IF – and it’s still a very big ‘if’ – there’s a no deal Brexit, border controls will be introduced to make it harder for criminals to enter the UK, the Home Office announced yesterday. Continue reading UK Government announces immigration plans for no deal Brexit
Social enterprise celebrates huge milestone in fighting funeral poverty across Scotland
Scotland’s first not-for-profit funeral directors have already saved bereaved Scots £500,000
In the light of recent findings by the National Funeral Cost Index Report 2019 that low income families are experiencing even more funeral poverty than ever, one local social enterprise has announced they are well on their way to bucking this trend.
Family Fun Day at Granton Parish Church
GRANTON GOES GREENER
Sustainable Community Family Fun Day
Saturday 21 September 12 noon – 3pm
Family Fun Day with lots of FREE exciting environmental workshops including making shopping bags from up-cycled fabric, paper coasters making, bike repairing, baby and toddler interactive session, tombola, table top sale and much more.
FREE food , tea/ coffee served all day. Join us to celebrate SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DAY, learn more about up-cycling and have some fun day with your family and friends!
Scotland’s largest Volunteer Recruitment Fair – Wednesday 18 September 2019!
Volunteer Edinburgh will welcome more than 50 organisations to Scotland’s largest volunteer recruitment fair on Wednesday, 18 September 2019 between 11am and 7pm at St Paul’s and St George’s Church on York Place. Continue reading Scotland’s largest Volunteer Recruitment Fair – Wednesday 18 September 2019!
Sunday is Emergency Services ‘999’ Day
Sunday 8th September 9am – 4pm
Princes Street Gardens
Queensferry Crossing artwork unveiled
Scotland’s national poet contributes to permanent tribute.
An ode to the Queensferry Crossing by Scotland’s national poet has been set in bronze in a specially commissioned work.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop will unveil the artwork, Bridge of Pages, by the local artist Gordon Muir and featuring a poem by the Makar, Jackie Kay, on the Forth Road Bridge west footpath. This location, a vantage point on to the Queensferry Crossing, will be a permanent home for the work.
The 3.5m-wide plaque represents five pages of a book with illustrations of mythical and historical characters from the area, alongside scenes from the Queensferry Crossing’s construction. These were hand sculpted in clay before being set in bronze.
The poem, which was read out by the Makar at the Queensferry Crossing opening ceremony in 2017, has also been set in braille along the bottom of the work.
Ms Hyslop said: “This fantastic piece of artwork will allow walkers to enjoy the Queensferry Crossing poem while taking in the spectacular views of the new road bridge. The Queensferry Crossing is a breathtaking example of Scotland’s world-class engineering projects, and as our national poet, Jackie Kay is the perfect choice for the work.
“The Queensferry Crossing poem has been an important part of the bridge’s journey, having been read out at the opening ceremony, so it is fitting that it will now be installed as a permanent tribute to be enjoyed by people for generations to come.”
Ms Kay said: “It is a huge honour to have a poem on the bridge. I am particularly excited that this is one of the few public poems in the world to be in braille. It is funny to have a poem that will outlive you. I think the Queensberry Crossing is a magnificent sculpture.”
Mark Arndt, Account Director for the Forth Bridges operating company Amey, said: “We’re delighted to have played a part in bringing together poetry, art and engineering for this apt and timeless celebration of the Queensferry Crossing.
“The artwork’s unique setting high on the Forth Road Bridge footpath is the perfect place to appreciate these words and images cast in bronze. I’m sure they will be enjoyed by many generations of locals and visitors alike.”
Artist Gordon Muir said: “As a poetry-loving ‘brigophile’ I was super chuffed to be working with Makar Jackie on this tribute to the new Queensferry Crossing, another shining example of Scottish engineering.”
Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics programme unveiled
The Scottish Parliament will welcome a range of leading public figures such as Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, journalist and broadcaster Andrew Marr, and TV’s Dr Rangan Chaterjee, as part of this year’s Festival of Politics. Continue reading Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics programme unveiled
Edinburgh Leisure launches new classes aimed at Ageing Well
As a charity dedicated to creating opportunities for all ages and stages to lead more active, healthy lives, Edinburgh Leisure has launched a series of new classes aimed at older adults. Continue reading Edinburgh Leisure launches new classes aimed at Ageing Well
Book launch – Shafted: The Media, the Miners’ Strike & The Aftermath (new edition)
FREE PUBLIC EVENT / SCOTTISH BOOK LAUNCH & SPEAKER EVENT
for new edition of
Shafted: The Media, the Miners’ Strike and the Aftermath Continue reading Book launch – Shafted: The Media, the Miners’ Strike & The Aftermath (new edition)
Stormy weather: Mela faces uncertain future
Edinburgh Mela 2019 was held on Saturday the 31st August and Sunday the 1st of September at Leith Links. There were strong winds on the Saturday but sunshine on the Sunday. In terms of public safety the Festival was closed for two hours on Saturday.
Paid-for Services were regrettably and unavoidably limited on Saturday because of the bad weather but on Sunday the ‘Mela was the Mela’ of a capacity crowd coming in, staying and leaving. Also, children played on fun fair equipment and adults and the elderly sat, stood, talked and ate a wide variety of wonderfully cooked foods.
Here, different people were expressing a common humanity. The Edinburgh Mela remains a local event put on by the Mela Board for the people at no cost. This ‘free’ concept remains important to the Board because no one should be excluded because of not being able to pay an entrance fee. Music, dancing and a fashion show were provided and were enjoyed by people of different cultures. Edinburgh Mela remains a multicultural event.
Funding was Lottery funding. It was limited but greatly appreciated. Council funding and funding from Creative Scotland were sadly missed.
Financially, the Mela may not survive much longer but if the community loses the Mela after nearly 25 years in place, a special way of bringing our multicultural community will be lost.
Such a loss will reduce a sense of belonging. A sense of belonging is an important part of community cohesion and contribution to our society.
The nature of Mela (2019) is captured in the post-Mela clean-up of the Links when a neighbour saw Mela Board members and the Chair Sir Geoff Palmer (above) cleaning and stayed and helped. Turned out her husband, a journalist, had interviewed Sir Geoff Palmer decades ago about his life and race relations.
Edinburgh Mela