Tag: Children and Families

Vicki says goodbye to Granton

Vicki Ridley is to leave Granton Youth Centre. Vicki, who has managed the youth centre since 2003, is taking up a new post with Canongate Youth Project.

Granton Youth Centre opened on West Granton Road in 2003 in a building shared with the Pilton Partnership. The new Centre did not have the most successful of starts, however, and it was only with the arrival of Vicki as new manager that the Centre started to live up to it’s potential.

Ten years on, under Vicki’s drive and leadership, Granton Youth Centre has gone from strength to strength: constantly building and developing to offer a comprehensive range of services in a programme that’s always been planned with, and centred around, the needs and requirements of the young people themselves.

Vicki said: “Ten years is a long time to be involved in any organisation, and it’s certainly the longest that I’ve been involved with an organisation.  Granton Youth Centre has been an amazing place to work, often challenging, but never a dull moment and occasionally loads of fun! I have lots of fond memories to take away with me, and I have met some truly amazing people whose courage and resilience, kindness and positivity have blown me away, and kept me, the service and everyone else at GYC going when things got tough.

“Although the choppy waters of local community politics don’t always help with plain sailing, some of the partnerships, networks and local organisations we have worked with have been really valuable.  I hope young people throughout Forth continue to benefit from a range and diversity of provision which meets their needs, and that all the organisations in the area have a sustainable and prosperous future.

“It’s great to see how GYC has become a viable and valued resource for young people where once there was none.  My favourite memories are largely concerning situations where young people do well – they receive certificates, awards, or make a small/medium/large breakthrough.  My least favourite memories will be collated and written up in small novella format for publication at a later date!

I look forward to working with friends and colleagues in my new role as Manager of Canongate Youth Project.”

When advertising for a replacement, Granton Youth Centre’s voluntary Board of Management said they were seeking ‘an exceptional candidate to lead our organisation and take our plans forward’. Interviews take place this month, but Vicki will indeed be a hard act to follow.

Olympic fever grips Craigroyston!

If tickets are hard to come by in London, Craigroyston Community High School’s Early Years Olympics were even more exclusive – by invitation only!

The great event took place today and the NEN was delighted to be there. Thanks to Lorraine Grant for the invitation, the Early Years volunteers for the organisation and attention to detail, the spectators (mums, dads and carers) for creating that unique Olympic atmosphere and most of all to the brilliant wee participants – maybe there’s a wee future Hoy or Ennis in the following pictures!

Let's hear it for the girls! Muirhouse Womens Group celebrates success

Let’s hear it for our local ladies who lunch!

Muirhouse Women’s Group haven’t exactly been lacking in causes since they set up almost three years ago. The enthusiastic band first came to the NEN’s attention when they composed and fired off a letter about poverty to the Prime Minister last year, and it seems they’re never stopped since! The group’s come a long way, and their dedication was rewarded recently when they received The Edinburgh Adult Education Award for Outstanding Achievement during Adult Learners Week.

Members of the group picked up their trophy at a celebration event at the City Chambers – and the icing on the cake was to follow  when new Lord Provost Donald Wilson, who had been so impressed by the group’s achievements, invited our local ladies to lunch!

Muirhouse Women’s Group – now North Edinburgh Women’s Group, as women from other parts of the area have joined – have been involved in so many campaigns and activities, both as a group and as individuals, that it’s hard to keep track of them all.

I met up with the women in North Edinburgh Arts Centre last month, and the women enthusiastically (and noisily!) catalogued their achievements:

  • Writing to the Prime Minister to highlight the plight of poorer people being exacerbated by welfare reforms
  • Researching, compiling and presenting a report on Poverty for last autumn’s Craigroyston Conference
  • Actively supporting the North Edinburgh Fights Back campaign, including addressing councillors as part of a delegation
  • Working with Muirhouse Library to help resolve local antisocial behaviour issues, then choosing new children’s books (pictured above) and helping to organise a successful Open Day.

There’s probably much, much more – but in my defence it was hard to hear everything that was being thrown at me and I can’t write that fast! The women are justifiably proud of all they’ve achieved, but are keen to continue what they’ve started. Cathy Ahmed said: “This is a really brilliant group to be part of. I can’t really describe how it’s changed things for me – I’ve got an awful lot more confidence and I’ve done things I would never have attempted before, and that’s the same for a lot of the other women as well. We all support each other and have a great laugh when we’re together – we’re different characters and different ages but there are a lot of things we agree on and we have a lot in common too. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like without the group – I think we’ve got lots more to do”.

Community Learning Development workers Sarah Low and Lynn McCabe have supported the group on their remarkable journey – although sometimes it been more like trying to rein them in!

Sarah said: “Members of the group have come so far over the past year, attracting new members, experiencing drama, gaining in confidence and most of all learning new skills – and during all this they’ve also managed to have fun: decorating banners, going on family trips and volunteering at the Muirhouse Play Out Event!  This is an amazing – and well deserved – achievement for the group.”

Willie Black, a member of the North Edinburgh Fights Back campaign, said: ‘Our community has a history of having bred strong women who fight for what they believe in. These women are made in that same mould – they won’t be brushed aside and they smell bullshit at a hundred yards! They’re a credit to North Edinburgh and we need more like them”.

Marco Biagi MSP presented the Adult Achievement Awards at the City Chambers. He said: “This is a great example of non-formal learning in the community and shows the benefits that come from life long learning. Congratulations to all of the groups who are celebrating their success this evening”.

The women received further recognition when a motion by Forth councillor Cammy Day congratulating the group was supported by the full council meeting on 28 June. The motion read: “Council congratulates the work of the North Edinburgh Women’s Group in their award for local community activity – outstanding achievement for adult learning (adult education awards).

Furthermore Council commends the highly successful community conference organised by North Edinburgh Fights Back and the Muirhouse Women’s Group specifically in regards to highlighting poverty, inequality and fuel poverty.

Council welcomes the anti-poverty charter, and agrees to work with these groups in addressing poverty and inequalities.”

For further information about North Edinburgh Womens Group activities call Sarah Low on 552 5700, or email her at sarah.low@edinburgh.gov.uk

Additional pictures by Lynn McCabe

Let’s hear it for the girls! Muirhouse Womens Group celebrates success

Let’s hear it for our local ladies who lunch!

Muirhouse Women’s Group haven’t exactly been lacking in causes since they set up almost three years ago. The enthusiastic band first came to the NEN’s attention when they composed and fired off a letter about poverty to the Prime Minister last year, and it seems they’re never stopped since! The group’s come a long way, and their dedication was rewarded recently when they received The Edinburgh Adult Education Award for Outstanding Achievement during Adult Learners Week.

Members of the group picked up their trophy at a celebration event at the City Chambers – and the icing on the cake was to follow  when new Lord Provost Donald Wilson, who had been so impressed by the group’s achievements, invited our local ladies to lunch!

Muirhouse Women’s Group – now North Edinburgh Women’s Group, as women from other parts of the area have joined – have been involved in so many campaigns and activities, both as a group and as individuals, that it’s hard to keep track of them all.

I met up with the women in North Edinburgh Arts Centre last month, and the women enthusiastically (and noisily!) catalogued their achievements:

  • Writing to the Prime Minister to highlight the plight of poorer people being exacerbated by welfare reforms
  • Researching, compiling and presenting a report on Poverty for last autumn’s Craigroyston Conference
  • Actively supporting the North Edinburgh Fights Back campaign, including addressing councillors as part of a delegation
  • Working with Muirhouse Library to help resolve local antisocial behaviour issues, then choosing new children’s books (pictured above) and helping to organise a successful Open Day.

