Mela’s G-Code crew launch album

Edinburgh Mela is based at North Edinburgh Arts Centre, and the organisation has been working with young people in North Edinburgh on various projects that were first performed at the Mela festival in September. The Mela’s G-Code project has been running on Thursday evenings, working with young local musicians on developing new music.

The G-Code project has flourished over the past few months with the young people taking part in a variety of performances including performing alongside Tinderbox Orchestra at the Dalai Lama’s World Peace event.

The participants also wrote and produced two tracks – ‘Inner Peace’ and ‘Journey’ – and the young musicians showcased their musical achievements at North Edinburgh Arts Centre last Friday where they hosted an album launch, music event and exhibition before being interviewed by young people from Muirhouse Youth Development Group.

For more information about the Mela G-Code project contact Angela on 0131 315 2151.

Lean on Me: North Edinburgh Time Bank launches this Thursday

North Edinburgh Time Bank will be launched in song by the Time Bank’s very own choir at North Edinburgh Arts Centre this Thursday evening – and everyone’s invited! 

Time banking is a scheme where people earn time credits for every hour they spend helping someone in their community. People sign up and offer whatever skill, knowledge and experience they have – from doing DIY to teaching guitar – and in return they get help for what they need from other members.  The North Edinburgh Time Bank has been up and running since May 2012 and has 13 members to date.

Julie Smith, the time bank broker who co-ordinates the project explained: “It’s a simple idea which people really get into. We don’t all have cash, but we all do have time – and what we do with that time can be extremely valuable to others and our communities. Time Banking uses time as a means of exchange instead of money. So, for every hour you spend say, helping someone move house, you get the equivalent in time credits. Which you can then exchange for a favour from someone else – or donate to someone else who might need a hand. Timebanking says, look, we all need someone to do wee things for us at different times in our lives. And we all want to be useful and help other folk out. This scheme lets people be useful and puts them in touch with folk who can help them when needed.”

One of the first people to join was local mum Karma Lennon, who said: “It’s not always easy to get to know folk, especially if you’re new in the area. A time bank is a way of folk getting to know their neighbours – of trusting the people around you. I got help  with my garden – we discovered  a hawthorn tree growing in it which I didn’t know was there!”

Jan Moore is another timebank member, and also the volunteer administrative worker with North Edinburgh Time Bank. She says: “It’s really easy to feel useless because you’re not in a job that pays well, or you’re looking after people, or you’ve been ill yourself. You can feel you’ve got nothing to offer. Time Bank is brilliant because it clearly says everyone has something to offer. If you can offer company to someone for an hour, help someone fill in a form – be a good listener –  we are all valuable to our communities. And we’ve formed a timebank choir to get the message out there in song – so come along to the launch and hear our anthem!”

How can you resist?

Thursday October 11

6pm – 8pm

North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court Edinburgh

And as the great Sir Cliff Richard himself may just have sung: ‘Congratulations!’

A Moment of Peace Day

A Moment of Peace Day 

Sister Anne from St Pauls RC Church Muirhouse and Centipede Project are delighted to welcome everyone in North Edinburgh to “A Moment of Peace Day.” Sister Anne has put a lot of time and effort in to arranging this in conjunction with the Centipede Project; she is someone who is passionate about North Edinburgh and how the community coming together can make a big difference. 

Date for the Diary: “A Moment of Peace Day” 

Tuesday 9th October 10. 30am – 2.30pm 

North Edinburgh Arts – 15a Pennywell Court 

Free snack lunch will be provided

 All Welcome

Sister Anne is hoping that people will take a few hours out their busy lives and join her and others in a calm environment for a while. This free event will have meditation sessions as well a fun aspect with Laughing Yoga and more.

Why not come along to this fantastic event and enjoy the calm environment? You can either join us all for the full event 10.30am – 2.30pm or stay for as long as you like.

Sister Anne would like to thank the Centipede Project for their support, for more information on the Centipede Project visit www.centipedeproject.co.uk or email centipedeproject@gmail.com

Robert Pearson

Muirhouse Million Steps

Almost four hundred local people took part in Friday’s Muirhouse Million Steps event. Local schools were well represented on the walk, which was also supported by Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir.

And did those marching feet make the magical million milestone? We’ll have to wait until next week to find out! Event organiser Lisa Arnott, Pilton Community Health Project’s Healthy Lifestyles coordinator, has promised to be in touch soon.

Some photographs of the event:

Young filmmakers SEE for themselves

Short films produced by local schoolchildren through the Cashback for Creativity initiative were premiered at North Edinburgh Arts Centre last night, and both ‘Danny’ and ‘The Clock Strikes Fate’ were real quality productions.

Participants from Broughton High School, CORE, Pilton Youth and Children’s Project and Muirhouse Youth Development Group worked with professionals from Pilton-based Screen Education Edinburgh to produce the two short films, with the young people were involved at every stage of the process – from script writing and finding locations to acting, selecting soundtracks and editing. The young filmmakers discovered that an awful lot of preparation and hard work goes into creating even a short film, but their efforts were richly rewarded with two fine short films.

Introducing the films, SEE project manager James McKenzie said: “I think you will agree that these films are remarkable, given that most of the young people involved had no experience of filmmaking. I am sure they will be very proud when they see what they have produced – these are excellent films”.

Danny dealt with the issue of schizophrenia in an unusually entertaining way, while ‘The Clock Strikes Fate’ was a silent movie, simple yet touching.

In a question and answer session with SEE engagement officer Neil Rolland after the screenings, the filmmakers were unanimous in saying that they had learned a lot from the process and all expressed a wish to go on to make more movies.

Kyle Fitzpatrick said: “I thought to begin with I would only be acting but we all got involved in lots of different aspects, things we hadn’t thought we would be doing – for me it was using film cameras, for example. It was a great experience and we learned a lot over the course of producing the films. This was the first time we’d seen the finished films and I think they look pretty good!”

The films will now be entered into film festivals and will appear on SEE’s website – www.screen-ed.org – sometime soon. The young filmmakers will also get their wish for more opportunities to male movies – Screen Education Edinburgh plan to set up a North Edinburgh Young People’s Film Group in the not too distant future. So you never know, Danny Two – the full length sequel?

Cashback for Creativity film premieres next week

Criminal profits have been put to good use with the launch of two short films created by local young people. Screen Education Edinburgh (SEE) (formerly Pilton Video) will be screening ‘Danny’ and ‘The Clock Strikes Fate’ at North Edinburgh Arts Centre on Tuesday 18 September at 6.30pm.

SEE worked with young people from the outset on the projects which were made possible through funding from the Cashback for Creativity programme, a fund which takes cash confiscated from criminals and ploughs the money back into the communities they prey upon.

Cashback for Creativity (formally Creative Identities) is Creative Scotland’s programme that provides young people across Scotland with access to high quality dance, film and music activities, funded by the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities programme which reinvests the proceeds of crime back into communities to benefit Scotland’s young people.

As part of the scheme, Screen Education Edinburgh are running an intensive programme of short film making for young people aged 12- 19 across the City of Edinburgh, with priority given to those living in areas of deprivation.

In North Edinburgh, a series of taster workshops took place in partnership with Broughton High School, Community Organisation for Race Equality, Muirhouse Youth Development Group and Pilton Youth and Children’s Project, leading to the most interested young people moving forward to form a core filmmaking group based at SEE. Learning the skills of screenwriting, acting, camera, sound and editing, the group have completed two short film’s ‘Danny’ and ‘When The Clock Strikes Fate’.

The two films will be premiered on Tuesday 18th September at 6.30pm at North Edinburgh Arts Centre to an audience that will include the cast and crew, their families and friends, invited guests and members of the public. The event will also feature a ‘making of’ documentary and a question and answer session with the young people involved followed by a small reception.

Seats are free and available on a first come, first served basis; so turn up early on the night to guarantee a seat!

SEE’s Creative Manager Graham Fitzpatrick said: “The project was a fantastic opportunity for North Edinburgh youngsters to learn how to make films, with two outstanding and mature dramas being produced. We look forward to the premiere and supporting the group as they build on the experience to produce more shorts, whilst the programme also rolls out to East and West Edinburgh from now until Christmas.”

North Edinburgh Theatre’s back!

Hello all wonderful North Edinburgh Theatre folk,

This is just a wee reminder [as if you need it!] that we start Workshops again at North Edinburgh Arts this Friday 14th September 6 – 8pm. and next Saturday 22nd September 12 noon – 2pm. We shall meet every other Friday and every other Saturday so that everyone can come to the Workshops according to their commitments. There will be a crèche for every Workshop, but please make sure you book it with Sandra beforehand 0131 315 2152 and admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk

We have so much to talk about, so much fun to have, so many plans to make, so much theatre to create – YIPPEE  I am really looking forward to working with you all again. We also have some new participants to welcome!

Please let me know which Workshops you want to come to – Fridays and/or Saturdays. Of course you can come to both, we shall be covering the same material at the Friday and Saturday Workshops but you always create different work, so it will be really interesting.

In the meantime, if you have any questions please just get in touch. For those folk who do not have internet, please can you make sure they know what’s happening? I will also post this on Facebook.
Take care and see you soon!

Stephanie Knight
North Edinburgh Theatre project

World Premiere coming soon to North Edinburgh Arts

In their first Scottish Tour since, ‘Tonight Sandy Grierson will Lecture, Dance and BoxGreyscale are delighted to present Sylvia Dow’s ‘A Beginning, A Middle and An End’ to North Edinburgh Arts Centre on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 September.

Commissioned with the support of Creative Scotland, Glasgow University and Fenton Arts Trust and produced in association with Stellar Quines, this is the world premiere of Sylvia Dow’s first play.

A beginning, a middle and an end, that’s how things go, provided you start in the right place.

For Evelyn and Ade time passes; sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes all at once, but always away from what was and relentlessly towards what will be. 

Their little family of two, of four, of three, of one, not necessarily in that order, travels together towards a new beginning, or an old ending. Or both. Only time will tell.”

For further information and ticket availability go to North Edinburgh Arts website at: www.northedinburgharts.co.uk/events.php

New course for North Edinburgh Womens Group

North Edinburgh Women’s Group resumes next Wednesday (12 September) from 9.30 – 11.30am in North Edinburgh Arts Centre and new members would be very welcome!

Want to feel more confident about getting your point across, and dealing with difficult situations? Like to meet new people, learn new skills and get support to tackle the issues that matter to you? Come along to the Group or call Sarah on 552 5700 for more information.

Refreshments are provided and there’s a free crèche too!

North Edinburgh Arts to host employability event

North Edinburgh Arts Centre is to host a major Employability event later this month. Organised by Forth Neighbourhood Partnership, ‘Employability in Forth’ follows on from a successful event held at Edinburgh’s Telford College which looked at local employability issues and initiatives.
Employability in Forth
Tuesday 18 September  2012
10.30am – 12.30 followed by buffet  lunch
North Edinburgh Arts  Centre
15a Pennywell  Court
Following  the Employment Networking Event held  at Edinburgh’s Telford College earlier this year  we would like to invite you to a follow up session.
A final programme for  the date will be sent out soon but will include:
  • An update on progress on Edinburgh’s Employability Service from the Council’s Employability and Skills team.
  • A presentation from Stevenson College and Community Renewal on how the new Integrated Employment Service (Hub) will impact on Forth.
  • Reflection on the discussion at the networking event and further discussion on the best way of addressing employability issues in Forth.
    A summary of  the findings from the Telford College event:

    Summary of discussion at networking event

     Youth Employment 16-19 – How can we help improve the number of young people going into employment and other positive destinations? 

