Tag: participation

Charter gives voice to adults with additional support needs

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Over sixty adults with additional support needs have come together to tell support services what measures they would like to see taken to improve the support they receive through a Charter for Involvement. The group is now calling on organisations to commit to putting their recommendations into practice and has produced a special animated film to promote the Charter. 

Known as the National Involvement Network (NIN), the group have been working for over two years to produce the Charter for Involvement, which to date has been signed by 32 support organisations.

Most of the adults involved have received support services their whole life and believe together they could have a stronger voice on how their services are delivered. Supported by independent charity ARC Scotland, The Charter not only gives these adults a voice but also a way for  support services to involve the people they support more in the work of the organisation.

The newly launched animated film accompanying the Charter describes how the 12 Charter statements help to improve the lives of people who get support. It sets out how people want to be more involved in the services they receive. The film was launched today at the Thistle Foundation earlier this week to an audience of NIN members and support organisations.

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Chair of the National Involvement Network, Lynette Lynton said: “We all use support services in various ways and wanted to have more of a say in our services and be more involved in the way they are run.  Who better to advise support services on how well they are doing than the people that use them day-to-day?

“The launch of the Charter film is a huge occasion for everyone involved.  For those of you who have never seen it, it features an animated tiger to show how the Charter has helped make us feel strong and bold.

“The tiger also features on the cover of the Charter for Involvement and many people have now come to associate the tiger with our work.

“As chair of the National Involvement Network, I hope that the film will inspire people who receive care and support services to become more involved.

“The National Involvement Network and the Charter for Involvement have been made possible through the hard work and dedication of ARC Scotland.  They have supported the NIN through this process and it is their policy of bringing organisations and people together to find solutions that has made this possible.

“I would like to think that our work with the Charter has improved services and the experiences of service users nationally and I would urge other organisations who would like to know more about the Charter or to receive a copy to get in touch with Association for Real Change Scotland for more information.”

 

West Pilton West Granton Community Council meets on Tuesday

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Please find attached the agenda for our next meeting, Tuesday 2nd August at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.
We are inviting Councillor Vicki Redpath as our Community Council’s Returning Officer to speak to us (Edinburgh’s community council elections take place this September).
Speakers will also be in attendance from the Housing Planning Department to present and outline the housing proposals for West Pilton Grove and Crewe Road Gardens.
Hope to see you there,
Barbara Robertson

Fair play: £300,000 fund for sporting equality

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A Sporting Equality Fund is to be set up with the aim of increasing women’s engagement in sport, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday.

The £300,000 fund will be used to find ways to close the gender gap that emerges in the early teenage years when 71% of boys compared to 51% of girls say they are active participants in sport. Continue reading Fair play: £300,000 fund for sporting equality

‘Wee lassie fae Leith’ to chair Scottish Youth Parliament!

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Northern & Leith MSYP Terri Smith has been elected to chair the Scottish Youth Parliament when Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament convened in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis for their 60th National Sitting. Continue reading ‘Wee lassie fae Leith’ to chair Scottish Youth Parliament!

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City’s young people encouraged to ‘Join In’

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With the Olympics just around the corner, Edinburgh Leisure will be inspiring the young people of Edinburgh to try out a variety of sports and games in the Meadows on Friday 1 July – plus there’s a free summer sports programme running from 4 July at various venues across the city.

At the free ‘Join In’ event, children can kick off their summer with American Football, or get into the swing of things with tennis. Old favourites like football, gymnastics and cycling will also be available for youngsters to try as well as football speed shot, tug of war, volleyball and much more. Sport experts will also be present to help them get the most out of their day in the beautiful green setting of the Meadows.

Children’s sedentary lifestyles are a ‘ticking time-bomb’ for the NHS. A recent poll of 1,039 parents conducted by ComRes, found 75 per cent of parents agree that it is more difficult for parents today to encourage children to become physically active than for previous generations, and just 47 per cent of parents thing there are enough affordable opportunities for children to be active in their local areas during school holidays.

Edinburgh Leisure’s Weight Management Development Officer, Conor McLean, said, “We all know about the positive health and mental benefits of getting active. Edinburgh Leisure is passionate about making sport accessible to young people. Last year, over 300 children turned up to experience our taster sessions.

“We run a variety of projects and classes for this age group, and this is a great chance to provide a way in to a healthy and active lifestyle for Edinburgh’s children, as well as a fun day out. And what’s even better is the day is free.”

Children are welcome to come and go as they please at the ‘Join In’ event, which runs from 1pm – 4pm on Friday, 1 July. Children under the age of 9 years must be accompanied by an adult. Children and young people aged 9 and over can attend on their own or with friends. There is no pre-registration or booking required but all young people must register at the sign-in desk on the day.

Edinburgh Leisure will also be running a free summer sports programme at different venues. Events will take place at the Meadows every Wednesday and Friday from 2 – 4 pm, starting 6 and 8 July respectively to 10 and 12 August.

There will also be sports at Saughton from Monday, 4 July – 8 August from 2 – 4pm. Younger children (primary school children, aged 5 and up) will be catered for with outdoor play sessions at Hunters Hall, by Jack Kane Sports Centre, every Tuesday from 2-4pm, which will run from 5 July.

There will be spaces for 60 children at the Meadows, 44 at Saughton and 20 at Hunter’s Hall to get involved in the free sessions. No pre-booking is required but everyone must register at the sign-in desk on the day and it will be on a first come, first served basis.

Andy McIntosh, Youth Development Officer continued: “Giving children a balanced play diet is as beneficial for their development as a balanced nutritional diet and we want to encourage all children to get active and stay active. So let’s get them off their screens and down to Saughton, The Meadows or Hunters Hall for some active fun this summer. Who knows, we may even encourage the future generation of Olympians.”

Participants enrolled in Edinburgh Leisure’s ‘2 Your Future’ project, will be helping to deliver the activities. ‘2 Your Future’, a 16 week programme, provides a combination of sports based activities and tailored employment support for young people not currently engaged in education, employment or training.