THURSDAY 21st AUGUST 10am – 12.30pm
THIS Thursday, meet local politicians and council staff for a walk round the area, with a drink afterwards to discuss things you would like to see improve.
North Edinburgh Arts: Communtity Walk & Chat
Tag: community engagement
Be part of a Summer of Resistance!
TOMORROW: SONGS OF PROTEST WORKSHOP
TUESDAY 19 AUGUST: PHOTOMONTAGE ART WORKSHOP
ALL WELCOME!
Drylaw Telford CC meets tomorrow
DRYLAW NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE – MONDAY 30 JUNE at 6.30pm
Drylaw & Telford. Don’t forget!
@everyone
The Drylaw Telford Community Council meets on the last Monday of every month (except July & December) at 6:30 PM at the Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.
Pop the next date in your diary and come along! We’d love to see new faces. 
Supporting climate education and engagement
First Minister announces funding at award winning Eco-School
First Minister John Swinney has announced new funding to support groups and schools across Scotland to learn more about climate change and nature loss, and take climate action where they can.
The Scottish Government supports the Eco-Schools programme to help embed climate environmental and outdoor learning as a meaningful part of daily learning and teaching. The programme is set to benefit from £425,000 funding in 2025-26.
The Government is also investing a further £275,000 in the Climate Engagement Fund to support grassroots organisations to champion their own local initiatives and build understanding of climate change – such as workshops, podcasts and festivals.
First Minister John Swinney announced the funding ahead of a visit to the Royal School of Dunkeld to mark the celebration of their 11th consistent Eco-Schools Green Flag Award.
The First Minister said: “Children and young people have been leading the charge for urgent action to address climate change and nature loss. That is right, since they will be the ones who will face the greatest impacts of climate change over their lifetimes.
“However, the responsibility to become climate resilient and reduce emissions cannot just be up to the next generation. This Government has committed to Scotland reaching net-zero by 2045 – five years ahead of the rest of the UK – and we are introducing bold measures, like ending peak rail fares for good, to reduce our emissions. I am proud that we are also pushing forward with embedding climate education in our schools.
“The Scottish Government has supported the Eco-Schools Scotland programme for over two decades, and pupils and teachers at the Royal School of Dunkeld have collectively achieved a remarkable feat. Over 800 schools in Scotland now have a Green Flag and I hope that others will be inspired to follow suit.
“It is vital that everyone in our society understands the positive opportunities of climate action, and how that can improve their own lives. The Climate Engagement Fund will help to increase awareness and empower people of all ages to take action in their local communities in the best way they can.”
CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful Barry Fisher commented: “We are delighted to once again to receive funding from the Scottish Government to support our Climate Action Schools Programme, ensuring that our fantastic work with local authorities, schools, educators, and children and young people across Scotland grows and develops further, and helps to deliver our national ambitions on Target 2030 and public engagement on climate change.
“This year we mark 30 years of environmental education in schools through the international Eco-Schools Programme and we’ve been visiting schools across the country to celebrate their participation and success in its activities over the years, highlighting just how important the framework has been, and will continue to be, for Scotland’s young people.”
Eco-schools is an international programme that gives pupils the opportunity to tackle issues like climate change and to consider environmental changes that they can make in their school to make it more sustainable.
In Scotland, Eco-Schools is delivered by Keep Scotland Beautiful as part of the Climate Action Schools framework. Eco-Schools was launched in the UK, Denmark and Germany in 1994 with Scotland awarding the first Green Flag in 1995.
Royston Wardieburn’s creative writers celebrate Windows To Our Past
Royston Wardieburn Community Centre’s social history group launched their new publication, ‘Windows To Our Past’, at the Centre on Thursday.
Windows to our Past: A Collection of Stories from North Edinburgh remembers times long gone and also pays tribute to the local people – activists, volunteers, class mates and good friends – lost in recent years.
The group worked with creative writing tutor Jim Aitken to produce Windows To Our Past and members read a selection of their stories to an appreciative audience.
There were lots of laughs – the event opened with a comical This Is Our Lives sketch performed by the group – but there was time for reflection, too.
Some We Remember, a slide show created for the event, brought back a wealth of poignant memories of fondly-remembered activists no longer with us – men and women who each in their own way dedicated much of their lives to making the North Edinburgh community a better place to live.
The perennial challenge of fighting for adequate resources goes on, of course, and the latest round of funding cuts has seen North Edinburgh’s community centres and local projects fearing for their futures once again. In a discussion following the launch, however, it was clear that the appetite to campaign to challenge cuts to local resources remains as strong as ever.
