Man in court following Muirhouse assault and motorcycle robbery

Local Police have confirmed that a 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged following an assault and robbery in Muirhouse Gardens. The incident happened around 7.10pm on Wednesday 1st March, and involved the theft of a motorcycle. Continue reading Man in court following Muirhouse assault and motorcycle robbery

Thank you, Moonwalkers: new Maggies Centre opens

Up to 15,000 people in the Forth Valley area living with cancer could benefit from a brand new Maggie’s Centre which opened yesterday in Larbert. Breast cancer charity Walk the Walk is the principal funder of Maggie’s Forth Valley, through a £3 million grant from funds raised by its iconic night-time fundraising event, The MoonWalk Scotland. Continue reading Thank you, Moonwalkers: new Maggies Centre opens

Macpherson: Scotland must have choice over future

SNP MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Ben Macpherson, says it is absolutely correct and appropriate for the people of Scotland to be offered a choice, once the options become clear, between a Tory hard Brexit and becoming an independent country.

Continue reading Macpherson: Scotland must have choice over future

Youth projects launch My Travels postcard campaign

Young people from Deaf Action in Edinburgh and The Junction based in Leith gathered at the Scottish Parliament recently to launch the ‘My Travels’ postcard campaign, run by YouthLink Scotland.  Continue reading Youth projects launch My Travels postcard campaign

Letters: Save our local services

Dear Editor

Cuts in funding for services affect people differently; most are appalled at the frequency and the damage it is doing to the local social fabric. But, as always, it is those who most in need of services are denied them, with all the consequences including further isolation within the community.

Pilton Equalities Project (PEP), an organisation based in North Edinburgh, runs many services for local people including:

  • Five day care clubs
  • Classes and activities in computer training, arts and crafts and literacy and numeracy
  • Cooking
  • A mental health issues group

These activities are attended by approximately 200 people each week.

PEP minibuses pick up from and return people to their homes; all the buses are staffed with volunteer escorts. Up to 80 other volunteers help throughout the week with other activities.

Funding cuts from the city council or Scottish Government will hit the provision of these services and the very people who are most in need.

PEP makes every effort in appealing to various social and charitable organisations for grants and support to keep these vital services going, but it is not sustainable in the long run if funding cuts continue.

PEP’s volunteers carried out 13,000 hours volunteering for local people in 2016, adding greatly to the quality of life and indeed their health.

As one of those volunteers, the reason for this letter is to raise public understanding of how serious are repeated cuts in funding for local services. With the best will and efforts, volunteers cannot operate on insufficient funding for their organisation.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens