Uncategorized – Page 205 – The NEN

Plant centenary trees with Sainsburys

This year Sainsburys are the National partner with the Woodland Trust. As part of this, a centenary wood is being created in Edinburgh – at Dreghorn Wood (just off the city Bypass), one of four sites in the UK.

To mark the 100th Anniversary of the First World War, Sainsburys Blackhall are inviting customers and colleagues along for a family fun day on Saturday 8 November at Dreghorn Woods to plant a tree with us and create a living, growing tribute to mark the centenary.

6254 A4 planting poster-SCOT-PRINT

Gail, Sainsburys Blackhall

NE Young People’s Forum: last chance for feedback!

Hi Again,

We at North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum are carrying out a review of our group/project/service.

However there is only this week left to get your feedback in to us and help us better the Youth Forum … the deadline for feedback sheets (see below) is THIS FRIDAY (24th October 2014).

NEYPF Organisations Questionaire (2)

So let’s take 5 mins to have a coffee or tea and complete our mini questionnaire (we promise it only takes 5mins) and we really need and value your feedback!

We would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone for their help and support, and an extra thanks to everyone who completes our mini question as part of the review and sends it back over.

Thanks

Kind Regards

North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum

Reply to: neypf@hotmail.co.uk

Come along to PEP’s AGM

It’s been an event-packed year for Pilton Equalities Project (PEP), what with special anniversaries and awards to celebrate, so why not find out all about it at PEP’s annual General Meeting?

Pilton Equalities Project

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Monday 17 November 2014

11-12noon

PEP Centre, 3 West Pilton Park Edinburgh

R.S.V.P. Email: pepequalities@btconnect.com

If you require transport please call Trisha on 315 4466

Refreshments will be served after the meeting

PLEASE COME ALONG

Time to get ready for Winter

‘No complacency’ message after two mild winters

Two consecutive relatively mild winters appear to have made people in Scotland less worried about severe weather incidents, according to new research.

The research, commissioned by the Scottish Government and the British Red Cross, has found that 40 per cent of Scots surveyed said that they were concerned about emergencies caused by treacherous weather conditions, down from almost half of those questioned a year ago.

The survey also found:

• almost nine out of ten car owners believe they are prepared for an emergency, largely because three-quarters carry an ice-scraper and de-icer.

• seven per cent had experienced an extreme weather emergency in the past year, with higher levels in rural areas. Of these, two-fifths claimed they got together with neighbours to help them cope.

Launching this year’s ‘Ready for Winter?’ campaign yesterday, Scottish Government Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “If there is anything recent winters have shown us it is that Scottish weather is unpredictable.

“In the last five years, most parts of Scotland have been affected by severe weather ranging from snow and freezing temperatures to high winds and flooding, and we also saw the terrible impact of flooding in south-west England last winter. While extreme weather can happen at any time of year, winter remains the time of greatest risk.

“The unpredictability of weather patterns means we cannot simply hope that we will miss the worst of it. While we can’t stop the weather causing disruption, we can be well prepared to cope with it.

“Our annual winter preparedness campaign reminds us of this and the simple actions we can all take to get ready: in the home, before a journey, at our place of work and in our communities. This will serve us well not just throughout the winter months, but all year round and in a range of emergency situations.

“I’m delighted the campaign is again being run in partnership with the British Red Cross and will be supported by a variety of other partners across the public, private and voluntary sectors in Scotland.”

David Miller, Director of the British Red Cross in Scotland, said: “Making sure you are prepared now for winter can make a huge difference when extreme weather hits.

“At the Red Cross we know that severe weather, including snow and floods, can have serious consequences. However, with a few simple steps you can make yourself and others ready for the disruption it can bring.

“You can prepare an emergency kit for your home and car, jot down your emergency phone numbers and check on any neighbours, family or friends to see if they need any help. You can also make sure you know what the plan at your workplace is.

“Each year the Red Cross helps people across Scotland cope with the effects of severe weather and this winter, as always, we’ll be prepared and ready.”

COSLA President Councillor, David O’Neill added: “COSLA is delighted to once again be working in partnership with the Scottish Government and British Red Cross to launch the ‘Ready for Winter?’ campaign. COSLA would urge people to be aware of the simple measures they can take to make sure they are prepared should severe weather affect Scotland.

