Pilton Equalities Project’s Weekend Resource is holding a coffee morning and table sale at the PEP Centre in West Pilton Park on Saturday 24 November from 11am – 1pm. Donations welcome – call 315 4466 for more info.
Tag: PEP
Accredited transport training at PEP
Pilton Equalities Project (PEP) is offering accredited transport training courses next month.
PEP is registered with the Community Transport Association funded through the City of Edinburgh Council and recognised as the community transport operator for the North Edinburgh quadrant. We are a partner of the Edinburgh Community Transport Operators Group (ECTOG) – PEP, Dove Transport, SEAG, LCTS, & Handicabs.
PATS stands for Passenger Assistants Training Scheme, and has been developed for those people who undertake the role of passenger assistant (also known as escorts). The PATS programme is relevant for passenger assistants working in cars, minicabs, taxis, minibuses, large buses and coaches.
PATS is open to any organisation that employs, uses or supplies passenger assistants. An organisation does not have to be a member of the MiDAS training scheme to use the Passenger Assistant Training Scheme, and the training is also open to any organisation that uses volunteers as passenger assistants.
Limited places are available for the training, which takes place on
Wednesday 12 December at PEP in West Pilton Park.
MiDAS is the nationally recognised Minibus Driver Awareness training Scheme, organised by the Community Transport Association U.K. (CTA) which promotes a nationally recognised standard for the assessment and training of minibus drivers. It is a membership based scheme that is designed to enhance minibus driving standards and promote the safer operation of minibuses,
It comprises low cost classroom-based training, plus an on-road driving assessment, as well as optional Passenger Assistance training (PAT’s) for drivers who will be transporting passengers with disabilities
Criteria: (a) Aged over 21 years and (b) held a full Driving Licence for 2 years.
The MIDAS training course takes place on Thursday 13 December.
Interested? Contact PEP trainers Theodora or Brian on 315 4466 or email
theopepequalities@hotmail.co.uk or brianpeopequalities@hotmail.co.uk for further information.
Tough times at PEP
Chairperson Irene Garden said she wanted to be positive when she welcomed guests to Pilton Equalities Project’s (PEP’s) annual general meeting on Friday, and she started out that way. However her report quickly turned to PEP’s trials and tribulations – it’s been a particularly tough year, and the signs are that it’s not going to get any easier any time soon.
“Once again our staff and volunteers have worked above and beyond the call of duty to ensure we continue to deliver our services”, she told the meeting at PEP’s West Pilton Park office. “To quote George Johanson, one of our directors: ‘another difficult year in tempestuous seas!'”
PEP is fundamentally different organisation from the Pilton Elderly Project from whence it emerged. Community transport for older people was the primary focus of the old PEP, but as funding priorities changed over the years so has PEP – the community organisation has diversified and added learning and training elements to the daycare and community transport services it was best known for.
Manager Helen Tait highlighted successes over the last year, and PEP’s statistics certainly remain impressive: PEP has provided 2585 learning opportunities over the last year, has 59 volunteers who have given 7518 hours to the service and the PEP minibus fleet has provided 33.931 passenger journeys this year.
But despite those figures, PEP faces a constant fight to keep all those services going, chairperson Irene Garden told the meeting.
“It’s been a very difficult year with funding cuts and uncertainties. Staff have been really flexible but so much of their time is now spent chasing funds that it’s getting really difficult for them to do their ‘real’ jobs. With respect to our transport services, we receive funding for our drivers but no money to maintain our vehicles – that’s proving to be a real problem and we don’t want to let any of our service users down,so we really need our funders to support us now. We are under real pressure – no service has had to be disbanded as yet,but this is all dependent on sufficient funds coming in. If the last twelve months have been a challenge the next twelve could be even tougher.”
Despite that fairly gloomy outlook PEP still has a full Board of Directors for the year ahead, with only one vacant position.
With the annual general meeting finishing earlier than expected, some procedural business was discussed. The meeting heard that a compliance sub-group is currently reviewing PEP’s constitution and Articles of Association to clear up some inconsistencies over membership issues. That sub-committee will report recommendations to PEP’s new board in the near future.
Police probe suspicious fire at PEP
Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses following a suspicious fire in West Pilton Park. The incident happened around 7.45pm on Monday (8 October), when two wheelie bins were pushed up against the wall of the Pilton Equalities Project (PEP) before being set alight.
No damage was sustained to the building and no one was injured during the incident, but police are urging anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward. Officers carrying out local enquiries to identify those responsible are particularly keen to speak to two youths who were known to be in the area at the time.
A police spokesman said: “This reckless act of vandalism could have potentially injured members of the public or, indeed, the suspects themselves. Anyone who was in or around West Pilton Park and remembers seeing anything suspicious is asked to contact police immediately.”
Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.
PEP Talk
Pilton Equalities Project (PEP) annual general meeting will take place on Friday 26 October at 11am in PEP’s West Pilton Park office – and it’s time to get your nomination papers in if you want to be a director.
PEP is a community-run and managed organisation, with a voluntary management board, and welcomes nominations for membership of the Board of Directors from people who live in the community and representatives of local organisations who have an interest in the work of the project.
The maximum number of members of the Board is eleven, 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 there will be a vote at the AGM. A further four co-opted places will be available for those who have experience and/or skills which could be of assistance to the directors.
Interested? For further information call 315 4466 or email pepequalities@btconnect.com
Completed nomination forms must be received by Friday 19th October.
Neighbourhood Group steps out on sponsored walk
Pilton Equalities Project’s Neighbourhood Group took part in a sponsored walk from Wester Hailes to Ratho last month and raised a staggering £272.00. Group members are pictured with their certificates at Ratho’s Pilton Retreat.
PEP Summer Fayre cancelled
Pilton Equalities Project’s summer fayre has been cancelled. Organisers took an early decision to cancel Thursday’s event after the weekend weather – and the threat of more rain to come.
PEP summer fayre organiser Theodora Hildago explained: “Due to the adverse weather conditions PEP’s fayre venue at West Pilton Park has become waterlogged, With the Fayre being so large and with the promise if yet more rain to come, PEP has taken the difficult decision to cancel the Thursday 12 July summer fayre. We hope to instead hold an event later on in the year and will be in contact with more details as soon as we have them. All table holders will be contacted and we thank everyone for their interest in supporting PEP and the local community of North Edinburgh. May the rain stop soon!”
Sunnier days – pictures from PEP Summer Fayre 2010:
Here’s food for thought – free summer events!
The FOOD for THOUGHT FORUM, in association with Pilton Community Health Project and Barri Grubb, has highlighted a feast of free food events across the Forth area over the summer holidays. How’s this top ten for tempting treats?:
Saturday 7 July 11 – 2pm
West Pilton Community Garden & Planting Day
West Pilton Place, next to Pilton Youth & Children’s Project Greenhouse – all welcome, just turn up!
Tuesday 10 July 10am – 12 noon
Craigroyston Cookery
Craigroyston High School, Pennywell Road – phone to book on 538 7285 or 477 7801.
Thursday 12 July 1 – 3.30pm
PEP Summer Fayre
West Pilton Park – all welcome, just turn up!
Tuesday 17 July 10am – 12 noon
Craigroyston Cookery
Craigroyston High Schoo, Pennywell Road – phone 538 7285 or 477 7801 to book.
Thursday 19 July 11am – 1pm
Spanish Cooking at Barri Grubb
Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway – To book your place call 551 1671.
Tuesday 24 July, 11am – 1pm
Fabby Food Store Picnic and Barbecue
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre – just turn up!
Tuesday 24 July 11am – 1pm
Simple Snacks at Millennium Centre Summer Youth Club
Muirhouse Millennium Centre, Muirhouse Medway – call 467 3578 to book.
Wednesday 1 August 12.30 – 4pm
Trip to the Botanics’ Edible Garden
Bus leaves The Haven Project, Craigroyston Primary School. To book, call 551 1671.
Saturday 4 August 1 – 4pm
Granton Community Gardens Barbecue
Corner of Boswall Parkway and Wardieburn Road – just turn up!
Wednesday 8 August 11.30 – 3.30pm
Trip to Craigies Farm
Bus leaves PCHP, Boswall Parkway. Phone to book on 551 1671.
Book your table for PEP's Summer Fayre
It’s the social event of the year, the highlight of the summer season – and you can be part of it!
Pilton Equalities Project will be holding their annual Summer Fayre on Thursday 12 July from 1 – 3.30pm at the community garden off West Pilton Park, and local charities and projects are being offered the opportunity to raise funds and promote their services at this year’s event.
To book a table for your organisation (£5), call Theodora at PEP on 315 4466 or email theopepequalities@hotmail.co.uk
PEP seeks help
Local organisation Pilton Equalities Project is looking for help with an unusual request. PEP is seeking … binoculars! No, they haven’t lost one of their minibuses – the binoculars are needed for a project they are currently planning.
So if you have any binoculars tucked away somewhere – large or small, any condition – PEP would like to hear from you. If you can help, call PEP on 315 4466 or email pepequalities@btconnect.com