We really do need people like this …!
We’ve had enough!
Angry Pilton residents demand action over crime and antisocial behaviour
Local residents packed into West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre last night to demand that firm action is taken to tackle a wave of crime and vandalism that is blighting the area. Police, politicians and council officials say they will continue to work in partnership with the community to resolve the problems – but add that the justice system must also do more to help communities.
Last night’s event was scheduled to be an ordinary monthly West Pilton West Granton community council meeting, but recent local events meant that the regular business agenda was ditched as dozens of angry residents packed the meeting. The attempted murder of local business owner Jie Yu in West Pilton last week brought matters to a head and has galvanised local people to say – enough is enough: we won’t accept this any more. The community is sick of what they see as a lack of activity in tackling crime in their area, and listening to comments last night Pilton sounds like an area under siege. Speaker after speaker talked about slow or non-existent response to calls to the police, the scourge of motorbikes, a lack of punishment if wrongdoers are caught and primary school-aged children wandering the streets after midnight. 
They talked of gangs of youths – many of whom live outside North Edinburgh – roaming the streets at all hours, leaving local children too afraid to go out to play. Older people afraid to leave their homes, vandalism, break-ins, assaults, robberies and threats – all things that undermine and can ultimately destroy any quality of life. The meeting was well-attended by those whose job it is to support and protect communities like West Pilton. Senior police officer Chief Inspector Bob Paris, local PC Stuart Mitchell, North and Leith MSP Malcolm Chisholm and local councillors Cammy Day – who is also council community safety spokesman – and Vicki Redpath were all there, as was Ruth Stanley, community safety manager at the local North Neighbourhood Office. They can have been left in no doubt over the mood of the meeting. 
What happens next? Unbeknown to most residents, the Forth area is currently served by a Task Force, established earlier this year to tackle many of the issues raised at last night’s Neighbourhood Centre meeting. Members of that Task Force will now be invited to attend a local public meeting to both hear the concerns of residents for themselves and explain what exactly they are doing to address crime and antisocial behaviour in the area. Malcolm Chisholm will also be seeking an urgent meeting with the local area commander on her return from holiday. You get the impression that reassuring words about effective partnership working just won’t wash this time around – a community has reached the end of it’s tether and is calling for action. Punish the wrongdoers. Enough is enough. 
Did you know Marion?
Hi,
My mother, Marion Fyfe Reilly (nee Banks) was involved in protesting and squatting in Lochend Gardens and West Ferry Road sometime around 1943-46. She had her first child in July 1943 and raised him alone while her husband was still overseas in the army.
She died (aged 95) last week and I only became aware of this yesterday from her younger sister (aged 90). There were apparently reports and photographs in the newspapers at the time. I am amazed and impressed.
I was wondering if you had any records from that time as I would love to share her struggle with friends and family at her funeral on Friday. It feels like it may be a very important aspect of her character that wasn’t known to us. I have viewed the Scotsman digital archive with no luck.
Thanks
Steven Reilly
If any reader remembers Marion please get in touch and we will forward details to Steven Reilly
Be honest: what do you think of our young people?
Hi All,
We at North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum are carrying out a review of our group/projects/service.
The reason for our review is so that ourselves and others can see what we have achieved and what we haven’t managed to achieve, whilst also paving the way forward. Therefore, we are asking for 5 minutes of your organisations time to complete a short questionnaire (attached below) and then all you have to do is send it back to us.
NEYPF Organisations Questionaire
Please be honest, your feedback is important to us.
We would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone for their help and support, and an extra thanks to everyone who completes our mini questionnaire as part of the review and send it back over!
You can email it to neypf@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks
Kind Regards
North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum
Inverleith Community Conference
The theme for this year is ‘increasing walking and cycling in Inverleith’ and we’d like to invite everyone living, working or travelling in Inverleith to have a say on how we can make walking and cycling easier, safer and more welcoming for all
Please come along and share your thoughts on how we can get people in Inverleith walking and cycling more, to pick up tips, advice and support and also to help us identify what the Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership can do to make it happen.
Come join us on Thursday 30 October
from 6-9pm at Broughton High School
We’d also welcome local organisations to come along and display information on how you can help us achieve this!
Contact elaine.lennon@edinburgh.gov.uk for more info. or to book your place, email anne.brown@ea.edin.sch.uk
We’ll discover Scotland’s Real Heroes a week tonight
Can local youth club Fet-Lor win Community Project of the Year? Come to that, can Sid the horse win Hero Animal of the Year? All will be revealed a week tonight …
RBS-Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes: The Awards will air on STV at 8pm next Tuesday (14 October). The star studded event is hosted by Carol Smillie (pictured above)and will recognise local champions from across Scotland.
