Tag: City of Edinburgh Council

Nominations open for the Edinburgh Award

The Edinburgh Award is seeking its eighth recipient as nominations open to find the successor to art entrepreneur Richard Demarco:

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First launched in 2007, the Edinburgh Award is a way for Edinburgh citizens to pay a lasting tribute to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the city through their achievements.

Past recipients include authors JK Rowling and Ian Rankin, sports stars Sir Chris Hoy and George Kerr, scientist Professor Peter Higgs and artist Elizabeth Blackadder – each of whom has a cast of their handprints imprinted in flagstones in front of the Capital’s City Chambers.

Nominations are sought annually from communities, businesses and individuals across Edinburgh and the winner is selected by a panel chaired by the Lord Provost.

The Rt Hon Donald Wilson, Lord Provost, said: “The Edinburgh Award is a coveted accolade and celebrates those people who have been outstanding ambassadors for the city at home and throughout the world.

“If you know somebody who should have this award get involved and nominate them now.  In addition to the award itself the recipients have their handprints embedded into the stones in the City Chambers Quadrangle, providing a visual and lasting tribute to their contribution to this great city.  We all have people in mind that we think are deserving so make sure you get online and make your views known.”

Nominations are now open and can be made online at 

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/edinburghaward 

and must be received no later than Thursday 27 November.

Postal nominations are also available.

The recipient will be presented with an engraved Loving Cup by the Lord Provost at a ceremony early next year.

Edinburgh Award criteria state that the individual being nominated:

– was born in Edinburgh or resided in the City for the past 12 months
– has not previously been awarded The Freedom of the City of Edinburgh
– is not a previous winner of The Edinburgh Award
– is not a serving politician.

Once all the nominations have been received, the recipient will be selected by a judging panel chaired by the Lord Provost, with representatives from all political groups on the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council and Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.

 

Drop In: new fun activities start this weekend

DROP IN to Royston Wardieburn for fun on Saturday morning!

RWCC (2)The Drop In is a new citywide fun-packed activity for families with a child or young person (0 – 18 y o) with a disability and their siblings. It’s taking place in four community centres across the city every Saturday for two hours – and the local venue is Royston Wardieburn on Pilton Drive North.

Parents and carers will have the opportunity to meet other parents/carers and sit and chat over a cup of coffee while their children take part in activities run by experienced youth workers from FABB Scotland and the city council.

Activities will include sports, art, computer games, soft play, bouncy castles and much more.

Royston Wardieburn’s Drop In starts this Saturday from 10am – midday. There’s no need to book, just come along with the family and DROP IN!

Call the Centre on 552 5700 for more information.

 

‘Mum, I’m bored …’

The October school holidays, it’s raining again – but the kids needn’t be bored. The city council is offering some ideas on how to keep the little dears happy during the holidays: 

???????????????????????????????With the October holidays in full swing, families from Edinburgh and further afield will be looking for fun and inexpensive ways to entertain and spook the kids this Halloween.

From ghoulish arts and crafts workshops at Lauriston Castle and Edinburgh’s Libraries, to spooky storytelling on the Royal Mile, there is something to thrill all members of the family.

Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture and Sport Convener, said: “Falling just 10 weeks before Christmas – and not long after the summer break – the need to keep the kids amused during the October holidays can be hard to budget for. But in Edinburgh, families really are spoilt for choice.

“Whether you are looking for a low cost scare factor this Halloween, or visiting one of the city’s attractions for the first time; make sure you check what’s on at Edinburgh’s public libraries, museums, parks and sports facilities to find something to suit.”

Top five things to do at Edinburgh’s public attractions and parks

1) In the city’s haunting Old Town, take a visit to the Museum of Edinburgh which is housed in beautifully restored 16th Century buildings on the Canongate.

This October, the museum will be home to a host of storytelling events, as the 2014 Storytelling Festival kicks off once more. The museum programme features war tales and songs based on Sir Walter Scott, and older children and young adults will also enjoy hearing about gruesome moments from Auld Reekie’s past from Scotland’s Storyteller, Calum Lykan on Sunday 31 October.

2) For even more tall tales, the City’s community libraries will be open for a number of spooky events including a 1950s classic horror double bill of  ‘The Fly’ and ‘Invaders from Mars’ at the Drumbrae Library Hub which will also be hosting a 1950s-themed fancy dress competition.

For younger movie fans, pay a visit to the Museum of Childhood, which will be hosting a drop-in craft event on Wednesday 15 October to tie in with Making Movies, the museum’s new exhibition all around movie making. Children can make their own spinning card animations (thaumatropes), and Scottish Screen Archive curator Emily Munro will be on hand to talk about the history of movie-making.

3) But what if the crisp Autumn weather makes you want to get outdoors? After winning a prestigious Entente Florale Gold Award for beautiful green spaces, where better to enjoy time off than by visiting one of Edinburgh’s 140 parks.

Children who aren’t afraid of creepy crawlies will love helping to build B&Bs for beasties at the Hermitage of Braid Local Nature Reserve as it prepares to home insects for the winter on Sunday 19 October. Or why not join in the Great Saughton Park Bear Hunt on Thursday 16 October in the Winter Gardens, where 30 bears will be hidden in the gardens.

4) Take a visit to East Princes Street Gardens and brave breathtaking views of Edinburgh from atop the tallest tribute to a writer in the world, the Scott Monument.

There’s no better time to conquer the 287 steps to the top than this October, which marks 100 years since Sir Walter’s publication of ‘Waverley’. Equally impressive is the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill.

5) The beautiful grounds of Lauriston Castle, laid out by William Henry Playfair in the 1840s, are also well worth a wander – especially if the family wants to get in the mood for Halloween. The Castle will be offering spooky woodland trails, craft classes to create ghoulish globes and window decorations, which can be booked at the Museums and Galleries website.

If you are looking for something crafty to do in the centre of town, an alternative spot is the City Art Centre‘s new ‘ArtSpace’, which allows children to have fun experimenting with different art materials during normal gallery opening times.

There must be something in that little lot to keep the kids amused? Enjoy the holidays!

Take the budget challenge!

Can you balance the books? It sounds like a variation on Fantasy Football or a new TV game show, but the council is serious – have your say on Edinburgh’s Budget …

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With four months to go before the Capital’s 2015/16 budget is set, the City of Edinburgh Council has unveiled an innovative online tool to help encourage as many residents as possible to have their say on where money should be invested and saved in 2015/16 and beyond.

At a meeting of the Finance & Resources Committee earlier this week (Tuesday 30 September), councillors approved a report on the draft budget, along with a set of budget proposals for public consultation over the coming months.

The budget engagement period, which runs until 19 December 2014, begins today [Friday 3 October 2014] and is this year supplemented for the first time by an interactive online budget planner, the first time such a feature has been used by a major city in Scotland.

The budget planner, together with a short film on the Council’s website and YouTube channel, highlights the range of services the Council provides and the challenges it faces over the coming years in deciding which ones to prioritise against a backdrop of rising demand but flat or reducing resources.

Members of the public can take virtual control of the City’s finances by using the planner tool to decide how they would balance the budget, discovering how increasing spend in some areas would impact on other areas.

Councillor Alasdair Rankin, Finance Convener, said: “It is very important to us that we hear and respond to what the people of Edinburgh are saying. By publishing our draft budget proposals months in advance of the February deadline it gives the public an opportunity to tell us what services they want their Council to spend more on and to help us to shape them in a way that will improve the lives of all our city’s residents.

“This year we have introduced a number of new initiatives to make it even easier for people to tell us how the Council should spend its money. As a result, we are hoping that more of you let us know your views. It is important that people know that we are listening and responding to what they have to say.”

Councillor Bill Cook , Vice Convener, added:  “We want you to be part of this process and we need you to put forward your views whether it is by using our online planner, phone, letter, email, social media, or other means. Everything you say will be considered as part of the budget process and this invaluable feedback will inform the final budget proposals we’ll be putting to the Council in February 2015.”

The full budget proposals, the budget planner and short film can all be accessed at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/budget

You can have your say by:

– completing the online budget planner to have your say on what services you would spend or save money on in 2015 to 2018

– commenting on the 2015/16 proposals

You can do this by:

• email
• phone on 0131 200 2305 (8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 3.40pm Friday)
• writing to us at Freepost, RSJC-SLXC-YTJY, Budget, Council Leader, City Chambers, High Street Edinburgh EH1 1YJ

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Sign up to the EdinburghApps challenge

apps

The City of Edinburgh Council is calling on designers, developers and start-up companies to sign up to the challenge.

There are only a couple of days left until the next stage of the 2014  EdinburghApps contest, being held at the Capital’s Informatics Forum this weekend (4 and 5 October).

If you are interested in taking part in this event, visit the EdinburghApps website and register on the event page or email  edinburghapps@edinburgh.gov.uk.

The open data contest, which aims to find innovative solutions to help improve the lives of people in Edinburgh, will see participants pitch ideas about digital services like mobile apps, websites and product concepts which have the potential to enhance health, sport and cultural life in the capital.

The weekend will feature a master class on how to pitch ideas to judges, followed by a two day long ‘hack’ where participants will have the chance to work on their ideas, hear more about open data and take part in a ‘flash hack’ to build the city’s first dashboard.

Participants focusing on health will be asked to come up with ideas to either help people who have been supported by Council services to stay safe or to make it easier for individuals with deteriorating conditions like MS and dementia to access advice and information.

Those interested in culture and sport have been challenged with encouraging people to take up physical activity. Competitors can also use data to improve visitor experiences in the city’s museums and galleries, or to promote the capital’s attractions and history.

The Council’s Digital Champion, Councillor Frank Ross, said: “I am delighted to be involved in such an innovative event which really channels people’s creativity in using technology and data to make a difference to the lives of people in Edinburgh. The challenges this year are so diverse and I look forward to seeing the new and original ideas and concepts participants produce.”

The entries will be judged at a competition final on 26 October, with the winners being offered business support and the opportunity to work with the Council on developing their concepts further.

This is the second year the Council has run EdinburghApps. Previous winners include AIRTS, who are developing an app that helps the Joint Equipment Store operate more efficiently, and a Waste app helping the public to locate their nearest recycling bank. Thanks to the competition these apps are now due for release by the Council in October.

The event is sponsored by Jadu, MacRoberts, IBM, FreeAgent, Marketing Edinburgh, Transport for Edinburgh and CSI.

City council: more live broadcasts

Communities and Neighbourhoods Committee is live today

CityChambersJust four days after the declaration of the Independence Referendum was aired live from Edinburgh and watched around the world, the City of Edinburgh Council has revealed plans to broadcast more of its committees, meetings and decision-making live online.

The latest developments mean that the Council’s webcasting service – which currently airs four committee meetings – will expand to add nine more meetings to the list following the installation of cameras and microphones in the Dean of Guild Court Room at the City Chambers.

The latest meetings to be added will cover key decisions on topics of interest to the public, including changes to sporting facilities, health initiatives, and arts and cultural events that take place in the city.

From decisions on town planning and Edinburgh’s roads, to changes to local bin collections, parks and libraries; citizens will be able to tune in to decisions that affect them and their communities.

Approved at Full Council last October, where a report showed a positive reaction to existing webcasting from the Edinburgh public, the move follows a wave of interest in local democracy and decision making in Scotland, which saw 84.4 per cent of Edinburgh residents on the electoral roll turn out to vote in the Independence Referendum.

The RT Hon Lord Provost, Councillor Donald Wilson said: “As the turnout to vote on Thursday showed all of us, people in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland and more engaged and excited about politics and democracy than they have been in a long time. Over 84 per cent of the people in Edinburgh who were registered to vote did so last week, which demonstrates a real appetite for people to engage in the issues that affect them directly.

“That is why it is essential that we, the Council, enable the public to scrutinise and engage with local decisions, and webcasting more meetings will give people direct access to this process.

“This is one of a number of initiatives to promote openness and transparency throughout the Council. For example, we are also piloting e-voting by councillors as Andrew Burns revealed just this month, which will give greater transparency as to how councillors vote on key decisions.”

The £81,000 webcasting scheme will see a full audio-visual upgrade of the Dean of Guild Court Room, as well as improved facilities for the hard of hearing.

Webcasting Council committee meetings is hoped to raise awareness of the local democratic process, improving transparency, understanding and accountability of local decision-making, as well as making meetings as accessible as possible.

Webcasts are archived and available for five years after the meeting on the webcast website.

The first meeting to be webcast using the new equipment will be the Communities and Neighbourhoods committee at 10am today.

Members of the public can register to receive alerts detailing the agenda of the meetings which are available to view online six days in advance on the Council website.

More information on webcasting can also be found on the Council websiteand on Twitter by following the hashtag #edinwebcast.

The existing webcasting service currently allows internet users to watch Full Council, Governance, Risk and Best Value and Petitions Committee meetings.

Capital all set for historic referendum

We’re nearly there. After months of debate and discussion, claim and counterclaim, after tens of thousands of leaflets, millions of words in the press and on social media sites, it’s almost time. The talking’s just about over, the politicians have had their say – tomorrow it’s down to you and me. Decision day …

The world’s eyes will be on Edinburgh tomorrow, and Scotland’s capital is ready to take centre stage and play a leading role on a historic day …

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With less than a day left until the Scottish Independence Referendum, Edinburgh is geared up for its role in the historic poll.

Ballot boxes are being collected for delivery to polling places, staff trained and verification of postal votes has begun ahead of the count.

89.6% of postal voters have already cast their vote, with a total of 377,413 people registered to take part in the Referendum on Thursday.

And citizens are being asked to make their own preparations for the day to ensure they don’t miss out.

Sue Bruce, Counting Officer for Edinburgh and Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council, said: “After months of anticipation, the Referendum is finally upon us, and hundreds of thousands of people across the city are about to cast their vote.

“I am really pleased with the high rate of registration, which demonstrates the level of interest in the debate. We have a record number of registered voters in Edinburgh for this Referendum and therefore I would encourage visitors to leave plenty of time to visit their local polling station and to mark an X in the box of their choice when filling out their ballot papers.”

Polling places will be open between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 18 September, though the public are being advised to avoid busy periods, expected to be before and after normal working hours. Where possible, voters are encouraged to visit mid-morning or mid-afternoon.

Information on local polling places can be found on the polling card delivered to homes or on the Council website.

Postal voters who have not yet returned their ballot paper by post will still be able to hand it in at Waverley Court or City Chambers receptions or at an Edinburgh polling place on Thursday.

Those planning to take part in the Referendum are also being advised to take great care when filling out their ballot paper, by marking a single X next to their choice. Additional comments, marks or mistakes can result in a vote not being counted.

Anyone who is registered to vote but, due to unforeseen circumstances, is unable to make it to a polling station, may need an emergency proxy vote, which can be applied for on the Lothian Valuation Joint Board’s website.

Once your vote has been cast

All votes are secure and accounted for so that the final result can be trusted. Every ballot paper, whether used, unused or spoilt, is accounted for and treated as highly sensitive and confidential.

Votes will be counted as soon as possible after the close of the poll at 10pm. Separate counts will be held by each local authority in Scotland with 32 local totals leading to one overall national result.

Full details of vote security and counting are available on the Council website.

 

North Edinburgh shines at Achievement Awards

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North Edinburgh projects have been highly praised at the 2014 Children & Families Achievement Awards, with local organisations Stepping Stones, Forthview Primary  and Circle Scotland among the prize winners.

Winner of the Working Effectively with Others category was  the PrePare Fathers’ Group, comprising PrePare, Stepping Stones, South West Children and Families Team and Circle PrePare

Fathers were consulted on what additional support they would like and group work was identified. The aim is to increase paternal involvement in their child’s plan. A collaboration was established between Circle, Stepping Stones, PrePare and SW C&F Team. Together a group work programme was established within the framework and goals set out by the Early Years Collaboration.

Fathers learned about child development and the impact of parental substance use; attachment and resilience; stress and containment and gained a clearer understanding of where they can access support.

Morag Wilson, depute manger at Stepping Stones, said: “A massive congratulations to our Parenting Outreach worker, Anna Chrystal, who alongside her colleagues  from PrePare, Circle Scotland and South West Children and Families team won the 2014 Children and Families Achievement Award in partnership working. The judge commented that ‘this innovative project is making a real difference to fathers, and their families.’ They have now been encouraged to put themselves forward for the Pride in our People awards 2014.”

forthview

Read all about it: Forthview to the Fore!

West Pilton’s Forthview Primary School won the Improving Literacy Outcomes category for their ‘West Pilton Reads: Developing a Community Reading Culture’ initiative.

The Forthview submission read: ‘Research shows that we only get better at reading by reading, and that we will only read if we want to read. After looking at this research and considering best practice, we investigated ways in which we could create a reading culture around Forthview Primary.

‘The teaching of reading has been unchanged for decades, with no significant improvement in achievement, especially in areas of disadvantage. We decided that it was time for a radical change of approach to fostering the enjoyment of reading.’

