Come along for a very festive morning with Christmas Carols and mince pies at the Centre!
We would love to see you for our last Tea & Toast and Golden Hour of the year! 
A huge thank you to EVOC and The Postcode Lottery who have funded all of these sessions this year.
Three Edinburgh projects were honoured at the Scottish Public Service Awards 2023 this week (December 6).
The awards, which are in their tenth year, are run by Holyrood Communications in partnership with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament to help celebrate the contribution of public servants.
Edinburgh’s response to supporting Ukrainian refugees was a standout of the evening winning two awards.
Edinburgh’s Warm Scots Welcome is a community and voluntary sector partnership which has helped welcome more than 11,000 Ukrainian refugees since the Russian invasion early last year.
The initiative, which was organised in collaboration between the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC) and Volunteer Edinburgh (VE), won the Voluntary Sector Partnership Award.
The Edinburgh Ukrainian Welcome Hub also won the Commercial Partnerships Award.
This was a partnership between the City of Edinburgh Council and NatWest Group/Royal Bank of Scotland which has supported Ukrainians arriving in Scotland by providing property and facilities management, opening bank accounts, raising aid, distributing donations, volunteering, running events, giving specialist expertise, and offering women and girls tech training and employment.
Approximately 3,000 Ukrainians (representing up to 900 households), currently reside in Edinburgh, with over 350 children and young people in our education system.
There was also a victory for the Integrated Regional Employability and Skills Programme (IRES), as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal programme, which took the Project and Programme Management Award.
IRES seeks to evolve regional labour market policy and practice to drive inclusive growth, promising to deliver an additional 14,700 skill improvements across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region and help 5,300 people into employment.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “I’m absolutely delighted to see the fantastic work in our city being recognised.
“Edinburgh’s solidarity and support for Ukraine and the Ukrainians who now call Edinburgh home is unwavering. These awards highlight the extensive partnership work between local government, third sector, private sector and other partners that has taken place across the city since the start of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine in February 2022.
“As we shift our focus from welcoming our Ukrainian guests to helping with settling into their new lives here in Edinburgh, this strength of partnership is as important as ever. I’d like to wholeheartedly thank all our partners and the people of Edinburgh for all their efforts.
“Employment, upskilling, and improving the working lives of our residents are also key priorities, and it’s great to see that these have been recognised in IRES’s award.”
Edinburgh is a five-time nominee for this year’s Scottish Public Service Awards. Now in their tenth year, the awards are run by Holyrood Communications in partnership with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament to help celebrate the contribution of public servants.
Capital-based nominees include Edinburgh’s Warm Scots Welcome, a community and voluntary sector partnership which has helped welcome more than 11,000 Ukrainian refugees since the Russian invasion early last year.
The initiative, which was organised in collaboration between the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC) and Volunteer Edinburgh (VE), is in the running for the Voluntary Sector Partnership Award.
Also nominated is the Edinburgh Ukrainian Welcome Hub, a partnership between the City of Edinburgh Council and the Royal Bank of Scotland which has supported Ukrainians arriving in Scotland by providing property and facilities management, opening bank accounts, raising aid, distributing donations, volunteering, running events, giving specialist expertise, and offering women and girls tech training and employment. The project is in the running for the Commercial Partnerships Award.
The City of Edinburgh Council-led Granton Waterfront Regeneration has also been shortlisted for this year’s Sustainability Award.
Led by the council, the plan involves working with partners to deliver a new and sustainable 20 minute neighbourhood community for Edinburgh. The regeneration is already underway and once complete, will feature around 3,500 new net zero carbon homes and business start- up space.
This is all within what will become Europe’s largest coastal park – with new and enhanced green spaces and opportunities for the creative arts, culture, and leisure, connected to the rest of the city by sustainable transport routes.
Welcoming the news Council Leader Cammy Day said: “We’ve been putting a huge amount of work and ambition into creating a better, greener, fairer future for residents so recognition like this – for how the Council and city partners are trailblazing in many areas of Scottish public service – is very welcome.
“For instance, the huge amount of change we’re seeing in Granton is creating an exciting and sustainable place to live, work, travel and have fun. It is fantastic to see it shortlisted for a sustainability award.
“It is also positive to see our efforts with partners to help those from Ukraine being recognised. These projects have allowed people to not only move to Scotland but put down roots. Our work with NatWest to help those fleeing war into work and study is one of three employability projects supported by the council to be nominated for an award.