“COSLA is involved in reaching out to local councils throughout Scotland to ensure they have appropriate contingency plans in place to minimise the impact on public services should Scotland experience any form of severe weather this winter.”

Scoop! Roving reporters session with NEYPF

We held a training day with North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum (NEYPF) at PCA’s Ferry Road Drive office on Monday.

Four local young people took part in a range of activities over the course of the day – analysing news, preparing for and conducting interviews, some photography and selecting images to accompany stories, research and then writing their own articles. We covered quite a lot during the session, and if the young folk weren’t exhausted by the end of the day I certainly was!

The results of their hard work will be seen here soon, and NEYFP will also be producing an article for a Youth NEN section of our next newspaper. Well done, guys!

Granton and District Community Council meets on Monday

Granton & District Community Council meets on Monday 27 October at 7pm in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, Pilton Drive North.

Guest speaker is Total Craigroyston project manager Christine Mackay. All welcome.

For further information visit http://grantonanddistrictcommunitycouncil.com/

Agenda _Oct 2014_Final

Winter’s coming: Fire Officer warns of chimney dangers

Fire crews have attended numerous chimney fires over the past week across the East of Scotland. With winter approaching, here’s a safety message from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service:

With over 1000 chimney fires in Scotland each year, Group Manager Alex Smart for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service warns:

“With the colder, winter months looming, people will begin to start using open fires and their chimneys again. In order to keep you and your family safe from fire, you need to take necessary steps such as ensuring your chimney is swept regularly, and we would urge all householders to have a working smoke alarm in their home.

“Fires can start accidentally in your chimney. Soot and fuel residues slowly build up in chimneys over time and sometimes these leftovers can catch fire. If this happens, the chimney could send burning soot into your living room or start fires within the roof space or on other floors of the house. You can help prevent this by having your chimney swept regularly.”

He added: “We would like to remind householders to ensure their chimneys are safe following these simple tips:”

Keep chimneys and flues clean and well maintained
Make sure embers are properly put out before you go to bed
Always use a fire guard to protect against flying sparks from hot embers
Ensure that you have a working smoke alarm fitted. This will give you give you the vital early warning to a fire.

Join Scotland’s Fight Against Fire and request a home fire safety visit by calling the SFRS freephone number 0800 0731 999, text “check” to 61611, or visit the website at www.firescotland.gov.uk.

New projects to help families tackle money worries

£2.4 million funding to help families deal with debt

Community projects which will help vulnerable families deal with debt and welfare problems are to benefit from a £2.4 million funding boost. The money will see 16 projects receive significant funding through the Scottish Legal Aid Board’s ‘Tackling Money Worries’ programme.

Local independent advice agency Granton Information Centre is a partner in two Edinburgh initiatives – with Stepping Stones and Changeworks in Canny Families, which provides help to young families and expectant mothers in North Edinburgh, and the Family Friendly Money Advice project in Leith, a collaboration with NHS Lothian, Citadel Youth Centre, Dr Bell’s Family Centre, the City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh Community Food.

See below for the full Tackling Money Worries project list

TMW_Project_Listing_2014

‘Tackling Money Worries’ support will be focused on low-income families facing a change in their circumstances, as this places them at higher risk of debt and money problems. Among the projects are:

• Eight projects focusing on the birth of a child and early years;

• Two projects focusing on changes to family structure; for example, when a relationship breakdown occurs;

• Six projects focusing on the impact of going through the criminal justice system, including families where someone is in prison or about to leave prison.

There will be direct advice and help for families to deal with crisis debt issues, as well as help with building on their money-management skills to support family life throughout their early years and childhood.

The TMW programme will bring together quality debt advice providers and agencies that are already trusted by families in their community. It will also build lasting and effective connections that will benefit families in the longer-term.

The funding of these projects has been made possible by Scottish Government approval for SLAB to spend up to £2.4m between October 2014 and the end of September 2016 on initiatives related to the Child Poverty Strategy.

This is on top of Scottish Government funds which, in combination with funding from the Money Advice Service, are already supporting 92 grant funded projects.

