NEVER GIVE UP! Social History Group launches book on North Edinburgh activism

For some, the names Muirhouse, Drylaw and Pilton conjure up images of run-down housing schemes, drugs and violence, but a group of local people are showing there’s a far more positive story to be told about life in North Edinburgh with the publication of a new book and accompanying DVD.

‘Never Give Up – A community’s fight for social justice’ took over two years to produce and highlights the campaigns and celebrates the achievements of community activists in North Edinburgh since the housing estates were built in the 1930s. The book and DVD, alongside a photo exhibition, were launched at North Edinburgh Arts Centre in Pennywell on 23 June.

The project has been a real labour of love for the members of North Edinburgh Social History Group, who have been meeting weekly in Granton’s Prentice Centre since December 2008. Over the months the group – Roberta Blaikie, Brian Eddington, Anna Hutchison, Ian Moore and Brian Robertson – sifted through thirty years of back copies of local community newspaper North Edinburgh News – which folded in March this year – and researched a wide range of other archive materials to build up their story. The group – all volunteers – also interviewed over twenty local people to record their recollections of the campaigns and events that have shaped North Edinburgh’s history.

The result – a beautifully illustrated 52 page publication which documents the struggle of local working class people over seventy years – was unveiled at a celebratory launch event at North Edinburgh Arts Centre last night. Around 100 guests – many of whom feature in the book and accompanying DVD – attended the launch, which was introduced by former Pilton councillor, Edinburgh District Council leader and Craigroyston High School teacher Alex Wood, who wrote the foreword for the book.

Welcoming the publication of the book, Alex Wood said: “This has been a hugely important exercise and the group has produced an enormously important piece of historical research. This is a great example of working class people telling their area’s story – it shows to all that our communities have a proud history and as they have a history they will have a future”.

The project was supported by the respected international Community Development Journal following an approach by Edinburgh University’s Mae Shaw. She told the meeting: “This book, and the DVD, are tremendously important and a deeply moving record of the struggles of working people to have a voice in their communities. The book will be reviewed by the Community Development Journal and I am sure that it will become a valuable educational resource not just in this country but across the world”.

Roberta Blaikie, an enthusiastic member of the social history group, explained: “We first got together because we thought it was important to record the history of activism in the area because this has not been documented anywhere else. During the course of our research more funding cuts made it even more important to create a record, as valued projects that are an important part of our area’s history were being slashed and some, like NEN, forced to close down. It’s been a fascinating project – going from the TB campaign, damp housing and rent rise protests right up to the present day Fairer Scotland Fund cuts – and we’ve learned an awful lot along the way. I think we really need to remind ourselves how capable we are as a community – we are organisers, campaigners and people with knowledge, experience and skills. In the past we had the confidence to take on the establishment when we were unhappy about things – and we can do that again!”

Community Learning and Development (CLD) worker Lynn McCabe, who has supported the Social History Group throughout the process, said: “I don’t think any of us knew the size of the task we were taking on when we set out all those months ago. The project has just grown and grown and while we’ve had our setbacks it really has been an incredible experience for everyone involved – there was so much enthusiasm. The launch of the book and video is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the many ordinary people – past and present – who have done so much to make North Edinburgh a better place to live. It’s a proud story and the group has told that story very well”.

The book is now being distributed to projects and schools in the area and copies of the DVD will be available soon. The group also plans to make their considerable research archive available free to all through the creation of a website – currently under development – in the near future.

Meanwhile, ‘Never Give Up’ may be written,but the story – and the fight – goes on. At the launch event local campaigner Willie Black announced the formation of North Edinburgh Fights Back, a new grass-roots community organisation which aims to tackle cuts being imposed on the area, while North Edinburgh Arts’ drama worker Stephanie Knight invited people to sign up to workshops for a new community drama based around the theme of community activism, due to launch in September. It’s clear we are far from reaching the end of North Edinburgh’s story, and local activists won’t be ‘giving up’ any time soon!