    City wide and National issues

    • Need to increase training capacity across the city
    • Need to look at incentives to take on a young person (converting benefits into wage subsidy?). SDS Employer Recruitment Incentive relevant here.
    • More Modern Apprenticeships.
    • Fund projects that get people directly into jobs.
    • 21st century homes programme should include employability initiatives and apprenticeships, build into the master planning process at an early stage

    Schools and youth agencies

    • Need more vocational courses built into schools and make them on par with academic routes.
    • Increase Careers advice in schools – time spent per pupil
    • Make sure school leavers are aware of choices.
    • Increase opportunities for part time work at schools.
    • Improve links between schools and outside agencies.
    • Need to engage with 12/13 year olds before they become disaffected.
    • Bring local people into schools, including slightly older young people in the job market to “tell it like it is”.
    • High drop out rate of young people from the educational system in the area – need a partnership approach to this
    • Stronger links with local youth agencies
    • Early intervention – teach employability skills in Youth Centres. 

    Mentoring/Attitudes/ Presentation Skills

    • Need to look at building the work ethic and correct attitude to work
    • There are jobs are available – young people need relevant skills and attitude.
    • Most vulnerable have challenges in interview presentation, personal confidence/appearance. Can we make preparing for a work interview a more viable option – Interviewing makeover programme designed and delivered by partners & College.
    • Recognise the value of activity that is not directly job related.
    • Confidence building is the key skill needed to address this issue – e.g. Duke of Edinburgh awards
    • Mentoring and 1 to 1 work makes the difference with young people likely to fail. Can we get higher profile on this? Is there a link with Forth Voluntary Sector forum that could be scaled up – possibly part of TOTAL PLACE project?

    Business Links

    • Involve small businesses.
    • Need strong and sustained links to the business community.
    • Opportunities for local jobs – where are the employers? They need to be part of any action plan, and contribute to better outcomes. Care Sector will have openings locally but perhaps more suited to 20+.
    • Refocus work of SBC – excellent example of recent school projects

    Training/Support

    • Consider putting in place here an innovative supported one stop, integrated accommodation/training /support model for young people Ref Aberdeen Foyer model.
    • Improve links with Telford College Construction faculty
    • More pre-vocational courses needed
    • Use innovative ways of engaging. Community Renewal use informal “ pizza night” approach to inform young people of opportunities

    Strategy/Processes

    • Need a clear strategy for what we want to achieve. Identify who are the key local partners who can actively contribute as part of solution, and stakeholders – these are both important but different things.
    • Need specific statson the scale of this problem in North Edinburgh? E.g. we know that Craigroyston has lowest qualifications, but are we clear which aspects/priority group we need to target – the farthest away from employment, or those who need better direction and are closest to it?
    • Review how we measure and monitor outcomes for longer term benefits
    • Simplify the process and make it clearer to understand for young people and their families

    Employment of those in 20 plus age group: What can we do to help this group into employment?

    City wide and National issues

    • Get more support from large public employers – Council/NHS.
    • Job Centre Plus should be integral member of this partnership – they have new programmes many of us were unaware of and we can join up on how we promote: e.g. work experience programme.
    • More potential for employers to pay a wage for work placements
    • Simplify the process of taking short term and part time work (benefit issues). Allow people to continue on benefits whilst they take part in work experience. If a full time student there are rents/ benefits issues

    Business Links

    • Can SMEs help?
    • How can employers tap into these young people who have successfully come through training and/or work experience

    Training/Support 

    • Improve training in IT Skills.
    • Need to increase the opportunities available – limited support for over 25s. Focussing on 16-19yr could be at expense of this group.
    • Use more Work based training – e.g. CLD Youth Work degree.
    • Provide funded access to learn driving as this opens up job opportunities and builds self-esteem , motivates (Birmingham project over 2 years provided mopeds+ driving test support, then passed mopeds on to next recruits) ; SQA have a qualification that provides evidence for theory test.
    • College is not for many of this group.
    • Difficult to get a second chance for training.
    • Most vulnerable of this age group need a programme similar to younger age group to move on from past errors. Many are parents so could be reached via the schools.

