new ad campaign to support childrens’ literacy and numeracy
Parents and families have a key role to play in helping their children to read, write and count well and a new TV and supermarket-based advertising campaign has been launched to encourage and help parents to support their children’s learning beyond the classroom. Continue reading Help them shine
Forty-five years. Tens of thousands of North Edinburgh children and families, Pilton Retreat has given our community so much. Now, at their hour of need, they desperately need the community’s support: it’s time to give something back …
Pilton Retreat 1970
The late Victor Lindsay while on his rounds working with the Water Board discovered the unused, semi – derelict scout hall on the edge of Ratho.
In 1970, he along with other community activists from play schemes, youth projects, churches and staff from schools agreed to work together to establish a countryside resource for the children and young people of the Greater Pilton area.
Successful negotiation with the farmer and scouts, a payment of either £10.00 or £20.00 was enough to secure the building for Pilton use.
The thrift shop was opened to sell donated goods to raise funds; a wider appeal for funding and loads of voluntary effort meant that the first groups of children and young people from Pilton started staying at the Retreat in the summer of 1971.
Tens of thousands have visited since.
Initially, it was only the building, by mid 70’s some extra land was rented, and ever since improvements to the facility and grounds have been achieved.
What exists today is as a result of the efforts of many people over these 45 years.
Now these achievements and the resource are under real threat.
Council funding may end, solely on the assessment of three unknown council officials’ and a report to Councillors recommending no continued funding.
We ask that our four Forth councillors seek to persuade the Education Children and Families Committee on 11th February that this would be a detrimental decision.
More than 1,600 people so far have signed our e-petition, asking the Councillors to think again.
45 years of continuously improving service and facilities surely must count?
1,500+ children and young people using the facilities every year surely must matter?
If funding ends on 31/3/16, the Board of Pilton Retreat will spend its own reserves to keep the Retreat open till the end of June 2016.
During these three months many children you may know will visit the Retreat.
School residential camps will involve Pirniehall P 4’s, Craigroyston and Forthview P 5’s, St Davids P6’s and Rowanfield P7’s. School day visits include Craigroyston and St Davids nursery classes and Pirniehall P3’s. Two other Edinburgh primary schools for pupils with additional learning needs will hold residential visits. A further 10 Edinburgh school nursery classes will visit for the day.
It seems ironic, even perverse, that the Council might decide to close down these opportunities for the pupils that they should be providing for. Many other community groups, locally and from elsewhere in Edinburgh will also visit in these three short months. They would also lose out in the future.
Please do all you can to help save these services / opportunities for the children, young people and families in Greater Pilton in the future.
Please sign and share our petition. Click on the link below:
Lothian Autistic Society teams up with Hibs
‘a hand up, not a hand out’
Edinburgh’s Young Carers project has received £2,000 from the STV Children’s Appeal.
The charity supports over 250 young carers every year, helping them maintain a balance between their responsibilities as a carer and their need for time and space for their own development throughout childhood and adolescence.
The donation from the STV Children’s Appeal will be used to support young carers aged 9 -13 years. Carers in this age group experience one of the highest burdens of caring and require specific support in order to meet the challenges they face, including moving from primary to secondary school and preparing for their first exams. One of the most significant and lasting impacts on young carers is poor educational attainment. Edinburgh’s Young Carers works with schools to raise awareness of the challenges faced by young carers and to help teachers identify and support young carers so that they are able to maintain their education.
Margaret Murphy, CEO of Edinburgh’s Young Carers, said: “Young carers may live in poorer families, have poorer physical and mental health and leave school with poor exam results compared with their peers. Being a young carer can benefit young people in a number of ways, including developing their maturity, life skills and independence. However, without access to appropriate support young carers can be very vulnerable and at risk of many challenges that can damage their development and long term life chances.”
