Saturday 23 December – kick off 2pm
Christie Gillies Park, Marine Drive
Tag: Muirhouse Community Shop
Civil Service Strollers to organise foodbank collection
Saturday 23 December
Congratulations to our inspiring volunteers
Congratulations to all those nominees whose contributions were recognised at last night’s Inspiring Volunteering Achievement Awards at the City Chambers last night. Continue reading Congratulations to our inspiring volunteers
Share the Centipede Project’s Harvest Banquet
The Centipede Project would like to invite you to their Community Harvest Banquet
on Monday 12th October, 1-3pm
at the Old Kirk and Muirhouse Church.
The Centipede Project is celebrating local produce whilst creatively highlighting food poverty on Monday 12 October. An art installation incorporated into a Harvest Banquet will focus on facts about food poverty at the same time as celebrating traditions of grace and sharing of food from around the world.
Thanks to support from local organisations, a very special treat will be on offer for dessert!
Why not start the fun early?
We are running a FREE Porridge & Play session with Licketyspit Theatre Company, starting at North Edinburgh Arts at 10.30am, for ages 3-8 years with families.
From 11am you can join in with apple pressing and planting your own edibles (indoor activity) in the church, suitable for all ages. There will also be children’s workshops running during the meal.
Collect your FREE tickets from North Edinburgh Arts or Muirhouse Community Shop before they run out!
For more details go to www.centipedeproject.
So there IS such a thing as a free lunch!
A helping hand: MSP Colin joins Muirhouse volunteers
‘I am humbled by the generosity and humanity of the local community in reaching out to help those in need.’ – Colin Keir MSP
Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir joined volunteers at the Muirhouse Community Shop yesterday to help collect and sort donations of clothing for Syrian refugees.
Mr Keir said: “I was overwhelmed by the support for this initiative from the local community in Muirhouse. It shows that Muirhouse cares for the plight of Syrian refugees and as winter approaches these donations will be much appreciated by those in need.
“This is a great partnership between the local community, its community organisations and Edinburgh Direct Aid to provide some comfort to those refugees now living in very difficult conditions in refugee camps. Once again I am humbled by the generosity and humanity of the local community in reaching out to help those in need.”
The initiative was organised by Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse (TRIM), Muirhouse Community Shop, Pilton Youth & Children Project and Spartans. The donations were sorted by the volunteers before delivery to Edinburgh Direct Aid.
Community recipe book launched in Muirhouse
Cook & Taste is tried and tested – and temptingly tasty too!
It was a full house at Muirhouse Community Shop for the launch of Pilton Community Health Project’s brand new, hot-off-the-press Cook and Taste recipe book yesterday.
Customers, gourmets and curious guests packed the place out and the icing on the cake was a selection of songs from North Edinburgh’s very own Timebank Temptations.
Special mention to the star of the day Kai Crozier (who is 4 and a half). Wee Kai (below) was the Chief Taster during the preparation of the recipe book and yesterday added the role of Master of Ceremonies to his list of duties, keeping order during the speeches!
The recipe book is packed with recipes brought by local people to the shop for PCHP staff to cook with them – they are tried and tested, and they’re delicious! Pick up a free copy from the community shop or Pilton Community Health Project on Boswall Parkway, or download it at http://pchp.org.uk/resources/cook-and-taste-recipe-book
Some images:
There are more images on our Facebook page too …
#StrongerNorth campaign goes on display in Community Shop
Community Shop supports #StrongerNorth initiative
Information about the #StrongerNorth community safety initiative will go on display in Muirhouse Community Shop on Pennywell Road tomorrow and will be backed up by #StrongerNorth Monday sessions at the shop from next week.
Volunteers at Muirhouse Community Shop have created striking window displays to highlight a variety of different campaigns over recent months – Domestic Abuse, Environmental Services and the Independence Referendum have all been featured – and now #StrongerNorth will be in the spotlight.
Tenants organisation TRIM and Muirhouse Community shop is working closely with the #StrongerNorth team and will be welcoming key members of the team to the shop on Mondays from 19 January. Visitors can expect to meet local police officers, Total Craigroyston staff, the Stronger North Project Officer and members of North’s Community Safety team over the coming weeks.
A spokesperson for the community shop said: “We decide what we put in our shop window. We always feel it’s important that we keep it current and what a better way than to start with this? Stronger North was brought about after the residents told police and council we are fed up, things need to change and we want change now. A gold team was set up and meet often to discuss serious issues and a multiagency approach is being worked at. Things will not change overnight – Stronger North is still very new and with support from everyone we are confident it will make a big difference long term.”
For further information about #StrongerNorth call Fraser Sinclair on 529 5023, email stronger.north@edinburgh.gov.uk or visit the #StrongerNorth Facebook page.
Community Shop nominated for National Award
Council projects reach national awards finals
Muirhouse community shop, a £68m housing project in Moredun and a digital rehabilitation service have reached the finals in a national awards scheme.
The City of Edinburgh Council is also in the running for Council of the Year, after the projects were shortlisted as finalists in the Association for Public Excellence (APSE) Local Government Service Awards – one of only three local authorities in Scotland, and 10 in the UK, to be shortlisted.
The three Edinburgh projects are the Muirhouse Community Shop, the Moredun/Hyvots Bank regeneration scheme, and the Smarter Rehab Project.