The fight goes on – and, as a previous publication produced by activists urged: NEVER GIVE UP!
THE QUIET REVOLUTION
by SANDRA MARSHALL (2009)
And what about the quiet revolution
A circle of people
Growing with every breath
Spinning ever wider
Living in peace and harmony
A family
A community
Sharing good and bad
No more war, loneliness, anger or greed
A family of humanity
Starting from a whsiper
Growing steadily brighter and brighter
Louder and louder
Until
No darkness remains.
COMMUNITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS: FINAL REMINDER
COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 4pm TODAY
LAST CALL FOR COMMUNITY COUNCILLORS!
As at 2pm yesterday (Wednesday 26 February):
25 Community Councils currently have the minimum elected members numbers to form. Vacancies remain on ALL CCs.
22 Community Councils still require more elected member nominations to form. Of these, seven CCs have received NO nominations.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE – DEADLINE TO APPLY IS 4pm TODAY
Form can be downloaded here:
http://edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/36320/2025-community-council-election-nomination-form
North Edinburgh Childcare: Free places!
AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM NORTH EDINBURGH CHILDCARE
Funding application deadline extended for community-focused projects
COMMUNITY GRANTS FUND DEADLINE EXTENDED
Do you have an idea that will make a difference to your local community? Apply now for a grant of up to £5,000 to make your idea a reality.
Please note the application deadline for the Community Grants Fund (CGF) has been extended to 5pm on Monday 16th December 2024. This is the last chance to apply for a grant this year.
You can apply for up to £5000 for community-based activity taking place in 2025. Areas with funding still available are: Almond, Craigentinny/Duddingston, Forth, Inverleith, Morningside, Pentlands, South West and Western.
The Community Grants Fund (CGF) is a small grants scheme provided by the City of Edinburgh Council. Grants of up to £5,000 can be awarded to constituted groups for community based activity.
The CGF was set up in 2007 to help fund projects that will benefit local communities. It is part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to empowering citizens and supporting grassroots initiatives.
Alan Gordon, Secretary for Longstone Community Council, said of the fund: “The CGF is an accessible fund for local groups across the city to make good use of.
“It brings ideas to life, activities to communities and often makes the difference between something happening or not. If you have an idea for improving your community, the CGF can help it to blossom.”
There are 13 local pots of money, each covering a different area of the city.
In some areas the money for this financial year has already been allocated, but there are several areas where funds remain (see above).
For more information about how to apply and to check how much money is available in different areas, go to the Council’s CGF web pages.
If you require further information or help to apply, please email:
North Edinburgh Community Festival wins Creative Edinburgh Award
The North Edinburgh Community Festival is thrilled to announce that it has won the Creative Edinburgh Festival Award. This is a new category for 2024, which celebrates a festival’s outstanding contribution to Edinburgh’s vibrant cultural scene and its innovative approach to community engagement.
Festival Chair, Willie Black, and Festival Director, Adele Conn were joined on stage to accept the award by Jed Milroy from the Tinderbox Collective and Ryan McGlone from Granton Youth along with 6 young people who have volunteered at the festival since it started in 2022.
Jed and Ryan, play an integral part in the festival by encouraging participation through music, running both music stages and encouraging over 600 young people to participate in the festival.
Lennon Hutchison, youth volunteer, said “As someone who has volunteered at the festival for the last 3 years, I feel incredibly proud to be part of something so special.
“It was amazing to win this award and myself and my friends can’t wait for next years festival.”
“We are absolutely delighted to receive this award,” said Festival Director Adele Conn. “It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, and we are grateful to the community for their unwavering support.
“This recognition motivates us to continue creating a meaningful and inclusive festival that bring people together and acts as a year round catalyst for collaboration and change in North Edinburgh.”
The North Edinburgh Community Festival, held annually in May in West Pilton Park and the West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, aims to benefit North Edinburgh communities by promoting pathways into employment, training, and recreation opportunities, addressing endemic challenges in the areas such as worklessness, low education attainment, and social isolation by providing a fun, free, family day out for new and existing residents to enjoy – promoting opportunities, creativity, enhancing community cohesion, reducing social isolation and celebrating the diversity of the area.
This year the festival had over 10,000 local people attend, 150 charities, organisations and groups; over 600 young people participating in music activities, and we provided over 3000 free hot meals on the day.
The award was presented at the Creative Edinburgh Awards ceremony last week, which honours the best in Edinburgh’s creative community, highlighting the projects, people and places that flourish across Edinburgh and continually ensuring its place on the cultural map, nationally and internationally.