“We face big decisions about how we address our housing and climate emergencies, and one of our biggest priorities is make sure those in our communities feel supported and welcome. All of these projects are successfully working towards that aim. I’d like to wish everyone involved in the very best of luck.”
Other council supported nominees include the Whole Family Equality Project, supported by the Capital City Partnership, which supports families from diverse ethnic backgrounds in Edinburgh to reach financial resilience, improved health and wellbeing, and positive participation in school life.
Delivered by Children 1st and CHAI and funded by the City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Government and Robertson Trust, the project empowers people to take leading roles in decision made about the project’s design and delivery and is nominated for the Championing Diversity and Inclusion Award.
The Integrated Regional Employability and Skills Programme (IRES) as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal programme, is also in the running for the Project and Programme Management Award.
The programme seeks to evolve regional labour market policy and practice to drive inclusive growth, promising to deliver deliver an additional 14,700 skill improvements across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region and help 5,300 people into employment.
The finalists will be announced on Wednesday 6 December.
Edinburgh’s Community Link Worker Network has been recognised for the work they do to tackle health inequalities in this year’s Scottish Health Awards.
The Network has been chosen as one of three finalists for the 2023 Tackling Health Inequalities award, highlighting the impact of the 24 community link workers (CLWs) who are helping improve the lives of people in some of the most deprived areas in the city.
Alison Leitch, Assistant Service Manager for the Network said: “We are delighted that the work of Edinburgh’s Community Link Worker Network has been recognised by this nomination for the Tackling Health Inequalities Award.
“Over the past five years the Community Link Workers havw shown their adaptability and commitment through the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.
“They have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people in the most need, building relationships and trust to focus on what matters to an individual, not what is the matter with them. As they concentrate on the activities that make the most difference to people and communities, both now and looking to the future, they continue to change lives for the better.”
The Network’s recently published annual review for 2022/23 illustrates the increasing impact that they are having in communities across the city and the real difference they are making for people facing a range of health inequalities.
Since 2018, Edinburgh’s CLWs have:
Last year alone, they also successfully applied for nearly £100,000 of crisis grants on behalf of patients, helping them pay for necessities such as bills, clothes, furniture, equipment and so much more.
Ian Brooke, Deputy Chief Executive of EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council) said: ‘I am so excited that Edinburgh’s Community Link Worker Network, which is funded by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, is one of the finalists for this award.
“It’s a real testament to the Edinburgh model of community link working, where all staff are employed by local voluntary organisations and therefore truly embedded in communities across the city. The 24 CLWs are delivering real, tangible action to reduce health inequalities for people in the city.”
The 24 CLWs cover 45 GP practices in Edinburgh and are employed by ten different voluntary sector organisations – Carr Gomm, Caring In Craigmillar, Community Renewal, Cyrenians, Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, Health All Round, Pilton Community Health Project, Penumbra, Space & Broomhouse Hub, The Health Agency.
The 2023 Scottish Health Awards will take place at the O2 Academy in Edinburgh on Thursday 2nd November.
Forth and Inverleith VSF on Sep 28, 2023 10:00 AM (Zoom link and agenda below)
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84343600722?pwd=V05yVHpPTnhLRGp0Wk1WTkhuMVhnUT09
Meeting ID: 843 4360 0722
Passcode: 801341
Agenda:
Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council (EVOC), Volunteer Edinburgh, The Welcoming Project, Feniks and the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain’s (AUGB) Edinburgh branch are sharing in more than £200,000 from the Scottish Government’s Ukraine Programme funding pot.
Migration Minister Emma Roddick said: “People all over Scotland, and particularly in Edinburgh, have welcomed those fleeing the war in Ukraine into their communities, their schools and workplaces and their homes.
“Third sector organisations have been at the heart of this warm welcome, supporting Ukrainians every step of the way. They have hosted English lessons, created social hubs and helped people to access local services.
“They have also showcased what can be achieved when national and local government, and the third sector work together, and this funding will help make sure this important partnership working continues.
“As we look ahead to the Independence Day of Ukraine, our message to Ukrainians remains clear: we stand with you, and we want Scotland to be your home for as long as you need it.”
The City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cammy Day said: “Third sector organisations here in Edinburgh have been a cornerstone of the partnership effort to support displaced Ukrainians over the last 18 months.
“I’m sure I speak on behalf of all colleagues when I say that they have made a real and tangible difference to the lives of the people who have fled their country following Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine.
“It is right and proper that these organisations are set to benefit from the Scottish Government’s Ukraine Programme funding.
