active citizenship – Page 7 – The NEN

Edinburgh urged to register to vote in Independence Referendum

Some of Edinburgh’s residents could miss out on their chance to vote in Scotland’s biggest election if they don’t act soon – potential voters have just four weeks left to register to make sure they can have their say in the Scottish Independence Referendum.

Almost 360,000 people in Edinburgh have already registered for Thursday 18 September’s vote on whether Scotland should be an independent country, but approximately 10% of the city’s potential electorate have yet to sign up to take part in the momentous vote.

Sue Bruce, Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council and Counting Officer for Edinburgh, has encouraged local constituents to take action by 2 September.

She said: “The Referendum is an incredibly important decision for everyone in Scotland, and it would be unfortunate to miss out because of something as simple as failing to register.

“I would encourage anyone who has not registered, or is not certain if they have already, to make sure they do so as soon as possible.”

All those who will turn 16 by 18 September can register to vote by calling the Electoral Registration Office on 0131 344 2500 or visiting their website before 2 September.

Once they are on the register, people who wish for someone to vote on their behalf (by proxy), or to vote by post, have until 3 September to register, otherwise they will need to vote in person on 18 September.

Poll cards will begin being sent out on 14 August with postal voters receiving voting packs from 27 August.

Lothian Valuation Joint Board has been gearing up for the event with a series of registration roadshows, including one which will take place at this month’s Edinburgh Mela.

Further information and FAQs on voting and registration can be found on the Council’s website: www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Community Council office bearers announced

Drylaw Telford Community Council appointed the following office bearers at last week’s Annual General Meeting held in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre:

Chairperson: Alex Dale – email alex.dale@blueyonder.co.uk
Secretary: Andrew Barnett – email andrew@abarnett.net
Treasurer: Jackie Brown – email catchjackiehere@hotmail.co.uk
Vice-Chairperson: Mhiari Curran – email mhairi.curran@hush.ai

The Community Council meets at 7pm on the last Wednesday of the month in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre – all meetings are open to the public and new faces are always welcome!

Royston Wardieburn going the right way

Things are going the right way at Royston Wardieburn, Friday’s packed annual general meeting was told. Local politicians Mark Lazarowicz and Malcolm Chisholm were among the attendees who heard that the Centre continues to develop and is now home to more groups than ever before.

Centre Chairperson Anna Hutchison told the meeting: “There have been so many positive developments at our Centre over the last year it’s hard to know where to start! The management committee has worked very hard with Centre staff to make sure we could provide groups and activities for the whole community and we really feel like we are getting there – there’s a lot to be positive about.”

Community Learning and Development Worker Lydia Markham said that Royston Wardieburn was now beginning to progress after a difficult start.

“It often takes time for a new Centre to bed in (the new Royston Wardieburn Community Centre opened in 2012) but I think it’s fair to say that we are definitely moving in the right direction. Partnerships have been key over the last year, and with so many groups and organisations based here we’re absolutely delighted to see the Centre buzzing and really fulfilling it’s potential.”

One of those successful partnerships is with Stepping Stones North Edinburgh, who have a base within the Centre. Project Manager Marilyn Keilloh said: “I know that working closely with the Centre has produced some enormous benefits for us, and hopefully there have been some positives for the Centre as well. We wish you well for the future and because of the calibre of staff, volunteers and committee members I am sure you will go from strength to strength”.

Among the successful new groups is the Little Tigers, which was developed by a group of young parents. Founder members Nicola and Susan told the meeting that since it’s launch the group – which is run by local volunteer parents – has blossomed: between 50 – 100 adults and children attend every session!

Over seventy children attend a weekly Kabo class at Royston Wardieburn, so it was fitting that a Kabo demonstration brought the meeting to an energetic close. For those who don’t know (me included!) Kabo is a boxing and dance class which improves coordination and fitness – and judging by the enthusiastic kids who took part in the demonstration it really works!

There’s so much going on at Royston Wardieburn, for the young and for the young at heart – call into the Centre on Pilton Drive North, telephone 552 5700 or check out the website to find something that’s right for you at www.joinedinedinburgh.org/organisation/8/

JUNE HIGHLIGHTS at ROYSTON WARBIEBURN

Don’t miss:

Fund Raising Event for the kid’s Summer Programme on Saturday 14 June 10am -12pm. Tables for hire £5.

The Referendum Debate on Thursday 29 June @ 6.30pm.

All welcome!

North Edinburgh’s voluntary sector to meet on Wednesday

A reminder to the area’s charity and community projects that Forth and Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum will meet on Wednesday 7 May at 10am in North Edinburgh Arts.

It’s been a wee while since the last Forum meeting and there is lots to discuss (see Agenda) so why not go along – new faces are always welcome!

If you do plan to attend, please contact EVOC’s June Dickson (telephone 555 9100 or email june.dickson@evoc.org.uk) to let her know.

Forth & Inverleith VSF Agenda 7th May 2014

Early start for Community Council

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow’s meeting of Drylaw Telford Community Council will start at the earlier time of 6.30pm in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.

Easter Drylaw’s Mhairi Curran will be presented with the Thomas Tierney Award for Good Citizenship at an informal reception following the conclusion of the normal monthly business meeting.

All welcome.

Mhairi to receive community award

Mhairi Curran is Drylaw’s Citizen of the Year. Drylaw Telford Community Council agreed that Mhairi should receive the annual Thomas Tierney Award for Good Citizenship at last week’s regular monthly meeting.

Community worker Mhairi has lived in Easter Drylaw all her life and has been actively involved in her own community for many years – firstly through the Drylaw Telford Action Group, North Edinburgh Social Reserach Group’s fuel poverty campaign and more recently as both an office bearer with Easter Drylaw Residents Association and a member of Drylaw Telford Community Council.

Community Council chairman Alex Dale nominated Mhairi. He explained: “I nominated Mhairi because she has been involved in many of the positive things that have been happening in the area over recent years. It’s recognition of her commitment to her community – her work with the community council on the open space sub group, her early contribution on the skatepark and her work with EDRA, especially last year’s campaign against dog fouling. I’m pleased that the community council supported Mhairi’s nomination.”

It’s likely that Mhairi will receive her award at a reception in Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre on 26 March. Congratulations, Mhairi!

Our Vision: Church calls for community to be at heart of referendum debate

The Church of Scotland has called for community and integrity to be at the heart of the debate the country’s future. The call is made in ‘Scotland’s Future: Our Vision’, a report based on the views of over 900 people who attended 32 community events run by the Kirk across Scotland as an alternative national debate on the referendum.

While the 28-page report does not come down on either side of the yes/no debate, ‘Our Vision’ is an interesting insight into Scots’ views on the future of our country and is another welcome contribution towards wider debate. Among the conclusions:

• The referendum is about far more than the simple question “what is in it for me?” The idea that being £500 better off or worse off would affect how people vote was conspicuous by its absence in all 32 events. Instead, participants prioritised the building of local communities on the principles of fairness, justice and sharing of resources

• Dissatisfaction with the political system at all levels, not just Westminster or Holyrood also featured strongly. Participants wanted to see integrity, accountability and transparency, being able to hold politicians accountable between elections and for the party system to be less powerful

• Call for radical changes including far greater local decision-making and for politicians to see themselves as public servants in a more participative democracy

• A modern, successful economy needs limits placed on free market forces; business models should be more focused towards the employee and more value driven. There was a willingness to consider alternative and more progressive models of taxation to build a better society

• There was a strong expression of the need for prayer and for the Church to be involved in social action and in promoting Christian values such as love, hope, respect and forgiveness, as the fundamental building blocks to contributing towards the common good.

Sally Foster-Fulton, Convener of the Church of Scotland’s Church and Society said: “It is an inspiration to see that people in communities across Scotland are challenging the political status quo. The Church of Scotland is committed to finding ways to transform our political debate to ensure that wellbeing and values, such as justice, cohesion and sustainability become the measures for economic activity.”

Click on link (below) to read the report in full:

our_vision

Tierney time again in Drylaw Telford

Evelyn Crawford (above, right) was the popular choice in 2006

Do you know someone who gave up their time to help the Drylaw Telford community last year? A local volunteer who went that extra mile to support a neighbour, or a community group that’s worked to improve the local environment or enhance the quality of life in the neighbourhood? If so, Drylaw Telford Community Council wants to hear from you!

The local community council is now seeking nominations for the Thomas Tierney Award for Good Citizenship.

Tam Tierney was a committed community activist from Wester Drylaw who was involved in many of the positive things that happening in the Greater Pilton area during the Eighties and Nineties.

He was a stalwart of Pilton Sporting Club, chaired Craigroyston Community Centre for many years, was an active and enthusiastic member of Drylaw Telford Community Council. Tam was also part of the steering group – and subsequently a member of the first management committee – of Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre which opened in 1995.

When Tam passed away in 1999, Drylaw Telford Community Council decided to mark Tam’s contribution to community life – not only to celebrate his achievements but also to try to encourage others to become more active within their community.

Every year since 2000, the community council has chosen a new recipient of the Award. They are all very different, and each was nominated for a wide variety of reasons. The one thing they have in common, however – indeed the one thing they must have in common – is that they freely contribute their time to do something that makes the Drylaw Telford neighbourhood a better place to live.

Former recipients have done that in many ways – helping out as a volunteer with local projects, doing their neighbours’ shopping, supporting local groups by serving on management committees … and some have done all of these things and more!

Drylaw Telford Community Council chairman Alex Dale – who was recipient of the 2012 award – said: “The Thomas Tierney Award is an important date on our community council calendar and is usually the best attended meeting of the year.We have slightly changed the criteria for the Award this year and we hope this will encourage more people to make nominations”.

If you think you know someone who may fit the bill, visit the community council’s website at www.drylawtelfordcc.co.uk

email Secretary@drylawtelfordcc.co.uk

or contact Jackie Brown at Rainbow Daycare Centre in Drylaw Church for a nomination form.

Florence Atkinson: a very popular winner

Your archive needs you! First World War for the Digital Age

First World War Diaries Go Online to Mark Centenary

Volunteers required for Operation War Diary

The National Archives has made the first batch of digitised First World War unit war diaries from France and Flanders available online via its First World War 100 portal. Once complete, it will comprise more than 1.5 million pages, opening them up to a global
audience for the first time. Also launched yesterday (Tuesday) is Operation War Diary, an innovative online crowdsourcing partnership project between The National Archives, Imperial War Museums (IWM) and Zooniverse, which aims to unearth the details from within the diaries.

The First World War unit war diaries are the most popular records from The National
Archives’ First World War collection (file series WO 95) and the first in a series of First
World War records to be digitised as part of The National Archives’ centenary
programme – First World War 100 – which spans a five-year period from June 2014 to
June 2019.

William Spencer, author and military records specialist at The National Archives
said: “Making the First World War unit diaries available online, allows people across the
world to discover the daily activities, stories and battles of each unit for themselves. It
also creates opportunities for the public, history enthusiasts, family historians and
researchers worldwide to explore the official records which may lead to some new
discoveries and perspectives of this important period of history.”

With some surprising revelations and astonishing stories, this first batch of unit war
diaries reveals the real-time account of the first three cavalry and the first seven infantry divisions who were part of the first wave of British army troops deployed in France and Flanders. They cover the entire period of the units’ involvement in the war, from their arrival on the front to their departure at the end of the war.

In this first batch of 1,944 digitised unit war diaries is the daily account of the First
Battalion South Wales Borderers in 1914 (WO 95/1280/3), providing insight into the
anxiety and terror of the opening days of the war with the First Battle of Marne and
Aisne, right up until June 1919 with an account of sporting events, such as tug of war
and rugby, and even farewell dinners marking the end of the war.

