Tag: Community

Inspiring Volunteer Award 2020? This one’s for YOU!

Thousands of Edinburgh citizens who have given up their time to volunteer and support their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic have been honoured by Lord Provost Frank Ross.

This was after it was announced they are all Inspiring Volunteer Award-winners 2020.

Edinburgh’s Inspiring Volunteer Awards, now in its fourteenth year, reflects the huge range of organisations and individuals who give their time freely to work with the city’s vibrant charity and non-profit sectors.

Volunteers within community projects received award certificates earlier in the year but until now the winner of Volunteer of the Year had yet to be announced.

It was decided that this year a different approach was needed and, in recognition of those many thousands of citizens who have assisted others during the coronavirus crisis, that ‘the Citizens of Edinburgh’ should receive the Volunteer of the Year award.

The updated Roll of Honour plaque naming the Citizens of Edinburgh as the joint winners was unveiled during a special virtual meeting between the Lord Provost, Deputy Lord Provost Joan Griffiths and Paul Wilson, Chief Officer of Volunteer Edinburgh as they paid tribute to the volunteering efforts in 2020.

Edinburgh routinely benefits from around 30% of our residents giving up their time to assist their fellow citizens. During the pandemic, the commitment from volunteers remained and interest in volunteering in the Capital has grown by more than 200%.

Lord Provost Frank Ross said: “Edinburgh has always had a thriving voluntary and community sector with thousands of volunteers helping people throughout the city and giving their valuable skills and time to worthy causes every year.

“In my role as Volunteer Champion I have the privilege of meeting many who go out of their way to help others and I’ve been truly humbled this year by how brilliantly our city has come together to respond to the pandemic. Every single person giving their time, skills and commitment to help others is a vital part of Edinburgh’s resilience and a symbol of how we’ll move forward.

“Choosing my Inspiring Volunteer of the Year is always a virtually impossible task and for 2020, in such difficult times, with so many more people giving their time for others, the Deputy Lord Provost and I, with the assistance of Paul, agreed that we needed to take a different approach.

“That’s why we’re awarding the Citizens of Edinburgh our Inspiring Volunteers of the Year, to recognise and thank the many thousands of citizens who have gone the extra mile help others during the coronavirus crisis. My sincerest thanks to you all for the help, time, care and consideration which has been so freely given, you have truly done Edinburgh proud.

Deputy Lord Provost Joan Griffiths said: “In recognition of how many people have helped others, be they family, friends, neighbours or strangers, countless people have benefitted from this assistance, and I was honoured to unveil the Lord Provost’s Inspiring Volunteer of the Year 2020 entry for the Citizens of Edinburgh.

“The entire city is united in our gratitude to the legions of volunteers who have, and who I hope will continue to, help looking after our most vulnerable citizens throughout this pandemic and going forward as we return to normality.”

Paul Wilson, Chief Officer of Volunteer Edinburgh, added: “Edinburgh has always been a city of volunteers with many thousands of people giving their time, energy and commitment every single day.  However, this year it has been inspiring to see how many people wanted to support their communities. 

“Whether that was informally by being a good neighbour, joining one of the brilliant mutual aid groups that sprung up during lockdown or volunteering more formally, I am confident that the city could not have gotten through the past 10 months without them all.  I can’t think of a more fitting Inspiring Volunteer of the Year 2020, than the people of our city who made and continue to make such a huge difference.”

The Inspiring Volunteer Awards plaque in the City Chambers is part of the city’s civic heritage, which will be seen by the public for many years to come.

Iona Street campaigners hopes dashed

A STATEMENT from SAVE IONA STREET

A decision was reached last week on the Iona Street development by the council’s Development Management Sub-Committee and unfortunately it has been approved to go ahead.

This is obviously disappointing news for many of us but it’s worth remembering that together we have made a difference. While many of the broader changes we were calling for have not been recognised, some aspects of the development have been changed as a result of all of our efforts.

A huge thank you for your support over the past year. Our local community feels stronger as a result of the campaign.

SEE: North Edinburgh Survey

Here at Screen Education Edinburgh (SEE) we’re putting together a new free filmmaking programme for the people of North Edinburgh. In order to deliver something that meets the needs of those living and working in the area we have drawn up a short survey and would like to hear from locals of all ages.

The North Edinburgh filmmaking programme will engage local people to learn all the skills of filmmaking to create work that shines a light on, and celebrates, life in the area.

To help shape this we are looking to gather as much information from as many people as possible, whether they work for a local organisation, are in education, or a local resident, we want to hear from people about their life in the community as well as their future aspirations, not only for themselves, but also for their families and the community.

The link to our survey is below. We would be extremely grateful if you could complete this if you’re interested in taking part in the programme, and please circulate to those you are engaged with through your work in the community and feel free to share on social media.

It will stay live until 5pm Monday 10th August.

If you would also like to find out more about the programme or have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch and we can chat further by video or telephone call.

Survey link: https://www.screen-ed.org/forms/north-edinburgh-film-programme

Best wishes,

Laura

Laura Findlay

Project Manager,

Our Edinburgh and Your Take (Edinburgh City Film Education Programme)

Screen Education Edinburgh

30 Ferry Road Avenue, Edinburgh EH4 4BA

0131 343-1151

www.screen-ed.org

Guiding Principles for Recovery

Revisiting the Route Map to an Enabling State

The Carnegie UK Trust has been exploring how the COVID 19 pandemic has affected the relationships between government, public services and citizens.

As attention starts to shift to how we can “Build Back Better”, we have taken the opportunity to update our influential 2014 Routemap to an Enabling State with some guiding principles for recovery.

We began our work to define and describe the Enabling State after the last great economic shock, observing the perfect storm of ageing populations, climate change and austerity policies.

We found that in the face of these challenges, governments across the UK (local, devolved and UK) were engaged in a process of transformation – a slow moving paradigm shift away from a top-down, ‘one size fits all’ approach, to a more agile model that supports people and communities to achieve positive change for themselves, and thereby to improve their own wellbeing.

We have continued to observe this process of transformation over the ensuing years, noting a varied picture in terms of commitment and pace in the different jurisdictions where we work.

However, the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift in many places, with the immediate responses from public services and from communities demonstrating that there is a different way of working together.

We articulate here the seven steps that public services should take as they move into recovery mode. We believe that these steps could ‘bank’ positive changes in relationships where these have occurred, and accelerate progress towards an enabling state model.

I do hope that you find this framing helpful. To let us know your thoughts, please email Hannah@CarnegieUK.org or join the debate online by tagging @CarnegieUKTrust #EnablingState – we would be pleased to hear from you.

Best wishes

Sarah

Sarah Davidson
Chief Executive
Carnegie UK Trust
Twitter: @CarnegieUKTrust
www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk

Community togetherness won’t last, says study

The UK public feel that any sense of ‘community togetherness’ that has been built during the coronavirus crisis will disperse as soon as it is over says a new study commissioned by the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham .

A poll undertaken by Populus of 2,088 adults in the UK found that older generations and women have felt a stronger sense of community togetherness recently, compared with younger generations and men, who have not felt this to the same degree.

Conversely, there was the opposite generational gap identified in terms of those who agreed that community togetherness would disappear after the crisis is over, with those aged 45-64 being most negative (61%), compared with less than half of those aged 18-24 (46%).

This suggests that there has been a marked generational divide in how people have responded to the crisis. This is highlighted further in responses from 18-24 year olds to the valuing of health of older generations today over longer-term economic prosperity. Younger people disagreed with this statement in larger numbers (13%) than those aged over 45 (9%).

