Tag: inclusion

What can you use the internet for? A digital survey

What If…North Edinburgh? (WINE) is a programme run by First Port to support local people to develop social enterprises to create jobs and do something worthwhile in the community. Run by the manager, Julie Smith, it has assisted people over the last year to start up businesses doing sewing and tailoring, running markets and making crafts.

WINE offers workshops, training and discussions on various topics from ‘what is a social enterprise’ to managing your finances. It started a digital training course for local people just before lockdown, to include things like using social media, creating your own posters, how to sell online. That had to stop, but Julie is keen to offer training, this time online. She wants to know what would be useful for people.

“I got a really good tutor in from an organisation called Mhor Collective”, Julie explained. “They do a lot of work around what people want to learn, their motivation etc and don’t just have a set course they deliver. It’s tailored to people’s needs.

“Since lockdown, we’ve all seen how important having access to the internet it. But it’s hard if you can’t afford broadband or data – and if you have to share one tablet or phone between a whole family. I know a lot of people will have been doing home schooling too online, a very new thing for everybody!

“I’m doing a survey of people in north Edinburgh to find out what they’d like to learn to do, or do better using technology. We can then put on a course based on those needs. It’ll be great to build on the skills people already have and maybe identify some digital champions locally who can then go on to support others.”

The survey is straightforward and shouldn’t take too long.

“It’s important we get as many views from as many people as possible. If you need a paper copy of the survey, let me know. And pass it on to others!’’

The survey can be found online here WINE digital survey

If you have any questions about the survey or the other work WINE is doing, please contact Julie Smith: julie@firstport.org.uk or phone 07763 869 556.

Council under fire over ‘undemocratic’ process

Edinburgh campaigners are concerned about the way the Council is operating during the Covid crisis. So far there has been no action to set up accessible virtual meetings of the Council – and Edinburgh East Save Our Services argues that people want an immediate return to a more transparent decision-making process.

“Since mid-March the city council has changed its way of operating,” said Lorna Frost of Edinburgh East Save our Services. “Other organisations have already formulated guidelines for meetings and it is timely for our Council to rethink the way it proceeds during the Covid crisis.

“Our community group wanted to take these issues up with the Council but our attempt to ‘talk about it’ has been rebuffed. In addition, our councillors,  who are our elected representatives, have been told any issues they raise with a council officer must be virus-related, but we think the current crises across our city – in care homes, schools, Lothian Buses and regarding poverty and mental health – are all virus-related.

“It is crucial that the Council re-engages fully with the people of Edinburgh,  their elected representatives,  and voluntary groups immediately.

“Community councils should also be reactivated in a secure way. We need to work together to tackle the severe issues of poverty and inequality arising from the Covid-crisis.”

Edinburgh East Save Our Services emailed council leader Adam McVey on Wednesday:

Dear Convener McVey

We would appreciate clarification on governance concerns, particularly on the following matter.

We have read the minutes of the April EDC LAP meeting and our understanding of: ‘To note that the Chief Executive would report to the first meeting of the Policy and Sustainability Committee in May 2020 on potential options for holding meetings of Full Council‘ is that accessible/transparent meetings of the Council and its committees may or may not go ahead depending on the report of the Chief Executive  tomorrow.

Our opinion is that it is very important that the affairs of the city are conducted in an open way, particularly in this time of crisis, and we want to let the Council know this.From our reading of the minutes it seems this decision has not already been taken, but that it will be taken tomorrow, and that is why we wanted to influence this decision.

You are responsible for and entrusted with the wellbeing of the people of Edinburgh and we are disappointed with your response and also the lack of any additional explanation.

It seems very difficult for residents to interact with their local authority in a meaningful way, if at all.

Regards

Lorna Frost (for Edinburgh East Save our Services)

The campaigners also sent the following questions by email:

EESOS submission to EDC PSC 14/5/20

Edinburgh East Save our Services submits the following questions to the meeting of the Policy and Sustainability Committee on Thursday 14th May 2020 at 10am.

The questions relate to the Council’s Interim Political Management Arrangements for 2020 (item 4 Minute of the LAP 23/4/20)

Why have no measures been taken to set up accessible virtual meetings of the Council and its committees since mid-March ?

How long does the Council intend to continue proceeding in this way? ( The Scottish government has already formulated guidelines for meetings.)

Why have restrictions (namely that any issues should be virus- related) been put on our councillors (our elected representatives) raising issues with a council officer?

What exactly are the criteria which define virus-related?

Aren’t the current crises across Edinburgh, in care homes, schools, Lothian Buses, poverty, and mental health virus-related?