Other unit war diaries included in the first batch are:

• The 4th Dragoon Guards who fired the first shots in Mons. (WO 95/1112/1)

• 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers who saw action continuously from 1914-18, were in some of
the bloodiest battles and included the last British soldier to die in the First World
War, Private George Edwin Ellison, shortly before Armistice came into force. (WO
95/1134/2)

• 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers who were in the final “lance on lance” action of the First

World War. (WO 95/1113/2)

Read alongside other records in The National Archives’ First World War collection, such as the Prisoner of War interview reports (file series WO 161), the pieces of the jigsaw can be put together to form a catalogue of first-hand official accounts of the First World War.

Further batches of the unit war diaries will be released throughout the course of The
National Archives’ centenary programme.

Operation War Diary – Your Archive Needs You!

As part of the digitisation of the Unit War Diaries and to engage people in the centenary,
The National Archives is teaming up with Imperial War Museums (IWM) and ooniverse
to launch Operation War Diary. IWM’s expertise in citizen history and Zooniverse’s
citizen science technology, previously used to map the stars, is combined in this
innovative crowdsourcing history project which will enable the public to capture
information from The National Archives’ unit war diaries.

Volunteers who sign up to Operation War Diary will be assigned a segment of a unit war diary and asked to tag key details from the pages, such as names, places and events. The data inputted by volunteers will be collected and used to enrich The National Archives’ catalogue descriptions for the unit war diaries, enabling family historians around the world to trace their army ancestors and providing academics and researchers with a better understanding of how the war was fought.

Information gained through Operation War Diary will also be incorporated into IWM’s
Lives of the First World War project, which will launch in late Spring 2014. Lives of the
First World War is an innovative, interactive platform that will inspire people across the
world to discover, remember and share the life stories of those who served in uniform
and worked on the home front. By the end of the centenary it will become the
permanent digital memorial to more than 8 million men and women from across Britain
and the Commonwealth, saving their stories for future generations

100 unit war diaries have been made available on Operation War Diary in the first
instance, with more diaries to be added over the coming months and as they are
published on The National Archives’ website.

Volunteers wishing to take part in Operation War Diary can join the project here:
www.operationwardiary.org.

Luke Smith, Digital Lead for IWM’s First World War Centenary Programme said: “Operation War Diary will uncover new first-hand information about day to day life in the First World War – information that may not have previously been communicated through letters home or covered in traditional history books. This project will also be an
invaluable source for IWM’s Lives of the First World War as it will help today’s
generation to discover even more about the full life-stories of the people they choose to
remember.”

Chris Lintott, Founder of Zooniverse and primary presenter of the BBC series The
Sky at Night said: “History is an amazing and rich topic that many people love. We’re hoping to bring it onto people’s desktops and tablets in a new and amazing way. This
will be our first pure history project and we’re excited to tell our Citizen Scientists that
they now be Citizen Historians too!”

Maria Miller, Culture Secretary, Maria Miller, said: “The National Archives’ digitised First World War unit diaries will allow us to hear the voices of those that sacrificed their lives and is even more poignant now there are no living veterans who can speak directly about the events of the war. This new online vehicle gives a very public voice to some of these soldiers, through which we will be able to hear their thoughts and feelings. Using Operation War Diary, we can follow in their physical shadow as they fought across the Western Front.

“The First World War centenary is all about remembrance, recognition and
understanding. Yesterday informs today. The National Archives’ initiatives are at the
heart of the Government’s First World War centenary programme to forge lasting
connections between the past, present and future as we commemorate the lives and
bravery of all those who served in the First World War.”

Get on board in Drylaw

DTCA

You are invited to

Drylaw Telford Community Association’s Annual General Meeting

on Monday 25 November 2013, at 6.00pm

Are you interested in becoming more active in your local community and shaping the future of your neighbourhood centre? We are looking for local people to join our Management Committee. Please come and speak to us if you would like find out more.

AGM Order of Business:

Welcome and Apologies
Minutes of last AGM
Chairs Report
Treasurers report
Approve Annual Accounts
Appointment of Independent Examiner
Staff report
Election of new committee
AOCB

We hope you will be able to attend and join us for refreshments and a chat after the meeting.

Drylaw Telford Community Association

Management Committee