CaveFit(s) into bank vaults at the Edinburgh Grand

Gritty, “bad-ass”, fitness outfit, CaveFit, is to open its second gym in the former bank vaults in the basement of The Edinburgh Grand, following a partnership deal with the luxury hotel residence’s owners, Chris Stewart Group. Continue reading CaveFit(s) into bank vaults at the Edinburgh Grand

The story begins for young Edinburgh writer

Scottish Book Trust announces new participants for What’s Your Story?

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, has today announced the seven teenage writers and illustrators who will join the What’s Your Story? programme. Now in its fourth year, the scheme has so far assisted over 20 young people from across Scotland to develop writing, illustration and performance projects. 

Beccie White, 14, is a performance poet from Edinburgh. She applied for the What’s Your Story? programme because she wants to create poetry which tackles themes that are important to her, such as feminism and other political issues. Beccie believes poetry is important, as it allows her to use her voice and express her opinions creatively. During the programme, she will be mentored by Jenny Lindsay, performance poet and director of Flint and Pitch.

Seven teens in total were selected by a judging team, which included one of the previous What’s Your Story? participants, and representatives from Creative Scotland, The National Library of Scotland, The Gaelic Books Council and Scottish Book Trust. Participants were selected on the enthusiasm and dedication they expressed for teenage participation in creative and literary culture.

The young people received an induction programme with The National Library of Scotland, where they had the opportunity to research their chosen subject and gain inspiration for their personal creative works. They have also recently taken part in a week-long retreat at Moniack Mhor, Scotland’s creative writing centre, where they had dedicated time with their mentors.

As part of the What’s Your Story?, the participants will plan and host StoryCon 2019, Scotland’s biggest creative writing and illustration conference for young people. Last year, this took place in Glasgow and was attended by over 100 young people.

The young people will have the opportunity to preview their creative projects at a showcase event, wrapping up the work they have completed during the What’s Your Story? programme. Industry experts will train the young people to express their work in front of a live audience, with the use of music and images.

Organised and run by Scottish Book Trust, What’s Your Story? was originally funded by Time to Shine, Creative Scotland’s national youth arts strategy and is the first nationwide programme of its kind in Scotland. This year it is funded by Badenoch Trust, Kiran’s Trust and The Hugh Fraser Foundation, as well as other trusts and private donors. What’s Your Story? is free to take part in and travel expenses will be covered for all participants. The Gaelic Books Council also funds a Gaelic-language place.

Beccie White said: “I am really excited to be starting my journey on the What’s Your Story? programme, as it is an incredible opportunity to develop as a young poet.

“I am also really looking forward to meeting all the other creative people on the course, as well as inspiring other young authors and creative people. I think being able to share tips and tricks as well as shared experiences with other young creative people with is really important and fun. Overall, I am just really excited to have this opportunity and to inspire other teens!”

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Scottish Book Trust is pleased to launch the fourth year of the What’s Your Story? programme, highlighting new and upcoming talent in the Scottish literary scene.

“We are grateful to our funders, for making this programme possible, and also to our mentors for providing life-changing support and advice to the young people. We look forward to seeing the work they produce throughout the year.” 

The full list of the What’s Your Story? participants is as follows: 

Performance poet, Beccie White, from Edinburgh

Performance poet, Devin McRoberts from Paisley

Short story writer, Nicole Foreman, from Dornoch

Illustrator, Sara Oussaiden, from Isle of Skye

Author, Skye Ailun Peng, from Glasgow

Author, Andrew Pettigrew, from Hamilton

Gaelic writer, Ailbhe Murphy, from Glasgow

Fascist graffiti at Granton

Karen Bates made a disturbing discovery at Granton  breakwater yesterday …

In contrast to the positivity of wild swimmers at Granton Harbour, we have, in the B listed WWII outposts on the Eastern Breakwater, a pop-up toilet & skip decorated with hostile, racist graffiti.

It can’t be the responsibility of #volunteers to clean up this health hazard. These structures now belong to Granton Central Developments Ltd, bought from Forth Ports.

