Fancy trying something a wee bit different this weekend? See below!
Beach days are good for the soul, apparently
so come along and enjoy some fun, fire, food and art!
Tag: events
Fixing a broken democracy?
Fixing broken democracy – have your say at a Democracy Max event being held by Electoral Reform Society Scotland in Glasgow next month:
At the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) Scotland we are committed to campaigning for better democracy. As we approach the independence referendum, we think it is vital that we take the opportunity to assess, and where necessary reform, our democracy. We have called this inquiry ‘Democracy Max’.
The process has included public events, roundtable discussions and publications. The final public event in this phase will be on Thursday August 8th at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Everyone is welcome to come along.
The first event of the Democracy Max inquiry brought together 80 people from across Scotland to spend a day at a ‘People’s Gathering’. They talked to each other and shared their ideas stimulated by the proposition: “It’s 2030, and Scotland is admired as a shining example of democracy and democratic participation. What three aspects of this future society please you most?”
Following the People’s Gathering, the findings have been discussed by roundtables of academics, commentators, campaigners and community activists. Those discussions have then been presented to a public audience for feedback.
Some of the ideas that have been proposed so far include:
• Real local democracy where people run their own communities
• A citizen’s chamber, selected like a jury , to hold the Parliament to account
• A rejuvenated ‘media of many voices’ with a strong public service element
• An assumption of full open-ness and transparency, including a register of lobbyists
We’re now discussing what technical and structural changes we might need to make some of these things happen and guarantee a good Scottish democracy. And, how do we ensure full citizen participation and ‘buy-in’ to the process. We want to ensure there are adequate checks and balances in our democracy so we’re asking ‘How do we write the rules?’
We’re more interested in structures that respect democratic participation and address the concerns expressed throughout the inquiry than we are in the detail of what the rules would be. We are keen to ensure that any decisions made in Scotland’s future will stand on solid democratic ground.
Some of the questions asked during the ‘How do we write the rules?’ phase of the inquiry include:
• As we enter the next phase of Scotland’s devolution journey, should we take stock of progress so far and ask if the Scottish Parliament is meeting the aspirations of 1999? Should this be a citizen led process?
• Whatever the result of the referendum should we consider some kind of participative consultation across Scotland to find out how Scotland should shape its democratic future? Is politics too important to be left to politicians?
• If we instigate such a deliberative and inclusive process, would it inevitably require some kind of written constitution type document to result?
• Should both the campaigns and all the parties be asked to sign up to key democratic principles which would be respected whatever the result of the referendum?
One of the key areas we are keen to address is how important people feel a written constitution would be to a good Scottish democracy. And if it is considered an important element, then how can we begin an inclusive process that reflects all viewpoints across Scotland, and what sort of process could or should that be within the devolved settlement. After all, if we believe that a constitution is an important building block for democracy, then the existence of a constitution should not be contingent upon a yes vote in the referendum.
If you are interested in discussing these issues, or have additional ideas or suggestions for how we might guarantee rights and responsibilities in a good Scottish democracy, please join us at an interactive conversation and discussion event on Thursday August 8th at the Graham Hills Building, George Street, Glasgow.
Register here: democracy-max.eventbrite.co.uk.
Or contact Juliet Swann on juliet.swann@electoral-reform.org.uk
Inverleith Summer Programme
Hi all
Please find (above) a PDF file listing the usual mixture of fun and exciting events for Inverleith’s 2013 Summer Programme for info/sending out to your networks/ listing on your various web pages etc. There are still quite a few events to be confirmed and so these haven’t been listed on the programme yet as such but I intend to send out individual details of these become more apparent – watch out for more posters but have a grand summer anyways!
Best wishes
Callum McLeod
Inverleith Community Learning & Development Team
You cannot be serious! SuperBrat’s in Stockbridge!
Stockbridge will resound to cries of ‘the ball was in!’ and ‘you cannot be serious!’ when the Brodies Champions of Tennis tour comes to Scotland for the first time later this week. Part of the ATP Champions Tour, former champions and other favourites will turn back the clock in the round-robin tournament.
‘Superbrat’ John McEnroe will be joined by tennis legends including Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski and Goran Isanisevich in the event at Edinburgh Accies’ Portgower Place ground from Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 June.
