Continue reading Students step up to rekindle memories in Muirhouse
New State Pension for millions of new pensioners
The ‘biggest reform of the State Pension since it was created more than a century ago’ is at the heart of a major package of reforms to tax, pensions and savings to help workers which is coming into effect today. Continue reading Dignity in retirement?
NEDAC, Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, Pilton Retreat, Granton Youth Centre … and now The Prentice Centre is the latest community organisation fighting for survival.
PUBLIC MEETING
THE PRENTICE CENTRE
1 GRANTON MAINS AVENUE
WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH, 7pm
The Prentice Centre is under threat of closure. Please come along to the public meeting and let local politicians know how you feel. All welcome.
West Granton Community Trust really needs community support – get along to the meeting if you can. See poster (below) for details.
Seconds out, round two: Battle lines drawn in leafy Cramond
The two opposing sides in a planning dispute are slugging it out in a social media battle for community support – and the bruising encounter’s taking place in genteel Cramond. Continue reading Cramond Action Group issues last ditch appeal
Scots are being urged to check on elderly relatives, friends and neighbours over the festive period
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited Age Scotland’s offices in Edinburgh yesterday and spoke to staff and volunteers who work on the Silver Line Scotland helpline for older people. Continue reading A caring Christmas
There’s always plenty of Christmas cheer at the Sunshine Club party!
The Sunshine Club extended their now customary annual invitation to the Loose Women to share their Christmas party – and party they did (writes James McGinty)! Continue reading Festive Sunshine at Muirhouse Millennium Centre
A charity which offers a lifeline of friendship to older people who live alone has launched its twelfth group in the Edinburgh area. Contact the Elderly runs free monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for those aged 75 and over who would otherwise have no-one to see and nowhere to go. Continue reading Contact the Elderly launches 12th Edinburgh group
Scotland’s 50+ health and wellbeing website Living it Up has joined the Scottish Government’s myaccount system. myaccount lets people across Scotland create a single and secure log in to use for many online public services … and Living it Up is now one of them. Continue reading Living It Up: you can account on us!
PILTON EQUALITIES PROJECT
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
MONDAY 16 NOVEMBER 11am – 12 noon
Pilton Equalities Project (PEP) welcomes nominations for membership of the Board of Directors from people who live in North Edinburgh and representatives of local organisations who have an interest in the work of the Project.
The maximum number of members of the Board is 11, with a majority of members being elected from groups or activities associated with the Project. If more than 11 nominations are received in time for the Annual General Meeting then there will be a vote at the AGM. A further 4 co-opted places will be available for those who have experience and/or skills which could be of assistance to the directors
Completed nomination forms must returned by Friday 13 November.
If you wish to stand for appointment at the 2014/15 Annual General Meeting of Pilton Equalities Project, please fill in the nomination form (below) and then sign it and return it to Pilton Equalities Project, 3 West Pilton Park, Edinburgh, EH4 4EL
Older Scots urged to ‘embrace the health benefits of poetry’ as new collection on ageing launched
Older Scots are being encouraged to embrace the health benefits of reading and writing poetry as an exclusive new collection of poetry on the theme of ageing is launched this month.
Released by independent charity the Saltire Society in partnership with the Scottish Poetry Library, Second Wind is a collection of almost 50 finely-crafted poems from award-winning Scottish writers Douglas Dunn, Vicki Feaver and Diana Hendry.
Wise, funny, cutting and honest, the poems collected in Second Wind seek to challenge false preconceptions about ageing and tackle a wide range of age-related themes including childhood memories, illness, retirement, absent friends and grandchildren.
Two special readings of the new collection by its authors will take place as part of Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing festival. Now in its fourth year, the Festival has a busy schedule of events running across Scotland throughout October. The first reading event for Second Wind (already sold out) takes place at the Saltire Society’s headquarters in Edinburgh on 15 October at 6.30pm and the second will be held at 6pm on 26 October at the Aberdeen Maritime Museum.
The Second Wind collection is launched as the most recent survey results from the Scottish Government show that the percentage of Scots aged 60-74 who read regularly for pleasure rose from 65% in 2009 to 73% in 2013, a higher percentage than any other age group.
Recent research from the Mental Health Foundation suggests that participation in cultural activities results in increased confidence and self-esteem among participants, and may help to improve long term cognitive functioning, communication, memory and creative thinking.
For those who would like to explore the Second Wind poems in more depth, the Scottish Poetry Library will also host two specially facilitated poetry reading groups in Edinburgh on Saturday 7 November at 11 am and 2pm. These events will be led by poet, tutor and former Scottish Book Trust Reader in Residence Kate Hendry, who is also the daughter of Second Wind contributor Diana Hendry.
Saltire Society Executive Director Jim Tough said: “There is a growing body of evidence to show that creativity in later life has real health benefits. What is more, this new collection of poems demonstrates just how much older writers have to offer. Hopefully, it will inspire many more from the older generation to get involved both in reading and writing poetry.”
Speaking on behalf of the Scottish Poetry Library, Director Robyn Marsack added: “The later work of artists – think of Beethoven, Matisse, Yeats – often shows their willingness to change direction, their maturity as artists combined with new insights. We’re delighted to have been able to provide the impetus for three poets whose undiminished poetic energy will strike a chord with many readers.”
