Category: West Pilton

As we see it: Youth Forum looks at local crime

Read all about it! North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum newspaper investigates attitudes to crime in Forth

burnt out car

North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum would like to invite you along to the launch of our new newspaper which focuses on the perceptions of crime in the Forth Ward through the eyes of young people. We shall also be seeking opinions on ways we can develop this work and our future plans and ideas.

 NEYPF`s Crime Perception Newspaper Launch

@ West Pilton Neighborhood Centre

Wednesday 3rd June 2015

5:30pm – 7:00pm (Registration from 5pm)

Refreshments are provided

All at the Forum hope to see you on the night!!

Support your Community Council!

w pilton playpark

Do you care about what’s going on in your community? Would you like to help make your neighbourhood a better place to live? Yes? Then join with others who feel the same way at West Pilton West Granton Community Council’s annual general meeting on Tuesday evening!

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West Pilton West Granton Community Council AGM

Tuesday 2 June 7 – 9pm

West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

Community Council secretary Willie Black is keen to see the while community getting involved. He said: “Our AGM is an opportunity to meet with other concerned residents and tenants who are working for the improvement of the area. Do you feel you can make a difference? Come along to the meeting and have your say. With your help we can all make the area a place where everyone can be proud to live and work.”

Councillor Maureen Child, who chairs the city council’s Communities and Neighbourhoods Committee, is guest speaker at the event and will talk on ‘The Changing Role of Community Councils’.

Community councils are only as strong and effective as their members make them, so why not play your part?

For further information call Community Council secretary Willie Black on 0751 568 6421 or email w.black@blueyonder.co.uk

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Fingers crossed for fair weather this weekend

rwcc fun day

Summer’s almost upon us and this weekend sees the start of those seasonal events – the fetes, galas and fun days – here’s hoping the sun will come out and help things along!

There are loads of events happening this weekend. Today we have the Family Fun Day event at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre from 11am – 3pm and there’s also the Teddy Bears Picnic at West Pilton Park from 11.30 – 2.30pm.

Slightly further afield there’s Holy Cross Episcopal Church Summer Fete in Davidson’s Mains from 2 – 4pm today, Clermiston & Drumbrae Children’s Gala today and tomorrow at Drumbrae Leisure Centre and don’t forget Newhaven Gala at Victoria Primary School today from midday too!

clermiston gala

A community cleanup is taking place in West Pilton Green from 10am tomorrow morning as well, so fingers crossed the predicted showers stay away – we don’t want those teddies getting wee wet bottoms!

Community Clean UP

 

Teddy Bears gather to have their say!

If you go down to West Pilton Park this Saturday you’re sure of a big surprise …

teddy

Because from 11.30am to 2.30pm a group of teddy bears (and their people!) will gather to picnic, have fun and talk about how to make the park more friendly and welcoming. There will be sand-pits, giant twister and yarn bombing – all you need to do is bring your picnic!

This is the first in a series of events organised by West Pilton Park Action Group. The group, which includes both local people and organisations, has come together to make West Pilton Park feel and look more friendly and welcoming.

Sara Martin, a resident who lives alongside the park and helped set up the group. said: “I regularly use the park and I think it needs some friends! It could be a really good park but we need to make that happen ourselves. We want local people to get involved in creating idea’s for the park’s future”.

MY Adventure’s Kevin Malcolm agrees. The 24-year-old local resident said: “This area is an estate but I want it to be a community. This project could help do that”.

Future events planned include a Bark in the Park dog event, a tea dance and a barbecue! And keep your diary free on Saturday 13 June – there will be a sporting event featuring football with Spartans, a fantastic cycle obstacle course run by MY Adventure and Kabo boxing sessions plus much, much more …

“The aim of the events is to increase the number of people using the park positively, and while they are doing that to ask them how they would like the park to be used in the future”, explained Clare Symonds of Pilton Community Health Project, one of the partners in the park project.

West Pilton PArk Action Goup will be working with Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, Forth Neighbourhood Partnership and the city council to try to create a better park for local people. Like to get involved?

  • Contact West Pilton Park Action Group through our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Pilton-Park-Action-Group-WPPAG/653801634719747?fref=ts 
  • By phoning Lianne on 551 1671
  • Contact us through any of the project partners: Pilton Community Health Project, North Edinburgh News, North Edinburgh Time Bank, West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, MY adventure and Spartans.

West Pilton Park Action Group

 

Leading by example: share your views on community leadership

Community Leadership College – a game of two halves!Steven Gerrard

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard played his last game in front of his beloved Kop at the weekend. ‘Legend’ is an overused word, but in a football mad city, Liverpool-born and bred Gerrard personifies the word. Gifted, determined, he’s a giant who leads by example, inspiring and motivating those around him to give every last ounce for the cause. 

What’s Stevie G got to do with Muirhouse and West Pilton? Well it’s not so much Gerrard the sporting hero, it’s his leadership qualities we’re interested in – and are the same qualities and skills needed by local people to speak up on behalf of their communities?

We’re running a series of ‘conversation cafe’ events across Muirhouse and West Pilton to get your views and opinions on what YOU need to be a more effective community activist, volunteer or campaigner.

We’ve almost reached ‘half-time’ – we’ve held four sessions and have at least four more planned (with more to be added too) so it’s not too late to share your views over coffee and biscuits. It’s a game of two halves!

Come along to any of the following sessons:

Monday 18 May: West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, 4 – 6pm

Thursday 21 May: North Edinburgh Arts, 2 – 4pm

Monday 25 May: North Edinburgh Arts, 11am – 1pm

Monday 1 June: West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, 4 – 6pm.

It would be great to see you!

For further information email: Comlc2015@outlook.com

Spartans Fund for Grim appeal tops £5300

Magnificent support for family devastated by Crewe Terrace fire

grim

North Edinburgh and the wider community has dug deep to contribute to a fund set up by Spartans to support a valued volunteer who’s Crewe Terrace home was destroyed by fire on Thursday. Spartans set up an appeal for donations on Thursday evening – and just 36 hours later over 200 donations have been pledged and £5300 raised!

It’s a magnificent effort for a hugely popular volunteer – known as Grim O’Grady, Gary Betts set up Spartans Connections for players with disabilities over a year ago and the initiative has grown and grown.

Grim is still heavily involved in the setup and was at Spartans’ Ainslie Park home, just minutes away from his own family house in Crewe Terrace, when he first noticed the fire.

Spartans club secretary John McCabe told BBC Scotland news: “Grim saw smoke in the distance and made a joke saying ‘I hope it isn’t my house’ and then five minutes later his son phoned and said it was their house on fire.

“He was in an awful panic as he was worried about his pets. His whole house is gutted and his family only have the clothes on their backs, they have lost everything else. He is such a great man that we felt we must help him in any way we can so he can buy food and clothes and pay for accommodation.”

John McCabe went on: “We have had a big response from the community and Central Taxis has given him taxi vouchers so he can get around during this hard time. He does so much for people in north Edinburgh that they want to help him.”

While it’s fortunate that no-one was injured in the blaze, sadly the family pets could not be rescued and perished in the fire.

Grim has issued a statement on behalf of his family through the Spartans Connections website. Thanking Spartans, the community, he said:

“Obviously no amount of money can bring back our much loved pets but the community spirit that’s been brought about from our Spartans family is unbelievable.

“It’s incredible to see how far the hands of friendship have spread. Lynne, Jamie & myself are very humbled by how much has been given in the short & tragic time of these horrific events. It would have been a lonely horrible & isolated time had our community not come together.

“We’d like to thank everyone for their kindness, it has been such a crutch to know when we were at our lowest there were so many wonderful folk there to hold out their hands & pick us up. Showing great respect. We will be round to thank everyone soon.

“We are going to come back to our community as soon as we can find a place. We want to get back to where we belong & with the help of all our wonderful community begin to pick up the pieces & start again. Thank you all for showing such compassion and all your donations.”

To make a donation go to

www.justgiving.com/fund-for-grim

academy

Change on the agenda at Community Council AGM

WPWGCC AGM!

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Councillor Maureen Child, Convener of the Communities and Neighbourhoods Committee, is guest speaker at West Pilton West Granton Community Council’s annual general meeting next month.

Her theme, appropriately enough, is ‘The Changing Role of Community Councils’.

The meeting will take place in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre on Tuesday 2 June at 7pm. All welcome.

For further information contact W Black (Secretary) on 07515686421, email w.black@blueyonder.co.uk

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Police seek Red Bridge robber

Victim ‘left shaken’ by knifepoint robbery

red bridge

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses following a knifepoint robbery near the red bridge by Crewe Toll on Tuesday.

The incident happened at around 1.30pm.

A 30-year-old man was walking on the cycle path between the red bridge on Ferry Road and the rear of the Morrisons supermarket when a male approached and presented a knife.

The victim was then threatened and robbed of his rucksack before the male made off.

Anyone who can assist police with their investigation is asked to come forward.

The suspect is described as white, early to mid-twenties, 6ft tall with an unshaven complexion and a pronounced Adam’s apple. He was wearing a navy blue hooded top with zipper and white drawstrings, navy blue trainers and scruffy white trainers.

Detective Constable Andy Cory said: “Fortunately the victim was unharmed but is obviously very upset at the theft of his rucksack and was left shaken by this incident.

“Anyone who remembers seeing any suspicious activity in the area is asked to contact police immediately. In addition, anyone who recognises the description of the suspect is also asked to get in touch.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.