This week we’re all about #community tourism. Join us throughout the week for conversations, videos and podcasts.
Check out our programme here:
https://senscot.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/programme-with-links.pdf
Older people’s care charity delivering fun and free online community sessions
LifeCare Edinburgh is inviting local people to sign up to take part in its varied calendar of virtual community events.
Funded in partnership with Inverleith Neighbourhood Network, Foundation Scotland and The TOR Foundation locals can take part for free. Events include history talks, quizzes, conversation groups discussing current affairs and special events such as the recent private virtual visit to Edinburgh Zoo.
The renowned local charity offers registered care, outreach activities and help at home services for older people living across the North of the city.
Established in 1941, the organisation supports over 800 elderly clients a year including those suffering with dementia, mobility issues, those experiencing isolation and loneliness, food poverty, mental health problems and support for carers.
The charity usually delivers its calendar of community events in-person at the LifeCare Centre on Cheyne Street, however organisers set up the sessions through Zoom in response to the pandemic.
LifeCare understands that some people need a little encouragement and support to get started using Zoom. Organisers therefore offer free, safely delivered one-to-one support for individuals to get started with the IT platform ensuring they have the skills and confidence to use technology to be part of their community.
Aleks Pacula, LifeCare’s Community Engagement Facilitator said “We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to continue our successful calendar of events across the last year – we have more people signed up than ever before.
“Shifting the delivery from in-person to Zoom had a few challenges at first but everyone is very much enjoying it now and it’s allowing more people to take part. We all look forward to the sessions – it gives us a chance to catch up with each other safely, see a friendly face, have some fun together and learn new things about where we live.
“We’ve received a lot of feedback telling us that the talks bring back fond memories and give people the opportunity to share life-experiences with others. Our free tutorials helping people to use Zoom for the first time have been very popular.
“I know our regulars found the help really useful at the start and they are unstoppable now! We regularly update our calendar of events online so visit the LifeCare website to find out more and get involved.”
The charity has already announced a few highlights to look forward to across the summer.
In addition to their usual weekly schedule of events they will be hosting “Lothian castles on film” by Anne Daly on Tuesday 29th June at 3pm, “The visit of George IV to Scotland in 1822” by Eric Melvin on Tuesday 27th July at 3pm and “Greek inscriptions in Edinburgh” by Ian McHaffie on Tuesday 24th August at 3pm.
Gavin Barrie, Chair of Inverleith Neighbourhood Network said “We are extremely pleased to hear about the success of LifeCare’s Community Engagement Project.
“The important project reaches out to some who may be suffering isolation in our community. The programme demonstrates all that is good when various arms of our community pull together to assist those in need of support. We were delighted to help LifeCare achieve its aims of engaging with local members of our community.”
Beverley Francis, Chair of LifeCare said “A huge thanks to our generous funders for enabling LifeCare to continue to deliver and grow our important calendar of community engagement activities.
“These events deliver huge benefits to those in our communities in normal times, but they are even more important through the current time. Activities are designed to keep people connected, give something to look forward to and to provide something stimulating for health and wellbeing needs. We are encouraging anyone that is interested to get in touch to find out more.”
LifeCare Edinburgh is a registered charity and relies on the support of its funders. Key relationships include Barclays, The TOR Foundation, Foundation Scotland, Tesco Bank and all the many local people who take part in community fundraising events.
For more information visit https://www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk/lifecare-space/whats-on/
Are you a resident in Edinburgh? Would you like to take part in a project by telling us about your experience of the Covid-19 pandemic?
Researchers at the University are looking for participants to take part in their project Lothian Lockdown Diaries, which aims to find out how Covid-19 has impacted people living in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
The Walled Garden is reopening to the public this weekend!
The garden is coming into bloom and bursting into life and we would like to welcome the public back to this little haven. We will be opening our doors to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, 2 to 4PM, from 8th May.
Our enthusiastic team of volunteers and trustees have been hard at work preparing the garden for the coming year and we are investigating ways to restore our valued, historic structures. We have plenty of ideas for the garden, so many thanks to our supporters and funding bodies. When visiting the garden, we will have our donations box at the entrance, please feel free to support us if you wish so.
We are putting in place a one-way system and will have sanitising gel available to make our walled garden a safe, green, space to come and enjoy the open air.
