Uncategorized – Page 300 – The NEN

Recycling timetable goes digital

A Council spokesperson has informed us that collection dates for the kerbside recycling boxes, which are used for glass, plastic, paper, textiles and other dry recyclables, will no longer be posted door to door. Instead people are being directed to the Council’s web-site, where they will find relevant calendars (http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/redandblueboxdays)

Paper calendars will still be provided to those who receive assistance with collections and to people who ask specifically to receive one, so if you don’t have easy access to the internet, ask. These can be requested by email (waste@edinburgh.gov.uk) or by calling 0131 529 3030.

The decision to stop distributing the calendars recognises the fact that increasing numbers of people now have access to the internet, and aims to help drive down the costs involved in distributing more than 165,000 calendars each year.

Calendars for refuse, garden and food waste collections were also recently made available online rather than in paper form.

Service users can find a directory for red and blue boxes on the council website, where collection dates are listed along with a calendar which can be downloaded.

In addition, the website offers a link to Green Box Day, where residents can get reminders of their next collection for garden waste and red and blue boxes.

Dean’s gonna be an Edinburgh baton bearer!

Lucky nominees from across Edinburgh found out today that they have been chosen to be a baton bearer on 14 June when the Queen’s Baton Relay reaches the city on the first day of its Commonwealth Games journey around Scotland – and among Edinburgh’s representatives will be Dean Reill, champion fundraiser of Leith’s MS Therapy Centre.

Up to 4,000 batonbearers from all 32 local authorities in Scotland were notified by email this morning that they will join the relay in more than 400 Scottish communities for 40 days.

Community baton bearers were selected by independent panels, who have considered people’s achievements against the odds, their mentoring of younger people, contributions to community and youth sport, and those who make a difference through volunteering and community support.

For the first time in the history of any Queen’s Baton Relay, all 545 secondary schools in Scotland were invited to nominate a pupil to participate as a batonbearer.

Cllr Steve Cardownie, Edinburgh’s Festivals & Events Champion, said: “We are thoroughly looking forward to welcoming the baton to Edinburgh – and to Scotland – on 14 June. We have over 100 baton bearers, including a pupil from every secondary school, each of whom will play an important part in the celebrations taking place throughout the day.

“We’ve worked very hard with the organisers to send the baton to as many parts of the city as possible and to allow baton bearers to run through their own communities, cheered on by their friends and family. I was fortunate enough to be on the selection committee for Edinburgh and was hugely impressed with the standard of nominations. I have no doubt our baton bearers will do themselves and their city proud.”

Among the Edinburgh citizens receiving the happy news today was MS Therapy Champion Dean Reilly.

Dean (pictured above) was diagnosed with MS in October 2012, after losing the sight in one eye. Since then, he has raised awareness of MS and championed the services offered at the MS Therapy Centre which supports Edinburgh and the Lothians. He has taken up boxing, completed 4 10k runs, the Mighty Deer Stalker and the Edinburgh marathon, raising over £5,000 for the centre. He also writes a blog, raising awareness of MS, and has remained incredibly positive and pro-active since being diagnosed – and he’s just fought Steve ‘Celtic Warrior’ Collins in a fundraising charity boxing match!

Also selected today was Lynne McNicoll (pictured above) , who has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for children affected by cancer in the Edinburgh area with her charity, It’s Good 2 Give. Her dedication for raising money for others is 24/7, 365 days a year. Lynne volunteers every minute, takes no pay and is a pillar of the Edinburgh community. She said: “I’m really delighted to be chosen to be a baton bearer. Welcoming the Baton to Scotland will an amazing opportunity and I just can’t wait. I’m currently in training for a five kilometer race which will hopefully help me get fit in time for the Queen’s Baton Relay!”

News of more local baton bearers will follow, but in the meantime you can follow the build up to to the Edinburgh leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay on social media using the hashtag #EdinBatonRelay.

To follow the baton visit www.glasgow2014.com/batonrelay

Support MYDG as they swim … the Commonwealth!

Please please support the 24 hour Swimathon which is being held on behalf of MYDG this Thursday (3 April) from 9am. Money raised will support field trips, outdoor activities and MYDG’s commonwealth summer sports programme. The target is to swim the 11,421 miles from Glasgow to all 70 commonwealth countries participating in Glasgow 2014. Please note each length will represent one mile.

You can pick up a sponsor form from MYDG’s office in Craigroyston Community High School or the Community Shop on Pennywell Road.

Alternatively, you can make a donation online at our justgiving site which is

www.justgiving.com/mydg.

Or using your phone by:

Texting SWIM14 followed by the amount: £1, £3, £5, £10 to the number 70070
Your code —- SWIM14
With the amount —- £1
Text this to——— 70070
70070

You can also come along and swim, volunteer with the running of the event!

Please forward this to family, friends and colleagues so we can make this event the success it should and can be!

Dean Shanks

Muirhouse Youth Development Group (MYDG)

Johnstone calls for Citizens Income to address poverty divide

CHILD POVERTY: JOHNSTONE HIGHLIGHTS CITIZENS INCOME IDEA

Green MSP for Lothian Alison Johnstone has urged the Scottish Parliament to consider new ideas – including a basic income for all citizens – to tackle poverty.

