We have received funding from the management committee of Royston Wardieburn community centre to offer some one to one activities to local folk in North West Edinburgh, who might be struggling a bit as we ease out of lockdown.
The aim is to support people engage/re-engage with the many social and learning opportunities on offer in North Edinburgh.
As you know, it’s not going to be easy for many people to take the first step – it never is. However, the impact of lockdown is likely to have magnified people’s concerns and anxieties about getting involved in something new.
Many people may be feeling a bit anxious about what life is going to look like in the coming months and the challenges that lie ahead. Some people may struggle physically due to the loss of mobility during last year and might need a bit of support to get out and about safely again.
One to One Activities
We’ve put together a programme of one to one activities which we hope will address these issues and we will adapt the programme to reflect people’s interests. The programme includes supported local walks, visits to places of interests such as community gardens and galleries and museums.
We are also planning to offer individuals the opportunity to work on their digital, literacy or language skills in a local café once the restrictions are lifted. For some people just meeting up with someone in a public space for a coffee and a chat will be sufficient.
Working together
We would be really grateful for your help and support with this project.
1. Can you send us information about any activities you are planning?
2. Can you could let us know if you have a space that we might be able to use for meet ups (inside and outside)?
We would also be grateful if you could help to promote the project by displaying our leaflets (which will be dropped off next week) in a public space and if you could pass on the information to anyone you know who you think might benefit from the project.
We are aiming to work with people who have been particularly badly affected by lockdown, particularly those who might have been shielding due to health conditions but also people from the BAME community and people who might be struggling with their mental health or finding it difficult to get out due to mobility issues.
If you know someone who might be interested, please let us know how best to get in touch with them.
Please get in touch if you want to know more about the Time for Change Project or if you would like to become involved in some way.
As the nights draw-in and the lights begin to twinkle, join us online for a day full of free fun and creative activities for all the family, with readings, DrawAlongs, music and more!
Enjoy stories from Maggie O’Farrell, Alan Bissett and Nadine Aisha Jassat, put your pens to work with illustrator Eilidh Muldoon, hear music from Tinderbox Collective and experience tales written by our Citizen groups in North Edinburgh, Musselburgh and beyond!
Free and online on Saturday 12 December. Find out more:
Despite the current Scottish Government restrictions affecting the sport & leisure industry, Edinburgh Leisure is continuing to reopen their venues and services and encouraging as many people of various ages and stages to get active.
June Peebles, CEO at Edinburgh Leisure said: “Over the past few weeks and months, there’s been a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes to bring Edinburgh Leisure’s 14 venues that are currently open and services back to life.
“This includes their six golf courses, gyms, tennis courts, sports halls and pitches, Europe’s largest climbing arena at Ratho, five Victorian pools and of course, the very popular Royal Commonwealth Pool.
“And despite all the changes we have had to deal with and continue to deal with –whether that be the changes to facility guidance or changes to what activities we can and cannot open (our group fitness classes and adult group activities are not able to take place under the current Level 3 restrictions), we have continued to progress with our re-opening plans.
“Feedback has been so positive with Edinburgh Leisure being one of the businesses singled out for making customers feel safest since reopening with all the measures we have put in place, and an ‘overall crowd-pleaser’.”
Since June, customers have been dusting off their clubs and heading to Edinburgh Leisure’s golf courses. Customer visits are up 43% on last year and continue to perform exceptionally well, despite the autumn weather and ever reducing day light and playing hours.
The sale of Edinburgh Leisure’s Winter Golf membership, which costs from £22.50 per month with unlimited play at six of their golf courses across the city until 31 March 2021, is contributing to the impressive sales, up four times compared to that in 2019.
Other services that have reopened include the sporting facilities in seven of the Council’s high schools, which Edinburgh Leisure manage on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, and Clip ‘n Climb family sessions at the EICA, albeit on a reduced basis.
Their popular coaching programme for children’s swim and dive lessons, tennis, gymnastics and climbing, restarted on 16 November. The swim coaching programme at Queensferry High School restarts on Monday, 30th November.