The hour long programme will see a total of 11 awards handed out by famous faces, including Nicholas McDonald of The X Factor, actor Bill Paterson, actor Clare Grogan and Taggart star Alex Norton, to Scots who have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people in their local area.
The Scottish public were asked to nominate friends, neighbours or groups who they thought deserved to be recognised earlier this year and the judging panel revealed a shortlist of nominees after an overwhelming response. Each week six nominees in ten categories were showcased for the RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes series in which the viewers were invited to vote for the candidate they believed most deserved to collect an award.
A winner from each category will be revealed in STV’s programme on Friday 14th October then one extraordinary hero, selected from the final category winners, will collect the RBS Scotland’s Real Hero of the Year Award.
Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV, said: “To stand out from thousands of entries, our nominees are all doing something pretty remarkable. But their commitment, energy and inspiration are typical of the truly inspiring Scots who go the extra mile for their community. This awards ceremony on STV is a great way to celebrate and reward their achievement.”
Chris Wilson, Royal Bank of Scotland’s Managing Director of Branch and Private Banking in Scotland, said:“We’re really pleased at how successful this year’s series of RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes has been and the way the Scottish public has got behind all of the finalists. It’s important to celebrate the extraordinary lengths people in communities all around Scotland go to make a difference to the lives of those around them. We’re really looking forward to finding out who the Scottish public has voted as their Real Heroes and giving them the recognition they deserve at the awards ceremony.”
The following individuals, groups and organisations have been shortlisted for an RBS Real Hero award:
COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Jim McConkey – Govan, Glasgow
Vicki McCarthy (REACH for Autism) – Greenock, Inverclyde
Ross Cowie (Lucky2BHere) – Portree, Isle of Skye
SPORTING VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Elaine McKenna (Special Olympics Lothian) – Blackburn, West Lothian
Pat Bannan (Bannan Fitness Club) –Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire
Andrew Campbell (Camran Taekwando) – Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire
HERO NEIGHBOUR OF THE YEAR
Ann Graham – Riverside, Stirling
Mo and Roxy Razzaq – Blantyre, South Lanarkshire
Margaret (Garry) Robertson – Wick, Caithness.
COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
Bathgate Street Pastors – Bathgate, West Lothian
Jackie McIntosh (MS Therapy Centre Inverness) – Inverness, Highlands
Margaret Gibb (West of Scotland Play Scheme) – Bellshill, South Lanarkshire.
RBS COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Fet Lor – Crewe Toll, Edinburgh
The Driving Force – Bonnybridge, Falkirk
The Serenity Cafe – Edinburgh.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Saltburn Woodland Walk – Invergordon, Highlands
Yooz Reuse & Recycling – Bellshill, North Lanarkshire
Killie Can Cycle – Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.
SCOTLAND’S REAL HEROES COURAGE AWARD
Dean Reilly (Dean Reilly V’s MS) – Portobello, Edinburgh
Amanda McTaggart (Wigbank Glasgow) – Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire
Jenny Cook (Wee Jenny Cook) – East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.
CARER OF THE YEAR
Nell Graham (Portobello Monday Centre) – Portobello, Edinburgh
Maw’s Mafia (The EK Hangout) – East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire
Anne Swartz (Scottish Kinship Care Alliance) – Dumbarton, W. Dunbartonshire.
YOUNG REAL HERO OF THE YEAR
Danii McArthur (Young Carer) – Barrhead, Glasgow
Mitchell Kinnen(Bright Lights Theatre Group) – Blantyre, South Lanarkshire
The Volunteers of the Glasgow 77th (Disabled) Scout Group – Glasgow.
HERO ANIMAL OF THE YEAR
Barra the Dog (K9 Search and Recovery Scotland) –Luss, Argyll & Bute
Sid the Horse (Aberdeen RDA) – Milltimber, Aberdeen
Ben the Dog (Therapet) – Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire.
For more information, visit www.stv.tv/realheroes
or get involved on Twitter #scotlandsrealheroes
or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/scotrealheroes
North Edinburgh Theatre: play your part!
News from Stephanie at the North Edinburgh Theatre Project:Hello everyone,
Music Workshop
This is a special reminder for everyone who is interested in the music side of the 1d Tenement Opera project:
Lynda Peachey, our Musical Director, is leading a Music Workshop on Saturday 11 October (11a.m. – 2p.m) at North Edinburgh Arts.
Design & Costume
Ali Maclaurin, our Designer, is leading a Costume and Design Workshop on Saturday (11 October) 11a.m. – 2p.m. at North Edinburgh Arts.
