Granton’s Sam to showcase her skills

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A student from Granton is set to travel to Birmingham to show off her talent as a gym instructor to more than 70,000 spectators at the nation’s largest skills and careers event. Sam Laird has been selected to represent City of Glasgow College in the Gym Instructor category at The Skills Show 2016 and is hoping to bring home a medal and advance to the finals of WorldSkills, a competition dubbed ‘the skills Olympics’. Continue reading Granton’s Sam to showcase her skills

Side by Side? Labour councillors to host community event

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Housing and care services are in crisis. Can local community co-operatives help to meet local needs?

These are questions for a ‘radical’ new community project in Edinburgh Northern and Leith. Side by Side aims to explore how we can learn from each other and work together to create positive practical change in our local neighbourhood.

Housing, environment and care of the young and elderly were the top concerns to emerge from two community Open Space events in the last 12 months.  The first event identified the needs; the second came up with bold ideas to fill gaps in local services – including housing and childcare co-operatives

Now Side by Side aims to take the next step with The Gathering, at Norton Park Conference Centre on Saturday 3 December.  And this time the event will start by celebrating the successes and achievements of local groups who are already changing lives.     

‘Through our events we discovered fantastic creative enterprises in Edinburgh Northern and Leith,’ says Fay Young, one of the organisers, ‘But not everyone knows about them. We hope to learn from each other to build on what is here already and generate new ideas to enhance quality of life in our area.’  

Keynote speaker Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, will set the tone of an event which seeks to ‘share best practice and build on local achievements’. A panel of experts from Pilton Community Health Project, Port of Leith Housing Association, Shrub Swap and Reuse Hub and North Edinburgh Childcare will also provide first hand accounts of successful community enterprises and projects.

Workshop discussions and outcomes will be led and decided by the audience and facilitated by Judith Chivers. Proposals put forward by The Gathering will contribute to a community manifesto for our neighbourhood in time for the local authority elections in May 2017. 

Side by Side has grown from two Open Space community discussion events hosted by Councillor Lesley Hinds, in December 2015 and April 2016.  Local organisations and residents were invited to explore how we might make use of new powers coming to the Scottish Parliament to improve life in our part of Edinburgh. 

Councillor Hinds who is standing down after 33 years on City of Edinburgh Council said:  ‘I promised to turn words into action and that is what The Gathering aims to do. My colleagues will ensure this is taken forward”.

Side by Side is a community project open to all. The Gathering will be introduced and hosted by Labour Councillors for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, and is supported by Leith Open Space, an intercultural community discussion group formed in 2005.

Edinburgh based Selah Corbin, a cinematic songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose work has been likened to “paintings that come alive”   will provide the music and a light lunch of delicious food from Punjabi Junction will be served.

To take part, book now on   Eventbrite   https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/side-by-side-edinburgh-northern-and-leith-gathering-tickets-28336222404?aff=es2

and follow Facebook.com/SBSGathering   and   http://www.edinburghlabournorthernandleith.org.uk/ for updates.

For further information please contact Marion Donaldson councillormariondonaldson@gmail.com

Minor Injuries Unit celebrates 22nd birthday

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The Western General’s Minor Injuries Clinic  celebrated its 22nd birthday on 1st November. 
The clinic provides treatment for adults and children aged over one year. Open every day of the year from 8am to 9pm (last patient book-in at 8.30pm) it treats a wide range of injuries, such as cuts, burns, sprains, wound infections and simple fractures.
More details on the work of the Minor Injuries Clinic are on the NHS Lothian at:
The clinic opened on 1 November 1994, breaking new ground by becoming the first nurse-led unit of its kind in Scotland. The new Unit was created as a result of community pressure following a long campaign to retain A & E and childrens services at the Western (above).

As a special 22nd birthday treat for the clinic’s specialist nurse, paramedic and physiotherapy practitioners, NHS Lothian arranged for a special rendition of “Happy Birthday” to be performed (appropriately) in the key of ‘A Minor!

You can hear the performance here:

Continue reading Minor Injuries Unit celebrates 22nd birthday

Community facilities at Waitrose Comely Bank

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Local not for profit groups and can now book a free meeting room at Waitrose Comely Bank. The new community room is free of charge and can be used whenever the store is open, including weekends. It has a table and chairs and can accommodate 20 people. To book the room please call the branch on 0131 332 6312.

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Police priorities: have your say

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Police priorities consultation: digital way to have your say

Police Scotland consults with the public every year on what their priorities are for policing in their community. In the past this has always been by hard copy consultation questionnaires which were distributed by police officers within the community they work.

This year Police Scotland’s consultation process is widening and becoming more flexible. The consultation process is moving online to a digital format and consultation will be open all year.

Your View Counts

The public consultation is for you to tell us what is important to you in your community. Your opinion is valued – we need your opinion to inform our policing. Having your say in the decision making process of Police Scotland is a vital tool for residents of Scotland to be able to shape the way their public services should operate.

Everyone’s views across Scotland will be taken on board at a national and local level. We want you to help us focus on the priorities that will help communities most. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to local policing and all the needs and wants of individual communities will be considered.

This is the first time Police Scotland’s public consultation is being hosted on a digital platform. This allows us to reach a much wider audience than ever before ensuring that everyone can have their say.

The online consultation is open all year which allows you to take part when it suits you but also gives the flexibility of being able to re-submit the consultation if your priorities change.

It’s a very simple process that should only take a few moments of your time but will shape the way that policing is coordinated across Scotland and in your local community.

We will keep you updated on our  quarterly  results. The consultation will be a completely transparent process as it’s all about your priorities.

You can also visit a version of this page in Polish.

Take the survey here

Click here for a Polish version