They either need to be preserved & enhanced as historic buildings, or at least cleaned up so that the many fishers & walkers who enjoy this amazing place, can have a healthy shelter.

I didn’t want to hang around in the stench of urine to read all the #graffiti, but the photos speak for themselves.

Fascist graffiti at Granton Breakwater?! It MUST go. Utterly unacceptable, as are the piles of beer cans, #plasticbottles & fishing litter that strangle our #sealife.

The Council could perhaps put pressure on Granton Central Developments Ltd to maintain their property in a way that is even vaguely in accordance with acceptable standards for a public place, enjoyed by the many.

KAREN BATES,

Wardie Bay Beachwatch

Graffiti comments include “Gas them”, “Kill Poles”, “Hitler was right”, “Polish c**** and more of the same.

Karen has contacted the relevant authorities. Here’s hoping for prompt action – Editor.

Keep Safe

What is Keep Safe?

Keep Safe is an award winning initiative developed in partnership with Police Scotland and I Am Me Scotland.

Keep Safe Places logo

The initiative works with a network of local businesses to create ‘Keep Safe’ places in the community for anyone feeling lost, frightened or who has been a victim of crime. Keep Safe staff are trained to offer assistance if required.

What is the aim of the initiative?

The initiative aims to ensure that people feel safe when participating in community life. Many people can feel scared, frightened or vulnerable when out in the community and this can in many cases lead to social isolation.

Keep Safe aims to offer a network of safe places to help encourage people to participate in daily community life free from the fear of harassment and abuse.

Sometimes due to disability or age related illness, people can easily become disorientated, lost or become confused, especially in and around unfamiliar surroundings. Keep Safe can offer a reassurance that there is somewhere people can seek assistance if required.

What is the Keep Safe Card?

Keep Safe Places card

Keep Safe cards are available for elderly, disabled and vulnerable people. The cards detail information such as communication requirements, health concerns and who to contact in the event of an emergency.

The cards are particularly useful for people who have a learning disability or have dementia/Alzheimer’s.

How can a business become a Keep Safe place?

If a business wants to become a Keep Safe place, they can either contact their local Police Office directly to ask if they are supporting the initiative or they can contact I Am Me project on iammeproject@yahoo.co.uk.

What is involved?

If a business wants to become Keep Safe, a criteria form is completed and sent to Police Scotland to check that the premises are suitable to become Keep Safe. If approved, a training date will be arranged.

This can be tailored to suit each business and can be anything from 20 minutes to 2 hours depending on what the business would like delivered.

When staff training is complete, the Keep Safe sticker will be displayed in the window and the business will be advertised on I Am Me Scotland webpage and the new Keep Safe App.

A business pack is left with each Keep Safe place to ensure that any new staff can be made aware of the initiative.

What is the Keep Safe App?

A phone app called ‘Keep Safe Scotland’ has been developed and is available to download. The app maps out all Keep Safe places across Scotland and can help people to plan routes, highlighting Keep Safe places along the route.

The app also enables people to report hate crimes directly to the Police if they have been a victim or have witnessed an incident.

It is available via iTunes or Google Play.

Is there any cost involved?

There is no cost for participating businesses and all resources for the initiative are provided free from iammeproject@yahoo.co.uk.

Are there any restrictions?

A criteria form must be completed and all new Keep Safe places must be approved by Police Scotland. This is to ensure that Keep Safe places are safe and accessible places for people to seek assistance.

The Keep Safe premises information must be sent to the I Am Me project to ensure that there is a national database of Keep Safe places and that all Keep Safe places can be identified on the phone app.

The Keep Safe logo and resources must remain unchanged as this will ensure recognition when people are travelling across local authority boundaries. Local information and advertising can be inserted into the business packs, if required.

What is I Am Me?

I Am Me Scotland is a community based charity based in Renfrewshire. The Charity works with Police Scotland and Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Office to raise awareness of disability hate crime.

Although the focus of the charity and the training resources is Disability, Keep Safe has been designed and developed to support any person who may require support and assistance when out in the community.

Updated-Keep-Safe-Card-Print-Ready-A4

More information on the charity is available from www.iammescotland.co.uk or twitter @IammeScotland