Pilton Equalities Project’s Summer Fayre will be held on Tuesday 21 July at West Pilton Park Community Garden from 1 – 3.30pm. All welcome!
Compact 10: planning the way ahead for Edinburgh’s third sector
Many thanks to those of you who attended one of Compact 10’s events or took part in Compact Voice over the last year. The extensive consultation carried out with 120 Third Sector and Public Sector partners through Compact 10 culminated in the launch of the Edinburgh Compact Partnership’s new Strategic Framework and Action Plan on 24 June at Edinburgh City Chambers.
The new Strategic Framework and Action Plan is ambitious, optimistic and forward thinking. Ten years since the launch of the Edinburgh Compact Partnership times have changed, however the foundation values of the Edinburgh Compact Partnership are of no less relevance today. They are:
- Transparency
- Accountability
- Good communication
- Equity
- Respect and fairness across partners
- Co-operation with partners, communities and citizens
There are four strands to the Strategic Framework:
- Future Thinking
- Resourcing and Investment
- Community Planning and Reach
- Thriving Third Sector
Each strand has an associated Action Plan. These strands aim to deliver Compact’s Vision of
“A City of active resilient communities where a vibrant Third Sector works in partnership with others to build social value and reduce inequalities.”
This is the third Compact Partnership Strategy which continues to embrace a vision for the City where all sectors work together towards a shared goal of improving the quality of life for all citizens and communities.
The Third Sector Call to Action (see below) outlines just some of the ways the unique reach of Edinburgh’s Third Sector can drive achievement of the outcomes in the framework.
See this work in action in our short film Getting it Right for Edinburgh: The Power of Partnerships
For further information about Edinburgh’s Compact Partnership please visit our website
Sarah Wade
Development Worker, Compact 10 Project
20 July Fun at Easter Drylaw Park
Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust are hosting an afternoon of summer activities in Easter Drylaw Park on Monday 20th July ( 2 – 4pm), alongside the council’s summer programme of outdoor events.
You can try out and enjoy some biking with the Bangholm Outdoor Centre or some hula hooping with the Hula Honeys. At 2.30, a guided nature walk sets off to help you explore and discover who and what lives in the park, its hedges and trees (you’ll be amazed!)
There’s a parkour workshop to take part in or just watch. Or else join the treasure hunt for some prizes. And you can make your own skateboard design (materials provided).
This is all on top of all the other events in the park that day as part of ‘Fun in the Park’ with the CEC Community Learning Team – football, golf, juggling circus skills, slackline, bats and balls, frisbees and much more …
The event is being run by ELGT with support from the Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership – follow us on Twitter and Facebook
Letters: Capitalism or Socialism?
Dear Editor
It would seem that in some quarters there is glee with the situation the Labour Party and Labour movement is in, overlooking the fact it is a setback for most people in their struggle to make society work in their interests.
For many decades the focus of the labour movement was the transforming of the capitalist system into a socialist society: not an easy job to do, but great strides were made after the war from 1945 with the introduction of universal services such as the NHS, nationalisation of the rail system, the electricity and gas suppliers and the coal mines – may other welfare services were also initiated.
A frequent criticism if the labour movement is that it did not go far enough to curb the power of the rich, so for today’s ‘flag carriers’ the following article, written many, many years ago is worthwhile reading and worth pondering on:
Socialism v Capitalism
How long will we continue to tinker and patch at an inherently rotten system; every attempt to remedy it’s defects will shed light on the real way forward.
When socialism becomes better understood, when it’s aims are seen not only to be beneficial but possible of accomplishment it will attract men and women to take the path of reconstruction and regeneration of society.
Cooperative management would become a well-defined system and lead to an organisation of society which would take over the present system of fierce competition and selfish class interest to secure the welfare of all, to realise in time the best of humanity.
Men shall be brothers yet, and a’ that.
Tony Delahoy
Seeing Rad: students get competitive for charity
Nursing students raise funds for dementia charity
Edinburgh College’s Access to Nursing students have raised a grand total of £1,512.56 for Alzheimer Scotland to support people in Midlothian living with dementia.