Seven thousand children and young people have returned to coaching, which although is a reduction on what was available pre-lockdown, complies with Scottish Government and sportscotland guidelines to keep people safe.
Their popular NRG Zone – a coached gym session for children from S1 to 15 years – is now being offered. These sessions introduce the safe and effective use of the gym space and equipment and allows the young person to get accredited and then able to use the gym on the own, at time out with NRG Zone classes, where there are gym instructors present. NRG is running across nine of their venues from Friday to Sundays – with limited places offered at specified gym times.
Gym instructor bookings are available once more and need to be booked in advance. Initially, it will be ‘Introduction for New Users and ‘Gym Update Reviews, which are offered with both sessions starting with a 15 minute – one to one -consultation, where goals will be discussed, exercise advice given and a demonstration of the safe use of equipment. The remainder of the gym session will allow the customer to train in the gym with staff checking on progress.
Edinburgh Leisure has also introduced Family Swim Sessions into their pool timetables, where families of up to five people can swim in a pre-booked pool ‘pod’, with prices starting from £9.60 per family group.
Due to the Covid restrictions, groups must adhere to the existing adult:child ratio as well as the COVID-19 restrictions, and need to arrive swim ready. In some of the venues, deep-end pods are also available for families with confident swimmers.
A number of Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities projects have also restarted. Active Communities helps improve the lives of people affected by health conditions, poverty, inequalities, and disabilities.
Programmes which have restarted include: one to one gym sessions for participants on their Healthy Active Minds project; their #YouCan project, which supports care-experienced young people to get active, is running virtual one to ones, outdoor and group outreach programmes; Active Mums, which supports low income families, has restarted as an outdoor group with the mums enjoying socially distanced workouts in Pilrig Park, with their children being cared for in the creche at Dr Bells Family Centre; and Get Moving Adults Weight Management Education Classes.
In addition, Ageing Well, which encourages older people to get active and stay active, has restarted three of their popular walks.
Ryan Dignan, Health Development Officer, remarked: “The walkers have said how relieved they were that the group was back again as they had missed it so much.”
June Peebles concluded: “Edinburgh Leisure remains as committed as ever to supporting Edinburgh citizens to be active and healthy. We’ve had to introduce a number of changes to comply with all the COVID-19 safety guidance that’s out there.
“Things are somewhat different, with smaller numbers taking part in activities at any one time, the mandatory wearing of face coverings when moving around our venues, enhanced cleaning and physical distancing measures but it’s all in place to ensure our customers are safe when visiting our venues.
“The feedback has been really positive. Never has the importance of taking care of your physical and mental health been so important – please remember we’re here to help and support you to be active.”
Guy Fawkes Night will be different this year, but it can still be fun. And what better opportunity to teach your children about the origins of the celebration? Former primary school teacher Catherine Lynch of education resource experts Plan Bee tells you how…
It is likely that most larger bonfire night events won’t be able to go ahead this year.The rule against social gatherings of more than six and added restrictions in parts of the UK mean that garden fireworks parties are also set to be smaller. A family-only event may be low key, but if you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor space you can still have a great evening.
A couple of packets of sparklers, delicious jacket potatoes and toasted marshmallows to eat, will lift the spirits of youngsters and adults alike.
And this year is a great opportunity to make sure that your children know what this annual celebration is all about.
When and why
Bonfire Night takes place on 5th November. On this night in 1605, Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators attempted—and failed—to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
Who?
Guy Fawkes, also known as Guido Fawkes, lived in an era when Britain was riven by terrible religious intolerance and violence between Protestants and Catholics.
The Gunpowder Plot
It was planned that Fawkes would light the fuse, get across the Thames and then escape to Europe. However, news of the plot was leaked. On 5 November 1605, Fawkes was discovered underneath the Houses of Parliament guarding the gunpowder. He was arrested and tortured.
On 27 January, Fawkes and eight of the plotters stood trial. The jury found them all guilty and the men were killed on 31 January 1606.
For years, the failed Gunpowder Plot was marked by bonfires, special sermons and public events like the ringing of church bells. Over time, Bonfire Night has become the more commercial celebration we have today that includes firework displays, funfairs and hot food like jacket potatoes.
Five fun Bonfire Night facts:
1. Guy Fawkes was born on 13th April 1570. He died on 31st January 1606.
2. Guy Fawkes was Catholic. He didn’t think a Protestant monarch should rule Britain..
3. There were 13 members of the Gunpowder Plot: Robert Catesby, Thomas Wintour, Robert Wintour, John Wright, Christopher Wright, Thomas Percy, Guy Fawkes, Robert Keyes, Thomas Bates, John Grant, Ambrose Rookwood, Sir Everad Digby and Francis Tresham.
4. Fawkes was found with 36 barrels of gunpowder. There was enough gunpowder to reduce the Houses of Parliament to rubble.
5. An Act of Parliament named 5 November as a day of thanksgiving for the “joyful day of deliverance”. This act was in force until 1859.
Click here for FREE Bonfire Night resources for primary school-aged children.
With different parts of the country under different lockdown rules, the idea of celebrating Halloween may seem an impossibility. But Catherine Lynch of education experts PlanBee says you can keep your children spooked out – and stay within the law.
Halloween 2020 is going to be a bit different to previous years. Groups of children putting their hands into several bowls of communal sweets feels like something from another life. But we can incorporate dressing up, community spirit, an evening walk and trick or treating while observing social distancing. Here’s how…
Many communities are organising a Halloween trail for their young trick-or-treaters. Instead of knocking door to door, why not take your children on a trail, too? If you would like to take part in a Halloween trail, or organise one yourself, you could put this spooky picture from PlanBee in your window.
Parents can scan the QR code in the picture to receive a free Halloween activity pack with colouring sheets, puzzles and activities.
Take your children on walks around your local area and see how many Halloween pictures you can spot. You could give your child the chance to pick a treat from your own selection each time they spot a picture on the Halloween treasure hunt.
And while you’re at it, this short guide to the history of Halloween will ensure you can answer any questions your youngsters might have about the origins of this popular autumn celebration.
It all started with Samhain, an ancient Celtic pagan religious festival that marks the end of the harvest and the start of winter. The celebrations included lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off ghosts. This festival is thought to date back to Neolithic times, pre 2500 BC.
In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III decided 1st November should be a time to honour all saints. The evening before All Saints Day was known as All Hallows’ Eve, and later Halloween. All Hallows’ Eve, is a Christian religious observance that includes going to church and lighting candles on the graves of the dead. Traditionally, Christians didn’t eat meat on this day and Potato Pancakes were a popular choice of food.
Over time, Halloween became the more commercial and secular celebration we have today that includes trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, wearing costumes and eating treats.
Watch out for World Food Day on Friday (October 16). The date commemorates the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation by the United Nations in 1945. This year’s theme is Grow, Nourish, Sustain, Together.
This is a great opportunity to do some fun activities at home with your children to give them a better understanding of how a sustainable supply of food relates to their own lives and the local area as well as those in far-away places.
And the event is of particular significance this year because it takes place at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic threatens food security in many parts of the world.
Former primary school teacher Oli Ryan of education resource experts PlanBee reports:
Four great ways to celebrate World Food Day 2020
1. Discover fascinating food facts
World Food Day Facts
Eight hundred million people around the world suffer from hunger.
In parts of the world where hunger is a big issue, life expectancy is shorter, infant mortality is higher, and productivity is lower.
Around the same number of people around the world suffer from obesity due to unhealthy diets.
Obesity kills more people than hunger.
Inefficient, unsustainable food systems harm ecosystems and contribute to global warming. Changing the way we produce food is key to tackling climate change.
As the climate changes, we will have to change the way we produce food: yields will decrease, and new food sources will have to be found.
In developed countries, tackling obesity would save hundreds of billions of pounds in healthcare costs.
In countries where hunger is an issue, eliminating hunger would dramatically increase productivity and national wealth.
2. Make it meaningful.
Food security and food poverty are significant issues in the UK too. It’s a good time to talk about food banks, free school meals and the importance of eating nourishing food for health, happiness and even for effective learning.
