Want to learn how to fix a puncture or service your bike? Our free, four-week cycle maintenance course will equip you with the skills and confidence to maintain your bike. The course is informal, social, and fun!
Looking for more cycling fun? Check out the Edinburgh Cycling Club for group rides and events! We organize regular group rides, events, and social gatherings, creating a welcoming environment for everyone. Find us on [Meetup] https://www.meetup.com/Edinburgh-Cycling-Club/…
A new 6 week cooking course for women, run by Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC), will be starting at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre on Thursday 1st August from 12:30- 2:30.
Learn to cook healthy delicious food in a small informal group and have fun while doing so!
Scottish Labour’s Spokesperson for Culture, Foysol Choudhury MSP, has today emphasised the need for Scotland to re-focus on engaging with community culture organisations.
Mr Choudhury was speaking following a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Culture and Communities which he convened on Wednesday 28th February.
The CPG saw presentations from groups Science Ceilidh, Art27 and Development Trusts Association Scotland and focused on the matter of Cultural Democracy in light of the ongoing Local Governance Review and Democracy Matters conversations.
Key themes which emerged from the presentations and subsequent Q & A were the needs to encourage communities to participate in their local culture and use it to address current topics by transmitting the community’s standpoint on local, domestic and international affairs.
Mr Choudhury says this is something he will continue to support community cultural groups in doing: “Culture is so important-it is the means by which we can understand our history, preserve our languages and traditions, and share our diversity with others in a vibrant multi-cultural society.
“That’s why it’s so important that communities are encouraged to engage in cultural endeavours-both to explore and transmit their own culture and to socially engage with a multitude of issues from their own cultural perspective.
“However, we must prioritise cultural democracy and make it easy for communities to engage with cultural exploration – this was made clear from the CPG meeting this week.
“I will continue to work hard as Convener of this CPG to reach out to grassroots cultural community groups and progress words into action, to ensure that the discussions we have at Holyrood can be translated into actual opportunities for communities.”
MSP Choudhury, who is also chairperson of community organisation ELREC, says he looks forward to hosting more CPG meetings soon and will invite the Minister for Culture to give all cultural community organisations an opportunity to have their voice heard by those in Holyrood.
Climate and sustainability groups from across Scotland staged a fashion show of upcycled outfits outside the Scottish Parliament today (22 February), to call on MSPs to support the Circular Economy Bill that’s being debated soon.
Models took to the catwalk in outfits including a dress made of bike inner tubes to highlight that 65% of our clothing is made from fossil fuel-based plastic, a cape made from plastic bottles collected from beach litter, and an electric cable headdress to highlight the impacts of mining for metals and lack of repair opportunities for electronic waste in Scotland.
The new law could change the way we use materials, driving action to reduce the amount we take from nature by keeping materials in use for as long as possible.
The groups sought to remind MSPs that to create a circular economy, everyone in Scotland needs access to repair and reuse services, as well as high-quality recycling services. Campaigners highlighted that systematic change is needed from the Scottish Government to make all the products we buy more sustainable and ensure big businesses are required to clean up the products they sell.
There are many organisations across Scotland trying to tackle this issue at a grassroots level, and they are calling for greater support to deliver on action that brings down climate emissions and builds community.
Kim Pratt, circular economy campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “Valuing our materials properly is essential to reduce the environmental destruction we’re causing, and as we’ve seen today it can be the jumping off point for so much creativity and community.
“The Circular Economy Bill is an exciting opportunity for Scotland to make real progress and build on the great work that is already happening. Reuse and repair offer people the chance to make affordable and green choices but far too few people have access to these services and those providing them need better support.
“We are currently using materials in a way that is driving climate breakdown whether that is single use plastics, electronic gadgets that break too soon or fast fashion piling up in landfill. Around half of Scotland’s emissions are not tackled by our existing climate targets because they don’t include imports.
“If consumption targets were brought in under the new circular economy law, Scotland would finally start taking responsibility for its global impact.”
Kim Blasco, from Plastic-free Scotland Communities said: “Plastic-free communities throughout Scotland are striving to promote circular behaviour among local businesses and the wider public.
“People are hearing the message and behaviour change is happening, but not fast enough or at the scale necessary to tackle the urgent climate crisis. The Scottish Government must require businesses to embed circularity in the goods and services they provide, and a strong Circular Economy Bill is key to making this happen.”
Franciele Sobierai, Communities Reduce Reuse and Recycle Project Coordinator at Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) said: “With the climate crisis getting worse, the need for a strong circular economy bill increases.
“We must shift away from rampant consumerism and redirect our efforts towards stronger communities which reuse and repair organisations can offer.
“Reuse organisations need more support from the Scottish Government. These efforts play a pivotal role in protecting our environment and helping people make more sustainable choices.
“Creating inclusive, diverse communities is vital to the fight against climate change. By empowering marginalised groups on our society through networks such as those created by community reuse projects, we can create a path towards a more environmentally conscious and inclusive future.”
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT – THURSDAY 22 FEBRUARY from 1 – 2pm
GRANTON Goes Greener are very excited to be involved in the SUSTAINABLE FASHION SHOW organised by @ELREC_C3R in front of the @scottishparliament and have some of their preloved and upcycled pieces displayed during the show.
Join us on Thursday to learn more about reusing/ recycling and upcycling.
Interested in learning how to cook sustainable, healthy and tasty meals for less? Our experienced chef Sophie will guide you in preparing food with minimal seasonal ingredients.
In the upcoming three workshops, we’ll be making Shortbread Sandwich Biscuits with Chocolate & Lemon Buttercream Fillings, Chicken & Mushroom Pie and Spring Greens Risotto. All ingredients and equipment will be provided.
Come along, enjoy delicious food, learn new skills and have some fun!
Date: 29 February (Thursday), 12 & 19 March 2024 (Tuesdays)
We are now accepting donations of good quality household items and looking for more men clothes and shoes as well as some older children/teenagers clothes.
Book your spot for free! https://www.meetup.com/edinburgh…/events/303860948/…
Our experienced chef Sophie will guide you in preparing food with minimal seasonal ingredients. 
我們將提供所有食材和煮食用具。齊來享受美食兼學習新技能吧！