There’s probably much, much more – but in my defence it was hard to hear everything that was being thrown at me and I can’t write that fast! The women are justifiably proud of all they’ve achieved, but are keen to continue what they’ve started. Cathy Ahmed said: “This is a really brilliant group to be part of. I can’t really describe how it’s changed things for me – I’ve got an awful lot more confidence and I’ve done things I would never have attempted before, and that’s the same for a lot of the other women as well. We all support each other and have a great laugh when we’re together – we’re different characters and different ages but there are a lot of things we agree on and we have a lot in common too. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like without the group – I think we’ve got lots more to do”.

Community Learning Development workers Sarah Low and Lynn McCabe have supported the group on their remarkable journey – although sometimes it been more like trying to rein them in!

Sarah said: “Members of the group have come so far over the past year, attracting new members, experiencing drama, gaining in confidence and most of all learning new skills – and during all this they’ve also managed to have fun: decorating banners, going on family trips and volunteering at the Muirhouse Play Out Event!  This is an amazing – and well deserved – achievement for the group.”

Willie Black, a member of the North Edinburgh Fights Back campaign, said: ‘Our community has a history of having bred strong women who fight for what they believe in. These women are made in that same mould – they won’t be brushed aside and they smell bullshit at a hundred yards! They’re a credit to North Edinburgh and we need more like them”.

Marco Biagi MSP presented the Adult Achievement Awards at the City Chambers. He said: “This is a great example of non-formal learning in the community and shows the benefits that come from life long learning. Congratulations to all of the groups who are celebrating their success this evening”.

The women received further recognition when a motion by Forth councillor Cammy Day congratulating the group was supported by the full council meeting on 28 June. The motion read: “Council congratulates the work of the North Edinburgh Women’s Group in their award for local community activity – outstanding achievement for adult learning (adult education awards).

Furthermore Council commends the highly successful community conference organised by North Edinburgh Fights Back and the Muirhouse Women’s Group specifically in regards to highlighting poverty, inequality and fuel poverty.

Council welcomes the anti-poverty charter, and agrees to work with these groups in addressing poverty and inequalities.”

For further information about North Edinburgh Womens Group activities call Sarah Low on 552 5700, or email her at sarah.low@edinburgh.gov.uk

Additional pictures by Lynn McCabe

Another PLAY OUT this Friday!

It’s fun – even when it’s raining! Last week’s Play Out in Muirhouse

Go on – play out in the street! Following last weekend’s inaugural Play Out in Muirhouse on Saturday, the Total Craigroyston team has organised another fun day this Friday – and this time it’s in West Pilton.

This Friday, from 11 – 3pm, part of Ferry Road Drive will be blocked off to traffic and will become a fun family playground!

Among the activities planned are water balloons, traditional street games, water slides and puppet theatre with Licketyspit.

Last weekend’s event was a great, make Friday’s even better. Go on – play out in the street!

For further information about Play Out contact Sarah Low on 552 5700, and to find out more about the Total Craigroyston initiative check out the blog at http://totalcraigroyston.wordpress.com

 

 

Family Fun Event next Thursday

Save the Children are running a free community event at North Edinburgh Arts Centre on Thursday 9 August from 1 – 5pm For further information please contact Fiona Morrison at Save the Children; contact details:
M:  07764560939
T: 0141 763  2872 

Files on local school pupils stolen

 

An investigation has been launched after the confidential files of 45 school pupils were stolen from an Edinburgh City Council worker’s home earlier this week. The files relate to pupils from Forthview and Granton Primary Schools and Broughton High School, who have had contact with the Education Welfare Service. 

The files were stolen during a burglary on Wednesday, BBC Scotland has revealed.

The council said the files were ‘predominantly’ about school attendance, and a city council spokeswoman added: “We are working closely with the police on this matter but believe that these files weren’t targeted by the thief. We are making contact with all the families this information relates to and have made staff available to them to help with any questions or concerns they may have.”

 

Countdown to The Quest 2012

Summer’s flying by (or maybe floating by!) and one of the highlights of the summer youth programme is now just a week away. The Quest is the annual event enjoyed by hundred of local young people, and the final destination this year is , as always, a closely-guarded secret.

