Local community theatre group St Serf’s Players have won the Edinburgh round of the SCDA’s 2016 One Act Festival with their production of Erica & Me by Alan Robinson, directed by Philip Wilson. Continue reading Encore! St Serf’s Players triumph at One Act Festival
Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery in North Edinburgh on Thursday night. The incident happened at around 10.30pm on West Pilton Gardens. Continue reading Police seek witnesses following hammer threat
REFERENDUM DATE set for 23 JUNE
Not quite a ‘peace in our time’ moment – but has the Prime Minister secured enough concessions to keep Britain in Europe?
The Prime Minister made a statement following the meeting of the European Council where he negotiated a deal to give the UK special status in the EU. Continue reading Europe Referendum date is 23 June
Deadline looms for Communities & Families applications
Don’t miss out on your chance to secure last minute funding for the Communities and Families fund, a joint programme delivered with the Scottish Government. Since opening the programme has awarded over £5.4 million to groups working with children across Scotland. Continue reading Lottery funding for children and family activities
Dear Editor
A major problem facing people in Edinburgh is how to dispose of or recycle large unwanted household items. The absence of a free council-run collection service as part of normal recycling leads to the serious issue if dumping.
The scheme currently in place – a charge of £21 to collect up to six items – is unbelievable in it’s lack of understanding people’s ability to pay, or hwo to tackle the problem of disposal if they cannot.
The City of Edinburgh Council must immediately start a free collection service for unwanted household items: this will not only benefit it’s citizens but protect the reputation of Edinburgh as a city worth visiting.
A. Delahoy
Silverknowes Gardens
Farewell to CAN’s Andy Dalzell – one helluva guy!
Friends and colleagues joined Community Action North development worker Andy Dalzell for leaving drinks in The Baillie in Stockbridge last night. The big guy from Philadelphia worked in North Edinburgh for only a few short months – but the genial giant has left his mark. Continue reading Adios, Andy!
Funding for Macmillan advice services
Cancer patients and their families will receive help to apply for benefits and access debt and money saving advice through a £450,000 investment, it was announced yesterday.
Funding for the Macmillan Benefits Services is supporting cancer patients, their families and carers to access benefits, claim grants, free white goods and deal with debt.
Last year Macmillan’s financial advice services in Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness helped clients access £16.9 million of benefits and grant schemes, they would have otherwise missed out on.
Research from Macmillan has found 80 per cent of Scottish cancer patients are £420 worse off every month after they are diagnosed, through a mix of lost income and extra costs.
The £450,000 for Macmillan is part of the £2.5 million package of support for advice services confirmed in the 2016-17 draft budget.
Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess announced the funding on a visit to meet support workers at the project in the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow.
She said: “It is extremely stressful for people coming to terms with a cancer diagnosis to find themselves hundreds of pounds worse off and worried about paying their bills.
“Trying to navigate the benefits process while dealing with the physical and emotional problems cancer brings can be very difficult.
“Our investment in the Macmillan Benefits Service is removing some of the financial stress and uncertainty that comes when people are diagnosed, but are faced with increased heating, transport and healthcare costs.
“This funding is part of our £2.5 million package for advice services and sits alongside other measures like the Scottish Welfare Fund which helps vulnerable people in crisis and enables people to live independently.”
Macmillan’s Head of Services Janice Preston said: “Money worries are a real issue for many people who have been diagnosed with cancer. Some people will need to give up work and this can come at the same time as they face increased costs like travelling to hospital for treatment, or higher heating bills as many cancer patients feel the cold more.
“Services like this are vitally important in helping patients access the money they need and Scottish Government support and funding make these services possible.”
A Conservative candidate in the forthcoming Holyrood elections is urging the SNP government to do more to tackle Scotland’s ‘deeply-embedded’ drink and drug problem. Miles Briggs says cuts to funding to tackle the epidemic are ‘scandalous’. Continue reading Candidate calls for more action on drink and drugs
Community job opportunities for young people
Young people are set to benefit from an additional £6.1 million to help them get into work, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday. Continue reading Helping more young people into work
