Tag: community engagement

Still time to be part of your community council

Nominations for three of Edinburgh’s community councils is still open – but you have just two weeks left to submit your papers. Residents of the Craigmillar, Drylaw/Telford and Old Town community council areas who are passionate about their area are invited to play an active role and have their say on local issues.

Community councils give local residents and community groups such as youth forums, parent councils and student bodies a chance to influence what happens in their area. Members get involved in a wide range of activities, comment on planning and licensing applications, take part in community campaigns and work with others to improve the local area.

Community Councils are represented on each of the 12 Neighbourhood Partnerships where they work with local elected members, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, NHS Lothian and the voluntary sector to identify and deliver local priorities.

Meetings are usually held once a month and members can get involved in a variety of issues. Recent activities include: successfully lobbying to increase the frequency of a bus service, setting up a book festival and delivering an annual health fair.

Councillor Maureen Child, Communities and Neighbourhoods Committee Convener, said: “Democracy is a powerful force at all levels. By joining your local community council you can make a real difference to your neighbourhood, meet new people, learn new skills and take action on issues raised by local residents.

“We are looking for people of all ages and from all walks of life to get involved.  Ideas, energy and enthusiasm are welcomed and the Council will provide support to get the best from being a community council member. I’d like to encourage anyone who’s interested in local democracy to get involved – be part of something great.”

People aged 16 years or older and are registered to vote can join. The nomination period for the community council elections runs from Monday 9 January to Monday 30 January 2017. Elections, where required, will take place on Thursday 23 February 2017. You can apply as an individual or as a local interest group, such as a Parent Council, a Friends of Parks group or sports club.

See below for nomination forms:

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Local_Interest_Group_nomination_form

Trinity CC: December update

Just in time for the Christmas break and all that wrapping paper from Christmas presents – here’s an update from our December meeting with a special emphasis on recycling!

As ever, we’d be delighted to get your feedback on anything mentioned in the newsletter – indeed on anything at all, really!

Have a great Christmas, a Happy Hogmanay, and a fantastic 2017!

Best Wishes,

Bill Rodger, Trinity CC

West Pilton West Granton CC meets tonight

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West Pilton West Granton Community Council meets tonight in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre at 7pm. All welcome.

See below for the roles and responsibilities of Community Councils, he draft minutes from the last meeting and the agenda for tonight’s meeting.
Barbara Robertson

 

 

Co-Production Week Scotland

 

Fiona Garven, Director of SCDC and Chair of the Scottish Co-production Network looks at the progress co-production has made in Scotland – and where it can go next:

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It doesn’t feel like so many years ago that we started talking about co-production in Scotland. In fact, in relation to the time it takes to make a system shift towards new ways of working, it has actually been no time at all!But, since it started in 2011, the Scottish Coproduction Network has grown to a membership of almost 1,000 made up of people active in their own communities, practitioners from across a range of sectors, and others interested in how to make coproduction fundamental to public policy.

Co-production has been championed in Scotland for a long time, in the work of many community and voluntary sector organisations, and by those who believe in the importance of participation and the contribution of all in helping to achieve better outcomes. Through the Scottish Co-production Network, we’ve been able to share examples of citizens and services working together to produce innovative solutions to many social issues, from working with vulnerable young people to maximise their life chances through to support for older people to live well and independently for longer – there are many other examples besides.

But, although these examples of good practice are making a positive impact on people’s lives, we have yet to reach the stage where working alongside citizens or service users as equal partners, or recognising and supporting independent community action, is at the foundation of how we deliver public services in Scotland.

Over the last few years we have seen a significant move at government level towards an empowerment agenda, with specific legislation in the shape of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act, but also supported by policy initiatives in respect of reforming public services, new thinking on ‘what makes us healthy’, and addressing inequalities – all with an emphasis on community participation and the involvement of citizens.

Co-production is at the heart of nearly all of our policy ambitions, and with Co-production Week Scotland, it’s time to build on the enthusiasm and messages for a national campaign where we can all contribute our ideas, thoughts and examples of where this way of working and thinking has made a real difference.

We still face the impacts of austerity in Scotland, and new global challenges in the manifest distrust of political and governance systems. Now, more than ever, is the time to promote and celebrate the difference co-production can make in shaping Scotland to be a more inclusive, participative and equal place to live.

Learn more about Co-production Week Scotland and get involved at #CoProWeekScot

Turning politics on it’s head: more details announced

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Details of a community event, which will give north Edinburgh locals the opportunity to tell politicians what improvements are needed in the area, have been announced.

The ‘upside down hustings’, organised by Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP), will bring together community campaigners, residents, councillors, and MSPs to debate issues such as mental health services, the environment and housing.

The event will take place at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, Pilton Drive North, on 23 November at 6pm. Media are invited to attend. Members of the public can book their place at:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/upside-down-hustings-turning-politics-on-its-head-tickets-28733801574?aff

Grassroots representatives confirmed for the event are:

  • Mhairi Curan, community activist
  • Sara Martin, Parklife (Friends of  West Pilton Park)
  • Sandra Marshall, community activist
  • Danielle Ward, North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum
  • Roy Douglas, North Edinburgh Housing Action Group

Andrew Paterson, Research and Policy Officer from CHEX will also give context on how policy is changing to give communities more voice.

Politicians who have confirmed their attendance are:

  • Ally Broughton, Scottish Green Party candidate for Forth
  • Jim Campbell, Conservative candidate for Forth
  • Vicki Redpath, Labour Councillor for Forth
  • Alex Cole-Hamilton, Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh West
  • Ben Macpherson SNP MSP for Edinburgh North and Leith.

All current Councillors for Forth and Inverleith, as well as those from their Parties who support the development of the manifestos, have been invited.

Anita Aggarwal, PCHP’s Community Development Manager, said: “By flipping the traditional hustings model on its head and creating an opportunity for the people of north Edinburgh to discuss the changes they want in the areas, we hope to influence political parties’ manifestos for next year’s city council elections. We hope this will be the start of a constructive dialogue with local politicians through until next year’s elections and beyond.

“While parts of Edinburgh continue to prosper there remain some serious social and economic inequalities between different parts of the city.  Men in the most deprived areas of Edinburgh can expect to live over ten years less than those areas with the lowest levels of deprivation.”

The outputs from the debate will also be fed into the 2050 Edinburgh City Vision.

 

Social security event at Royston Wardieburn tomorrow

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Hi everyone

Just a wee reminder about the community event we are having in the centre on Wednesday.  The aim of the event is to give people from North Edinburgh an opportunity to take part in the Scottish Government’s consultation process on a new Social Security System for Scotland.

We will be kicking off at 10.00 and finishing at 12.30.   A community lunch will be provided afterwards in the cafe.  To help us with the arrangements for the day, we would appreciate if you could let us know if you are coming and if you require childcare or have any other needs we should be aware of.

Thanks and best wishes

Lynn

Health Project’s AGM date set

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Dear All,

You are warmly invited to attend our AGM on Tuesday 22nd November, 2016 – 10:30 am – 12:30 pm at the Robertson Trust Suite, Spartans.

If you would like to stay for lunch following the meeting would you please let us know by 15th November, 2016.

Many thanks,

Gillian Harrold

Administrative Officer, Pilton Community Health Project

Tel:      0131 551 1671

Email: admin@pchp.org.uk

Web:  www.pchp.org.uk

Like us on Facebook for regular updates www.facebook.com/PiltonCommunityHealthProject

Muirhouse Shopping Centre transformation moves to next stage

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A proposal to redevelop Muirhouse Shopping Centre and surrounding area to create a new civic centre in Pennywell and Muirhouse will be considered by the Council next week as the latest stage of the ongoing regeneration of the wider area. Continue reading Muirhouse Shopping Centre transformation moves to next stage