Muirhouse Youth Development Group’s (MYDGs) Joanne Stewart explained: “The Quest is an area-wide event  – a scavenger hunt across Edinburgh ending in a secret location with a barbecue and fun activities for around 100 young people and volunteers, which promotes team work and sportsmanship. The Quest aims to include each youth agency in the North Edinburgh area and is one of the most popular area-wide activities –  it’s been taking place for many years, always with a great turn out.  We are very proud to say that we won an award from the Edinburgh Evening News last year for ‘the best youth initiative’, voted for by Evening News readers, which I think shows the popularity of the event in the community. We’re hoping this year’s Quest will be even better!”

The Quest starts from Scottish Gas HQ on Waterfront Avenue next Friday (27 July) at 11am and finishes … well, who knows?

Some pictures from Quest 2010:

Olympic Reflections

 

The North Neighbourhood Olympic Torch Project came to a dramatic finale on the 30 May when participants took part in a Mini Olympians final event at Bangholm (writes Ricky Karoyan). Pupils were split into countries before taking part in various Olympic sports – from athletics to martial arts – and competing to win gold!  Pupils were awarded prizes based on effort and being a good player in keeping with the Olympic values.

The torch started it’s journey at Craigroyston Primary on Tuesday 21 February.  The torch was then delivered to St Davids and ended up at Lorne Primary on the 21 May.   As the torch travelled from school to school the pupils got to experience one of the Olympic sports, whilst also sharing the experience with a neighbouring school.  They even got to meet some Team GB Olympians, such as hockey player Graham Moodey) and athlete Lynsey Sharp, who visited schools in their Olympic Games kit!  This project involved P3’s from 11 schools from across North Edinburgh.

The activities experienced were hockey, basketball, judo, athletics, Paralympics events, handball, taekwondo, seated volleyball, fencing and boccia.

The pupils had a great time and learned lots of exciting new sports and skills with neighbouring schools.  Active Schools were really impressed with the effort that the classes put into their class presentations and their flag and mini torch making.

A special thanks to all the schools who supported this project and for their enthusiasm and energy.  Also a big thanks to Telford College who delivered our final festival, bringing lots of energy and excitement to the event. Lets hope our mini Olympians are future Olympic athletes in the making!

Ricky Karoyan

Active Schools Coordinator, Craigroyston Cluster

St David’s gets bright!

This article was written last winter but we’ve only just received it. The road safety message is as relevant in summer as it is in deepest winter, though, so:

Despite the miserable weather, St David’s was bright on Wednesday 23 November because the pupils and the staff all wore bright clothing to raise awareness of how important it is to dress brightly when crossing roads or going around after dark.

Students did their best to dress in bright colours, and the teachers did too. They wore everything from bright scarves to luminous safety vests. They were dressed in many different colours including yellows, greens, oranges and blues.

The Junior Road Safety Officers ran this fun event and it was a great success, like many of their previous events. They have been educating the students at St David’s all about road safety during Road Safety Week.

Around 160 8-11 year olds are hurt or even killed on the roads each week in Britain. One of the reasons for this is that children are not dressing brightly enough.

Road Safety Week presented the children and the staff with a great opportunity to learn about all aspects of road safety because during the writing classes, art, and Circle times the children have learnt key skills and to share their knowledge.

The children created many road safety based items: posters, leaflets and even board games just to celebrate Road Safety Week.

We ourselves, the community Liaison Officers, had great fun interviewing some of the children; here are some of the things they said. We asked Chantele in primary six how important it is to dress brightly, she said “It is very important to dress brightly” but when we asked her how brightly she dressed normally her reply was “I don’t actually dress brightly”.

Leah, in primary seven, was asked what she thought about dressing brightly. She said “I might look stupid but at least I’ll be safe!”

We, The Community Liaison Officers and the Junior Road Safety Officers and all the staff and pupils at St David’s are more aware now of how very important it is to be BRIGHT at all times so that drivers can see you.

Laura Hulbert and Dana Guthrie, Community Liaison Officers, St David’s Primary School.