The students have undertaken a challenge set by the charity to see who could raise the most cash, in tandem with the opening of their new Bungalow day centre in Bonnyrigg (pictured below). Up against students from local universities, ten students (and one student’s daughter) and two lecturers raised £1,300 in one day by running in the recent paint-splattered Colour Me Rad 5k race.
They added to the sum by collecting cash across the college’s campuses. If the students’ total is more than their university rivals, Alzheimer Scotland will give them a chance to learn more about the charity’s work at The Bungalow. The students have already completed a module on dementia as part of their course so understand the importance of the charity’s work.
The team’s leader, student Petra Muir, said: “It felt great to actively try to make a positive contribution to Alzheimer Scotland. The money we have raised will go towards helping people with dementia and their families, and we are hopeful that we have raised awareness of the charity and the help and support they can provide.”
Abby Parkhouse, Alzheimer Scotland’s Community Fundraiser said: “It’s a fantastic amount of money raised in such a short space of time and will make a huge different to our Bungalow fundraising campaign. It’s going to be a very close competition.”
New Organ Donor Register launched
A new, updated version of the NHS Organ Donor Register was officially launched across the UK yesterday, extending the choices a person has about their organ donation wishes.
As well as being able to record a decision to be an organ donor, the new Register will now, for the first time, enable people in Scotland to record their choice not to be an organ donor .
Existing registrations from the old NHS Organ Donor Register have been transferred to the new Register by NHS Blood and Transplant.
Public Health Minister, Maureen Watt, said: “The new NHS Organ Donor Register provides a more modern system which extends the choices people can make.
“Whether you choose to be an organ donor or would like the NHS to know your decision not to be one, I would encourage everyone to take some time to think carefully about the important issue of organ donation and make your wishes known through the new Register.
“However it is also vitally important that people make their wishes known to family and friends so that those wishes can be honoured in the event of a loved one’s death.
“While joining the Register is important, two thirds of people who donated their organs in the last five years weren’t on the NHS Organ Donor Register. Families who are aware of their loved one’s organ donation wishes are twice as likely to say ‘yes’ to donating their organs.
“If you register without telling the people closest to you, it may come as a surprise to them. Knowing organ donation is what you would have wanted could make their decision a lot easier to live with at a time when they are trying to deal with their loss.
“Therefore the new Register provides an ideal opportunity for people across Scotland to make sure their choices are up-to-date and to talk to family and friends about their decision to donate.”
41 per cent of Scots are now on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
To find out more about organ donation and to join the new NHS Organ Donor Register, visit www.organdonationscotland.org
RNLI urges: Respect the Water
Over 200 people die accidentally each year in British and Irish waters – and more than half of those who drowned didn’t even plan to get wet …
The RNLI has launched a drowning prevention campaign which aims to reduce deaths by 50%. The ‘Respect the Water’ campaign coincides with the release of figures showing that 24 people died in Scotland’s coastal waters last year.
Over the past five years, an average of 35 people have drowned in Scotland and RNLI aims to halve the number of drownings by 2024.
Most of the deaths – almost a quarter – occurred when people slipped and fell into the water while walking and running. Other causes include people at work (14%), diving (13%), swimming and/or deliberately jumping into the sea (9%) and angling (6%).
RNLI lifeboat crews in Scotland saved 51 lives in 2014, and the charity has highlighted dangers which can be more common in Scotland.
After falling in, people can experience cold water shock or the effects of strong currents under the surface. There are also problems with slippery rocks, sudden waves or unstable ground.
RNLI coastal safety manager for Scotland Michael Avril said: “We want people to enjoy the water but to make sure they respect it.
“Around 35 lives are lost around Scotland’s coast each year but many of these losses could be avoided if people acknowledge the dangers and follow some basic safety advice.”
RNLI’s ‘Respect the Water’ campaign includes two films which will be shown in cinemas throughout the UK.
https://www.rnlivideolibrary.org.uk/getvideo.aspx?vid=QhMxynB6
http://rnli.org/Pages/Video-Details.aspx?VideoItemID=xL1O5RjR
Talk about extra time!
World Record-breaking footballers cross the finish line
The Craig Gowans Memorial Fund World Record Breaking Football Match came to a dramatic close last night. The final whistle blew at 10pm – bringing to an end no less than 105 hours of football!
Friends and family of the late football Craig Gowans took on the longest ever 11-a-side football match between the 4 – 8 July, with the final goal score reaching an astounding 774 – 707.
After four days of football played at Spartans’ Ainslie Park stadium, the online and offline fundraising total for The Sick Kids Friends Foundation, sits at more than £80,000 and Guinness World Records are expected to approve the record itself in the coming days.
Eoghan Molloy, a member of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund organising committee, said: “The whole experience has been an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. There were a lot of mixed emotions as the final whistle blew – from relief and tiredness to joy, happiness and everything in between. It was amazing to hear that final whistle and to finish what we set to achieve.
“I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all of the supporters and volunteers who came down to support us across the four days. Playing throughout the night was by far the most difficult part of the challenge, but when the sun came up and the crowd returned this completely lifted our spirits. Being able to finish the match is all down to these supporters.”
Roslyn Neely, chief executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “All of the participants of the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund have done a tremendous job in completely this outstanding challenge and we feel extremely privileged to be the beneficiary of their efforts.
“The team has smashed its fundraising target in great style and I’d like to congratulate all of them on this wonderful achievement. Not only have they etched Craig’s name into the history books, the money raised will help The Sick Kids Friends Foundation transform the experience of the children and young people who will visit Edinburgh’s new children’s hospital when it opens its doors in 2017.”
Carry on at your convenience!
Community ownership for public toilets?
Toilets at Granton Square and Canonmills will be among the first tranche of public convenience closures, it has been confirmed. The local public conveniences are among ten that will close over the summer, saving £300,000.
Ross McEwan, administrator of Granton Improvement Society, has called for the local public toilet to be acquired as a community asset.
It’s not a cr*p idea: in other areas across the country enterprising local communities have formed Trusts to save local assets – including public toilets.
One group in Devon successfully took over the running over their village toilets when faced with council closure. Not only did they save the facility, they upgraded it – with the help of Lottery funding, the villagers of Barbrook refurbished the toilets and added a community information room next door too!
During Edinburgh’s budget process in 2011, the Council agreed to reduce the budget of the Public Conveniences service by £300,000, a saving that was delayed until the 2015/2016 financial year.
Earlier this year an initial list of toilets proposed for closure was selected based on the number of people using the facilities, the conditions of the buildings, alternative facilities available in the local area and the potential for a Community Toilet Scheme.
Prior to final closure of these facilities, consultation has been undertaken with the wider community to establish views on the proposed closures and identify any steps that could be taken to lessen the effects of losing these facilities.
The results of this survey can be found here .
Following consideration of the feedback, the decision has been made to close the following toilets:
· Ardmillan – end of July 2015
· Canaan Lane – end of July 2015
· Canonmills – end of July 2015
· Currie – end of July 2015
· Granton Square – end of July 2015
· Joppa – end of August 2015
· Juniper Green – end of July 2015
· London Road – end of August 2015
· St John’s Road – end of August 2015
· Tollcross – end of August 2015.
Two other public conveniences have been spared – at least for now. The toilets at Hawes Pier and Middle Meadow Walk will not be closed at this time, while the options for these sites are reviewed.
To lessen the impact of the closures, the Council is establishing a Community Toilet Scheme with interested businesses across the city.
This would result in participating businesses allowing members of the public to use their toilet facilities without expecting them to make a purchase, in exchange for an annual payment from the Council.
A number of businesses have already expressed an interest in participating through the public toilets survey and some businesses in identified areas have also been approached with information about the Scheme.
A council spokesperson said: “The decision to close these toilets has been a difficult one and it is appreciated that there will be some impact following these closures. To help mitigate this, there have been over 60 additional toilet facilities identified in Council buildings around the city that are available for the public to use.
“These are located in various Libraries, Community Centres, Edinburgh Leisure facilities and Neighbourhood Offices; information about these toilet facilities is available here on the Council’s website.”
Nearly 20 public toilets will remain open.
If you would like to make an enquiry about public toilet closures, please call 0131 529 3030 or email public.toilets@edinburgh.gov.uk.
If you do choose to call the telephone number, be prepared for a lengthy wait … might be worth going for a pee before you call!
Leith’s going Bollywood!
The Edinburgh Mela launched its 2015 programme yesterday at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street.
Launching the event, Cabinet Secretary for Culture Fiona Hyslop MSP said: “The Edinburgh Mela is a major highlight in Scotland’s vibrant festivals calendar, uniting people from all backgrounds and beliefs to participate in diverse cultural and creative activities.
“Through the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, the Scottish Government is proud to support the Mela to deliver world class performances, grow its international reputation and build engagement with local communities.
“The £80,000 we have awarded this year to support the Mela World Dance piece ‘Goddess’ and ‘A Bollywood Love Story’, a collaboration with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, will delight audiences both at home and abroad. This takes the total sum awarded to the Mela to more than £800,000 since the Expo Fund was set up in 2007.”
Shami Khan, Chair of Mela’s Board of Directors, added: “I am delighted to see the Edinburgh Mela continue to flourish and celebrate its success as Scotland’s largest festival of world music and dance inspired by South Asian culture.
“Every year audiences and performers from across the world flock to Leith Links for the Mela which is made possible by our team of dedicated staff, community groups, individuals and volunteers who make the festival such a fantastic event for all the people of this great city”.
Running on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, Scotland’s largest celebration of world music and dance will celebrate its 21st edition in style with a packed programme of live music and dance across three stages, plus interactive family shows in the Mela Kidzone and the irresistible sights and smells of street food from around the world in the Global Food Village.
The diverse, internationally-reaching arts festival will see artists from across the globe entertain crowds of 30,000 locals and visitors in an unmissable two-day celebration at Leith Links.
World class headliners on the Main Stage
The 2015 Main Stage supported by Lebara Mobile is the heart of the Edinburgh Mela party, boasting crowd-pleasing live sets from some of the biggest names in world music today.
Saturday’s live highlights include superstars in the making Raxstar and Mumzy protégé turned electrifying break-out star Junai Kaden, plus extended performances from featured artists Ayrad, six talented multi-instrumentalists from Canada who navigate between Andalusian and Berber rhymes over reggae and Latin grooves with some awe-inspiring improvisational skills, and an intoxicating mix of African desert blues and Indian rhythms from two-time Juno Award winner Kiran Alhuwalia.
Saturday night then goes out with a bang with a show-stopping gig from Birmingham’s superstar bhangra producer and singer-songwriter Sukshinder Shinda.
Ease yourself into Sunday with Bengali singing sensation Suzana Ansar, young Pakistani Qawaali singers the Chishti Brothers, the inimitable Bollywood Brass Band, mixing up traditional brass band trombones and trumpets with Johnny Kalsi and members of the Dhol Foundation on dhol-drums, and British-Indian Asian Underground bhangra beats courtesy of Swami before the Main Stage climax, the spectacular Bollywood Love Story.
Bollywood glamour comes to Leith in A Bollywood Love Story
An unmissable Mela moment, the Main Stage will play host to the festival’s signature show Bollywood Love Story. Directed by Sanjoy Roy of Teamwork Arts the Edinburgh Mela’s ground-breaking collaboration with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and will see a cast of top Bollywood dance professionals from India perform alongside 40 talented local performers drawn from Edinburgh and Scotland’s diverse communities in a classic Bollywood tale of romance and adventure.
Having performed highlights of the show at Edinburgh Castle every night in August in front of a global audience of millions at the Tattoo, the company will come together to perform the dazzling full-length show which is set to be the defining moment of the 2015 Edinburgh Mela.