The importance of character in times of crisis was highlighted, as 68% of the British public valued ‘being compassionate/caring’ in their top 3 most valued character strengths seen in those around them – an identical figure to a preliminary poll conducted in April 2020; they also valued it the most in terms of personal well-being (25%). Yet, concerns over the lack of community spirit were further emphasised.

Findings showed that less than a quarter of the British public have given their time to benefit others during the crisis. Of those who have, 18-24 year olds and those aged 55-64 have volunteered the most, with women volunteering more than men, and the East Midlands and South East being the areas of the country where people have volunteered the most.

There was a decline in the value placed on the civic character strengths of ‘being of service’ and ‘having community awareness’ in the people around us, compared to the April 2020 poll. Instead, the British public placed greater value on ‘being resilient’; this is suggestive that the public mood has moved to one of self-preservation over community togetherness.

Commenting on the findings, Aidan Thompson, Director of Strategic Initiatives in the Jubilee Centre, said; ‘Strengths of character have helped everyone to negotiate a path through these uncertain and unprecedented times.

“This poll reflects the continued importance of character in how we treat those around us and those we look up to. Good character development benefits both the individual and the community, so whilst notions of ‘community togetherness’ may seem as though they are dwindling, continuing to provide opportunities to serve the public good are essential to cultivate a character-full society.’

Other notable findings include: 

  • Good judgement is valued more by older generations than younger ones as important to one’s wellbeing;
  • Older people have felt a stronger notion of community togetherness during the crisis than younger people, but were more likely to agree that it would disappear once the crisis is over;
  • The public value having ‘good judgement’ (71%) and ‘being wise’ (40%) in senior leaders and politicians in greater numbers than in the first poll;
  • A large majority (71%) of the public support following government lockdown guidelines as an expression of civic duty, though only 56% of 18-24 year olds agreed, compared with 87% of those over 65 years.

 

Letters: Public services more vital than ever

Dear Editor

The National Health Service has always been valued as a people’s organisation. This value has always been appreciated – but never more so than today.

This lesson on the importance of people’s services shows the way our society must be run. If the NHS is vital, so are gas, electricity and water. As are the railways, buses and trams. Make them public services, too – serving the people.

The value of the NHS to the people is immense: a publicly funded service, available ever day.

Also ever day, 30 million people travel to and from their places of work using rail, bus and tram.

Work, in order to live, is a necessity. These transport industries must also become part of a fully funded, publically owned service with the NHS. It can be arranged and organised as a public service.

The NHS has been our lifeline. People have always guarded the principle of a service of the people.

How right that is!

Tony Delahoy 

A hundred days on: looking for a silver lining

Six months ago this virus didn’t exist. There was no such thing as Coronavirus Covid -19. The first known case dates back to 17 November in Hubei, China and we’ll probably never know if Case Zero was indeed the first person to contact the disease.

This first case was first brought to the attention of the World Health Organisation on 31 December and today, one hundred days on, there have been 1.8 million cases worlwide and more than 110,000 people have died.

Our world has changed out of all recognition from the place we knew as we brought in the New Year what seems an age ago.

Coronavirus has brought out the best in some people, the worst in others. The unsung community heroes, the supermarkets, the care workers and the NHS staff on the frontline. And then there are the stockpilers, the profiteers, the guidance floughters and the fraudsters.

We worry about family and friends. We miss the simple things: the cinema trips, a pint in the pub, a football match, a family meal.

Just a few short weeks ago, we worried ourselves over other things that don’t seem quite so important now, but they will resurface again when coronavirus is under control.

Brexit will become an issue again and we can be pretty sure that politics will return to the pre-Covid Punch and Judy Show it was before the virus took hold.

And we’ll talk again about our Edinburgh – we’ll debate Air BnB, we’ll seethe over ‘student flats’ planning development applications, the dire state of our public services and we’ll discuss the commercialisation of Edinburgh’s city centre at festival times.

The virus is a cruel, terrible thing but it does have one blessing: it gives each of us valuable time to think. To think about what is important. To think about what we as a society need, not want. To think about how we can do things differently to ensure that all are included and none are left behind.

We CAN do things differently if we choose to. We must use this precious time wisely.

A happy Easter to everyone – please stay safe at home

 

Talking community: Citizen Betty to speak at Book Festival

GIVING A VOICE TO COMMUNITIES

Tuesday 20 August 18:00 – 19:30

Join us to celebrate Citizen our latest long-term creative programme working in partnership with organisations across Edinburgh, listening to people’s views about the communities in which they live.

Led by Scottish-based writers-in-residence, Claire Askew and Eleanor Thom, Citizen aims to give a voice to communities, offering residents an opportunity to explore their connection to each other and their relationship to neighbourhoods. Come to hear, see and meet some of those who have been taking part so far.

West Pilton’s Betty McVay MBE is among the contributors.

We invite you to Pay What You Can for this event. You may choose to pay an amount between £0 and £25 for your ticket, taking into consideration what you can reasonably afford to spend. This pricing has been introduced to help make the Book Festival accessible to those with limited means. If you are able to pay more for your ticket, you will help support our efforts to provide financial flexibility to those who most need it.

Part of our We Are All Citizens series of events.

 

Make time to learn

The University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Open Learning’s Short Courses partnered with Edinburgh’s Royston Wardieburn Community Centre to offer a daytime archaeology course for the local community.

The ‘Making Connections’ course, taught by Archaeology Teaching Fellow Kristian L.R.

The University of Edinburgh

Short courses

You don’t have to study for a degree to learn with us. We have a huge range of options that allow you to study at a time and pace that suits you.

With our short courses, you can learn during the day, in the evening, at weekends or at a Summer School. Courses range from Jewellery Making and Elementary Norwegian to those where you can earn credit towards a qualification. You may also be eligible for support ranging from a Personal Tutor to academic and sometimes financial support. If your company or organisation would benefit from a team-building or training course, the Business School can tailor a bespoke course to meet your needs.

Centre for Open Learning

The Centre for Open Learning offers short courses in subjects from Archaeology, Art and Design and Creative Writing through to History, Psychology and Politics. No prior knowledge of the subject is usually required.

If you can’t commit to a weekly slot over five or 10 weeks, then you can try a Saturday taster session, a weekend course or one of our Summer Schools. We may also be able to provide financial assistance such as discounts for alumni or help with fees for those on certain kinds of benefit.

Find a short course to suit you

Learn a language

Courses are available in more than 20 languages from Arabic to Welsh, British Sign Language, Japanese and Swahili. If you just want to brush up on your French or Italian for a holiday, or take a serious interest in Chinese Advanced, we’ve got just the course for you.

Choose a language

Studying for Credit

Credit Plus courses are short courses with study and essay-writing skills built in. They are designed for students who want to study for credit at university level for the first time, or in a subject they haven’t studied before. This type of course includes subjects such as Film Studies, How Art Works and Introducing Scottish Social History.

These credits count towards a Certificate of Higher Education, a national qualification recognised by employers and other universities. Everyone who takes this route has support from a Personal Tutor who helps you with academic guidance and support.

Study for credit

Part-time Access Programme

This part-time programme is primarily for adult students who are returning to learning after a break from study.  It has been carefully designed to prepare students with few or no prior qualifications to study for a degree in Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences.

If you are accepted onto the course, you will be a fully matriculated student at the University with access to all the facilities available to other students, including extensive academic and pastoral support.

The programme will be run from late summer 2018 and finish in June 2019, and we will announce the process for applying in early 2018. For further information about the Part-time Access Programme, please email the Centre for Open Learning.

Email col@ed.ac.uk

Education for Business

Our triple-accredited Business School delivers bespoke options for Executive Education which are designed to challenge, inspire and transform your thinking and that of your company. A range of courses is available from two-day Masterclasses to accredited MBA level courses and customised programmes tailored to your company’s needs.

Business Education to suit your needs