Volunteers and staff will be on hand to answer questions and tell you about the exciting past, present and future of one of Edinburgh’s oldest walled market gardens.
Development Officer Appointment
The Friends have appointed their first Development Officer!
Georgia Forsyth Sijpestijn has worked and volunteered in north Edinburgh for almost a decade and is excited to have started last month. With a background in community gardening, organic farming and communications, we welcome her to the new role.
She will be on hand to answer any questions, manage social media and communications. You can find her most days in our Bothy, so please do come say hello!
AGM Date Set
We are holding our AGM online, open to all members for voting on 26th May at 5:30PM.
More details will follow but please get in touch if you would like to become a member of the charity or renew your membership and have your say in what goes on.
We are always growing and exploring new ideas, so please email us at grantongarden@gmail.com to request a membership form and sign up for free
Opening Hours for Visitors
2 – 4pm Saturday and Sunday.
Our Volunteer Hours
Please contact us through our Facebook, email or Volunteer Edinburgh to sign up.
11am – 1pm: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
· The NSPCC has recruited 15 young people from around the UK aged 13 to 16 to become part of a new Young People’s Board for Change
· The board gives young people the opportunity to have a say on what matters most to them to influence the work by the UK’s leading child protection charity
· Fourteen-year-old Rachel, from Angus, was selected for the board after her work on anti-bullying campaign ‘think b4 you type’
Young people have the opportunity to play a defining role in the NSPCC’s mission to prevent child abuse, with the launch of a new group.
The Young People’s Board for Change has been launched to give young people the chance to shape and influence the work of the UK’s leading child protection charity – and is a vital part of the NSPCC’s commitment to ensuring they are right at the heart of its decision making.
The charity has recruited 15 young people aged between 13 and 16 from across the UK, including Rachel from Angus, to represent the views of children and young people and help to shape the work of the NSPCC across the UK.
Members are from across the UK and have a range of backgrounds, with many having active roles in their local communities and doing a range of work to help others.
They will use the platform to raise awareness of what matters most to young people, take action and make change happen – while also having a key role advising staff and trustees.
The pandemic has had a huge impact on young people, with the NSPCC’s Childline service carrying out more than 61,000 counselling sessions on mental health since the start of the first lockdown in March last year.
But as we look to the future, the NSPCC believes it is vital that their voices are represented. The charity is calling for governments across the UK to put young people at the centre of its recovery plans – and as part of this, their views and experiences of the last year must be listened to.
Board members will take part in new experiences and opportunities, meet other young people, as well as develop confidence and learn life-long new skills, such as campaigning and public speaking.
Over a two-year period, members will be involved in sharing what’s important to them, take part in residentials, meetings and workshops, and campaign to share their views and opinions.
Yesterday (Tuesday, March 30) they met virtually for the first time – and members say they are excited about getting started in their new roles.
They are also keen to talk about the impact of the last year and what needs to be done to support young people in the coming months.
Board member Rachel, aged 14, said: “I know the last year been beyond difficult for so many people, but lockdown helped me realise what is important to me.
“I got so many opportunities to do amazing things in 2020 – I presented to the NSPCC virtual Annual Council Meeting, I helped to launch the ‘think b4 you type’ initiative and was asked to give interviews on radio and TV!
“Working with the Angus Youth Advisory Group on the ‘think b4 you type’ initiative, which resulted in our council changing the anti-bullying policy, reinforced my belief that we, as young people can make a difference and change things. We have a lot of really important opinions and solutions – we just need help and support to be heard and, and to a certain extent, be taken seriously.
“I’d love to take the things I’ve learned from this advisory group to a bigger platform and make a difference for young people outside my local area and think that this board is a perfect opportunity to be able to do that.
“When the Covid crisis has passed, I’m really looking forward to getting back to circus school. After school, I hope to go to university to study law, specialising in children’s rights. Beyond that – I don’t think there has ever been a Prime Minister who can perform circus skills routines, so maybe it’s time for that to happen!”
Recently, the NSPCC appointed Ife Grillo, 22, and Sheanna Patelmaster, 24, as trustees with a specialist focus on working with and supporting the Young People’s Board for Change. The recruitment of the board is the next stage of an important journey to better represent young people’s views and include them in the charity’s work.
Lucy Read, NSPCC Associate Head of Participation, said: “The last year has changed the lives of many young people across the UK but, as we now look to the future, the new members of our Young People’s Board for Change have a great opportunity to make their voices heard.
“We received over 300 applications from young people to join the board and during recruitment, I was impressed by the genuine passion young people had for the NSPCC’s work and a commitment to get involved and make a difference.
“We believe that a generation of young people should not be defined by the pandemic, so it has never been more important to listen to them and embed their views into everything we do. Children are the experts on their own lives, and there is so much that we can learn from their experiences.”
A new Scotland wide inquiry into how communities can hold the power to lead on change from within has appointed two independent Co-Chairs with extensive experience of supporting people who are most excluded in society.
The Social Action Inquiry will support communities to take action together, create change and share power, whilst working alongside them to understand what helps and what gets in the way of progress.
Led by people living and working in Scottish communities, this three-year independent inquiry will:
Sam Anderson and Catherine-Rose Stocks-Rankin join the Inquiry as the newly appointed Co-Chairs. They will be passionate advocates for participation, collaboration and shifting power so that change is led by the knowledge held by communities.
Sam is the Founder of The Junction (Young People, Health & Wellbeing), an award-winning charity based in Edinburgh which works with and for young people on a range of health issues.
She brings extensive experience as a coach, mentor and facilitator supporting people furthest from power to feel understood and heard amongst systems that might otherwise exclude them.
Sam said: “Social Action has been a significant part of my life journey. I am therefore delighted the need for an Independent Social Action Inquiry for Scotland has been recognised and invested in.
“I feel honoured to be able to contribute to this important Inquiry through the role of Co-Chair and to see the potential of Social Action unleashed in our journey towards an equitable Scotland.”
Catherine-Rose is a social researcher with a wealth of professional, research and personal experience of care. Her experiences of kinship care and as an informal carer have inspired her to build a career that explores how the systems we live within could be reimagined.
Catherine-Rose said: “I am honoured to take up the role of Co-chair of the Social Action Inquiry. As someone who has tried to build community around every significant challenge in my life, I’m thrilled to contribute to an Inquiry that will help us galvanize the ways we take action together.
“I’m particularly delighted that we can shine a light on the work that people and communities are already doing in Scotland, to have the resource to strengthen that activity and the support to think about where power can be redistributed to making meaningful change.”
Catherine-Rose and Sam will shortly be recruiting an Inquiry Panel, along with an Inquiry Lead. If you’d like to apply to join the Inquiry Panel to help direct the Inquiry’s activity, or be part of the team as the Inquiry Led, please keep an eye on our website for announcements: https://socialaction.scot/
The Inquiry will also build on the findings and recommendations from the Together We Help research that explored social action in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Find out more about the Social Action Inquiry vision and background here:
https://socialaction.scot/about/
Speaking on behalf of the partners who have founded the Inquiry – Carnegie UK Trust, Corra Foundation, Foundation Scotland, the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), The National Lottery Community Fund, and The Robertson Trust – Fiona Duncan (CEO of Corra Foundation) said: “This inquiry starts from the idea that social action is a vital part of the solution to the challenges we face as a society – now and in the future.
“The issue is not whether community-led action should be at the heart of creating lasting change, but how everyone can help create the conditions for this to happen, and to flourish.
Collaboration is at the heart of this, and it’s down to the collective efforts of the partners that we’ve reached this point. The partners are delighted to welcome Sam and Catherine-Rose and look forward to the Inquiry taking shape and beginning to help bring about change.”
The next meeting of the Inverleith Neighbourhood Network will be on Wednesday 31st March from 6 – 8pm.
Agenda is below:
The meeting will take place online using Microsoft Teams.
Joan Beattie, Inverleith community representative on the North West Locality Community Planning Partnership ( LCPP), said: “Our Neighbourhood Network is having a Team’s meeting on 31st March starting at 6pm to discuss among other things how to take forward our priority ‘MAKING THE MOST OF OUR GREEN SPACES’.
“This was chosen as our priority in the last meeting before Covid restrictions but has proved to be even more important given the use of our green spaces over the last year.
“I would really like to hear all of your views on this to feed into the next LCPP meeting and to let you know how I think it could be linked to the Local Improvement Plan.
I really hope you are all able to make the meeting but if that’s not, please pass on your ideas.”