Breathtaking moves on the Mela World Dance Feste Stage
Dance remains a major part of the Edinburgh Mela, with the dedicated Mela World Dance Feste Stage showcasing the best contemporary and traditional dance talent from across the world over the two days.
The Mela continues to cement its reputation as a commissioning body for innovative new dance work with the premiere of its 2015 commission Goddess, an exploration of goddesses across global cultures and religions choreographed by Edinburgh’s Alan Greig.
There’s also the welcome return of Jenny and Ricardo Oria – stars of the hit 2013 Mela commission Star Crossed- bringing their own authentic Argentinian tango set to the Mela. Joining them on the World Dance Feste Stage are Quebec’s La Otra Orilla with Moi & Les Autres, a spirited re-invention of flamenco by charismatic choreographer and dancer Myriam Allard and singer Hedi Graja; the jaw-dropping Roadworks, a raucous, laugh-out-loud hip hop battle like no other as B-Boys take on BMX riders; the sensational winner of the South Asian category in this year’s ‘BBC Young Dancer Of The Year’ competition, Vidya Patel with a new interpretation of classic Kathak dance; infectious beats from Glasgow’s irrepressible Desi Bravehearts and South Asian-inspired dance with a contemporary narrative twist courtesy of Edinburgh’s own Dance Ihayami.
Catch the up-and-coming stars of the future on the new Awaz FM Mela Mix Stage.
New for 2015, the Edinburgh Mela is delighted to be working with Scotland’s top Asian Radio Station Awaz FM to host the first-ever Awaz FM Mela Mix Stage. The line-up boasts some of the finest up-and-coming acts from the world music scene. This is a rare chance to catch them in an intimate festival setting. The handpicked line-up of hotly tipped talent includes G-Town Desi, Krown, Edinburgh’s own Swaryatra, Northern-Exposure, Dangerman and traditional Polish music from Weilkopolska.
Families are invited to Go Bananas! In the Mela Kidzone, plus the best in food, fashion and shopping all on-site
One of the most family-friendly events in Edinburgh’s Festival calendar, children aged 12 and under come free to the festival and have their very own Mela Kidzone to explore. This year Mela audiences young and old are invited to Go Bananas! and enjoy a host of live performances, professionally led dance workshops, interactive craft sessions and other hands-on activities.
An absolute Edinburgh Mela favourite, the Global Food Village is a must-visit for keen foodies or anyone with a rumbling tum! Growing every year, it features delicious street food from around the world including sweet and savoury specialities from across Asia.
If you’re thirsty, don’t miss the beautifully decorated Kingfisher beer truck – an eye-catching photo opportunity which handily transforms into a bar serving ice cold pints of India’s No.1 beer.
Other returning favourites include the Mela Fashion Show as local models strut their stuff on the catwalk decked out in the latest in women’s, men’s and children’s fashions and the Mela Marketplace, the perfect place to browse and pick up beautiful handcrafts and stunning sari fabrics, plus friendly information on local charities and organisations.
Chris Purnell, Director of the Edinburgh Mela, said: “It gives me great pleasure to announce the Mela programme for 2015. The Mela brings together the highest quality performances from international stars of the world music and dance scene and home grown talent, in a pulsating celebratory mix of everything vital about our many rich and diverse cultures.
“Our commissioned work continues to enthral audiences drawn from all communities across the city and Scotland, and this year, that trajectory is maintained with some truly inspiring pieces. Together with a packed programme of artists and performances across three stages, representing a myriad of styles, I hope that everyone will take away a special moment of their own”.
Keen to make the festival as affordable as possible for all, Mela attendees are encouraged to buy the £4 Early Bird ticket, available until noon on Friday 28 August.
Tickets for this year’s Edinburgh Mela Festival are on sale now via www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk, on the Ticket Hotline 0131 226 0008 or pop in to the Edinburgh Fringe Box Office on the High Street. No booking fees are charged. After this time, tickets are £5 on the gate. Children aged 12 and under go free and children’s tickets can be pre-booked alongside your order.
Book online at www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk