The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 3889 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

Selex chief becomes apprentice for a day

Selex ES Chairman Allan Cook CBE rolled up his sleeves and worked alongside a number of Selex ES apprentices including the company’s current and former apprentices of the year yesterday.

Allan (pictured above) started his career as an apprentice and is a chartered engineer with more than 30 years’ international experience in the automotive, aerospace and defence industries. As Chairman of Semta, the UK’s Sector Skills Council for the advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors, Allan is a passionate advocate of apprenticeships and believes that they add tremendous value to industry. Allan was joined by Alastair Morrison, Senior Vice President Radar and Advanced Targeting, who also returned to the shop floor to experience life as an apprentice first hand.

“It’s always a pleasure to spend time with our apprentices, the dedication and focus they exhibit gives me great confidence in the future of the skilled trades in Scotland and the wider UK”, he said. “As a technology leader, Selex ES benefits strongly from the fresh talent brought into the company by our highly-rated apprenticeship schemes.”

The activity was the culmination of Selex ES’s participation in Scottish Apprenticeship Week, which saw current Selex ES apprentice Callum Anderson send out live tweets from internal and external events associated with the week-long celebration of apprenticeships’ contribution to industry, including a special event at Scottish Parliament.

Hibs: high hopes of ending Hampden hoodoo?

Tick tock. Tick tock. As those jolly Jambo japesters are always only too keen to point out – 111 years and counting! The last time Hibs lifted the Scottish Cup there were trams on Edinburgh’s streets, for goodness sake! But maybe, just maybe, it’s time …

On the face of it, Sunday’s cup final should be little more than a stroll for Celtic. After all, the Glasgow team won the SPL with plenty in hand, despite losing a surprising number of games – seven. Mind you, when you are so dominant it’s easy to take your eye off the ball.

Celtic coasted to league victory with such ease that it’s hard to call the SPL ‘title race’ a competition. Really, it was over as a contest as soon as ‘The Rangers’ disappeared into the depths of the lower leagues – the question was always going to be: who’ll finish second?

With the resources Celtic have at their disposal, perhaps that’s as it should be. Now a lone giant in a diddy wee league, over the course of a long, hard – okay, maybe not that hard – season they have by far the biggest squad with the greatest quality in Scotland. True, they’re not up against much, but that’s not their fault. All Celtic could do was win, and usually they did just that. Not always playing pretty, silky soccer – but then we are talking Scottish football.

And yet Celtic surprised many critics of the Scottish game – and there are plenty of them – with that memorable defeat of the mighty Barcelona in the Champions League. They may play in a poor league, but make no mistake: Celtic are a good team, and at the end of a steady and satisfactory if unspectacular season, a league and cup double would be a fair reflection of Celtic’s current domination of Scottish football – the icing on the cake.

Celtic should have too many players of real quality to suffer any shocks on Sunday, with potential match winners all over the park – including two ex-Hibees Scott Brown and Anthony Stokes. Celtic are well aware of Hibs’ strengths (one in particular!) and weaknesses – an inability to deal decisively with cross balls is one area that Celtic will surely try to exploit. If Celtic’s attitude is right, and they bring their ‘A’ game on the day, there’s not a team in Scotland to beat them.

And yet …

Inconsistent is perhaps the most charitable way to describe Hibs’ season. Yes, there’s been the occasional fragile green shoot of recovery, the tantalising glimmer of hope that the team has turned the corner, but for much of the season Hibs form has been poor – that bottom six league position doesn’t lie. A hesitant defence that leaked goals, self-inflicited wounds, games lost or drawn that should have been won …

And yet … over the last few weeks, Hibs seem to have found their stride and have hit form at just the right time.

Maybe going three goals down to a First Division team in a Hampden semi-final was the collective wake-up call they so desperately needed: that remarkable fightback not only resurrected Hibs’ season but also perhaps exorcised some of the demons of last year’s Hampden horror show.

Perhaps it was the shared experience of that Falkirk fright, and the elation of the hard-fought victory, that lifted the spirits and galvanised the Easter Road men. They seem to have discovered a collective resolve, a fighting team spirit and self-belief that has been sadly lacking over what has been – Scottish Cup aside – a distinctly lacklustre season. Whatever the catalyst, there’s a quiet confidence and assurance creeping in at Easter Road – and at last, things are going the right way and Hibs have a team that is worthy of the name.

Young players of quality are coming through the youth setup once again. There’s real competition for places and manager Pat Fenlon has choices and decisions to make – it would be wrong to assume that Hibs are a one man team. The loss of captain James McPake, a natural leader, is a huge blow – his presence and experience will be sorely missed and it’s now up to other senior players to show that same level of commitment and leadership on Sunday. It’s a day for big performances.

And Hibs do have Leigh Griffiths. Whatever the young man’s off-field travails, Hibs seem to have unlocked Griffiths’ undoubted potential. With twenty-eight goals to his name, Leigh Griffiths has been the difference between relative success and abject failure at Easter Road this season, adding an impressive work rate to an unerring eye for goal. His attitude has been transformed and Griffiths has matured into a prodigious talent.

Whether Hibs can hang on to their talisman remains in doubt but Griffiths has at least one more game in a Hibs shirt – a game in which his name could go down in history as the man who brought the cup back to Easter Road after all those years. And for Hibs fan Griffiths what a great way to go, if go he must.

So Hibs fans in their thousands will head out west tomorrow more in hope than expectation. Yes it’s unlikely, but Hibs can win the Scottish Cup – although it would be very unwise to give Celtic the same three goal start they gifted Falkirk on their last Hampden visit.

Celtic, for all their qualities, are not invincible and this time round Hibs fans really have nothing to fear. Because, whatever tomorrow’s result, surely it could never feel anything like as bad as last year’s craven capitulation, that Hampden humiliation at the hands of Hearts?

The year of the underdog? Maybe. Perhaps it really is time. Tick tock …

Broughton S1s on a high after Scottish Shield success

Congratulations to Broughton High School’s S1 football team, who beat Grange Academy 2-1 in the final of the Under 13 Scottish Shield at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock last night.

Theft puts spokes into volunteer’s work

A volunteer who has been carrying out unpaid work in North Edinburgh has had her bike stolen.

The volunteer was conducting an interview a community activist as background research for a Pilton Community Health Project initiative when the bike was stolen from outside North Edinburgh Arts and Muirhouse Library in Pennywell Court.

The victim, who asked not to be named, said: “It was stolen between 12.30 and 2pm. I’m totally gutted – I have been volunteering my free time in the community, I only work part-time and the bike gets me around for my job. Any help to retrieve my mode of transport would be greatly appreciated.”

The bike is a black and white (mans size) specialised road bike, with P2 type overendz bar ends on the handlebars. If you have any information about the stolen bike or can help in any way please contact local police or you can contact Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

Alternative bid muddies Leith waters

A community campaign to reopen Leith Waterworld has voiced concerns over a late £1 million bid to buy the building and reopen it as a soft play centre. Splashback are urging councillors to show conviction and to stick with commitments made in January.

Councillors voted to give further support the community initiative in January, and since then Splashback have been working with the city council to progress the feasibility of reopening Waterworld as a social enterprise – so news of a fresh bid for Waterworld has not been welcomed.

In a statement, the group said: “We were delighted when, on 31 January this year, the city’s Councillors overwhelmingly voted to work with Splashback and to establish a working group to develop the business plan for a community-run Leith Waterworld. This reflected the administration’s desire to work cooperatively with the citizens of Edinburgh, as set out in the Capital Coalition agreement. Over the last three and a half months, we have worked with Councillors and officials in good faith, and while there remains much still to do, we have made significant progress, including developing a fundraising plan and applying for charitable status.”

The statement continues: “The development of Leith Waterworld as a community-led social enterprise would support the first two partnership commitments of the coalition, namely ‘ensuring every child in Edinburgh has the best start in life’ and ‘reducing poverty, inequality and deprivation’. The coalition agreement acknowledged the breakdown in trust between the residents of Edinburgh and their elected representatives, and that the city will be able to judge the Council against the promises it makes in the agreement.

“Splashback understands that this new bid leaves Councillors with a decision to make at next week’s Full Council meeting – whether to continue working with us to achieve a revitalised Leith Waterworld, or to pursue the new bid at this stage. However, we have faith in the letter and the spirit of the amendment carried on 31 January, and believe that the conviction displayed by Councillors on that day will guide their decision. We look forward to continuing to work with the Council to deliver on the commitments they made in January.”

Senior councillors have stressed that no decisions have been taken ahead of next week’s meeting.

Councillor Richard Lewis, the city’s Culture and Sport Convener, said: “Over the last few months officials and elected members have been working closely with Splashback to progress the feasibility phase of their community bid to run Leith Waterworld. I’d like to thank Splashback for their continued commitment to developing their community bid.

“The council had agreed in January to re-market the property whilst we were supporting the feasibility phase of Splashback’s bid and in the intervening months we received two new unsolicited notes of interest in purchasing Leith Waterworld, one of which is being taken to council for consideration.”

Councillors will discuss the bid – and receive a progress report on the Splashback initiative – at next Thursday’s full council meeting.

College photography students snap up funds for charity

Edinburgh College photography students are hoping to raise funds for two charities as part of their end of year exhibition.

The students are showcasing their latest artwork in Woodland Creatures off Leith Walk, with iconic real life photos of the city and its people as their main inspiration. All of the original photographs have been specially hand-printed and toned in the darkrooms in the College’s own studios.

The Street Photography exhibition runs until 30 May and visitors will have the chance to buy the work with 50 per cent of the proceeds donated to Cclasp and Macmillan Cancer Support charities. Over £100 has been raised for the charities so far.

Photography: Derek Anderson (photographer), HNC Photography student, Edinburgh College

Government cash to support families in need

The work being carried out by Pilton-based Circle Scotland was praised by Aileen Campbell, the Minister for Children and Young People, during a visit to the project yesterday. Ms Campbell also announced details of £10 million Strategic Partnership Funding for voluntary sector organisations working with children and families.

Families across Scotland will benefit from better support services with 45 third sector organisations receiving a funding boost from the Scottish Government. This £10 million of Strategic Partnership Funding will strengthen the work of young people’s organisations working across Scotland, in areas such as adoption, vulnerable families, child health, literacy, bereavement counselling and parental support.

Minister for Children and Young People Aileen Campbell (pictured below, right) said: “We are working to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up, including increasing the level of free early learning and childcare through the Children and Young People Bill, which will save families equivalent to around £700 per child. Scottish families already benefit from a wide range of support and the organisations receiving a share of this £10 million will help to improve what is on offer. Thanks to our investment, great organisations like Circle, which I am visiting today, will be able to take their work further into the community, helping families in need across Scotland get access to the right information and resources.”

Funding of £20 million through the Third Sector Early Intervention Fund and £10 million through Strategic Funding Partnerships was announced last month.

The following 45 organisations will receive support through the Strategic Funding Partnerships to enhance or develop work focussed on supporting the needs of young people and their families:

Article 12 in Scotland, Asthma UK Scotland, Birthlink, British Association for Adoption and Fostering Scotland, Capability Scotland, Care and Learning Alliance, Comann nam Pàrant (Nàiseanta), Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland, Dyslexia Scotland, Families Need Fathers Scotland, Family Service Unit Scotland (Circle), Fathers Network Scotland (FNS), Genetic Alliance UK, Girlguiding Scotland, Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, Hearts and Minds, John Muir Trust, Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, Lead Scotland, Learning Link Scotland, LGBT Youth Scotland, National Day Nurseries Association, Parent Network Scotland, Partners in Advocacy, Relationships Scotland Core, Relationships Scotland Project, Scotland’s Learning Partnership, Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, Scottish Community Development Centre, Scottish Environmental & Outdoor Education Centres Association, Scottish Marriage Care, Scottish Trades Union Congress, Scottish Youth Parliament, Sense Scotland, Sleep Scotland, The Boys’ Brigade, The Girls Brigade in Scotland, The Iona Community, The Mentor Foundation UK (Mentor), Working On Wheels , The Princes Trust, The Scout Association, Woodcraft Folk , Workers’ Educational Association and YWCA Scotland.

Investigation after Oxcars Court fire death

An investigation has been launched following the discovery of a man’s body after a fire in a Muirhouse flat yesterday. The body of the man in his 50s – named locally as David Robson – was found at the house in Oxcars Court by emergency services shortly after they arrived on the scene at about 12:35.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police were called to an address in Oxcars Court around 12:35 on Tuesday in response to a fire that had broken out. The body of a man in his 50s was discovered within the flat. Inquiries are under way in order to establish the circumstances of his death.”

Lest we forget – funding for schools to visit Western Front

Every secondary school in Scotland will be offered financial help to carry out educational visits to European battlefields as part of the Scottish Government’s plans to commemorate the centenary of the Great War, First Minister Alex Salmond announced yesterday.

A £2,000 grant will be made available to every senior school in the country to help them meet the costs of trips to Western Front battlefields and war graves so pupils can learn more about the sacrifice made by the many thousands from Scotland and elsewhere during the First World War.

The £1 million fund, which will be administered by Historic Scotland, will include additional subsidies for groups travelling to the continent from schools not on the Scottish mainland.

The educational grant scheme, which will span the six school years from 2013, comes after the First Minister announced a £1 million fund to allow communities across Scotland to refurbish and maintain their war memorials ahead of the commemorations. A full programme of commemorations in Scotland is expected to be announced by the First Minister shortly.

The First Minister said: “The sacrifice made by the many thousands of Scots and those fighting for Scottish battalions during the First World War must never be forgotten, and it is absolutely crucial that we take the opportunity presented by the centenary to help young people develop a deeper understanding of the causes, consequences and horrors of war and the devastation wrought by the conflict on communities in all corners of the country.

“Many of the soldiers who were sent to War in 1914 were not much older than school age and educational trips to see WWI battlefields provide an unforgettable experience for our young people, giving them a powerful insight into the trench warfare endured by millions on the Western Front.

“Many schools already run educational trips to the European battlefields, but this additional £1 million in funding will ensure that every secondary school in Scotland is offered financial help to take pupils and teachers to Europe during the centenary of the War, broadening the pupils’ knowledge of the conflict and ensuring that a new generation of Scots never forgets the unimaginable price paid by their forbears a century ago.”

Rev Norman Drummond, the chair of the Scottish Commemorations Panel body set up by the Scottish Government to recommend a preferred approach to Scotland’s commemorations of the Great War, welcomed the announcement. He said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government will be funding Battlefield visits for our secondary schools. It is vital that we create an educational legacy as part of Scotland’s commemorative programme and these visits will enable our pupils and teachers to experience at first-hand the significant service and sacrifice given by so many Scottish servicemen and women throughout World War One.”

Denise Dunlop, President of the Scottish Association of Teachers of History, said: “This is a fantastic initiative that I hope all of Scotland’s secondary schools will welcome. Battlefield visits are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for school pupils to learn first-hand about war and its horrible consequences. Many of these conflicts are glamourised in today’s society, and these trips offer a chance for young people to learn the truth about what happened to so many thousands of soldiers – many of whom were not much older than school age.”

Big team, wee team?

Despite another season of trials and tribulations at Tynecastle, Hearts fans do still have something to cheer about – their average attendances still outperformed their local rivals by around 2500 per game. Hearts average attendance this season decreased only slightly on season 2011-12 – from 13 381 to 13 163 – while Hibs average increased to 10 543 (a rise of over 600 on the previous season).

Unsurprisingly, the figures produced by BBC Sport show that SPL attendances fell by 28% – from 13 855 to 10 020 – as the reformed Rangers played in the Scottish Third Division.

With Hearts’ future still in serious doubt, other ‘big’ clubs teetering on the brink and still no agreement in sight on league reconstruction these are indeed troubled times for Scottish football.