There are still places available for the new Childcare Academy which will start on Monday 24 February 2014 at North Edinburgh Childcare.
Anyone who is interested will need to book into an information session prior to applying for the course. We have various dates and times for these drop in sessions and I would be grateful if you could contact myself on the number below or Barbara Webster on 0131 311 6926 for more details.
Kim Weir
Training Administrator, North Edinburgh Childcare
As part of a wider project to develop a Health Literacy Toolkit for professional NHS staff, the Health Literacy project is making a Health Literacy DVD.
We are looking for people from all walks of life who may have difficulty understanding health information. This could take the form of not retaining information they are given by health professionals; not understanding medication information/dosage; confusion over drug names and/or language used; feeling unable/unwilling to ask questions; managing long term health conditions; understanding treatment options and shared decision making around their health.
If you know of any individuals or groups who may be interested in being part of this project, please contact Fiona Manson 0131-537-4230; 0787 554 5757; or Fiona.manson@edinburgh.gov.uk
Since earliest times, Newhaven in Edinburgh has been famous for its fishing, its shipbuilding and its unique cultural traditions, celebrated through song and photography.
However, as the last memories of the fishing industry fade, the history and the culture of Newhaven, popular in the past, risk being forgotten or assigned to the annals of history.
To combat this, Citizen Curator is working with contemporary folk musician Jed Milroy and artist Johnny Gailey to raise awareness of the importance of the village’s heritage. This project will celebrate the spirit of the fisher folk, linking the 500-year-old history of Newhaven with the future of this developing community.
Through music-making workshops and explorations into archives and collections, Fishing Folk aims to re-examine the heritage of Newhaven, reinvigorating it for a new age.
For further information contact:
Duncan Bremner
Citizen Curator
Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop
21 Hawthornvale, Edinburgh, EH6 4JT
duncan@citizencurator.com
www.citizencurator.com
On Thursday 30th January Craigroyston Community High School will be celebrating Burns Night in their own special style. The fun starts at 6.30 pm and will end by 9pm. School students, adult learners and staff across all the subjects in the school will be involved and, of course, there will be haggis, neeps and tatties and brilliant entertainment.
Tickets cost £1.50 per adult and 50p per child. These must be purchased in advance from the school Reception.
Blue Flint (who just finished touring with the Proclaimers) have volunteered to provide the musical entertainment. The junior school choir will be singing, pupils from the Drama & English department will be involved in Burns recitals and the address to the haggis and a surprise piper will pipe in the haggis! Adult cookery tutors are overseeing the cooking, which is being done by adult students.
Donations for the raffle and quiz include – gold ear rings designed and crafted by a professional jewellery designer (who has also worked with our young people here in the school), a free family swimming pass, and vouchers from Morrison’s Supermarket amongst others. The quiz will be Burns-related and questions are being set by each department to ensure a wide range of knowledge is required.
Come along on 30th and join in this fantastic evening.
Pupils from Pirniehall Primary School, spray painted a very clear message at the front of their school gates on Friday morning. In large bright red letters ‘Bullying Stops Here’ which represents a strong message that bullying is not acceptable both in and out of school.
The bright spray painted message is already grabbing the attention of all those who pass through the school gates. Parents and children were discussing the sign as they were leaving the school on Friday, generating conversations about bullying and what the sign stood for. This large visual sign will act as a daily reminder keeping parents and children talking about the subject and it is hoped this message will support parents and teachers in continuing to create a safe school environment.
Parents have been active in supporting anti-bullying campaigns in the local primary schools and it is expected that more positive news stories regarding the great work that parents and teachers have planned will be
shared soon.
Tracy Devenney
Dear Editor
The announcement by Cameron that pensioners’ incomes will be protected from inflation for the “life of the next Parliament” sounds okay, you may think, but then what?
There is no doubt that other ‘benefits’ as he says, will be cut; from whom? The younger working people struggling now to make ends meet or perhaps the pensioners bus pass or winter fuel allowance?
The typical playing off one section of people against another is being demonstrated by the false highlighting of ‘affluent’ pensioners living it up (they even play bowls or are dancing!)
The question then arises what level is considered affluent and who sets that level. Having experienced over the last four years their idea of ‘level’, we can guess.
Pensioners and people at work must not be taken in by these attempts to get them to blame each other. Pensioners are mums and dads, workers are sons and daughters. Unity is Strength.
Tony Delahoy (by email)
Bloomin’ kids! They stand around on street corners, play football in the street and have absolutely no respect for their elders. All they’re interested in is X Factor, FaceBook and computer games. They’ve never had it so good – now, when I was a boy …
Is that your view of young people? Well, a new publication produced in North Edinburgh may just change your mind. Local Community Learning and Development worker Callum McLeod has produced ‘The Charger’ to let the wider community know about the wide variety of positive activities many of our young people are involved in.
Callum explained: “This is its first edition, but I’m hoping to get at least one out each term and I’m sure it’ll improve with each edition. Iit’s worth having a wee nosy at it to see some of the stuff which has been happening on your doorstep.
“There are plenty of fab examples of where children and young people have been and are involved in decision-making in North Edinburgh – and so I’m planning that the Charger’s focus will be about showcasing as much of this as possible.