Dave Pickering

Forth Neighbourhood Partnership attracts surprising turnout

A surprisingly good turn out at the Forth Neighbourhood Partnership
Public Meeting at Telford College last night.

Local groups and organisations including Community Renewal, Libraries,
Granton Churches and North Edinburgh Arts took advantage of the Market
area to set out information stalls and showcase the range of services
available in the ward.

The aim of the meeting was to update on the regeneration projects in
the Forth Ward and the FNP team had pulled all the stops out to ensure
that a good selection of representatives from City Development, Land
owners and Housing Associations were in attendance to do just that.
Cllr Allan Jackson opened the meeting and Peter Strong introduced the
speakers.

Sally Nelson the Area Manager for City Development set a positive tone
for the presentations outlining her role as both co-ordinator and
facilitator to review progress to date and look for areas to improve,
Sally will look at short term options to put dormant land to good use
as well as working with other land owners to stimulate and support
longer term development around the waterfront regeneration zone and
the adjacent community.

Ann Confrey gave an informative review of National Grid’s The
Forthquarter taking the audience through the progress made .over the
last decade, a well received presentation that reminded the audience
just how much the former gasworks has changed. Some of the most useful
information Ann imparted was the number of sustainable jobs retained
and created in Granton. The Scottish Gas HQ employs over 1500
people, Morrison’s store employs at least 30 and further questions
after the meeting revealed that there are a host of other roles
including 6 security and 4 landscape personnel and around 16 senior
consultants on National Grid’s project team who live and work in
Edinburgh.

Simon Lievesley of Services for Communities confirmed that 21st
Century Homes were on track to commission architects to produce a
masterplan for the new homes at Pennywell and would commence a series
of stakeholder consultation activities once these were available for
review.

Dave White updated on plans for the Muirhouse proposed community
health centre – while he acknowledged the article in the Edinburgh
Evening News- he did not confirm or deny the content, instead he spoke
about reviewing options on how and where services would be provided
with the focus being on the provision of health services required in
the community along with supporting welfare services aimed at enabling
people to live healthier lives rather than on providing a lovely new
building. Read into that what you will.

There was some grumbling from those present about the format of the
event. All questions were deferred until after the meeting and this
did not go down well with some who had hoped to address the speakers
publicly,. However everyone stayed to mingle so there was ample time
to ask questions and speak to officials and representatives while
perusing the stalls and catching up with friends and colleagues.

Councillors Elaine Morris and Cammy Day took time to speak to most of
the people there and thanked Peter Strong’s team for all their efforts
making the event such a success.

Ann Confrey

North Edinburgh Postcode Challenge

Leave your car at home and come join in the FREE fun at the Bike Station’s Postcode Challenge this Sunday!

How to take part:

1. Get onto the North Edinburgh cycle network wherever you like and is most convenient – look at the Innertube map to find your nearest entrance.

2. Track down one of the ten stands. They are spaced out around the network and you won’t have to go far to find the first one. The stands are being run by variousEdinburgh organisations, including Edinburgh and Lothian Greenspace Trust, Sustrans, Changeworks, and the People’s Postcode Lottery.

3. They will give you a participant’s card with space for ten postcodes and stamp it with your first postcode to prove you have visited them (they may also give you a little prize of their own). There’s no need to register – just turn up and ask for a card. There’s one card per team, but don’t worry, there are plenty of prizes.

4. Go on to the next stand and have your card stamped again. Each stand will be able to give you a clue where to go next, but all the locations will be on the network shown on the Innertube map, and you’ll never need to go on a road whilst taking part. And you can’t get lost.

5. When you have been to all ten locations, and collected your ten postcodes, take your completed card to the main desk at Fiveways Junction by4pm to see what you have won. You won’t know what prize, or how many, until you hand your card in. As well as prizes to win on the day, everyone gets to enter a free draw to win bigger prizes.

So basically, spend the afternoon on the North Edinburgh Cycle Path and win prizes!

