The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Forty-five years. Tens of thousands of North Edinburgh children and families, Pilton Retreat has given our community so much. Now, at their hour of need, they desperately need the community’s support: it’s time to give something back …

Pilton Retreat 1970

The late Victor Lindsay while on his rounds working with the Water Board discovered the unused, semi – derelict scout hall on the edge of Ratho.

In 1970, he along with other community activists from play schemes, youth projects, churches and staff from schools agreed to work together to establish a countryside resource for the children and young people of the Greater Pilton area.

Successful negotiation with the farmer and scouts, a payment of either £10.00 or £20.00 was enough to secure the building for Pilton use.

The thrift shop was opened to sell donated goods to raise funds; a wider appeal for funding and loads of voluntary effort meant that the first groups of children and young people from Pilton started staying at the Retreat in the summer of 1971.

Tens of thousands have visited since.

Initially, it was only the building, by mid 70’s some extra land was rented, and ever since improvements to the facility and grounds have been achieved.

What exists today is as a result of the efforts of many people over these 45 years.

Now these achievements and the resource are under real threat.

Council funding may end, solely on the assessment of three unknown council officials’ and a report to Councillors recommending no continued funding.

We ask that our four Forth councillors seek to persuade the Education Children and Families Committee on 11^th February that this would be a detrimental decision.

More than 1,600 people so far have signed our e-petition, asking the Councillors to think again.

45 years of continuously improving service and facilities surely must count?

1,500+ children and young people using the facilities every year surely must matter?

If funding ends on 31/3/16, the Board of Pilton Retreat will spend its own reserves to keep the Retreat open till the end of June 2016.

During these three months many children you may know will visit the Retreat.

School residential camps will involve Pirniehall P 4’s, Craigroyston and Forthview P 5’s, St Davids P6’s and Rowanfield P7’s. School day visits include Craigroyston and St Davids nursery classes and Pirniehall P3’s. Two other Edinburgh primary schools for pupils with additional learning needs will hold residential visits. A further 10 Edinburgh school nursery classes will visit for the day.

It seems ironic, even perverse, that the Council might decide to close down these opportunities for the pupils that they should be providing for. Many other community groups, locally and from elsewhere in Edinburgh will also visit in these three short months. They would also lose out in the future.

Please do all you can to help save these services / opportunities for the children, young people and families in Greater Pilton in the future.

Please sign and share our petition. Click on the link below:

https://www.change.org/p/councillor-andrew-burns-city-of-edinburgh-council-save-pilton-retreat-from-closure?recruiter=false&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink