FRIDAY 20 JUNE 2 – 4pm at GYPSY BRAE
Come along to this special Community Cycling & Walking event on Friday 20 June!
R2: Pedal and Paint community event
Category: West Pilton
Tomorrow: PYCP Youth Committee Pentland Hills sponsored walk
Support Our Youth Committee’s Sponsored Walk!
TOMORROW, Saturday May 31st, our intrepid young Youth Committee from Pilton Youth and Children’s Project will be embarking on a sponsored walk on the Pentland Hills to raise funds for our charity. We are reaching out to our amazing community for support.
Every donation, big or small, makes a huge difference.
Your contributions will help us continue providing essential services and opportunities for children and young people living in Pilton and the surrounding area.
https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/28035#!/DonationDetails
for anyone making a business donation use this link or email Debbie@pycp.co.uk for bank details https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/sponsoredwalkpy…
Tonight: Edinburgh Twirling Academy Spring Show
WEST PILTON NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE – Doors Open 6.30pm
EDINBURGH TWIRLING ACADEMY SPRING SHOW
Reminder that our spring show displaying our competition girls hard work this season is TONIGHT!
Doors open 18:30 for a 19:00 start
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre
Tickets are £5 entry £3 concessions
Can’t wait to see you all there
TODAY: Girl’s Boxing at Craigroyston
Extra-Curricular Activity Club – S1-S6 Girls Only Boxing Fitness
We have a new S1-S6 girls only Boxing Fitness class starting on Monday 26th May at Craigroyston Community High School.
The sessions will be FREE of charge and run by Kev from Blast Boxing. They will take place from 3.30pm-4.15pm every Monday in the small gym hall.
For more information or to book a space, speak to Paul Murray (Active Schools Coordinator) in the PE department, or just come along and give it a go!
North Edinburgh Childcare: Forest School Hire
FOREST SCHOOL HIRE
Did you know that we have an extensive Forest School Area?
Contact us now on 0131 332 8001 or info@northedinburghchildcare.co.uk or via our enquiry form at https://forms.office.com/e/gR9Ec0Yvvw
West Pilton Park update
DEVELOPMENT PLAN PROGRESS
We have just installed a ‘bothy’ shelter in the park as a signal of intent to the community that the wider plans are being brought forward. This is the first of several shelters that will be installed across the park (writes ELGT’s ANGUS FISHER).
It was designed by SLR architecture in partnership with Old School Fabrications. OSF also built and installed the shelter.
It is a completely bespoke design based on the traditional Scottish bothy but featuring a stone boulder seat with hovering steel frame giving it its somewhat unique appearance.
Wider works info
West Pilton Park is undergoing an exciting, new development after receiving a significant amount of charitable funding.
The Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council and the local community have developed plans to transform West Pilton Park into the beautiful, bustling centre of the community.
Plans include planting hundreds of new trees and plants, a new skate park and bouldering wall, new play equipment, new accessible paths, seating, shelters, new toilet facilities, a community growing area, a wildlife wetland, and a proposed new cafe run by Scran Academy.
Latest masterplan attached – WPP display. (1).pdf
Project timescales
The shelter is the first part of the development to be installed, with construction of the rest of the park to take place over the next few years. The first phase is due to start in autumn 2025.
A phased approach will ensure that a part of the park will always remain open for the community during construction.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Email info@elgt.org.uk
visit www.elgt.org.uk
or stop by the neighbourhood centre display
Careers Workshop at PYCP
TUESDAY 20 MAY from 11am with PLACES FOR PEOPLE
To anyone in the local community please join Places for People for an Employability event workshop at Pilton Youth and Children’s Project (PYCP) on Tuesday next week 20th May.
11am – 12 midday start with presentation and workshops
12 midday – 2pm – One to one CV reviews.
Please share with anyone you know who may benefit from updating their CV and getting some help getting a job.
Any questions please get in touch.
We hope to see you there.
Community Festival: Join the Parade!
TOMORROW at 10.30am
REMINDER!!!
JOIN US FOR THE PARADE! 
The parade begins May 17th at 10:30am at North Edinburgh Childcare Centre (address on the flyer!) We want to see you all there, dress up, have fun! It’s time to party!! 
