‘Stable leadership for the Council moving forward’ – Council Leader Cllr Adam McVey
The City of Edinburgh Council is to be run by an SNP and Labour coalition. SNP group leader Adam McVey (SNP) and Labour’s Cammy Day will sign the formal agreement later today, ending weeks of uncertainty. The capital has been without political leadership since last month’s council elections. Continue reading Yes folks, it’s Capital Coalition 2!
Pupils from Pirniehall Primary School put their engineering skills to the test at a special event organised to encourage more young people into science, technology, engineering, or maths (STEM) related careers. Continue reading Water result: Pirniehall pupils conquer three minute challenge
A new beer is being launched as part of a collaboration between leading Scottish craft brewer, Stewart Brewing, and Heriot-Watt University. The beer, called ‘Common Ancestor’, has been created by four masters students at the university’s International Centre for Brewing and Distilling. Continue reading Stewart Brewing and Heriot-Watt students unite in a common cause
Children from across the country took part in the first celebration event for an initiative that fosters a lifelong love of reading amongst Scotland’s young people. Around 600 P4 – P7 children joined First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the inaugural First Minister’s Reading Challenge ceremony in Edinburgh. Continue reading Children join First Minister for Reading Challenge celebration
People sleeping rough on the streets of Edinburgh and Glasgow should receive greater support following a deal struck between two charities specialising in outreach work. The chief executive of Glasgow-based charity Simon Community Scotland has now also been named chief executive of their Edinburgh-based counterpart, Streetwork.
The dual role now being performed by Lorraine McGrath (above) will see both organisations build on an already existing relationship of sharing expertise in their joint pursuit of providing practical support to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Streetwork has been providing face-to-face support to rough sleepers in the capital for 25 years, while Simon Community Scotland has been doing likewise in Glasgow for just over 50. The bigger of the two, in terms of staff numbers, Simon Community Scotland also provides emergency accommodation services, including in North Lanarkshire and North Ayrshire.
The opportunity for McGrath to take on the twin roles followed a vacancy arising at Streetwork.
Streetwork chair Linda Holden said: “I am delighted that a chief executive of the calibre of Lorraine McGrath has been appointed as our chief executive also.
“To have access to the skills, talents and resources of Simon Community Scotland – with whom we share so many values – will be vital as we try to to support people with complex needs who are sleeping rough on our streets.
“We are specialists in working directly with people sleeping rough on our streets. This collaboration is a really significant step forward for us as we work towards trying to solve this so visible and heart-wrenching situation we all see on the streets of our cities.”
Lorraine McGrath said: “I’ve known and informally worked with Streetwork for over ten years. I feel honoured and privileged to be linking the leadership of the two major homelessness street outreach organisations in Scotland, I believe it offers great opportunity for shared learning.
“This ambitious agreement between our organisations is wholly focused on delivering improvements for people who find themselves on the streets or in crisis in our two cities where we have the greatest homelessness need.
“Streetwork has a strong legacy of delivery in Edinburgh and a highly-skilled and expert team and I am delighted to be joining that team.
“This partnership will bring huge benefits to both organisations as we develop new ways of working, learning from each other about what works best and in developing new approaches together.”
The women presented the new arrangement to key officials at The City of Edinburgh Council, which is the principal funder of Streetwor, on Monday.
Port of Leith Housing Association’s sheltered housing team have won an award for brining the Scottish Social Services (SSS) Council’s codes of practice to life at the SSS Awards, which recognise best practice and individuals who are making a real difference to the lives of the people they support.
Maureen Tait, Sheltered Housing Services Manager, Port of Leith Housing Association said: “We’re thrilled that we have been singled out for this award. Our whole team has worked together to make the Scottish Social Services Council’s codes and values real and meaningful to our staff and tenants.
“We have also developed a team charter which demonstrates our staff’s values and beliefs, and shows our tenants that we’re committed to excellent service delivery. It’s fantastic that the team’s hard work and dedication has been recognised. I’m really proud of them.”
Places can be booked from Monday 3rd – Thursday 6th July
PEP Summer Fayre
Thursday 20th July 1 – 3.30pm 
‘No place here for intolerance, discrimination or violence’ – Communites Secretary Angela Constance
A series of practical measures have been set out to tackle and prevent hate crime in Scotland, focused on tackling prejudice and building stronger communities.
Responding to the recommendations of the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime which reported in September, Communities and Equalities Secretary Angela Constance has confirmed:
Ms Constance (above) said: “These actions will drive practical measures in the months and years ahead that demonstrate Scotland’s leadership in the fight against hate crime. We are making abundantly clear that there is no place here for intolerance, discrimination or violence.
“We must continue to tackle the underlying causes and conditions that allow hatred and intolerance to flourish. It is vital in these challenging times that we remain united, which is why we are redoubling our efforts to promote fairness, equality and a respect right across our society.”