“I have seen firsthand the difference that these organisations make in our communities across a wealth of different areas. From language classes to support with health and wellbeing to helping people into work and education and so much more their impact cannot be understated.
“I look forward to working closely with our third sector partners as we move forward in supporting our Ukrainian friends in the capital.”
Details of organisations outside Edinburgh receiving funding will be confirmed in due course.
Since it was announced that EVOC was to lead the drive to find a sustainable community-led future for the Gorgie City Farm site, extensive work has been going on behind the scenes to deliver on that goal.
The Gorgie Farm Site Steering Group have now appointed a Project Manager to help lead this work and look forward to Suzanne Campbell taking up the role from mid-July. Suzanne comes with extensive experience in service management with a particular focus on children, young people and families.
Suzanne Campbell (Project Manager) commented: “I am delighted to be appointed Project Manager of the Gorgie Farm Site Development and am looking forward to working with the Gorgie community, local organisations and a range of other stakeholders to develop a strong sustainable plan for the future of the site.
“The immeasurable passion, connection and impact Gorgie City Farm has had on people and the community is already clear to me and I cannot wait to capture more stories and get started.”
Cat Young will be working alongside Suzanne in the role of Partnership Facilitator, leading on participation and engagement for the project. Cat has a range of experiences to bring from her time working with Thrive Edinburgh – the innovative new strategy for improving the mental health and wellbeing of all citizens in Edinburgh.
Cat Young (Partnership Co-ordinator) said: “As a Gorgie resident I know first-hand how important this community-led project is and I look forward to working closely with Suzanne to continue the conversations that have already started around securing the site’s future.
“A key priority for the Steering Group is looking at ways to allow people to benefit from this green city space while the project develops. As a first step, Gorgie Farm Gardeners Group have been able to come back and start work on the gardens – bringing it back to life.”
In the meantime the Steering Group has been meeting monthly to to discuss operational and strategic matters. Working with Bridie Ashrowan, EVOC’s Chief Executive, they have been responding to offers of help and interest and building connections with both local and citywide organisations, businesses, and networks – particularly in Gorgie and Darly, where there is a long-standing network of local community organisations.
Bridie Ashrowan commented: “It has been a hugely busy couple of months managing a range of safety and maintenance issues on the Gorgie City Farm site, but the offers of help and levels of interest in the project have been really moving.
“Now that we have Suzanne and Cat on the team we can move onto the next phase of the project – they both have lots of experience helping people and communities to influence the design of community spaces and services, and will play a key role in working towards a sustainable and visionary future for the site.
“We are planning some engagement events for the local community to help do that and will share details of these very soon.”
Regular updates about the Gorgie City Farm site project are available on the EVOC website including a set of frequently asked questions.
LORD PROVOST RELAUNCHES EDINBURGH CITY VISION 2050
Edinburgh pupils and local business representatives came together to share their vision of what the capital city should look like in 2050.
Earlier this month, pupils from Granton, St David`s, Pirniehall, Forthview and Craigroyston Primary Schools joined pupils from Craigroyston, Broughton and Trinity Secondary Schools and representatives from Edinburgh businesses to share their ideas of what they expect and what needs to be done to make it happen before 2050.
2050 Edinburgh City Vision is a city-wide campaign beginning in 2016 and has heard from thousands of people. In 2020, the city developed four Vision Principles, shaped by over 22,000 responses to the public consultation – the largest such exercise ever undertaken by the Council.
The four 2050 Edinburgh City Vision principles are:
Fair: creating a more inclusive, affordable and connected city where opportunities are available to all and support is given to those who need it most
Pioneering: helping the local economy and society to prosper, leading the way in culture, data and business
Welcoming: striving to ensure Edinburgh’s citizens are happy, safe and healthy and that Edinburgh is a place where citizens belong and visitors are welcome; and
Thriving: delivering a low carbon, clean, green and sustainable city
While work continued to build on the campaign during covid, the event marked the beginning of fresh discussions across the city, with more events being planned.
Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said: “It was my pleasure to attend this celebratory event to remind us all about our shared Vision for Edinburgh.
“I was delighted to see so many people, particularly the number of young people, from our local schools, from Edinburgh College and our other universities, Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament alongside others who have played a part in making our 2050 Edinburgh City Vision a reality.
“Our 2050 City Vision builds from a position of strength. Edinburgh is a world-class city of international significance and can more than hold its own among the capitals of the world. It is, however, important that the benefits of that success are available to all of our citizens. A great city is one which commits to sharing success and improving the wellbeing and life experience of all its citizens.