Shortlisted for Best Public/Voluntary Partnership Initiative, the Muirhouse Community Shop shop was opened by the local community following the closure of Scotmid – the area’s last remaining supermarket – last Spring. Supported by the council, the shop was the brainchild of Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse (TRIM) and local charity Muirhouse Link Up, and it’s gone from strength to strength: run by enthusiastic volunteers, it’s become a community hub.
The Smarter Rehab Project has reached the final in both the Best Health and Wellbeing Initiative and Best Information Technology and Communications Initiative categories, and is believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland.
Occupational therapists work with people who are recovering after a stroke, using digital technology such as smart phones and iPads to do ordinary activities, such as connecting with friends and shopping. The aim is to enable individuals to improve independence and quality of life, and to compensate for long-term impairment.
The Moredun/Hyvots Bank regeneration has been shortlisted for Best Housing and Regeneration Initiative. A ten year commitment to the area by the City of Edinburgh Council, Dunedin Canmore Housing and the community has seen a rundown area transformed into a desirable place in which residents have a sense of pride.
A total of £68m was spent replacing 200 sub-standard properties with 441 new houses, 371 refurbished homes and a community park by the Council and Dunedin Canmore Housing.
Council Leader Councillor Andrew Burns said: “It’s a great achievement for Edinburgh to have so many finalists in this year’s APSE awards. Despite increasing pressure on budgets and resources, our frontline services continue to ensure that the city’s residents are well cared for and looked after.
“I would like to congratulate all staff across the Council for their hard work and dedication to providing excellent services for residents which have led to these nominations.”
Robert Pearson, who volunteers as the Community Shop manager, said: “I was surprised, shocked but exceptionally pleased to be nominated for a national award, it is fantastic.
“The shop has gone from strength to strength and there just seems to be no stopping it just now. The shop is run day to day by volunteers and it really wouldn’t’t be possible without them.
“When you ask people across the UK what they think of Muirhouse in Edinburgh, it would probably be a negative comment. There’s a lot of positive things happening and it’s important to get that out there.”
The winners were announced at a ceremony in Nottingham last night – sadly Muirhouse didn’t win, but a worthy nomination anyway!
From Muirhouse to Gaza
Muirhouse Community Shop is collecting toys for children in the Middle East as part of Edinburgh’s Toy Drive to Gaza initiative.
The events of the last few weeks have shocked the world, and it seems world leaders can do nothing to halt the killing and suffering. Now ordinary people are being urged to do what they can to support the population of Gaza in practical ways – and the Toys to Gaza initiative is one way in which the lives of Palestinian children can be made at least wee bit brighter.
Muirhouse Community Shop is looking for donations of toys which will be placed in a container and sent to Gaza at the end of August. In particular, they need:
Soft Toys
Balls of all kinds and sizes.
Skipping ropes, hula hoops.
Dolls clothes
Board Games
Building Blocks (Lego etc)
Toy animals
Drawing books
All art materials
Craft Material
Please don’t hand in other types of toy – the above items are easily packed, take up limited space, require no batteries and can be used for years.
Can you help? Please bring your donations to:
Muirhouse Community Shop
57 Pennywell Road
Open: Monday to Friday 9am till 3pm
www.worldbulletin.net
Edible Edinburgh food plan served up in Muirhouse
Local growers, food groups, community gardeners and volunteers fashioned up a feast to celebrate the unveiling of the Edible Edinburgh Sustainable Food City Plan at Muirhouse Community Shop on Pennywell Road yesterday.
Developed in consultation with the public, the food plan aims to motivate Edinburgh to develop a healthy and sustainable approach to food, one which will bring social, economic and environmental benefits to the whole community – latest figures show that over two thirds of people across the Lothians eat less than the recommended five portions of fruit and veg a day.
The six-year plan is based on feedback from the public and outlines six distinct themes which need to be addressed in order to achieve its vision of Edinburgh as a sustainable food city. These are: Health and wellbeing, Land use, Environment, Buying food, Economy and Cultural change.
A series of actions have been set out within each theme in order to work towards key outcomes, including more fresh and healthy food eaten, fewer people living in food poverty, the protection of our natural environment and a thriving local food economy.
Efforts will be coordinated by Edible Edinburgh, a cross-sector steering group from the public, private and third sectors, including City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian.
City of Edinburgh Council’s Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, who chairs the Edible Edinburgh steering group, welcomed the launch of the plan.
She said: “We are proud to be launching this plan in collaboration with our partners, who have worked with the public to ensure our vision and targets are realistic and relevant for achieving a sustainable food city for all.
“Food is central for everyone in Edinburgh, and there are a great many groups who work tirelessly towards a greener, fairer and healthier city. By building on their efforts we are determined to expand this enthusiasm to residents across the capital.”
Dr Margaret Douglas, consultant in public health medicine with NHS Lothian, added: “Edible Edinburgh’s vision is of ‘a city where good food is available for all.’ Healthy affordable food is essential for good health but for too many this is not yet a reality. Projects like Pilton Community Gardeners are showing the way by involving local people in growing healthy food and improving the local environment.
“We need change at many levels if the causes of diet-related ill health are to be tackled. Partnerships like Edible Edinburgh can help coordinate public, private, voluntary and community sector action to push for a fairer food city.”
Iain Stewart, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Community Food, said: “Community food groups play a vital role in addressing inequalities by getting local people involved in making good food available locally. At Edinburgh Community Food we support this effort by providing food and health promotion sessions and supplying food projects throughout the city with a range of healthy affordable food products.”