“It’s being aimed at children and young people, agencies and individuals within the community and so please pass it on to people you think might be interested. It’ll provide an opportunity to shine a spotlight on children and young people-led issues, achievements and developments in future editions, so please get in touch if there’s anything you’d like to add for the next one!”
Callum now plans to produce and distribute some hard copies of the current ‘Charger’ as well as the digital version (attached above). To pass on your comments or to contribute content for the next issue, you can contact Callum at:
Callum McLeod
Community Learning & Development, Broughton High School
29 East Fettes Ave, Edinburgh, EH4 1EG
Tel: 0131 332 6316
Email: Callum.mcleod@ea.edin.sch.uk
Web: www.edinburgh.gov.uk
CLD Web: www.joininedinburgh.org
Hot news just in from Stockbridge Market:
‘We got the park lit up just like Princes Street ( Stockbridge Market in collaboration with Community Council, SOS Stockbridge and Edinburgh Council
and
‘We are number 61 in the List’s Hot 100 list of Scotland’s 100 hottest individuals and groups who’ve made a splash this year, from comic book writers to comedians, artists to actors. If they’ve contributed to Scotland’s cultural landscape in 2013, you’ll find them here!
How many other farmers markets have achieved this?’
Warm congratulations, Stockbridge Market!
Okay folks! It’s that time of year again. You’ve got your perfect party gear hanging in the wardrobe, your social diary has never been so full, every night there’s another party to go to (but you’re recording Strictly on Saturdays as you can’t miss that!) and you’re good to go for another month of Christmas partying!
Christmas is the party highlight for many of us and chances are you have been good in the run-up to December because you want to eat and drink a bit more than usual. That’s normal, but just a word of warning, without wanting to dampen the festivities: the Christmas season is notorious for unexpected weight gain.
It is believed and accepted by many that the average person may eat an estimated 500 additional calories (kcal) a day over the Christmas season, resulting in a possible weight gain of 5lb.
The British Dietetic Association (BDA), founded in 1936, is the professional association for dietitians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the nation’s largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals with over 7,000 members.
The BDA lists the top five tips to enjoying the festive party season while maintaining a healthy balance and a healthy body:
Eat hearty before the party!
Decide whether to fill up on food of your choice, or run the risk of a limited choice at the buffet table, usually consisting of fat-filled stodgy offerings like quiche, sausage rolls, pastries and deep-fried samosas, with copious amounts of mayo-enhanced dips. Have something hearty, healthy and filling before you make your grand entrance, such as veg soup, low-fat hummus with oatcakes, fresh fruit and wholegrain cereal or a yogurt-based smoothie. Also, this avoids drinking on an empty stomach and you won’t have to worry about spilling food over your best Christmas outfit!
Step to it!
If driving to your party, park a little further away and enjoy a brisk winter walk to the party, if you feel it’s safe to do so. Not only will the walk be a good way to get a little exercise, it will also get the blood coursing through your veins and will inject you with a burst of energy. Driving to the party also means you will avoid those calorific alcohol drinks and cocktails, but keep an eye on those soft drinks too as they can contain a lot of added sugar. Go for a diet version if you can or add fizzy water to dilute juices and cordials.
Festive Fizz!
Noddy Holder and Slade are still being blasted at every single party you go to (please stop!!!). Don’t let this, and that Mariah Carey offering, drive you to drink! Those inviting festive brightly-coloured cocktails are often full of added sugar, cream and hangover favourites, ‘congeners’ (mostly found in darker spirits like whisky and rum). If you decide to drink try sticking to a refreshing white wine spritzer (less alcohol and fewer calories) and alternate your alcoholic drink with water, low calorie soft drinks or unsweetened fruit juice mixed with fizzy water.
Fill Your Festive Boots!
If you decide to eat at the party, go for the more healthy options, such as skinless chicken, salads without dressing, vegetable crudités with hummus. Try to avoid creamy dips, mayo-loaded salads and fried foods, and the pastry offerings that will be in abundance. Step away from temptation, visit only once and use a small dessert-sized plate.
Get Your Groove On!
Get those shoes to boogie the night away. Hit the floor and bust some moves to all the Christmas classics such as Shakin’ Stevens, the Pogues featuring Kirsty McColl, East 17 and, undoubtedly, more Slade and Mariah!!! Dancing is a great way of burning calories and it is also the perfect distraction from drinking and eating more. Just remember to drink lots of water throughout the night to maintain your disco dancing prowess.
Giving her views on the Christmas party season, Sian Porter, consultant dietitians and BDA spokesperson said: “For many of us, myself included, the Christmas party season is the highlight of the year. Not only is it a time of fun and celebration, it is often a time when we meet up with loved ones and family members that we have not seen all year. However, with all the fun and partying it is really easy to lose track of all the extra calories we are eating. Indeed, what fitted a treat on the 1st of December can become a little snug by the end of the month.
“It’s not about pouring water over the fun and festivities, it’s just about being a little mindful of what we consume during this festive season. However you decide to approach the Christmas party season, the British Dietetic Association wishes everybody a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2014!”
With Christmas less than two weeks away and still so much to do, it’s easy to forget the really important things – like giving blood.
So if you’re a blood donor, don’t forget to give the most precious gift of all over the holiday period. Grandad’s new slipppers can wait!
View map and directions to donor centre