Lorna said: “In reply we were told that the council refused to accept our submission. Convener Mcvey says it does not meet the requirements of a deputation as it relates to a decision that was taken in April.

“This is an astonishing response since the decision was not taken through the council’s normal democratic processes.”

Better outcomes for children who need additional support

New tools to assist learners 

Councils and teachers are being given extra help to improve outcomes for young people with additional support needs.

The Scottish Government’s new guidance on mainstreaming provides clear, updated information to help decide the best learning environment for a young person. For the first time, it includes a Scottish definition of inclusion and practical guidance to deliver inclusion in schools. Continue reading Better outcomes for children who need additional support

Educate to Liberate: Local MSP backs plans for inclusive education

Ben Macpherson, SNP MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith has given his backing to proposals that will deliver a more inclusive education system by improving the experiences of LGBTI pupils. 

Continue reading Educate to Liberate: Local MSP backs plans for inclusive education

fashionABLE: platform soles?

AUTUMN FASHION SHOWCASE:  “fashionABLE” AT WAVERLEY STATION

CATWALK AT PLATFORM 2

Events run at 12.00 and 2.00pm on Friday 23 September

Stacy Paris 1

Coming up this month on the Scottish Fashion scene, “fashionABLE” – a new fashion event demonstrating that diversity in life does not mean exclusion from the catwalk and designs. Continue reading fashionABLE: platform soles?

Beach wheelchairs event at Porty this Saturday

wheelchairs
Portobello Beach Wheelchairs is a local community group which believes that everyone has the right to enjoy our beautiful beach. We are currently gathering public opinion and raising awareness of beach wheelchairs with the aim of raising funds to buy, store and maintain beach wheelchairs to be used by visitors to Portobello Beach.

Continue reading Beach wheelchairs event at Porty this Saturday

Creating a more inclusive community? That’s Positively Diverse!

PCHP_BME_INVITE

Is your group or organisation fully engaged with the BME community? Would you like to think about ways to do this more effectively?

Forth Neighbourhood Partnership and Pilton Community Health Project’s Living in Harmony Group are staging a Positively Diverse, a free one-day learning event for local workers to encourage and support them to think about how to include a more diverse section of the community in their activities.

The event takes place at

Spartans Community Football Academy at Ainslie Park

on Thursday 1 October from 10am – 3.30pm.

LIHlogo (2)

To book your place call PCHP on 551 1671 or email admin@pchp.org.uk

 

Edinburgh College stages epic event!

Every Person Counts: learning lessons on  inclusion from Cambodia

Epic Encounters1

A fully inclusive dance company from Cambodia featuring performers with various disabilities visited Edinburgh College last month to deliver a workshop and perform to the college’s dance students.

Epic Encounters is a group of talented dance and theatre performers from Cambodia, consisting of hearing-impaired, disabled and non-disabled performers. It is first and only fully inclusive dance company in South East Asia.

The company came to the college’s Performing Arts Studio Scotland​(PASS) to perform examples of its work that it uses to raise awareness of issues in Cambodia such as road safety, sexual health and child protection to PASS students and staff.

The performers also led an inclusive movement workshop based on their performances and the company motto of Epic Arts – Every Person Counts.

They performed a thought-provoking piece called Come Back Brighter, about the effect of the Khmer Rouge Regime on the artists of Cambodia and the current explosion of creativity sweeping the country. The performance also included a mini sign language lesson and life story from one of the performers.

The Epic Encounters team tours nationally and internationally, creating and performing educational theatre and dance performances. It mixes traditional Khmer dance and contemporary physical theatre techniques to inspire, raise awareness and educate.

Epic Encounters is a social enterprise from Epic Arts Kampot. Epic Arts is an international NGO that works to raise the aspirations of disabled and non-disabled Cambodians through arts-based education, community and social businesses such as the dance company, which is a valuable source of sustainable income for the charity Epic Encounters visited the college as the final stop on a UK tour of performances, workshops and talks.Ethelinda Lashley, a dance lecturer at PASS, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn from dancers from a very different background and to understand and appreciate the importance of diversity and inclusivity in dance. Our students are encouraged to appreciate dance within a social and cultural context and explore this through their work.”

Susan Inglis, equalities, policy and research manager for the college, said: “The performance by Epic Arts from Cambodia was most impressive and inspirational.

“The dance team should be congratulated for bringing this highly skilled and energetic inclusive dance group to the college. They demonstrated vividly their commitment to a world where every person counts, and where people with disabilities are valued, accepted and respected.”

EdCollege