“I urge people not to let these terrorists win by dividing us and driving a wedge between the multi-cultural society Scotland is home to.” – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon observed yesterday’s minute silence at the Glasgow Central Mosque as Scotland fell silent to remember those who died in the Paris terrorist attacks. Continue reading Scotland stands in solidarity
Blackhall Library 6.30pm
Do you want to hear how things are going in North? Come hear what you told us in the Edinburgh People’s Survey, how the North team and other INP Partners are performing and what’s been happening towards key priorities in the Local Community Plan 2014-2017. Come to Blackhall Library tonight at 6.30pm!
Papers for Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership meeting on Monday.
Book Week Scotland 23 – 29 November
Book Week Scotland is a week-long celebration of books and reading that takes place every November. Book Week Scotland 2015 will take place from Monday 23 – Sunday 29 November 2015. Continue reading The write stuff: Edinburgh set to celebrate Book Week Scotland
Homes selling more quickly as confidence grows
The property market in east central Scotland is growing in confidence, with an increased number of homes being sold and more properties achieving their Home Report valuation, according to the latest analysis by ESPC.
The number of new homes brought to market between the months of August and October 2015 increased by 1.6% annually, reversing the trend of year-on-year decreases seen since the House Price Report in May.
This follows a surge at the start of the year, then a dip over the summer in the number of homes being brought to market following the introduction of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).
‘Offers over’ is becoming the most popular as a way to market property, with 72% of properties brought to market with this pricing strategy, compared with 55% for the same period in 2014. Properties sold as ‘offers over’ are achieving an average of 6.2% over the asking price, up from 5.4% last year.
Maria Botha-Lopez, business analyst for ESPC, said: “This month’s House Price Report is continuing to demonstrate steady growth in the housing market in east central Scotland.
“As we have seen in previous reports, conditions are favourable for sellers with more homes being sold, which are taking less time to sell and are increasingly achieving their Home Report valuation.”
Average prices across east central Scotland are also continuing to remain steady, with a 1.5% increase between August and October 2015 compared with the same period last year. However, as with previous reports, there has been fluctuations in different areas of the region.
This time last year, the areas and property types that were showing the largest year-on-year increases in selling prices were three bedroom houses in Liberton and Gilmerton and properties in West Fife and Kinross.
Now, three bedroom homes in South Queensferry and Dalmeny are showing a 3.3% growth, while the average selling price of three bedroom homes in Liberton and Gilmerton has increased 1%.
Two bedroom flats in Portobello and Joppa are once again among the areas and property types showing the largest year-on-year increases in selling prices, as are one bedroom flats in Dalry, Gorgie, Slateford and Chesser, which are becoming popular areas for first time buyers.
podcast discussing the report in detail:
Key points
ARCADEUM: art project looking for unusual collections 
Whether it’s an interest, an obsession, a hobby or a habit; from animal ornaments to ankle bracelets, from zulu masks to zoo souvenirs, intentionally or by chance – lots of us collect things.
As part of ARCADEUM, a new art project based at North Edinburgh Arts, artist Hans Clausen is looking for residents in North Edinburgh who have collections. Hans plans to create an exhibition around local residents collections accompanied by a book and/or website featuring people’s collections and the stories attached to them.
He would like to hear from anyone of any age who has a collection they’d like to share … the more unusual the better! Over the coming year the ARCADEUM project will be exploring the purpose, potential and possibilities of public art, specifically in and around the new Community Partnership Centre to be built in Pennywell in 2016.
There will be public art events, exhibitions and opportunities for participation, collaboration and discussion. Bringing people together to talk about the things they collect is a way of finding common interests and starting conversations about why we like what we like, the value and worth of things and how we relate and respond to the stuff that surrounds us.
If you’re a collector, a happy hoarder or just happen to have a curious collection of things Hans would like to hear from you. Please get in touch, leave us your contact details and Hans will be happy to meet with you to hear about your collection!
You can contact Hans by:
www.arcadeum.org
Clean sweep for Forthview in Firework poster competition Continue reading Primary kids paint firework warning
Forget THAT match – it’s in the past now, and in the past it must remain … (that’s quite catchy, must try to put a tune to it sometime). Anyway, here are some local rugby events to look forward to, courtesy of Edinburgh Rugby …
Kid A Quid
Please see below information regarding our next home game against Munster on Saturday 7 November where all U18’s can get get a ticket, in advance, for £1. To buy tickets now please go to (https://www.eticketing.co.uk/scottishrugby/details/event.aspx?itemref=4494)
October Camp
We also have spaces left for our camp on Wednesday 21 October – that’s TOMORROW! For more information visit https://www.eticketing.co.uk/scottishrugby/details/event.aspx?itemref=4471)
Coaching Master class
Our next coaching master class will be on the 27 November at the Edinburgh v Dragons fixture. For more information please email bepartforit@edinburghrugby.org
Those who would like to participate in the masterclass should ensure they have a match day ticket to enter the game.
1872 Cup kid from a quid (under 18s)
On the 27 December Edinburgh Rugby will take to the field against Glasgow Warriors in the first of two legs to defend the 1872 cup. This is a spectacle of the rugby calendar in Scotland and is not to be missed please see the link below to book tickets.
https://www.eticketing.co.uk/scottishrugby/details/event.aspx?itemref=4444
For Information about Game On please see: http://www.edinburghrugby.org/
Alison Johnstone will ‘wear it pink’ on Friday
Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, has shown her support for women with breast cancer by dressing up in pink and encouraging her constituents to take part in Breast Cancer Now’s flagship fundraiser, wear it pink, this Friday (23 October).
wear it pink, the UK’s biggest pink fundraiser, is calling on supporters across the country to ditch the day-to-day colours and pull on some pink to raise money for Breast Cancer Now’s life-saving breast cancer research.
Alison joined fellow parliamentarians in wearing it pink in Holyrood to encourage people across Scotland to get involved. Now in its 14th year, wear it pink raises over £2 million each year for world-class research into breast cancer, and this year it is back and bigger, brighter and bolder than ever before.
Anyone can take part, whether in school, at work or at home. All you have to do is wear something pink and donate whatever you can.
Alison Johnstone said: “Breast cancer is at a tipping point. Every year around 4,600 women in Scotland are diagnosed with the disease, and sadly nearly 1,000 people still lose their lives.
“Due to incredible research by organisations like Breast Cancer Now, more people are surviving breast cancer than ever before. I’m proud to support this brilliant work by wearing it pink – it’s a fun way for people to get involved in the fight against cancer.
“Together, we can make a huge difference for women living with breast cancer. I hope everyone in my community will join me in wearing it pink on Friday 23 October and show their support for Breast Cancer Now.”
Launched in June 2015 with the ambition of ensuring that no one dies from the disease by 2050, Breast Cancer Now is the UK’s largest breast cancer charity, created by the merger of Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
This is a day when we stand out, stand together and stand for something: wear it pink on Friday 23 October to support Breast Cancer Now’s life-saving research.
For more information or to register for wear it pink visit
It’s not too late to visit the Hold me Dear photography exhibition in Rodney Street Tunnel!
The ‘Four Cities, [Exta]ordinary Places’ exhibition, which is free, features images from Copenhagen, Hamburg, Istanbul and, of course, our very own Edinburgh!
Be quick, though: organisers will be dismantling the Hold Me Dear exhibition at Rodney St tunnel on Tuesday (20 October) before a move to its ‘new home for future local community exhibitions at the local community centre and school!’
Pupils from Craigroyston and Broughton High Schools were in the audience at North Edinburgh Arts on Thursday night for the first public screening of The Glasgow Girls in North Edinburgh (writes Lynn McCabe).
The film tells the true story of seven pupils from Drumchapel High School who, with the support of their teacher, set up a campaign after the police removed their friend Agnesa and her family from their home in the middle of the night. One of those Drumchapel pupils, Roza Salih, joined the discussion at North Edinburgh Arts.
Still wearing their pyjamas, the family was driven in the back of a van to Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre where they were detained awaiting deportation. Agnesa and her family were Romas and had come to Scotland to escape persecution in their homeland.
After the screening, Roza (below, right) explained how she and her friends were shocked when they discovered what had happened to their friend and that dawn raids, detention and deportation were the norm for failed asylum seekers.
The schoolfriends responded by putting together a petition demanding the safe return of Agnesa and her family. When the petition failed they took their campaign to the wider community who took part in candlelit vigils and peaceful demonstrations. The local community also took part in a look-out system to alert families about the imminent arrival of removal vans.
Agnesa and her family were eventually released, but the victory was bitter sweet as the girls realised they were unable to save everyone.
Roza talked about the impact the campaign had on her life and the pride she had in the local community of Drumchapel for getting behind their campaign and challenging the inhumane treatment of asylum seekers.
Members of the audience talked about North Edinburgh’s proud history of fighting racism through campaigns such as Muirhouse Anti-Racism Campaign and North Edinburgh Welcomes Refugees. It was pointed out that North Edinburgh was rising to the occasion again by collecting clothes, toiletries, tents and sleeping bags to help children and adults stranded in terrible conditions in refugee camps throughout Europe. Members of the Womens International Group (WIG) were overwhelmed at the generosity of local people who have handed in warm clothes, jackets, shoes, sleeping bags and toiletries for children and adults stranded in refugee camps across Europe (above).
Anna Hutchison (above, left), a member of the Women’s International Group, reported that more than 60 women from North Edinburgh have met twice in the last few months to discuss issues around asylum, immigration and racism and are working on ideas for building a more caring and supportive community. Their plans include:
§ Learning about the causes of immigration and exploring what causes people to flee their countries
§ Challenging the myths about asylum seekers and refugees being promoted by certain politicians and sections of the media
§ Developing ways of reaching isolated people and making them feel welcome in this community
§ Celebrating different cultures and highlighting the benefits of diversity
§ Building links and trust between different groups
A meeting to take forward these ideas will be organised at the beginning of November. Anyone wishing to get involved in this group should contact:
Lynn McCabe at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on 552 5700, email lynn.mccabe@ea.din.sch.uk
or
Julie Smith at North Edinburgh Timebank on north.timebank@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk.
More pictures:
