Fresh Start, with the Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership, are running online events on 12th & 13th May to allow residents to discuss how our services can adapt to fit what matters to you, the people that live and work in the area!
Join the conversation on Wednesday 12th May, 1-2.30pm by registering here:
We have received funding from the management committee of Royston Wardieburn community centre to offer some one to one activities to local folk in North West Edinburgh, who might be struggling a bit as we ease out of lockdown.
The aim is to support people engage/re-engage with the many social and learning opportunities on offer in North Edinburgh.
As you know, it’s not going to be easy for many people to take the first step – it never is. However, the impact of lockdown is likely to have magnified people’s concerns and anxieties about getting involved in something new.
Many people may be feeling a bit anxious about what life is going to look like in the coming months and the challenges that lie ahead. Some people may struggle physically due to the loss of mobility during last year and might need a bit of support to get out and about safely again.
One to One Activities
We’ve put together a programme of one to one activities which we hope will address these issues and we will adapt the programme to reflect people’s interests. The programme includes supported local walks, visits to places of interests such as community gardens and galleries and museums.
We are also planning to offer individuals the opportunity to work on their digital, literacy or language skills in a local café once the restrictions are lifted. For some people just meeting up with someone in a public space for a coffee and a chat will be sufficient.
Working together
We would be really grateful for your help and support with this project.
1. Can you send us information about any activities you are planning?
2. Can you could let us know if you have a space that we might be able to use for meet ups (inside and outside)?
We would also be grateful if you could help to promote the project by displaying our leaflets (which will be dropped off next week) in a public space and if you could pass on the information to anyone you know who you think might benefit from the project.
We are aiming to work with people who have been particularly badly affected by lockdown, particularly those who might have been shielding due to health conditions but also people from the BAME community and people who might be struggling with their mental health or finding it difficult to get out due to mobility issues.
If you know someone who might be interested, please let us know how best to get in touch with them.
Please get in touch if you want to know more about the Time for Change Project or if you would like to become involved in some way.
As nominations close, Scottish Liberal Democrats have announced their list of candidates for Lothian and are pledging their commitment to make recovery from the pandemic their number one priority as MSPs.
Today the Scottish Liberal Democrats submitted their nomination papers for the upcoming Scottish parliament election to be held on the 6th May.
The Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh Northern and Leith will be Rebecca Bell (above). She is also the mental health spokesperson for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
Rebecca Bell said:“People are under huge pressure from the pandemic. There’s a lot of work to be done to recover from this crisis. It will not be easily done and we will need our complete focus on the project at hand.
“As an MSP, I want to focus on cutting mental health waits, a bounce back plan for education, creating jobs and tackling the climate emergency.
“After years of arguing about independence and Brexit, the last thing we need right now is another independence referendum.
“As the MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, I will put the recovery first.”
Willie Rennie said: “This election is about priorities. Liberal Democrats will put recovery first. After the dreadful year we have endured, people want a needle-sharp focus on jobs, mental health, our NHS, schools and the climate crisis.
“With ten years of experience as leader I have won support for areas like mental health, education and nursery education. For me it has always been about investing in people so they can do great things.
“For the next five years the divided nationalists will put independence first, dividing the country too.
“For the next five years I will put the recovery first, cut mental health waits, help pupils bounce back, create jobs and take action on the climate. The SNP will prioritise another independence referendum.
Congratulations to North Edinburgh’s very own COVID-19 Response and Recovery Group who won the Inspiring Partnerships Award at last night’s Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.
Community projects and third sector organisations have been short-listed for awards at next month’s Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business awards.
North Edinburgh’s COVID 19 Response and Recovery Group has been nominated for the Inspiring Partnership Award, with Citadel Youth Centre and Leith Rugby Club and Cyrenians and Natwest partnerships also in the running in that category.
The North Edinburgh COVID-19 Response and Recovery Group was formed at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic. Local projects and community organisations joined together in an informal coalition and have been working together ever since to ensure that the community’s most vulnerable people are being supported and protected during the pandemic.
Cyrenians is also nominated in the Local Business Hero, Employer of the Year and and Young Leader of the Year categories.
A Chamber spokesperson explained: “Each year, the Edinburgh Chamber looks forward to hosting its much loved Business Awards ceremony to recognise the successes and achievements of our vibrant business community.
“2020 has been a tough year for all. However, despite the ongoing challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we have watched businesses across the city come together to lead, innovate, collaborate and support those in need.
“We feel it is important to recognise the efforts and dedication shown by organisations over the past year, and so we’re delighted to announce the launch of our first ever virtual business awards.
“Our virtual awards will bring the business community together to showcase the resilience, adaptability and outstanding contribution of our local businesses and professionals, in the most challenging of years.”
Award Categories 2021:
Responsible Business – sponsored by City of Edinburgh Council
Innovation in Business – sponsored by CityFibre
Director of the Year – sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland
Developing the Young Workforce – sponsored by Developing the Young Workforce
Employer of the Year – sponsored by Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP
Young Leader of the Year – sponsored by Thorntons Law LLP
Inspiring Partnership Award – sponsored by Openreach
Excellence in Circular Economy – sponsored by Circular Edinburgh
Export Business of the Year – sponsored by Forth Ports
Service Excellence – sponsored by Heehaw
Local Business Hero – sponsored by TLT LLP
Lifetime Achievement – sponsored by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce
The virtual festival, taking place from 1-5th March, offers 18 events over the 5 days, ranging from keynote speakers and panel discussions to networking events and practical workshops. The Chamber will also host its annual Business Awards, to recognise and showcase the resilience, adaptability and outstanding contribution of local businesses and professionals, in the most challenging of years.
The headline sponsor for this year’s Business Festival is St James Quarter.
Martin Perry, Director of Development for St James Quarter, said: “At St James Quarter we’re passionate about doing our part to support the local Edinburgh community – and the businesses within it.
“We’re delighted to partner with the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and look forward to connecting with our peers and neighbours throughout the event.”
Following the latest coronavirus guidelines announced on Monday, Granton Information Centre staff are working from home and our office on West Granton Road will remain closed for the foreseeable future – BUT PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT WE ARE STILL OPERATING!
You can contact us by email at info@gic.org.uk or by calling 0131 551 2459 or 0131 552 0458.
Any messages left on our answering machine will be dealt with as soon as possible – please ensure you clearly leave your full name and telephone number when leaving a message.
Let’s all play our part in keeping each other safe, stopping this terrible virus and getting life back to normal!
Around 11am yesterday (Monday, 4 January), police recovered the body of a man from water at a quarry near West Granton Road.
Although formal identification is still to take place, officers believe it to be Lukasz Machalski (above) who had been missing from his home in Restalrig since Sunday, 13 December, 2020 and his family has been informed.
Enquiries are ongoing and a full report will be forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal.