“By 2050, our citizens want Edinburgh to be a city without barriers to achievement, where poverty has been eradicated and a good quality of life is a basic requirement enjoyed by all.
“Edinburgh should be Fair, and by that citizens told us that they wanted the city to be affordable, connected and inclusive. Edinburgh should be Thriving – green, sustainable, litter free. Citizens told us that they wish Edinburgh to be Pioneering with our local economy leading the way in culture, data and business.
“There was also a proud recognition that Edinburgh is a fantastic place in which to live, work, invest, study or to visit and that that Welcoming approach should be extended to ensure that all who live here are happy, safe and healthy.
“Whilst the pandemic prevented us from convening sooner, these values and principles are central to how we have acted as a city since the Vision was agreed.
“I look forward to more of these types of events speaking to the people of Edinburgh in the future. “
Bridie Ashrowan, Chief Executive of EVOC, said: “I was delighted to see so many children and young people, from local schools, from Edinburgh College and Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament, alongside many others who have played a part in making the 2050 Edinburgh City Vision a reality, at the Granton site of the College.
“We asked the children & young folk, and the adults present, to bring their imagination to bear, to help the public partners hear had what needs to be done to make the city vision happen before 2050.
“With their brilliant imagination in gear, the young people came up with the most fantastic ideas to present, and had no fear in raising their hands to speak to the Chief Executive of Edinburgh City Council about them.
“There was energy, optimism, and great practical and visionary ideas in the room, and huge talent – potential future employees of all the partners and young entrepreneurs!”
It is still possible for any Edinburgh bodies get to sign up to the 2050 Edinburgh Charter which will help keep the priorities of the City Vision firmly in view when making any decisions about future plans.
One of Edinburgh’s leading third and voluntary sector organisations is set to take forward plans to find a sustainable community-led future for the Gorgie City Farm site.
Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC) has agreed to manage a community-led project to find a possible solution, following discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council after the closure of the site last month.
EVOC is one of three partners that make up Edinburgh’s TSI (Third Sector Interface), helping to support and develop the city’s community and voluntary sector, with a role to develop robust solutions and approaches that underpin strong organisations.
Their role will not be to run the farm, but to work with local community, and all stakeholders. This will result in a stronger plan for Gorgie City Farm to re-open, with a strong sustainable plan for the future.
The first step will be for EVOC to bring together a Steering Group – expected to include representatives from the local voluntary sector, campaign groups, the local community and the Council – to work on identifying proposals that could secure its future.
The partnership Steering Group will start from the principle that it will bring together city experts in key respective fields, to support local volunteering through to organisations who have social enterprise aspirations, and connect these together.
Bridie Ashrowan, Chief Executive of EVOC, said: “We understand that Gorgie City Farm is very important to the Gorgie and the wider Edinburgh community, the many people who have visited, volunteered or worked there, and the City of Edinburgh Council.
EVOC has a long history of supporting community and voluntary organisations, helping them to get established, to grow and assess how to develop, and being the honest broker, to focus minds on the task ahead.
“We are committed to taking a community led approach to this project, learning from other successful collaborations in the City.
!We have no vested interest in the future of the Gorgie Farm site and will step back if and when a community-led partnership has been established, through the work of the steering group. This will lay the ground work for Gorgie Farm site having a fighting chance of long term viability.”
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “I’m delighted we’ve got EVOC on board for the Gorgie City Farm site as they have a proven track record in supporting local organisations that need expert advice. At the heart of the work they will be taking forward are options for a community-led, collaborative and financially sustainable future for the site.
“I want to thank everyone who has been working so hard both publicly and behind the scenes to find a solution. The work by the campaign groups, volunteers and other partners has been really impressive and shows the strength of feeling towards this valuable community asset which benefits all communities across the city.
“I’m sure the coming months will be exciting times as EVOC brings people, groups and organisations together to look at options for a sustainable future for the Gorgie City Farm site. I look forward to them presenting a sustainable vision for the future of Gorgie City Farm to the local community soon so everyone in the city can enjoy all it has to offer for years to come.”
This is a reminder for the Forth and Inverleith VSF:
Time: Feb 28, 2023 – 1:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87259379450?pwd=TVI0V2g1cjhZTjF0c04weldBMjk5UT09
Meeting ID: 872 5937 9450
Passcode: 543688
Agenda:
Kind regards,
Kate Barrett
Senior Development Officer – Community Planning
