
“Edinburgh City Council has already led the way by becoming a living wage employer so it is committed to paying all of its staff at least the living wage. Local businesses will see a bonus too, with £17 million available for businesses in Edinburgh.
“The research shows that absenteeism and staff turnover go down whilst performance and morale go up. It means a happier, more efficient workplace.
“A lot of businesses in Scotland aren’t turning over millions. They are on the sharp end budgeting month to month, they might want to give a pay rise to their staff but the conditions aren’t right.
“That is why Scottish Labour has a plan to convince these businesses to pay the living wage. We will use make work pay contracts to incentivise better pay for staff – and better performance for business.”
Trade waste bins will be removed from Edinburgh’s streets as part of a citywide scheme which will begin rolling out in April. Businesses will no longer be permitted to permanently store their waste containers in public and will be required to present rubbish and recycling during timed collection windows.
The initiative, which aims to improve the appearance of the capital’s streets, has been trialled in a number of city centre locations over the last year. Participating streets Rose Street (and its lanes), Leith Walk and High Street experienced, on average, an 81% drop in the number of bins permanently outside business properties.
Now the policy will be introduced to traders across the city on a phased basis, beginning in April with around 5000 businesses in the city centre. This will be followed by areas like Leith, Southside, Fountainbridge and Portobello.
Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “Keeping the city clean and attractive will benefit residents, visitors and businesses alike, and removing unsightly trade waste bins from the streets is one big step towards achieving this.
“It is extremely encouraging to see such positive results from the pilot areas, and there is no doubt the scheme will continue having an impact on our environment as it rolls out across the city.”
After being approved by councillors in October 2013, the Trade Waste pilot was introduced to trial areas between January and March 2014, and has since seen bin numbers reduced from 390 to 103 on Rose Street, 116 to 12 on Leith Walk and 37 to eight on High Street.
Throughout the process, officers have worked with businesses to ensure compliance with collection windows, which were agreed after consultation on suitability, and to address difficulties over storage space, timing and cooperation from trade waste companies.
Gordon Minnis, owner of Rose Street North Lane restaurant Calistoga, is delighted with the impact of the Rose Street trial (before and after, above). He said: “The lane looks a lot smarter with only a dozen or so small bins whereas before there were over 40 large containers. It’s also led to a reduction in litter and fly-tipping.
“Our customers are delighted as they have a much better view when dining and don’t need to navigate their way round large waste containers to get to our restaurant.”
Andrew Watson, owner of the Princes Street franchise of McDonald’s, was also part of the Rose Street lanes trial. He said: “The overall cost of the process is more or less the same as it was before, only now it’s much easier to manage and looks a lot better on the street. My city centre store is in such an iconic location, sitting in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, that keeping the streets around the stores clean and tidy is hugely important to the business.”
As the scheme is rolled out, Environmental Wardens will continue to support behaviour change, helping businesses to adapt and ensuring enforcement, in order to gain the maximum benefit.
Businesses will receive letters to inform them when the changes are being introduced to their area.
Find out more about the Trade Waste pilot on the Council website, including guidance, a map of phase one and more case studies.
If you live in North Edinburgh you couldn’t have helped hearing the helicopter circling over the area last night. What was it all about? Police Scotland explain all:
HELICOPTER ACTION
Last night the Police Helicopter was out conducting planned police activity in the Pennywell Road area.
This activity was part of Operation Quarterlight our initiative aimed at tackling motor vehicle crime. Officers from across Edinburgh were deployed, including dog units and of course the chopper.
A 22-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman were arrested and charged with a number of offences. They will both appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.
So there you have it – no hiding place for criminals …