You are very welcome to join in with these Workshops, even if you are not a regular participant; it will be great fun and of course we have a crèche, as well as tea and coffee during the break.
Our regular Theatre Workshop is on Friday 10 October 6 pm – 8pm at North Edinburgh Arts.
Please get in contact if you have any questions and we look forward to welcoming you.
0 7817 359703
stephaniejaneknight@gmail.com
stephaniejaneknight@gmail.com
New phone line for over-65s launches tomorrow
Volunteer Centre Edinburgh is to launch a new dedicated phone line for people aged 65 and over living in North West and South East Edinburgh giving easy access to information on a huge range of activities available to them.
The new service, which starts starts tomorrow (Wednesday 8 October), uses a dedicated direct dial number 0131 603 8311. Lines will be open from 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday with a call back service outwith these times.
People are living longer and the new phone line aims to help people maintain a good quality of life by giving access to information on activities which can help keep us happy and healthy as well as giving us a great excuse to socialise.
The phone line is part of the Local Opportunities for Older People (LOOPS) initiative which is piloting a variety of innovative, new services across Edinburgh aimed at people 65 plus.
Commenting on the launch of the new phone line, Volunteer Centre Edinburgh’s CEO Harriet Eadie said “As someone who has an elderly mother living in the Highlands, who needs a range of support and help to live independently I know exactly how valuable it can be to have easy access to good information on activities, but also how difficult that can be to get that information. I’m so excited that in North West and South East Edinburgh Volunteer Centre Edinburgh can help make it just a little bit easier for older people, their family and friends to get to the information they need.”
There are 36,238 people 65+ living in North West and South East Edinburgh in 18,266 homes and the impact of isolation and loneliness on their health is dramatic. Research shows that after only 8 hours of inactivity joint contractures start forming and that muscle atrophy, bone loss and heart changes occur after only a few days of inactivity.
The phone line is hoping to reach out to as many as possible. Using trained, friendly volunteers it will offer a welcoming, enabling information and signposting service and give out information to people directly, or to Health and Social Care Professionals, friends, neighbours or family.
For more about the Volunteer Centre Edinburgh LOOPs, visit Volunteer Centre Edinburgh’s website, or Facebook page.
Private rental survey – can you help?
The Total Craigroyston initiative is conducting a survey for people living in privately-rented accommodation in Muirhouse and West Pilton.
If you rent your home privately in Muirhouse or West Pilton, and you’d like to take part in the survey, go to:
www.totalcraigroyston.co.uk/survey
Candlelight vigil at St Paul’s
SILENT PROTEST AGAINST THE CLOSURE OF ST PAUL’S
FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER FROM 6.15pm
A silent protest will take place on Friday 10 October from 6.15pm onwards outside St Paul’s during the Thanksgiving mass. There will be posters handed out for people to display and candles will be provided and placed around the entrance to the church and other areas (it would be helpful if you could bring along some glass jars to hold the candles to prevent them going out).
There are also posters available for children and families to colour in and decorate to display at the protest. These can be picked up at Muirhouse Library or Muirhouse Community Shop. Of course, you can also make your own posters, placards, and banners and bring them along too!
We hope to see as many people as possible attend from all parts of the community while we protest silently and peacefully to demonstrate our objection to the closure of St Paul’s.
SILENT PROTEŚCIE PRZECIWKO ZAMKNIĘCIU ŚWIĘTEGO PAWŁAPIĄTEK,
10 PAŹDZIERNIKA Z 18:15
Cichy protest odbędzie się w piątek 10 października od 18:15 roku poza St Paul’s podczas mszy Dziękczynienia. Będą plakaty rozdawane dla osób do wyświetlania i świece będą dostarczane i umieszczone wokół wejścia do kościoła i innych dziedzinach (dobrze byłoby gdybyś mógł przynieść niektórych słoikach trzymać świece, aby zapobiec im wychodzi).
Są też plakaty dostępne dla dzieci i rodzin, aby kolor i ozdobić, aby wyświetlić na protest. Te mogą być zabierani na Muirhouse Biblioteki lub Muirhouse wspólnotowego sklepu. Oczywiście, można również tworzyć własne plakaty, afisze i transparenty i przynieść je razem też!
Mamy nadzieję, że tak wielu ludzi, jak to możliwe, chodzi do wszystkich części społeczeństwa, a my cicho i spokojnie protestować wykazać nasz sprzeciw wobec zamknięcia St Paul’s.
Prosimy dołączyć w ” Wydarzenia ” , jeśli będziesz uczestniczyć
Save St Paul’s Campaign