Please find attached this month’s update. Hope you enjoy it. As ever, we’d be delighted to hear your comments on anything in it – or anything else for that matter.
Bill Rodger, Trinity CC
Latest news from Trinity Community Council
Tag: community engagement
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:
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
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:
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.
Trinity Community Council news
All change at TCC with several new faces. We welcome those and hope that they find the role as fulfilling as it will be challenging (writes Bill Rodger). Continue reading Trinity Community Council news
Social security event at Royston Wardieburn tomorrow
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
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
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
Leith Links set for community council election – but local CCs fail to attract enough members
An election is to be held for membership of Leith Links Community Council due to the volume of nominations submitted, but it’s a different story for two local community councils: both Drylaw Telford and Muirhouse Salvesen CCs failed to attract sufficient nominations to reform.
The nomination process closed on 26 September and membership has now been confirmed for the city’s other community councils.
Council services: have your say at Question Time
Residents are being encouraged to attend a Question Time event being organised by the City of Edinburgh Council as part of wider engagement about changes to Council services.
Taking place in the City Chambers on Thursday, 10 November (7.15–8.30pm), the event is part of a seven week engagement period, asking people to play their part by giving their views through various channels including an online survey and dialogue page where residents can speak to other people in their local area.
The engagement period which started on Friday 30 September ends on Friday 18 November.
The event is being run in partnership with the Edinburgh Evening News for the third year running and will be chaired by Euan McGrory, Deputy Editor of the Evening News, Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday. Residents who are unable to attend can watch via the Council’s webcasting service.
Those attending will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance or ask questions on the night, which will be answered by a panel of six senior councillors. The panel will include Council Leader Cllr Andrew Burns; Deputy Leader Cllr Frank Ross; Finance and Resources Convener Cllr Alasdair Rankin; Culture and Sport Convener, Cllr Richard Lewis; Transport and Environment Convener, Cllr Lesley Hinds and Health and Social Care Convener, Cllr Ricky Henderson.
Cllr Alasdair Rankin, said: “We have an increasing population, inflationary pressures, decreased budgets and greater demand for our services so it is really important that we get residents’ views on how we can more efficiently deliver services.
“We’ve had an excellent response to our Question Time event over the last two years and I would encourage residents to attend and take the opportunity to have their questions answered about our services in person.
“Of course, for those that can’t make it, they can tune in live and ask questions, via the Council’s website.”
Last year’s event was well attended with an additional 237 tuning in live via our webcast and was subsequently watched by 3,759 people via the archive.
Further information on wider engagement:
Social media – use the #playyourpart
Email – playyourpart@edinburgh.gov.uk
Phone – 0131 200 2305 (8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 3.40pm Friday)
Write – Freepost, RSJC-SLXC-YTJY, Budget, Council Leader, City Chambers, High Street Edinburgh EH1 1YJ
All together now? Capital sets it’s sights on collective city vision
Edinburgh residents, businesses, partners and stakeholders are being called upon to share their vision for the Capital’s future. The ‘2050 Edinburgh City Vision’ – which begins development today – will encompass the diverse needs of the city, ensuring it continues to thrive as a great place to live, work and visit over the next 30 years. Continue reading All together now? Capital sets it’s sights on collective city vision