Jack (13), an Edinburgh Young Carer, said: “I dreaded going to school as I found it hard. I just wanted to fall asleep in class and couldn’t concentrate as I was always worrying whether mum would be okay. Karen from EYCP met my teacher and I get extra help with my school work and I can phone home at break time. I feel a lot better about going to school and I am getting better marks – B instead of D!”
Since launch in 2011, the STV Children’s Appeal has raised over £11.1 million with 424 big and small grants distributed to projects across all 32 local authority areas in Scotland, providing much needed support to over 59,000 children. The money raised is distributed to provide practical help like food and warm clothes; create opportunities for training and employability; and enable social and emotional support for those who need it most.
Rob Woodward, STV CEO and trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: “All the money donated to the STV Children’s Appeal remains in Scotland and will help bring about positive changes to the lives of vulnerable children and young people on our doorstep. With the help of the extraordinary fundraising efforts taking place in communities across the country we are able to support projects like Edinburgh’s Young Carers that help improve the lives of children in Scotland. We are extremely grateful to everyone who supports the STV Children’s Appeal.”
Sir Tom Hunter, trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: “Through the Appeal our singular ambition is to deliver sustainable solutions to end child poverty. It is simply unacceptable in modern Scotland to still have young people debilitated by poverty through no fault of their own. Thanks to this project and many more, the people of Scotland are doing their level best to combat poverty.
“This is about communities coming together and, with a hand up not a hand out, from the STV Appeal, helping themselves deliver sustainable solutions to end child poverty.”
Sir Ian Wood, trustee of the STV Children’s Appeal, said: “The generosity of the people in Scotland who provide such great support to the STV Children’s Appeal is always incredibly encouraging and heart-warming. It is deeply concerning that there continues to be a significant requirement across Scotland for this financial support.
However, I do believe that the £2.9million raised this year will make a significant contribution to eradicating the issue of child poverty in Scotland. Throughout my working life I travelled a lot seeing an obvious divide between the haves and the have-nots around the world, and to know that this is also happening on our doorstep is deeply concerning. Everyone has a role to play in reducing the alarming child poverty statistics.”
If you’re an individual or group that would like to get involved with the STV Children’s Appeal and help raise funds for children and young people affected by poverty in Scotland, please get in touch with Natalie Wright at natalie.wright@stv.tv.
MY Adventure director James Howell has died in an accident while on holiday.
Muirhouse Youth Development Group (MYDG’s) Board has issued the following statement:
Over the weekend James was involved in a tragic accident and passed away. At this time we don’t know the full details and we want to provide his family and the MYA team with some time to get their head round it. Normal service will resume at MYA and we will be in touch with the best point of contact for any questions in due course.
James came to MY Adventure two years ago with over 15 years of experience in outdoor education, adventure activities and expedition leadership. He worked extensively in the UK, Asia and Africa and was a passionate believer in the power of the outdoors to change lives for the better.
Our thoughts are with James’ family and colleagues at this terribly difficult time.
A new scheme to encourage physical activity among young children will be funded by the Scottish Government. Continue reading Getting kids on the move
PlayTalkRead, the Scottish Government’s early years campaign, has reached a record number of new families in 2015, the Children’s Minister Aileen Campbell has revealed. Continue reading Terrific year for PlayTalkRead
Muirhouse Minis group has grown so large since it first started that the group has been split into 3 session per day. To facilitate this, two parties were arranged with an hour between both, even though the groups have moved into the main hall! (writes James McGinty). Continue reading Muirhouse Minis party at Millennium Centre
Portobello nursery shows the true spirit of Christmas
Royston Wardieburn Community Centre received a special surprise visit last week. No, it wasn’t Santa on his sleigh – although it was almost as exciting! It was a wee team from Portobello’s Highland Fling nursery and afterschool club, and they came bearing gifts! Continue reading They came from the East bearing gifts …
116 voluntary sector organisations to benefit from new fund
Charities supporting children, families and adult learning have been awarded £12 million, the Children’s Minister has announced. Continue reading Happy New Year for some with £12 million funding annoucement