These programmes were due to end in March 2015, but both funders now intend continuing this funding partnership beyond that date. This would enable extension of help for people on low income in Scotland across a longer period.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “In the past week we have seen the publication of a report that laid bare the extent of child poverty in Scotland. This is a totally unacceptable situation in a country as wealthy as ours.

“It is vital that the most vulnerable members of our society are provided with the help and support that they need, at the times in their life when they need it most. The Tackling Money Worries programme will help 16 projects across Scotland deliver this support through a £2.4 million investment.

“We know that the UK Government’s benefit reforms are driving people into poverty and that is why we are investing £81 million in the next financial year to help mitigate the effects of these changes.

“This help is vital but I am clear that we must also work to address the underlying issues of poverty in our society. That is why we have set out the need for Scotland to have full responsibility over welfare and employment powers to the Smith Commission.”

Dr Lindsay Montgomery, Chief Executive of the Scottish Legal Aid Board said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of this new programme of projects. The projects will play an important role in helping find long-term solutions for low-income families struggling with financial difficulties by dealing with their underlying debts.

“They will provide support to some of the hardest to reach families in Scotland who are most at risk of facing complex financial problems. We appreciate the financial support from the Scottish Government for this programme of grants.”

News from North Edinburgh Childcare

Annual General Meeting

North Edinburgh Childcare’s Annual General Meeting will be held on

Monday, 27 October 2014 at 4.30pm

within the Childcare Centre at 18b Ferry Road Avenue.

Into Childcare Programme

We are holding another information session for our Into Childcare Programme on Wednesday 29 October. If you would like to attend please see attached poster and contact details.

Into Childcare Nov 14 Publicity 2

Childcare Academy

We are now recruiting 16 and 17 year olds for our Childcare Academy, which starts on Monday 23 February 2015. See below for further information.

Feb 2015 CA Publicity Poster

26.11.13 Updated Childcare Academy Standard Information (1)

Gimme shelter!

Solved: the mystery of the disappearing bus shelters!

A bus shelter (just in case you don't know what a bus shelter looks like!) This one's in Crewe Road North — A bus shelter (just in case you don’t know what a bus shelter looks like!) This one’s in Crewe Road North

The bus shelters were definitely there on Wednesday. I saw them. There were people standing there, waiting for a bus. As you do at bus stops. But on Thursday – the two bus shelters by the Western General Hospital had gone – vanished into thin air!

Cut backs? Theft for scrap? No, the truth is out – the city council has discovered that the bus shelters removed overnight on Wednesday were dismantled by the company previously responsible for maintaining them.

Clear Channel’s contract to manage some of the city’s bus stops ended on 3 August and the company says it is obliged to remove it’s bus stops within six months. The start of the removal programme saw two stops dismantled from outside the Western General and another partially removed from Princes Street overnight on Wednesday.

The council was initially unaware of the reasons behind the removal but is now in positive discussions with Clear Channel, who have put their removal programme on hold.

Clear Channel owns more than a third of the city’s bus stops. and until 3 August it was contracted to wash, maintain and light the shelters as well as sell advertising. A spokesperson told the BBC: “Clear Channel’s contract to provide advertising sales, and cleaning and maintenance for Edinburgh bus shelters came to an end on August the 3rd this year after four decades proudly serving the people of Edinburgh.

“Since then, as a gesture of goodwill, we have continued to clean and maintain non-advertising shelters at our cost even though we have no contractual obligation to do so. As a further gesture of goodwill, we kept five public toilets open during festival season, again at our cost.”

They said that they had made an offer to the council to sell the non-advertising shelters in August, but heard nothing in return.

They continued: “We are pleased that the council has made contact with us and we remain committed to ensuring an orderly removal of the bus shelters. Their replacement is, of course, a matter for the council and/or any new contractor.”

A City of Edinburgh Council spokesperson said: “We are pleased that Clear Channel have now entered into a productive dialogue with us with a view to finding a resolution to this issue.”

The council will erect one replacement shelter on Crewe Road South next week, with the other to follow a few days later. The old story, you wait ages for a bus shelter to come along then two come along at once …