Winning this award highlights the festival’s role in its commitment to North Edinburgh and helping this community to thrive. The festival has imbedded itself within the community and has a vital role to play.
The strength of the Festival lies in its collaborative working model – with involvement from residents, artists, the local third sector and public sector bodies.
The diverse population of North Edinburgh includes families, individuals, young people, and children, all of whom stand to benefit from the festival’s offerings. By hosting a range of recreational, cultural, educational, leisure, and social activities, the festival aims to create opportunities for community engagement and personal development.
The festival also proudly celebrates cultural diversity and serves as a vibrant tapestry of the many ethnic minorities residing in North Edinburgh. Recognising the unique challenges faced by these communities, it is even more important to provide resources and support services tailored to the needs of these communities.
Willie Black, says: “As the Chair of the North Edinburgh Community Festival, I am thrilled and honoured that we have won the award for Best Festival in Edinburgh.
“This recognition is a testament to the vibrant spirit and hard work of our community. It highlights the incredible talent and dedication within North Edinburgh and showcases our ability to bring people together through cultural celebration.
“Winning this award means a great deal to our city and particularly to the community of North Edinburgh. It underscores the importance of cultural festivals in fostering community pride, cultural exchange, and economic development.
“However, it also reminds us of the crucial need for financial support to sustain these valuable events. Continued funding is essential to ensure that festivals like ours can thrive, grow, and continue to enrich the lives of everyone involved.”
Regarding the Festival’s future, our vision for the next five years is both ambitious and transformative. We aim to expand the reach and impact of the North Edinburgh Community Festival, making it an annual highlight that continues to bring joy, education, and support to our community.
We plan to increase our engagement with local schools and youth groups, offering more workshops and programmes tailored to the needs and interests of young people.
In addition, we aspire to create more year-round initiatives that address socio-economic challenges, such as community art projects, and job training sessions. We’re committed to fostering inclusivity and cultural exchange, ensuring that all residents, feel valued and supported.
We also aim to strengthen our partnerships with local organisations, businesses, and volunteers, to drive home positive change. Our goal is to make North Edinburgh a thriving, vibrant community where everyone has the opportunity to grow, learn, and succeed.
As a community festival, we rely heavily on funding. However, we remain optimistic that this award will help to raise awareness of the festival’s importance and the community’s desire for it.
We are hopeful that it will attract the financial support needed to sustain and grow the event.
Next year’s festival will be held on Saturday 17th May from 12 noon – 530pm.
Calls to protect Edinburgh volunteers as community engagement grows
As new research from The National Lottery Community Fund [1] reveals a growing enthusiasm for volunteering among UK adults, Ansvar Insurance is calling on charities and organisations across Edinburgh to prioritise the safety and management of their volunteer programmes.
The research indicates that half of UK adults (a slight increase on last year) plan to volunteer in 2024, with 14% intending to volunteer for the first time, citing food banks, animal welfare, and charity shops as the most popular initiatives to get involved with.
In Edinburgh specifically (according to the latest data from the Scottish Household Survey [2]), 19% of residents volunteered in 2022.
The benefits of volunteering, such as providing young people with new life skills and reducing loneliness among the elderly, have become increasingly recognised, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
While a growing number of volunteers is a positive development for charities, it also presents challenges in managing safety and risk.
Proper risk management is crucial not only for attracting volunteers but also for retaining them and maintaining the organisation’s reputation.
Kelly Barter, Head of Customer Service at Ansvar, an expert provider of insurance for the charity, not-for-profit, care and faith sectors, commented: “Volunteers are the backbone of charitable and community organisations and play a pivotal role in sustaining vital services across Edinburgh.
“However, ensuring their safety and protection is essential. When planning events, the focus is often on activities and fundraising, but the administrative aspects, such as providing adequate supervision, organising appropriate training, completing comprehensive risk assessments, ensuring specialist insurance coverage is in place, and providing a safe environment for volunteers, can sometimes get overlooked.
“Effective risk management protects volunteers and enhances their satisfaction and retention. Volunteers are more likely to stay engaged when they feel safe and valued, leading to a positive and long-lasting experience.”
Ansvar is part of the Benefact Group, the charity-owned specialist financial services organisation. The Benefact Group stands as the UK’s third-largest corporate donor, reinforcing Ansvar’s commitment to supporting the broader charitable community.
[1] https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/insights/2023-24-community-research-index
[2] https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-household-survey-2022-key-findings/pages/10/