Tag: NENgage

Fast Forward praise for NENgage sessions

Leith-based national voluntary organisation Fast Forward has launched a new blog showcasing their range of projects across Scotland following participation in the recent NENgage social media workshops. 

Rona Saunders, Fast Forward’s communications officer, attended the NENgage sessions and has used learning from them to create the blog and embed short films. She said: “The NENgage sessions were good to meet like-minded individuals and learn new skills.  I’ve brought them back to our organisation and shared them with our staff.  It’s a great way for us to demonstrate the range of work we do with young people across the country.  It was super to attend free sessions locally to learn all the skills required.  Thanks very much to the whole NENgage team”.

Fast Forward is the national voluntary organisation promoting health by, with and for young people, focusing on the prevention of alcohol, drug and tobacco misuse.  The new blog features contributions from the whole staff team and features films and images from their sessions.  The active Fast Forward volunteer team of young people are also currently creating blog posts for future contributions.

You call follow the Fast Forward blog here: http://fastforwardorg.wordpress.com/ and there’s more info about the organisation at www.fastforward.org.uk

And thanks for the plug, Rona!

 

Local author to launch debut crime novel

Local author Marianne Wheelaghan (pictured above) is launching her debut crime novel, Food of Ghosts, on Thursday. Marianne, who also runs a successful B&B, was a volunteer helper at a NENgage social media session in Stockbridge Library last month, and she’s delighted to share her latest news with NEN readers:
“I’m launching my debut crime novel, Food of Ghosts, on 8 November at Blackwell’s Bookshop, South Bridge (6.30pm). The event is FREE but ticketed, the tickets are available from the front desk. What will happen on the 8th: there will be a strong Pacific theme and I’ll say why I set my first thriller on a small coral atoll as far away as you can get from Scotland before coming back again!
“There will be bubbly and the opportunity to ask questions – as well as the chance to win a signed copy of the book. Food of Ghosts is my second novel, the first being the best-selling novel, The Blue Suitcase, which is based on my mother’s true-life story and tells the remarkable story of a teenage girl growing up in Nazi Germany.”
A tempting appetizer!

Last chance to NENgage

The final NENgage social media session takes place at Stockbridge Library tomorrow evening from 5.45pm. This week’s topic is ‘The Joy of Stats’, and among the organisations signed up are Pilmeny Development Project, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Youth Forum and Edinburgh Womens Aid.

The session is free, but you do have to register. A handful of places are still available, but these are going fast so register NOW!

To register, and for full details of tomorrow’s programme, go to

http://nengage4.eventbrite.co.uk/

Final NENgage session this Thursday

The Joy of Stats!
In the final of our series of NENgage sessions we’ll be delving into the world of online data -looking at free tools and resources that community groups and local citizens can use to gather and present data in interesting ways. We’ll be showing you;
  1. How to create a simple online poll in WordPress or using Easy Poll.
  2. How to do a more detailed survey of opinions and feedback using Survey Monkey
  3. How to make an FOI request using the What Do They Know website
  4. How to present data online using free tools like Infogram or Many Eyes.
We’ll also have some great speakers, including journalistMichael MacLeod (former Guardian journalist, STV online reporter) and James Baster, a digital programmer with an interest in innovative community projects. James will be telling us about an exciting new open data project involving the city’s greenspaces.
We’ll also have a brainstorming sessionwhere you’ll have the chance to tell us about the kind of work you do, and we’ll come up with ideas for ways that you could use these tools to good effect for your projects.
As always, tickets are free, but you’ll need to reserve a place on our Eventbrite page. The session will start at 5:45 and runs until 7:30, with drinks in the Antiquary Bar afterwards.
Hope to see you there!

Poll on the proposed development of Edinburgh Academicals Rugby Ground

The planning application for the redevelopment of the Edinburgh Academicals Rugby Ground in Raeburn Place has now been submitted to the City Council. You can view the plans and illustrations either online via the Edinburgh Council Planning Portal or in person at Stockbridge Library.

We want to know what you think about the plans – do you think they should be approved or not?

[polldaddy poll=6646321]

This poll will be closed at 7:00pm on Thursday the 1st of November, and the results will be used as part of our NENgage session at Stockbridge Library that evening on collecting and using data. More details and free tickets for the event can be found here.

Lunchquest: food for thought

 

We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out in Edinburgh – even locally there a dozens of restaurants and cafes catering for all tastes and all pockets. Maybe there’s too much choice – and that’s where our friends at Lunchquest can help!

The Lunchquest blog, which has been established for over a year now, provides reviews of Edinburgh dining scene and it’s worth checking out before booking a meal – be it breakfast, lunch or an important celebratory dinner.

Lunchquest’s founders attended a recent NENgage social media session at Stockbridge library, and have kindly provided a review of a local cafe. To find out what Lunchquest reviewers made of Canonmills’ Circle Cafe, go to:

http://lunchquest.co.uk/2012/10/circle-cafe/

Free social media training for community groups in Inverleith – how to build an online community

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We’d like to invite community groups and active citizens in Inverleith to our fourth free NENgage training session next week, Building an Online Community. It’s a chance to learn how you can use social media to help promote your community projects, campaigns and causes.
 
Many people forget that in order to get the most out of social media, you have to be…well, sociable!
 
The most successful blogs, websites and social media users are the ones who interact, engage and respond to users, and who build up a loyal “digital community” around them. It’s an approach that can take a bit more work to start with, but which ultimately leads to a dynamic site where useful stories and ideas flow to you.
 
For this session, we have invited successful bloggers to speak about how they have managed to foster an online community; Phyllis Stephen, who set up and runs The Edinburgh Reporter website, and Alan McIntosh of The Spurtle. Tom Allan will also be talking about setting up the Edinburgh Innertube Map website, and Emily Dodd will be speaking about her experience as a blogger and volunteer for Greener Leith.
 
The session is aimed at community groups and active citizens in Inverleith, is being held at Stockbridge Library, from 5:45pm to 7:30pm on Thursday the 27th of September – with drinks in the Antiquary Bar afterwards. Please come along!
 
 

Sign up for NENgage this Thursday

Tom Allan and Emily Dodd will be hosting the third NENgage social media workshop in Stockbridge Library on Thursday from 5.45 – 7.30pm. The theme of this week’s session is video-blogging – and there are still a few places available.

As ever, the session is free but you so need to register. To do so, or to find out more, go to:

http://nengage3.eventbrite.co.uk/

Last week’s session was a lot of fun, with a mixed group of Inverleith bloggers old and new taking part. Such was the participants’ enthusiasm – maybe some bloggers don’t get out much! – that the session overran, and was continued in The Antiquary (thanks for that splendid buffet, incidentally!)

We’re hoping to post some of the articles written by our ‘NENgagers’ on the blog soon, but meantime you can get involved – sign up for NENgage this Thursday!

Jack and Jill Markets: 'where smart mums sell and save'

Local mums Pauline Macmillan and Cathy Uttley attended our very first NENgage session. They explain what their quality nearly-new baby and children’s market is all about:

Never more than in these challenging financial times have savvy mums and dads sought out innovative ways to make and save money, while providing the very best for their little ones. Jack and Jill Markets are a Not for Profit, Community Interest Organisation committed to helping families in their local community make and save money.  They are monthly markets aimed at children aged 0-9.

Cathy and Pauline explained: “While eBay and gumtree offer financially astute parents ways to buy and sell second-hand goods, they are not without their drawbacks.  Searching the internet for each individual item at the right price and in the right location is a time-consuming business and then you just have to hope that it arrives in acceptable condition.  Jack & Jill offers a welcome return to the old-fashioned shopping experience; shoppers can see and touch the goods and enjoy friendly service all in a vibrant atmosphere.  On the other side of the counter sellers get to see their kids nearly new items go to good homes while making some welcome cash – some have made over £500.”

When the women experienced their first market, they knew immediately they wanted to get involved. Pauline said: “With two young kids of my own, I immediately recognised the difference Jack & Jill could make to local parents.”

So when the opportunity to become Marketing & Events Managers for Edinburgh presented itself, the girls jumped at it!

As both Cathy and Pauline are full-time mums, they are delighted that their new roles offer the flexibility to manage their own business schedules alongside family commitments, and so far they are doing a great job.  At their first market as Managers, they welcomed an unprecedented 805 shoppers through the doors of Meadowbank Stadium.

Jack and Jill Market’s Pauline (left) and Cathy

Cathy added: “We really can’t stress what a fabulous initiative this is.  If you’ve got kids or grandkids, you can’t afford to miss our next market.  We are in Edinburgh on a monthly basis with 60 stalls bursting with brilliant bargains from cots, car seats and buggies to clothes, equipment and toys.  We’re really proud of what we’re doing with Jack & Jill”.

To sign up for market alerts to make sure you don’t miss out, visit their website: www.jackandjillmarket.co.uk

The next market takes place at Meadowbank Stadium on Sunday 23 September, Adults £1 entry, children free.

Jack and Jill Markets: ‘where smart mums sell and save’

Local mums Pauline Macmillan and Cathy Uttley attended our very first NENgage session. They explain what their quality nearly-new baby and children’s market is all about:

Never more than in these challenging financial times have savvy mums and dads sought out innovative ways to make and save money, while providing the very best for their little ones. Jack and Jill Markets are a Not for Profit, Community Interest Organisation committed to helping families in their local community make and save money.  They are monthly markets aimed at children aged 0-9.

Cathy and Pauline explained: “While eBay and gumtree offer financially astute parents ways to buy and sell second-hand goods, they are not without their drawbacks.  Searching the internet for each individual item at the right price and in the right location is a time-consuming business and then you just have to hope that it arrives in acceptable condition.  Jack & Jill offers a welcome return to the old-fashioned shopping experience; shoppers can see and touch the goods and enjoy friendly service all in a vibrant atmosphere.  On the other side of the counter sellers get to see their kids nearly new items go to good homes while making some welcome cash – some have made over £500.”

When the women experienced their first market, they knew immediately they wanted to get involved. Pauline said: “With two young kids of my own, I immediately recognised the difference Jack & Jill could make to local parents.”

So when the opportunity to become Marketing & Events Managers for Edinburgh presented itself, the girls jumped at it!

As both Cathy and Pauline are full-time mums, they are delighted that their new roles offer the flexibility to manage their own business schedules alongside family commitments, and so far they are doing a great job.  At their first market as Managers, they welcomed an unprecedented 805 shoppers through the doors of Meadowbank Stadium.

Jack and Jill Market’s Pauline (left) and Cathy

Cathy added: “We really can’t stress what a fabulous initiative this is.  If you’ve got kids or grandkids, you can’t afford to miss our next market.  We are in Edinburgh on a monthly basis with 60 stalls bursting with brilliant bargains from cots, car seats and buggies to clothes, equipment and toys.  We’re really proud of what we’re doing with Jack & Jill”.

To sign up for market alerts to make sure you don’t miss out, visit their website: www.jackandjillmarket.co.uk

The next market takes place at Meadowbank Stadium on Sunday 23 September, Adults £1 entry, children free.