Remember one of our themes this year is 
RAINBOWS so get out your most colourful attire! We can’t wait to see you there 
Election: New youth performance speaks out about Politicians
As part of a project run by Imaginate, children involved in the new North Edinburgh Youth Arts Collective have been working with artist Bishop May Down on a new performance, Election which will premiere at the North Edinburgh Festival (Sat 17 May) ahead of its inclusion in the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival Family Day programme at the National Museum of Scotland (Sat 24 May).
Election is a short, humorous pop-up performance theatre piece about politics and power, seen from a young person’s point of view. The show imagines eleven-year-olds as political ‘bigwigs’ with the power to make real change, and offers audiences a child’s perspective on what is valuable in their world.
Election is part of Creative Encounters, a three-year project set up by Imaginate (who produce the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival), which explores what it means to put children’s rights at the heart of the creative process.
Bishop May Down, Artistic Director of Election said: “Initially, I was definitely surprised, in an amazing way, about how passionate, articulate and knowledgeable the young people involved are about political issues, and current world issues.
“I think they are at a really interesting age of being able to articulate their opinions and they are also just verging on being able to challenge other’s opinions.”
From autumn 2022 until summer 2025, young people from North Edinburgh have been working with artists and Imaginate staff to co-create new theatre and dance performances, giving a central role to children’s ideas, interests and voices.
Young people are involved as key decision makers from the beginning of the project and commission an artist to create a theatre or dance performance, and they are invited into the artists’ creative process to co-create performances.
Young people also take part in workshops on curation, content creation, photography journalism, speech writing, and decision making.
Here is a sneak preview of them in rehearsal on YouTube:
Election will be performed throughout the day at both North Edinburgh Community Festival (Sat 17 May @12-4pm) and the Children’s Festival Family Day (Sat 24 May @10am-5pm).
Blast Boxing keeps community fighting fit with Business Gateway support
An Edinburgh start-up is making a major impact in communities after accessing support from Business Gateway.
Blast Boxing, a community interest company, aims to improve mental and physical wellbeing through accessible boxing classes and one-to-one sessions. Designed to help locals get fit, have fun and learn core boxing skills, the sessions take place in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Founded by Kevin Matthews, the organisation offers a range of affordable classes for children and adults, along with drop-in social events and PE sessions delivered through Edinburgh’s Active Schools programme.
Blast Boxing also hosts specialist wellbeing sessions, including ‘Box N’ Blether’, a popular format combining one hour of physical activity with one hour of open conversation, as well as parent-and-toddler classes and wellbeing sessions for both men and women.
Working with a range of established organisations and charities in Edinburgh, the team offer physical and emotional support to residents in disadvantaged communities. As well as boxing, the team brings years of experience and qualifications in youth work, community engagement, health and fitness.
Having previously worked in the community as a pupil support assistant and youth worker, Kevin saw firsthand the positive impact exercise had on mental health. At the age of 30, he pursued a qualification in sports coaching, setting the foundation for his vision of a community-focused fitness organisation.
Blast Boxing has recently worked alongside charities Score Scotland and Spartans, to support young people and adults in the area through introductory sessions, mentorship and dedicated classes and is currently running sessions with West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.
Kevin reached out to Business Gateway in January 2024 to turn his vision into reality. He has been supported throughout his start-up journey by local adviser Lee Briggs, who has provided expert one-to-one guidance, business planning assistance, and advice on business structure, legislation, and community engagement.
Business Gateway has also helped Kevin access funding opportunities and connect with local groups, enabling Blast Boxing to thrive.
Lee’s guidance has played a key role in Kevin’s journey to grow Blast Boxing into a thriving enterprise, allowing the business to make a meaningful and lasting impact across Edinburgh.
Kevin Matthews, Blast Boxing founder, said: “Business Gateway has been instrumental in helping me bring my vision for Blast Boxing to life.
“The support and guidance I’ve received from Lee has given me the confidence and knowledge to shape Blast Boxing into an initiative that serves the community and makes a real difference on the lives of those involved.”
Lee Briggs, Business Gateway adviser, said: “Having supported Kevin since day one, it has been fantastic to see his passion and dedication translate into real, positive change for the community.
“Blast Boxing is a brilliant example of how the right support and determination can create something truly impactful.”
To find out more about how Business Gateway can help your business, visit: