Superstitious drivers seeking a scare this spooky season have been told about 12 of the most haunted roads across the UK. Continue reading Dare you drive on the UK’s haunted highways?
Edinburgh Association of Community Councils AGM
EACC Annual General Meeting – Thursday 21st November 2019
The 2019 Annual General Meeting will take place on
Thursday 21st November 2019 at 7 pm.
Venue: European Room, City Chambers, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ
The Minutes of the 2018 AGM and provisional Agenda along with the accounts for 2018-19 can be downloaded on the website at EACC Documents. Nomination papers for Office Bearer positions are also available at the same URL in EACC Documents in two formats and can be scanned and emailed or posted to the Secretary.
Nominations for Office Bearer posts will close at 7pm on Thursday 19th November 2019.
Announcement of Candidates for Office Bearer posts will be made on Tuesday 19th November immediately after close of the nomination period.
Notice of AOCB items to the Secretary as soon as possible and at least 24 hrs prior to the meeting. It will be at the Chair’s discretion to discuss these items. We really want to hear from our representatives on issues they consider important to all Community Councils.
It is also important to ensure your nominated representative is correct.
Their names are on the Members list at http://www.edinburghcommunitycouncils.org.uk/members
If this has changed please inform the Secretary at secretary@edinburghcommunitycouncils.org.ukas soon as possible.
Please RSVP to secretary@edinburghcommunitycouncils.org.uk
Masquerade ‘eye’Ball raises funds for Guide Dogs Scotland
A local eye hospital has held its largest ever fundraiser, raising £5,000 for charity. The Edinburgh Clinic, a specialist private hospital in Colinton, held the event – a masquerade ‘eyeball’ – on Saturday.
More than 90 opticians and consultants attended the glitzy celebrations at the Balmoral Hotel, which raised a total of £5,000 for Guide Dogs Scotland. Continue reading Masquerade ‘eye’Ball raises funds for Guide Dogs Scotland
Fireworks action plan launched
Restrictions to the use of fireworks on private property across Scotland is to be considered by a new review group.
The group will also consider changes to the times at which fireworks can be let off and look at options around the potential introduction of no-fireworks zones. Continue reading Fireworks action plan launched
Peer mentors initiative to tackle crime culture coming to Edinburgh
- Former young offenders acting as ‘peer mentors’ to help children escape from a life of serious organised crime
- Edinburgh, Newcastle and Cardiff identified for roll out following successful project in Glasgow
- Two thirds of teenagers supported by Glasgow project have significantly improved their offending behaviour
- Analysis shows a £½m city council saving by ‘diverting’ high risk young people from secure care
- According to UK Government, organised crime – including money laundering and drug trafficking – bigger threat to UK than terrorism
- Run by UK charity Action for Children and funded with £4.6m from The National Lottery Community Fund, project will now target ‘high-risk’ 11-18-year-olds across the UK.
A ground-breaking programme diverting young people away from a life of serious organised crime is to be rolled out to a number of cities across the UK.
Action for Children’s Serious Organised Crime Early Intervention service has been running in Glasgow since 2013 and will now be rolled out to Edinburgh, Newcastle and Cardiff, funded by £4.6 million from The National Lottery Community Fund. Continue reading Peer mentors initiative to tackle crime culture coming to Edinburgh
Eating disorder charity to train Edinburgh carers
Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity, will provide free training for Edinburgh-based parents and carers of people with eating disorders to help support them over the Christmas period. Continue reading Eating disorder charity to train Edinburgh carers
Join Ama-zing Harmonies for Light Night
COME SING WITH US!
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre: Wenesday 6th November at 6pm
Scottish Welfare Fund has helped more than 347,000 ‘struggling’ Scottish households
Nearly £210 million has been paid to 347,045 low income households by the Scottish Welfare Fund since it was established in 2013, latest figures show.
Crisis grant applications to the fund for basic essentials such as food and heating increased by 12% from April to June compared to the same period last year.
In addition, for the first time exceptional pressure is the main reason for Community Care Grant applications. Previously, the biggest reason for these applications was helping people to stay in their community.
The fund, which enables local authorities to provide grants for people on low incomes, is part of the Scottish Government’s mitigation efforts for UK Government welfare cuts. Estimates suggest social security spending in Scotland is set to reduce by £3.7 billion per year by 2021.
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “These are yet more signals of how much families are struggling.
“In the face of UK Government cuts and with the threat of a ‘no deal’ Brexit still alive – the risk is real that tens of thousands more people could be pushed into poverty in Scotland.
“The Scottish Government will not stand by and let people who are already struggling continue to face a reliance on food banks and the stress of debt and rent arrears.
“We will continue to spend at least £100 million each year to mitigate the worst effects of the UK government welfare cuts – part of the £1.4 billion we spent last year to support low income households.
“This is money we should be able to invest elsewhere to help pull people out of poverty but we instead we need to use to protect the poorest and most vulnerable in our country.
“And we are introducing the Scottish Child Payment to tackle child poverty head on. But there is no doubt that without the cuts inflicted on families by the UK Government this could go so much further.”
The new Scottish social security system has fairness, dignity and respect designed in from the start.
Our person-centred approach has been given strong public support in our consultation.
Find out more ➡️ https://t.co/6uk8C4iqor pic.twitter.com/A6qoRdMzm0
— Scottish Government (@scotgov) October 29, 2019
Super Chefs! Shannon and Sophie do Scotland proud
Two Edinburgh College Professional Cookery and Hospitality students can now say they’re among the world’s best student chefs after an amazing performance at a global culinary competition. Continue reading Super Chefs! Shannon and Sophie do Scotland proud
Information film for adult survivors of childhood abuse launched
A new animated film aimed at adult survivors of childhood abuse and people working with survivors has been launched by Police Scotland.
The Information for Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse film aims to raise awareness amongst adult survivors of how to report childhood abuse to police, the criminal justice process and the existence of survivor support services. The animation follows two survivors through the journey of reporting to police whilst focussing on key areas and covering some frequently asked questions.
Assistant Chief Constable Gillian MacDonald, Major Crime and Public Protection, Police Scotland, said: “Child abuse takes many forms: physical, emotional, sexual or neglect. How people deal with and react to abuse is very individual. Some survivors have told us they didn’t realise what they had experienced as a child was abuse. Others simply haven’t felt ready or able to talk about the abuse they experienced during childhood.
“We would like to reassure survivors, that when they are ready to report, we will listen and we will provide advice about relevant support services.
“Police Scotland is fully committed to thoroughly investigating child abuse no matter when or where this happened or who was involved. The priorities for any investigation will include identifying the perpetrator or perpetrators, establishing if they still have access to children and, if so, whether they pose a risk to any child.
“The film, and our other information products, provide survivors with information to enable them to make an informed choice about whether or not they wish to report the abuse they experienced to police, whilst at the same time ensuring that they are signposted to relevant support services.”
As well as the film, information for adult survivors of childhood abuse is also available on Police Scotland’s website and via an information leaflet (below).
The film, which has been produced following extensive consultation with survivors and survivor support services and with funding from Scottish Government, can be viewed above.