£81 million support for Scots in crisis
More than 178,000 vulnerable households, including around 59,000 families with children, have received essential help to buy everyday products like nappies, food and cookers through the Scottish Welfare Fund. Continue reading The worst of times: 60,000 Scots families receive emergency aid
There’s been a noticeable rise in dumping and flytipping since changes to refuse and waste disposal arrangements were introduced in the city and North Edinburgh has suffered as badly as most. NEN reader Colin Hutchison has sent these images taken in Granton. Continue reading Mingin’ Medway!
A Song for Dad launches year of events
Children’s Minister Aileen Campbell launched the Year of the Dad at Edinburgh Zoo yesterday. Ms Campbell was joined by around 300 people who enjoyed a day of stories, speeches, food and music – including a beautiful song written by local schoolchildren to mark the event. Continue reading Year of the Dad launched at Edinburgh Zoo
Community meeting at Granton Youth Centre
Tuesday 2 February 5.30pm 
THURSDAY 26 JANUARY 6.30 – 8.30pm
tickets on sale today!
FM announces £1 million for early learning and childcare trials
A report into what more the Scottish Government and others can do to tackle poverty in Scotland has been welcomed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Ms Sturgeon used today’s visit to North Edinburgh Childcare to announce £1 million funding to support new early learning and childcare initiatives. Continue reading First Minister visits North Edinburgh Childcare
Brave wee Kai Laidlaw has died. The local three year old fought leukaemia twice in his short life – he was first diagnosed in September 2013, when he was only eight months old. Continue reading Brave wee Kai loses fight for life
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