    Mentoring/Attitudes/ Presentation Skills

    • Need to look at role models for people (third generation unemployment, who do they look to?)
    • Home circumstances sometimes do not support a work ethic so how do we support them better
    • How do we apply the carrot and stick?
    • Ask people want they want or need.
    • Hopelessness is a key issue for this age group, but many have a family to support so can motivate, be a key driver, links to schools.
    • Get appropriate local people of this experience and age group to be part of the solution – get a voice.
    • Buddy programme for people from this age to mentor younger ones – need positive role models.
    • A key focus is how to help this age group keep jobs once they have them. 
    • Improve Money management skills – Financial literacy is now a huge issue for 3rd generation of unemployed in families
    • Literacy issues
    • Health issues – mental health issues still area of concern in area

    Other key focus areas – What other key issues could be addressed by partnership working?

    City wide and National issues

    • Different agencies having different geographies – eg Job Centres, Scottish Government.
    • Benefits Changes likely to be detrimental.
    • Community Jobs Scotland – can we do it here? Like S Lanarkshire Youth Jobs fund model, funding paid for local officer, working with a number of organisations to coordinate and direct.
    • Look at potential to include providing local employment opportunities as a part of planning process
    • Crime and anti social behaviour impacts on young people even when they are not directly involved – often as victims.

    Coordination

    • Is there duplication of services locally? So many organisations and short term initiatives makes it had to know what is going on. This gets in the way of joint working
    • Need to simplify structures, increase transparency, work more jointly on service (consortia) and think about longer term initiatives
    • Need to get better at sharing good practice and being open about ideas and services.
    • Strategic overview – planning what is needed in an area.
    • With so many services it is difficult to know who to refer to?
    • Encourage and reward Partnership working

    Funding

    • Danger that simplistic outcome-based funding can work against partnership approach
    • Promote /Develop a “common good fund” – based on £xx contribution from key partners to use for targeted interventions.
    • Important to note the impact of central cuts to funding of local employability projects
    • Short term funding leads to interruptions of planning process

    Information

    • Making sure that all partners have knowledge.
    • Need good labour market information – especially locally.
    • Join up guidance, information and advice locally – forum?
    • Use social media to engage with young people

    The way forward – What is the best way to address these issues locally?

    Structures/Processes 

    • A Forth Action Group supported but think membership should be reviewed- include service providers e.g. Chamber of Commerce, Community Renewal
    • A Forth Employment Action Group be useful but should focus on business and life skills
    • An Action Group could be useful for networking and co-ordination of services
    • Needs to have a clear purpose and have teeth and continuity and commitment.
    • Any Action Group needs a strong effective chair and secretarial support.
    • Meet say twice a year to review outcomes and progress, impact, gaps /next priorities, once groundwork established.
    • Involving local people in processes is important.
    • Short life working groups may be useful.
    • May be best to have a series of themed workshops/forums on issue we want to tackle – and also have 2/3 plenary meetings a year.
    • Cross agency meetings about particularly difficult young people/groups of young people – GIRFEC approach – could be useful.
    • Look at Gate 55 as an ideal model (?).

    Priorities/Issues

    • The initial focus could be on 16-19 year old group.
    • Need to look at how resources can be shared
    • Need to capture local knowledge and advocate for services needed by the community (evidenced approach)
    • Need to build relationships between organisations – joint training sessions around key issues.
    • Get Job Share involved in future activity. 
    • Get clients to come along and describe their experiences and identify flaws/opportunities.
    • Get Challenge Fund MCMC group involved in future activity.
    • Need a review of funding – a more strategic approach to make best use of funding
    • Look at an Action Plan

    Next Steps 

    • Hold a meeting to feedback on the issues raised at Networking event – to plan what action, who should be involved. Look to involve young people (Youth Forum/Parliament?) and employers.