Speaking in a debate on child poverty yesterday Ms Johnstone, a member of Holyrood’s economy committee, highlighted a range of research including:

A paper by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which says the single biggest risk to progress is benefit cuts and growing use of sanctions.
Research by the Fawcett Society which says a fifth of British women’s income comes from benefits, while for men the figure is one-tenth; therefore the loss of benefits and services hits women hardest.
The Jimmy Reid Foundation report ‘In Place of Anxiety’. The authors Willie Sullivan and the late Ailsa McKay focused on tackling the poverty wages that create in-work poverty.

Ms Johnstone said: “We live in a wealthy nation yet inequality is increasing, and the austerity agenda has a particular impact on women and children. Families struggling have not chosen to be in poverty, and are bearing the brunt of the UK cuts making the situation worse.

“One idea we would do well to explore is the citizen’s or basic income. This would replace our incredibly complex welfare system and end the stigma that many people face.

“It’s essential we measure our economic success on how we close the gap between rich and poor and how we create a fairer society for children.”

Food, glorious food … be prepared for a treat!

Love food? Granton Campus Hub is the place to be this afternoon when Edinburgh College holds treat, a fabulous Food and Drink Festival from 4 – 8pm.

As well as showcasing the skills of College Hospitality students and promoting course programmes, the free Treat event also offers an opportunity to raise funds for St Columba’s Hospice, the College’s chosen charity of the year.

Among the highlights on offer are live coking demonstrations from top chefs, mouth-watering produce from local stallholders, free samples, prize draws and much, much more.

Carol Fyfe, Head of the Tourism and Hospitality Academy at Edinburgh College, said: “treat not only offers an excellent learning opportunity for our students but also offers visitors and food enthusiasts top food tips and tasting opportunities from some of the best chefs in the country. All money raised will go to our charity of the year, St Columba’s Hospice, which is another fantastic reason to come along to our food and drink festival”.

Top chef Neil Forbes, of Edinburgh’s Cafe Saint Honore, (pictured above) will headline at today’s event. He said: “I’m delighted to be taking part in the treat festival at Edinburgh College. At a young age I was inspired to get behind the stove because of my granny’s soup! These early experiences of family cooking have influenced me throughout my career and I hope my demo at treat will inspire others to create their own food memories”.

Top tips? Free food? Go on, treat yourself!

Admission to treat is FREE although a charitable donation of £2 will be gratefully accepted!

Lazarowicz: Green technology must be at the heart of economic strategy

Mark Lazarowicz MP is calling on the UK and Scottish Governments to realise fully the potential of the green economy to create skilled, long-term jobs at the same time as tackling climate change and fuel poverty.

In a wide ranging essay for the Scottish Fabian Society, the North and Leith MP says the green economy could draw on existing industrial strengths, pointing to local examples in Edinburgh as well as elsewhere in Scotland.

Mark Lazarowicz (pictured above) said: “The financial crisis graphically illustrated the need to rebalance the Scottish and UK economies and we should place the green economy at the heart of our economic strategy.

“For instance, energy to heat your home should not be a luxury and energy efficiency is one of the most important ways to tackle fuel poverty in the long term as well as climate change.

“Green technology also has the potential to be a major export sector, not just in large-scale manufacture of say, wind turbines, but also of the parts required and project design where Scotland already has a wealth of expertise.

“It’s much more than a niche industry: with new rules on recycling and targets for cutting carbon emissions we have to green our economy and Scotland should be leading not lagging behind.”

The MP’s article appears in a new collection of essays by Scottish Labour MPs setting out policy alternatives for a new future for Scotland. It can be found at

http://www.scottishfabians.org.uk/publications/

Concern grows for missing Drylaw man

Concern is growing for a young man who has now been missing from his Drylaw home for six days. Blair Davidson, who is 21, has not been seen since last Wednesday.

Blair left his home in Easter Drylaw Place some time after 8.30am to attend an appointment in the Tollcross area – but he has not been seen since.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Blair Davidson is 21 years old, 6ft tall, slim build, short dark brown hair, and usually has facial stubble. He was last seen wearing a dark grey tracksuit, carrying a black ‘Trespass’ rucksack, and also had a maroon tracksuit with him.”

Inspector Graeme Dignan, who is leading the search, added: “I am asking anyone who has seen him, or has information about his whereabouts, to contact Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 800 555 111.”

Game On on Friday, but do not pass go …

North Edinburgh Timebank is hosting a Community Board Game Afternoon this Friday (21 March) from 3pm -4.30 pm North Edinburgh Arts (after the Treasure Hunt – see previous post)

We need a good selection of games for Friday afternoon. Do you have anything we could borrow just for Friday? We shall return any game loaned to us – with all pieces intact! Ludo, Cluedo, Kerplunk, cards, Happy Families – anything that can be played by adults and children – and doesn’t take 3 weeks to finish (no Monopoly or Risk, thanks!)

If you can help out, drop things in at NEA for Julie or phone/email me to collect.

Julie Smith

North Edinburgh Time Bank Broker
c/o North Edinburgh Arts
15a Pennywell Court
Edinburgh EH4 4TZ

Mob: 07807002591
www.edinburghtimebank.org.uk

What’s in a name?

Any reader who has come across something called “North Edinburgh Community News” may have thought that this newsletter was somehow connected with the NEN. It isn’t. It is an email newsletter produced by a body called Live Edinburgh News. Who is behind this? We don’t know, but for the avoidance of doubt, it’s nothing to do with us.

The Real NEN can be found here on this blog.

We can be emailed at: northedinnews@gmail.com

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And on Twitter at The Real NEN and this is our avatar –

We were forced to change our Twitter name to avoid confusion with this other organisation, which, for some reason, has chosen to style itself in a way that is very similar to the NEN.