What is ‘food security’? Food security means being having access to adequate supplies of food to live healthily. To have food security:
People must have enough money to buy food
Food must be affordably-priced
There must be reliable supply chains for food
There must be enough reserves of food, or reliable enough supply chains for a variety of foods, to ensure that access to food is not interrupted
The food available must be nutritious, so those who consume it can lead active, healthy lives
What are ‘sustainable food systems’? Effective, sustainable food systems affordably provide an adequate amount of food to meet demand while also supporting the ecosystems they rely on for the production of food.
The greenhouses will be heated by warm water pumped from nearby water treatment plants, producing far lower carbon emissions than traditional growing methods. It also reduces food miles and establishes a more reliable supply of food in the local area. Can you think of an example of a sustainable food system in your own area?
3. Link it to your local community
Church of England schools have a long-standing tradition of celebrating harvest festival by collecting store cupboard food items for the elderly and vulnerable in their community. This year, Sukkot, the Jewish harvest festival, is celebrated 2nd-9th October.
If there’s not much happening locally, why not arrange to do something to help those less well-off in your community? Find out where your nearest food bank is. Many will list the items they are most in need of each week on their website.
4. Make healthy, nutritious food together
Talk ‘around’ the recipe you choose to follow; for example, you might try to find out about the food journey of one or more of the ingredients.
You can find out more about what’s happening during World Food Day 2020 by following the hashtags #WorldFoodDay and #FoodHeroes on social media.
For more activity ideas and resources for celebrating World Food Day, check out PlanBee’s World Food Day collection.
Former primary school teacher Oli Ryan is a senior member of the team at PlanBee, the education resources and lesson planning experts
Lighten up those dark winter evenings with floodlit tennis
As the light starts to fade and summer draws to a close, playing tennis with floodlights at the Meadows and the all-weather outdoor courts at Craiglockhart Tennis Centre, can now be booked on the Edinburgh Leisure app and website.
Kirsty Stobie, Manager at Craiglockhart Tennis Centre at Edinburgh Leisure said: “Tennis has proved to be really popular since Edinburgh Leisure’s courts opened up at the beginning of June, when the restrictions were lifted after lockdown. It’s been great seeing people of all ages getting active back on our courts and taking advantage of free tennis.
“Tennis at the Meadows is unmanned and until now, customers have been able to just rock up and play. However, with the nights drawing in earlier, customers wishing to play with floodlights, can pay to have the lights turned on to coincide with their session. These sessions can be booked via the Edinburgh Leisure website or app.”
Court prices start from £5 – £10 at the Meadows and £6.60 – £13 at Craiglockhart. Customers are asked to adhere to current social distancing guidelines and to bring their own equipment.
It’s not too late to join our #SustransOutsideIn feature in the parent newsletter.
It’s packed with activities for children to bring the outside in and enjoy at home 🏠🤸🎨
Designed by our knowledgeable, experienced and fun-loving Schools Officers. The four-week activity pack is full of cycling, walking and scooting themed fun 🚲🛴🚶
A series of fun and free online activities to keep residents of all ages active and busy during the coronavirus lockdown has been devised by Schools and Lifelong Learning officer Callum McLeod and his council colleagues.
Callum and his colleagues came up with the idea of putting together activity packs for children, young people and families to use at home to keep them physically and mentally active during the lockdown.
Whilst doing their research they realised many of the top tips were websites so they created an online directory of fun activities which started increasing in size until it eventually ended up as a dedicated page on the Council website.
The top tips include a wide range of advice for families starting with babies/infants, then moving onto children up to 12 years followed by general sites for learning and sport suitable for a range of ages right up to adults.
Some of the titles include: Mummy Bubble, Busy Toddler, Cosmic Kids Yoga, Activity Village, Live Bold and Bloom, EpicDash and Ted Talks.
Callum, who is usually based in the Council’s South East Lifelong Learning office in Gilmerton, is now working from home in north Edinburgh with his family, trying out new and different ways to support each other.