Questions?

a. how do I find the stands? They are spaced out around the network, and you can either work out where they might be from their postcodes (EH6 4JT, EH6 6HJ, EH6 4RQ, EH7 4HJ, EH7 4EW, EH6 4RH, EH5 2XS, EH4 2SA, EH12 5JE and EH6 4RT), or hunt them down on the day by bike. Each stand will be able to give you an idea where the next one will be. But you will have to explore most of the routes to find the stands – a great way of exploring the network.

b. how long will it take? That depends on how fast you cycle, but it is not a race, and a leisurely couple of hours should do it.

c. I haven’t been on a bike in ages, is this event for me? Absolutely! There is absolutely no traffic, and the whole network is very flat. You won’t need to cycle miles.

d. Can I do it on foot? Yes, but it will take longer!

If you have any questions please contact the Bike Station on 0131 668 1996 or e-mailing info@thebikestation.org.uk

Urban Adventure In Granton This Friday

Urban Adventure is a FREE event for nursery and primary school children, together with their families. It takes place tomorrow, Friday 10 June at Forthquarter Park in Granton (behind Morrisons and Telford College) between 1pm and 4pm. It’s being organised by Active Schools and Pilton Community Health Project.

There will be lots of games, sports and fun activities, including: a visit from the Fire Brigade, a bouncy castle, bugs and beastie hunts, face painting, cycling, orienteering, a tug of war, food stalls, football, rugby, African drumming and music.

A great afternoon out for all the family!

source: http://innertubemap.com/blog/post/152

author: Sue McKichan

 

 

 

Secret Millionaire Comes To North Edinburgh

North Edinburgh News understands that the Channel 4 programme Secret Millionaire has been filming inNorth Edinburgh. We believe that 3 local projects have all received donations from the Secret Millionaire.

NEN understands that the Millionaire, whose identity has still not been released, was living in West Pilton Rise and that he volunteered with local projects.

Its reported that one local project received a donation of £20,000 towards the work they deliver inNorth Edinburgh.

Rachel Davison from Zodiak Media, the company behind the programme, said “At this early stage we are not in a position to give out any details, but a press release will be sent out in due course”.

Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership Funds Summer Programme

The Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership agreed a grant of £3,274.00 to support the Inverleith wide Summer Programme for Children, Young People and Families. The decision was made at the Partnership meeting that took place on Tuesday night in Stockbridge Library.

The grant will be used to pay for staffing, tutors, entry fees, refreshments, publicity and fuel. The Inverleith Summer Programme is available to local people living in the Inverleith Ward and includes various opportunities for local people that include outdoor education, family trips, art sessions and much more.

The remainder of the estimated £11,000 programme will come from Community Learning & Development who are contributing £3,000 and other local projects who are making in-kind contributions.

The programme will be advertised through local schools, community centres and various websites. A registration night will take place on Wednesday 22nd June 2011 in Broughton High School starting at 6.00pm.

This Weeks Community Councils Meetings

This weeks Community Council meetings in north Edinburgh are:

Granton & District Community Council meets on Wednesday 25th may 2011 7.00pm at The Spartans Football Academy and on the same night its the AGM of the Drylaw & Telford Community Council at 7.00pm in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.

Eddie Thorn from the North Edinburgh News is a guest speaker at the Drylaw & Telford Community Council AGM. Come along and hear all about the exciting news from the NEN.

Are you going along to either of these meetings? if so would you be willing to report on the what has happened? If yes then please get in touch with us.

What else is going on in North Edinburgh this week? Please leave a comment below and we will try and get along to cover it.

Botanics Net Building Prize

THE John Hope Gateway Centre at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has been named the most sustainable building in Scotland in this year’s prestigious Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland awards.
The judges said the design of the visitor attraction “enhanced the wider environment and in the process formed an environmentally-friendly building”.

It is the latest in a string of awards for the £15.7 million building, which has been a great success with visitors since it opened at the Botanics in October 2009.