For further information contact:
Elaine Lennon
North West Lifelong Learning Development Officer, City of Edinburgh Council
8 West Pilton Gardens, Edinburgh, EH4 4DP
Tel: 0131 529 5270 / 35270
We are abandoning our usual monthly newsletter schedule to send you this advice that there is little time remaining if you wish to become a member of HoNC before our first AGM.
The AGM has now been set for Thursday 29th April and because of the admin work required, you must apply for membership before the 1st April.
New member applications will then be verified and confirmed by the board at their next meeting on 7th April and official notice of the AGM and all that entails will be sent out by the 13th.
Do consider becoming a member. It costs nothing and if you live in our area of benefit it ensures you have a say in who runs the charity and what they do. There is a simple form to fill in on the website under JOIN US.
The AGM may well be rather strange this year because of Covid. Only a small number of people constituting the required quorum will be allowed to be present in person. Everyone else will be invited to an online meeting. It also means that those voting members not present in person will have to send in a proxy voting form, but all that will be explained in the notice of meeting which will be sent by email to members only.
If you have any questions regarding the Board or the AGM please contact admin@heartofnewhaven.co.uk
In other news, we are so pleased to report that there was a tremendous response to our initial Crowdfunding appeal which has helped us pay for professional fees. The many supportive comments have also provided welcome proof that we are not working in vain.
Here are some of the things supporters said:
This is a brilliant project that will deliver huge community benefits. It’s well thought-out and is being impressively well-organised.
Amazing project to support the community and get everyone of all ages together!
Great to see this project making progress – all strength to your elbows for what will be a tremendous asset for the community.
Fantastic work, well done to all involved.
Meanwhile our volunteers are working away in the background on greening projects, lending a neighbourly hand in the community and spreading the word, while we deal with preparing for our very first AGM, a momentous stage in our progress.
The trustees are looking forward to seeing you there.
Don’t forget to keep checking the website.
There’s always something new. April will see the addition of the first of a two-part blog by Bill Hall about fishing in the Forth.
There will be no April newsletter and the next communication will be with members only, by the 13th April. The next newsletter will be in May, after the AGM.
Join Us!
Sam Buist, a postgraduate student at the University of Manchester studying MEnt Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, could use your help:
As part of my dissertation, I am carrying out a study into engagement in cultural activities, with a view to opening a cultural venue in the future.
I am looking for participants to take a short questionnaire, who are interested in attending cultural activities in Edinburgh. We are looking for people who are both fully engaged in and those who are interested but find barriers that limit their engagement with cultural activities.
The questionnaire consists of 26 questions and takes approcimately 10-20 minutes to complete.
Follow this link to the Survey:
Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:
https://www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/preview/SV_7UutED1tJhppqOq?Q_CHL=preview
I have attached a copy of the Participant Information Sheet (see below), which I would be grateful if you could also share with potential participants.
Participants have as much time as they need to read the form before deciding whether to participate in the study.
If you can help me, I would be very grateful: just a few people completing the survey would be a great help.
Sam Buist
When Scotland first went into lockdown in March 2020, a wave of uncertainty and fear was felt throughout society as people were told to stay at home, to save lives.
But as schools, shops and offices closed, communities did not.
Local people and grassroots groups were quick to come up with innovative ways to help during the crisis. Social action accelerated and became a central feature of Scotland’s response to the lockdown and ongoing challenges of coronavirus.
In July 2020 Social Action Inquiry partners commissioned The Collective to lead on a short-term piece of research to capture the stories and lessons learned from communities coming together to help.
From food drop offs to phone calls to isolated neighbours, volunteering and wellbeing support, the research brings to life the ways people developed creative approaches to make a difference.
The final research report Together We Help is now available and shines a light on the power of communities to mobilise and initiate social action in response to the issues that matter to them.
Eighteen community researchers gathered insights from 367 people involved in social action in their local areas, asking what inspired them to be involved and what lessons can be learned to build a fairer Scotland.
The research suggested that the stigma associated with accessing support such as food banks in times of need may have reduced as demand for these vital services increased dramatically throughout lockdown in 2020.
Community researchers also found that offering support and participating in local responses to the coronavirus crisis was both a ‘blessing and a curse’ as while it helped people to feel more connected to their community it also increased awareness and feelings of frustration at the growing levels of inequality on their doorstep.
The findings from the Together We Help research will help inform the Social Action Inquiry.
This independent inquiry will look at how communities take action and will try to contribute to a Scotland where social action is valued and is able to make change happen in communities.