Callum, who was based at Broughton Community High School before redeployment as part of city council’s ‘transformation’ initiative, said: “It didn’t take long for us to realise that there would be families all over the city stuck in front of the telly or computer, potentially climbing the walls or bored to tears, so why not put something together for the families to keep them occupied in fun ways.
“It soon became apparent that it was far easier (and far safer in terms of the virus) to put everything online so people could pick out activities to suit their different needs.”
Every time Callum circulated a list of possible links he was deluged with replies including further suggestions – to the extent he is currently working on Version 6 of his helpful guide!
Callum added: “It’s been a massive collective effort from many, many people working together, and putting a silver lining on what could be quite challenging times.
“We soon realised the potential out there for families to turn a ‘challenging time’ into some ‘quality time’. There should be something there for everybody – so why not check out the links for yourself?”
Luminate has launched Luminate@home sessions every Tuesday and Friday at 2pm on their facebook, youtube & vimeo channels.
It is a new programme of short online films demonstrating creative activities for you to do wherever you are. The activities are presented by professional artists and feature different arts forms including crafts, poetry, music and dance.
Luminate has developed the films in partnership with Scottish Care, and they are aimed at people living in their own homes, as well as care home staff who are looking for ideas of activities for residents.
Scottish Ballet Health are streaming health classes every day at 11.30am. The classes will remain accessible on Facebook so they can also be enjoyed at a later time. More info and the full schedule of classes can be found here.
Sporting memories are making their Sporting Pink a weekly printed publication that they use at their clubs to introduce fun activities and help stimulate sporting memories available to everyone. It contains articles, quizzes, a sports diary and more. To find out more and to register visit their website.
Luminate@Home is a programme of online creative activities for older people who are isolated in the current COVID-19 outbreak.
Every Tuesday and Friday, a new short film will be posted online at 2pm to inspire and guide older people through a creative activity that can be done at home or in a care home.
Luminate’s new programme is designed to help people stay engaged and active until the crisis has passed. The activities are presented by professional artists who work regularly with older people in community and care settings, and will feature different arts forms including crafts, poetry, music and dance.
In recent years there has been growing understanding of the positive impact of taking part in creative activities, especially as we get older. An important aspect of this is the ability of arts engagement to help address loneliness and isolation, something which is of concern for older people who are socially distanced or self-isolated in the current situation.
The Luminate team has worked quickly to set up Luminate@Home, offering creative opportunities designed specifically for older people at a time when they may be particularly welcomed.
All the artists involved are missing the regular contact they normally have with the older people they work with and are excited to find new ways to continue to share their creativity. At a time when everyone is socially distanced, each artist will make their film in their own home using whatever equipment is available, ranging from phones to professional cameras.
Filmmaker GraemeRoger is giving advice on the filming process and the artists send their completed films to him to edit and upload to Luminate’s website and social media channels.
AnneGallacher,DirectorofLuminate,said:“Luminate has seen at first-hand the power of creativity to impact on loneliness and isolation. The effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on our older people is huge, and I sincerely hope that our Luminate@Home programme will in some way brighten the days of older people who find themselves secluded at home.
“I also hope that our social care colleagues – who are working so hard to support residents in care homes across Scotland – find the films a valuable and enjoyable resource to share. I am very grateful to the artists who are collaborating with us, and who have responded with such enthusiasm and imagination to the challenge of creating these films at a distance.”
ScottishCareChiefExecutive,DrDonaldMacaskillsaid:“I am absolutely delighted to support Luminate@Home. The ‘shielding’ which has been necessary to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens in care homes and in the community inevitably means that people are going to feel isolated and shut off from family, friends and their communities.
“Anything which helps to reduce the fear and anxiety of isolation, to create a bridge to the outside world; anything which helps people to remain active and creative is to be hugely welcomed.
“Luminate have immense experience of bringing the best of the creative arts to Scotland’s older population. This venture is evidence not only of their organisational commitment but of the dedication of the individual artists and performers who are taking part.
“We owe them a huge debt of gratitude in helping to keep us all connected, and I hope entertained over the next few challenging and difficult weeks and months.”
