SNP MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith Ben Macpherson and MP Deidre Brook recently met with the Housing Minister Kevin Stewart to discuss their concerns about the situation in Lorne Street. Continue reading Housing Minister steps in to support Lorne tenants
Hi
Please find attached Agenda for the next Forth and Inverleith Forum scheduled to take place next Tuesday 12th April from 1 – 3pm at Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway.
Forth & Inverleith Agenda – 12th April 2016
The Agenda is deliberately short to ensure there is sufficient time for AOB – this is to ensure members have an opportunity to discuss challenges organisations are facing through funding cuts and also the shift to Localities both by the CEC and Health and Social Care Partnership.
LOCALITIES Thinkspace Events
• South East – 20th April 2016, 9.30-12.00 – City of Edinburgh Methodist Church – 25 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh EH8 9BX
• South West – 21st April 2016, 9.30-12.00 – WHALEARTS – 30 Westburn Grove, Edinburgh EH14 2SA
• North West – 27th April 2016, 9.30-12.00 – West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre – 19 W Pilton Grove
• North East – 28th April 2016, 9.30-12.00 South Leith Parish Church Halls – 6 Henderson St, Edinburgh EH6 6BS
The City of Edinburgh Council, Health and Social Care Partnership, Police Scotland and the Fire and Rescue Service are moving to a locality model. How the Third Sector engages with this needs to be considered and EVOC would like to invite you to Localities ThinkSpaces taking place in each Locality area in April.
Find further information and booking details here.
NEDAC, Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, Pilton Retreat, Granton Youth Centre … and now The Prentice Centre is the latest community organisation fighting for survival.
PUBLIC MEETING
THE PRENTICE CENTRE
1 GRANTON MAINS AVENUE
WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH, 7pm
The Prentice Centre is under threat of closure. Please come along to the public meeting and let local politicians know how you feel. All welcome.
West Granton Community Trust really needs community support – get along to the meeting if you can. See poster (below) for details.
Pilton Youth & Children’s Project
Annual General Meeting
The Greenhouse, West Pilton Rise
Friday 26 February: Lunch from 1pm, AGM 2pm
One year’s funding gives hope to Pilton Retreat
A statement from Pilton Retreat (issued 22 February)
The Education, Children & Families Committee did not change their decision at the meeting on 11 February 2016 so the Retreat has not been awarded a 3-year grant.
They have however proposed giving us a 1-year contract extension (95% of the 2015-1016 contract value). This still needs to be approved by the Finance & Resources Committee which meets on 17 March 2016.
If this extension is granted, it will give us time to investigate what other sources of funding may be available to allow the Retreat to remain open after March 2017.
A further update will be posted once we have heard the outcome of the meeting on 17 March.
A heartfelt thank you for all your support.
Pilton Retreat
Edinburgh Compact wants to hear from city’s third sector
DEADLINE Friday 29 January
Voluntary Organisations and Community Groups in Edinburgh: help us get a picture of the Third Sector in Edinburgh. Fill in our Compact Voice 2015 Survey.
Continue reading Still time to have your say on state of voluntary sector
Time running out for award-winning Centre
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre seems set to close following confirmation that funding to run the Centre is to be slashed. Five members of staff will lose their jobs if the Centre – the only purpose-built community centre in the Inverleith ward – closes after having served the local community for twenty years. Continue reading Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre facing closure
Dear Editor
Cuts in funding local authority services are happening again this year and will affect every person in varying degrees and add to the contraction in public services: services that are necessary and needed.
There are also other services provided daily by other organisations, mostly run by volunteers with some financial help from the council: these too are facing drastic cuts. Day Care clubs, lifelong learning and literacy classes, mentla health support,, befriending, support and information services, classes of all kinds and -very importantly – community transport to and from activities.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of people are helped out of isolation every week with all the benefit – both mental and physical – stemming from these services. Curtailing existing funding to these organisations is not only false economy but will see a deterioration in the health of those people affected, causing a far greater expenditure in other health and care costs.
The councils must rethink their attitude to these services – and, above all, their attitude to PEOPLE.
A. Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens
Council response poses more questions than answers
Community groups and voluntary sector organisations must wait until next month before they will learn what their funding fate will be. Continue reading Funding: the anxious wait goes on …
North Edinburgh Credit Union announces merger plan
North Edinburgh Credit Union is to merge with Castle Credit Union and Water of Leith CU, doubling the existing membership and giving the new organisation a stronger financial base.
In a letter to members, North Edinburgh Credit Union Chair Ron Carthy explained: “The Board of North Edinburgh Credit Union is committed to maintaining a strong CU presence in North Edinbyrgh and to offer the range of services our members expect. Therefore, the Board has agreed to merge with Castle Cedit Union and the Water of Leith CU study group as a major step in this process. This wiill not only double the size of our existing member base but also gives us a stronger financial base upon which to expand and sustain a viable credit union.
He continues: “The new Head Office for the merged credit union will be in our exisiting office in Wardieburn Drive. As part of our palans for the new merged credit union we will extending (sic) our opening times and be introducing access 24/7 via a new website for members to check balances, apply for loans and see how their savings are growing. We will also be offering a wider range of savings and loan products.”
NECU is holding a meeting at the Wardieburn office this Thurday at 6.30pm (business starts 7pm) to share information about the ‘exciting new plans’. All members welcome.
For further information call 0131 466 5006
or email committee@necu.co.uk