For ticket information call 0845 859 1006 or visit www.championsoftennis.com
Edinburgh College students hit the right notes
Students Hit the Right Notes When It Comes To Music Business
Inspiring Edinburgh College students are hosting an event in the capital to showcase the culmination of a year’s worth of work. As part of the HND Music Business course students were required to set up their own independent record labels, scout for new artists and host a single launch party to showcase the results of final year project.
To highlight the artists and some of the most exciting new labels emerging on the east coast, the launch event will be held
this Friday 3 May at The Underground in Teviot Row
Seven independent record labels have been set up by the HND Music Business students, who hand picked artists from across Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Colin McGregor, from Edinburgh, is a student on the course and he will release a single titled ‘September Weekend’ by Glasgow band The Maybes. Colin, who says that the experience has been a real eye opener, will launch the single through his independent record label, Offtrack Records.
He said: “It has been a great experience working towards the single launch and setting up our own record label has been rather surreal. As I have a lot of experience performing, I began this course to get a more rounded knowledge of the music industry and it has been a huge learning curve for me. Edinburgh College has given us real working life experience in that we have had to do everything from setting up our own official record labels and talent scouting for artists to marketing, finance and management.”
During the course, students gain invaluable experience of how an established record label operates, giving them a vast amount of inside knowledge of the music industry.
Singles from each of the artists were recorded at the state-of-the-art CRE:8 Studios at Edinburgh College’s Milton Road campus and they were released simultaneously on Monday (29 April) and are now available for download through iTunes.
The tracks were produced, mixed and mastered by former students from the College’s Sound Production course, and engineered by current Sound Production students facilitating a unique collaborative approach to establishing the labels.
Paul Turnbull, Music Business lecturer at Edinburgh College said: “We constantly strive to provide students with projects that will bring together a variety of disciplines and different strains of knowledge. The students have done an outstanding job in what they have achieved so far and I know the launch night will be a huge success. The experience the students have gained will ensure that students have the relevant knowledge to be successful in the industry.”
Edinburgh College has its own record label, Feast, which was created by three lecturers in late 2010 and is synonymous with the Feast Blog which strives to promote new independent music in Edinburgh and across Scotland. Feast was born through an initiative called Bright Ideas and was set up as a sustainable business from an educational perspective – giving past and present students invaluable experience for future employment opportunities.
Those on the label and at the college have access to its vibrant creative centre which has outstanding facilities for students and musicians, sound engineers and TV Producers and has already been used to host London punk rock band The King Blues amongst others.
The modern fully equipped auditorium allows performance space for gigs, films and other events. Through this affiliation with Feast, the courses at Edinburgh College bring together managers, musicians, bands, engineers and even the filming students in line with education to create original music and videos.
Students at Edinburgh College benefit from study and performance opportunities unrivalled in the sector. Previous students have performed live at the O2 Arena and collaborated in a concert with Jon Lord at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh while recent students have attended master classes in music and sound production with the producer of Oasis.
Students are assisted to find employment through a partnership with ‘Music for Scotland’ or provided with the opportunity to start their own business in a college commercial incubator unit.
Meet the Funders event in April
Is your community group looking for funding? Daft question, really – things have never been tougher for the voluntary sector. There are still some funding opportunities out there, however, and next month at the Assembly Rooms there’s a chance to meet potential sponsors.
The city council-organised Neighbourhood Partnership ‘Meet the Funders’ event takes place on Thursday 18 April from 1 – 4pm at the Assembly Rooms on George Street. An impressive group of funding providers will be exhibiting on the day, so if you’re a group looking for support this is an opportunity not to be missed. It’s completely informal and you can drop in any time – put the date in your diary now!
West Pilton welcomes fifty plus at November events
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre hosted three days of events this month for age 50+ which involved an activity morning, an information event and a social afternoon.
Activities included gentle exercise, Indian dance, indoor bowling, table tennis and silk flower making.
Information sessions offered: benefits advice from Granton Information Centre, Personal Safety from Community Police, health checks (Edinburgh Leisure), general advice (Age Scotland), Cooking on a budget (Barri Grubb) and energy savings advice.
Then ending the week the social offered an afternoon of dancing, bingo and a sing along with a museums outreach worker showing items worn to social events in the 50’s.
Local people were invited to enjoy all of the above with transport and lunch provided each day, funded through a grant received by the PCA.
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre
