You need friends: LEAP launches fundraising charity

Saturday proved to be an especially happy birthday for a groundbreaking local project when a new charity aimed at raising funds for LEAP, the Lothians and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme, was launched as part of LEAP’s fifth anniversary celebrations. Founders of the Friends of LEAP charity joined graduates, patients and staff at their annual ‘reunion’ event to celebrate the continued success of the innovative service based at Malta House in Stockbridge.

Set up by a group of dedicated and skilled volunteers, Friends of LEAP will help to raise additional funds for the programme along with managing the donations they receive.

Dr David McCartney, Clinical Lead, LEAP, NHS Lothian, said: “LEAP continues to grow from strength to strength with more and more people successfully completing the programme and going on to live alcohol and drug free lives. We are delighted to see that the Friends of LEAP charity has been established. We welcome their support and I am sure their work will make a significant contribution to the service. All donations we receive are gratefully received and will go directly into catering for the needs of our patients.”

Trustee Alison Hume is one of four volunteers involved in setting up the charity. “Having volunteered at LEAP over the last few years we are delighted to set up Friends of LEAP. We have witnessed the dedication of staff, the high success in patients completing the programme and the impact that this has had not only on their lives but also that of their families and friends and we are delighted to be involved in this way.”

The LEAP programme operates seven days a week for people dependent on substances who want to achieve drug and alcohol-free recovery. There are six elements to LEAP’s three-month treatment and rehabilitation programme. These are:

Medical
Therapeutic
Mutual aid/recovery communities
Housing
Education, training and employability
Aftercare

“More than 500 patients have been admitted to the programme,” added Dr David McCartney. “It’s important we celebrate our achievements and look ahead with positivity in continuing to assist people in the future.”

Launched in September 2007 LEAP is the first programme of its kind in Scotland, and is an innovative partnership between NHS Lothian, the City of Edinburgh Council, Transition (Access to Industry) and the Serenity Café and the Alcohol and Drug Partnerships in Lothian.

You can find out more about LEAP here LEAP webpage

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.”

Leith Library 80th birthday celebrations

Leith Library is eighty years old next week, and you’re invited to join in a week-long series of events to celebrate the milestone in style!

Leith Library and New Town Hall was officially opened on 20 July 1932. As Leith became part of the capital, it was promised that the library would be built by the City Council and since then, it has gone from strength to strength. Still at the heart of the community, Leith Library is now also host to a Registrar’s office, an office for council enquiries, a wedding suite and, of course, a fantastic, renovated library too!

With reading groups, bookbugs, crafts for kids, free computer classes and even a knitting group, there’s loads going on in the library throughout the year and to celebrate next week’s special birthday they have a whole host of events on offer. Have a look at the programme below – why not pop in to wish them many happy returns…?

13th July , 11am – 3pm Open Day! Stalls showcasing council services and local organisations. Timetable of free family events.
Monday 16th July , 3pm-3.30pm Birthday themed stories for the under 5s.
Tuesday 17th July, 10.30am – 11.15am Birthday Bookbug
Wednesday 18th July, 6.30pm – 8pm My Favourite Place is… Leith – a creative writing workshop for adults.
Friday 20th July, 1pm Leith Time Bank – come together and share your skills in this new initiative.
Friday 20th July, From 1pm Big Birthday celebrations! Be transported back to Leith Library as it was in the 1930s. With music, birthday card making for kids, a photo exhibition of Leith Library through the ages and a display of library artefacts!

Have a look at their Facebook page and keep up-to-date with all their latest goings on!

Fighting Back: local campaigners take case to City Council

Council will work with campaigners to tackle poverty

The city council have pledged to work with community groups to address poverty and inequalities. Councillors made their commitment after hearing a deputation of campaigners from North Edinburgh at last month’s full council meeting.The North Edinburgh activists presented councillors with individual copies of the community’s Anti-Poverty Charter at the council meeting on 28 June. The idea for Charter was born at a community conference held in Craigroyston High School late last year, and campaigners urged councillors to adopt the Charter’s principles in a united fight against poverty and deprivation. In a joint deputation members of North Edinburgh Fights Back and North Edinburgh Women’s Group told councillors that more needs to be done at all levels of government to address social injustice and tackle the scourge of poverty.

John Mulvey told the meeting: “North Edinburgh Fights Back is definitely not ‘The Big Society’. It’s not very often that I align myself with bishops, but I can only agree with the Bishop of Canterbury when he describes David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ as ‘aspirational waffle’.

He went on: “The demands are not unique to North Edinburgh and indeed apply to communities across Scotland. However the Charter calls upon you as the local authority to do specific things and to team up with groups like North Edinburgh Fights Back to engage with institutions like, for example, the energy companies to put pressure on them to respond positively to the aims of the Charter.” John Mulvey concluded: “Can we afford it? The real question is can we afford not to? If we can afford to spend billions and billions on a replacement for Trident, and more billions and billions on tax breaks for the rich, clearly for a decent society for all of our citizens the demands laid out in the Charter must be addressed.”

Danielle Ward of North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum demanded an end to Workfare and called for more opportunities for young people in training, education and employment while veteran campaigner Tony Delahoy made ‘five moderate requests’ on behalf of older people.

Cathy Ahmed of Muirhouse Women’s Group demanded an end to cuts that hit the poorest families hardest and there were further calls for action to tackle fuel poverty and social housing shortages.The wide-ranging charter has sections on Young People, Senior Citizens, Women, Living Wage and Employment Rights, Privatisation and Education, Fuel Poverty and Housing and Racism.

That’s quite a comprehensive shopping list, but the council agreed a motion from Forth councillor Cammy Day to ‘commend the highly successful community conference organised by the groups, specifically in regards to highlighting poverty, inequality of fuel poverty. Council welcomes the Ant-Poverty Charter and agrees to work with these groups in addressing poverty and inequalities’. Leith Walk Labour councillor Nick Gardner invited the deputation to come back in five years to see how the council has performed on it’s pledges, but it’s likely that the North Edinburgh Fights Back campaigners will be back long before then! Cathy Ahmed said after the meeting: “Five years? We could a’ be deid by then! We hope that this council will take our community’s demands seriously and act now – we’re sick of politicians’ broken promises and actions speak louder than words”.

Day delighted over housing awards

Housing convener Cammy Day said he was delighted to see that Edinburgh’s housing strategy is receiving recognition following two industry awards last month. Two Council-funded projects by Dunedin Canmore Housing Association picked up top awards last month – a development of new affordable homes and environmental improvements at homes for older people.

The Council also received praise for the way it deals with the planning aspects of affordable housing and for two separate schemes that help homeless people with private rented accommodation. Further recognition was received for Dunedin Canmore’s Springfield development, which was awarded ‘apartment of the year’ and had financial backing from the Council.

Forth councillor Cammy Day, the city’s housing leader, said: “I’m really pleased to see that Edinburgh’s strategy is now starting to receive the recognition it deserves, and much of the credit should go to the excellent partnership between Council staff, housing associations and private developers. Affordable housing is a huge priority for us, as we need around 16,000 new homes over the next 10 years. On average, 130 households bid for every affordable home that becomes available for let by the Council or a housing association.”

He went on: “Meanwhile, Edinburgh is still growing and house prices remain high. There is much to be proud of, as these awards show, but there is still a lot of work to do. That’s why our ‘contract with the capital’ includes several pledges on housing, including development on brownfield sites, pressing the Government to release more funds for rented homes, and bringing empty homes into use.”

In 2011/12 the Council approved 1,500 affordable homes for work to begin on site, adding to the 1,300 already under construction. Affordable housing development in Edinburgh will generate £296 million in investment and support around 2,000 jobs in construction & related industries.

The details of the short-listed and award-winning initiatives are:

Scottish Home Awards

– Dunedin Canmore Housing Association (a key strategic partner of the Council) won a “Large Affordable Housing Development of the Year” award for its development of 190 affordable homes at Westfield, Edinburgh. This is the largest affordable housing project ever supported by the Council. The total development cost was £22.4m which includes £11m in grant funding and £11.4m in private finance raised by the housing association.

– Dunedin Canmore received a further Scottish Home award for environmental excellence at its “Quarries” development in South Edinburgh. This development of 58 homes for older people was developed on a previously contaminated Council site in a regeneration area. All flats are wheelchair adaptable and designed to a high building standard and are adaptable to the needs of the tenants. It features a secure central courtyard garden with private drying areas, raised allotment planters, exercise equipment, sensory planting, trees, shrubs and a wildlife pond. The building is designed to be highly energy-efficient which will enable the heating and power costs for tenants to be kept to a minimum.

– The Council was short listed for a national award for Quality in Planning for its approach to delivery of affordable housing. The Council’s joined-up and flexible approach has seen affordable housing become the catalyst for construction. Developers have been able to secure their planning permissions and keep their workforce building through the downturn, whilst delivering much-needed affordable homes.

– Springfield Properties won Apartment of the Year award for Brunstane Court. The Council supported this project through the provision of a rental guarantee to Dunedin Canmore Housing Association. This meant that Dunedin Canmore was able to enter into a contract with Springfield to purchase some of the homes. This helped Dunedin Canmore and Springfield to secure private funding to build the homes.

UK Housing awards

The Council-commissioned Letfirst scheme, run by Orchard and Shipman, won the innovation of the year award at the UK Housing Awards 2012. Letfirst helps those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to move into accommodation in the private rented sector. The contract was tendered by the council in 2008 and has been run by Orchard and Shipman since then.The Council and Link Group Limited were finalists in the Partnership of the Year category for the Private Sector Leasing scheme which provides accommodation for homeless households.

The Scottish Home Awards took place on 28 June and the UK Housing Awards took place on 27 June.

Barrie encourages private tenants to check landlord register

Inverleith councillor Gavin Barrie has urged private tenants to ensure that their landlord is properly registered following the removal of a landlord from the register last month – the first time this power has been used in Edinburgh.

Evidence was heard at the City of Edinburgh Council’s Regulatory Committee on 22 June where Yousef Mohammed’s application to operate a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) at a flat in the south of the city was refused. In addition his name was removed from the landlord register when Councillors decided he did not meet the fit and proper person criteria. The result is that Mr Mohammed can no longer operate as a residential landlord in Edinburgh.

Councillors heard evidence that Mr Mohammed had failed to adequately tell them about his criminal convictions and defied previous decisions of the Council where he continued to rent out HMO properties whilst not holding a licence.

Inverleith Councillor Gavin Barrie, Convenor of the Regulatory Committee, said: “Edinburgh is open for all landlords who manage their properties and ensure that they are in good condition and that tenants can be safe and secure. However, for those who don’t, the Council will take firm action. I would encourage everyone seeking to rent privately to check the landlord register to ensure that their prospective landlord is registered.”

Putting the city's youth services on the map

The City of Edinburgh Council has developed an online Youth Work Map that will help young people discover and participate in the city’s wide range of youth projects.

The map is the first of its kind and will provide a unique guide to the many organisations that provide vital services and recreational activities for young people, from youth clubs to counselling and support services. It is designed to highlight the diversity of services offered throughout Edinburgh and to help make information about them more easily accessible.

Users can search by categories such as activities and opening times, or by clicking on a specific point of the map to find out more about opportunities in their area.

A recent survey by the Council found that at least a quarter of the city’s 11 – 14 year olds are involved in youth work and many remain active in an organisation after ‘growing out’ of them, by becoming a volunteer or project worker. As a result of this, a quarter of Edinburgh’s current youth work workforce is aged under 25.

Participating in these projects provides valuable experience as well as potential training and development opportunities, which can enhance employability.

Education Convener, Councillor Paul Godzik, said: “Edinburgh benefits from excellent youth work services and a wide range of activities are available throughout the city. These services are vital and make a real difference to the lives of children and young people from all backgrounds. I would encourage people to have a look at the map to find out ways that they can become involved in these varied and highly rewarding activities.”

The Youth Work Map includes over 250 youth services and the Council would welcome information from any agencies that may have been missed.

City of Edinburgh Council

Putting the city’s youth services on the map

The City of Edinburgh Council has developed an online Youth Work Map that will help young people discover and participate in the city’s wide range of youth projects.

Users can search by categories such as activities and opening times, or by clicking on a specific point of the map to find out more about opportunities in their area.

Participating in these projects provides valuable experience as well as potential training and development opportunities, which can enhance employability.

The Youth Work Map includes over 250 youth services and the Council would welcome information from any agencies that may have been missed.

City of Edinburgh Council

Poverty? We’re not having it!

Maybe it was the lure of Euro 2012 football on TV, or maybe it was the draw of the Olympic torch up at Edinburgh Castle, but whatever the reason there was a disappointing attendance at North Edinburgh Fights Back’s public meeting held in North Edinburgh Arts Centre last week.

Despite the draw of advertised speakers from the Poverty Alliance and Shelter Scotland, only a dozen people came to hear NEFB plans to fight back against poverty and social injustice.

The sparse attendance did provide NEFB members an opportunity to rehearse speeches before next week’s Full Council meeting, however. North Edinburgh Fights Back plans to present individual Community Charters to all 58 councillors during a delegation to the 28 June meeting, urging councillors of all parties to commit to a series of anti-poverty measures.

A group spokesperson said: ‘We would like more people to have been at the public meeting but it is always difficult to get people out to attend meetings. However we are sure that many more members of the community will be supporting us when we present the charter at the council meeting, and we would urge local people to join us to let the councillors know ‘Poverty – we’re not having it’!”

The Full Council meeting on Thursday 28 June is open to the public and begins at 10am.

You can find out more about North Edinburgh Fights Back by visiting their website at www.northedinburghfightsback.org.uk

Poverty? We're not having it!

Despite the draw of advertised speakers from the Poverty Alliance and Shelter Scotland, only a dozen people came to hear NEFB plans to fight back against poverty and social injustice.

The Full Council meeting on Thursday 28 June is open to the public and begins at 10am.

You can find out more about North Edinburgh Fights Back by visiting their website at www.northedinburghfightsback.org.uk