Judges were clearly impressed with the Forthview approach, and commented: ‘This innovative project provides help for the whole household, not just for children. An educational support for whole families, it benefits everyone.’

family

The Director’s Award for Outstanding Achievment went to the Active Schools Team and the Speak Up Speak Out campaign picked up the Convener’s Award.

Children and Families Director Gillian Tee said: “This is our 15th annual achievement awards and, yet again, I have been impressed by the high standard of applications. This year we have had an exceptionally high number of nominations reflecting the huge amount of work that is going on across a wide variety of services. The professionalism and commitment shown in providing the highest level of service for every child and family across Edinburgh was clearly evident.”

A full list of winners and nominees can be found below:

Achievement_Awards_Brochure

Speak up, speak out: giving our children the best possible start

Partnership approach to support children affected by substance misuse

Cowgate

Happy, healthy children from Cowgate Under 5’s Centre in Edinburgh today helped launch a campaign to raise awareness of the misery caused when adults misuse alcohol or drugs.

Speak Up Speak Out has been launched by the City of Edinburgh Council, NHS Lothian and Police Scotland to offer help, support and advice to youngsters whose lives are being affected by addiction.

The latest strand of the awareness campaign was unveiled to coincide with national Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day.

Scottish Government figures for 2013 reveal that:

  • 22% of all concerns recorded at child protection case conferences were for parental alcohol misuse or drug misuse
  • 53% of all concerns recorded for children on the Child Protection Register were for parental alcohol misuse or drug misuse
  • 51% of children on the Child Protection Register had either one or both of the concerns for drug or alcohol misuse recorded.

Examples of people who have raised concerns about these issues include: “I’m worried about the family next door, the adults drink and take drugs and the kids seem to look after themselves,” and “my mum forgets about me when she drinks.”

As well as offering support to children who have problems at home, Speak Up Speak Out is aimed at pregnant women, advising them to avoid drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Parents and carers can also get advice about talking to children, while teenagers who are either worried about being pressured to take drugs, or are worried about friends, can also seek help.

Councillor Paul Godzik, Children and Families Convener, said: “The children we see here in this nursery today are happy and healthy, but others don’t enjoy as good a start in their lives.

“The aim of this campaign is to reduce the impact of alcohol and drug use on youngsters, see fewer young people using drugs, and also choosing to start drinking alcohol later in life. We also want to make sure that those in need, whether they are the adult or the child, get appropriate support for their problems.

“We will continue to work closely with NHS Lothian and Police Scotland on Speak Up Speak Out to ensure that children have the best start in life and are protected from harm.”

Sarah Ballard-Smith, Nurse Director, NHS Lothian, said: “We need to ensure that all children whose families are affected by alcohol and substance misuse are protected and are given the support and help they need.

“We provide a range of services to make sure that children get the best possible start in life and that adults are able to access the support and help they require.

“This campaign is vitally important for the next generation and aims to raise awareness and the importance of seeking help. By speaking up and speaking out, it will help ensure thatunborn babies, children and young people are kept safe and healthy.”

Police Scotland Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Mark Williams said: “Drugs and alcohol are, sadly, a blight on many families and communities, and by working together through ‘Speak Up Speak Out’ we can identify those children and young people who are affected and offer them targeted help and support.

“Police Scotland recently began a campaign to tackle New Psychoactive Substances, sometimes known as Legal Highs, which will see local community officers visiting schools, youth groups and community events to help raise awareness and educate young people on their dangers, alongside enforcement action with partners at premises found to be selling these unregulated and potentially lethal substances.”

Speak Up Speak Out was launched last August by the Council, NHS Lothian and Police Scotland to encourage those who are affected by abuse to come forward and find out about the wide range of support that is available to them. Today’s launch was the fifth so far in a series of topics.

One of the key messages is that anyone can suffer from abuse, regardless of their age, gender or the colour of their skin. It can happen anywhere and be caused by friends, relatives, colleagues or strangers. By encouraging people to be open about their concerns and talk to care professionals, it is hoped that more adults and children can be protected from harm.

Contact details:

  • Police Scotland 101 (or in an emergency call 999)
  • ChildLine 0800 1111
  • NHS Inform 0800 22 44 88 (for health information)
  • Social Care Direct – The City of Edinburgh Council’s social work service: 0131 200 2324, email socialcaredirect@edinburgh.gov.uk