(More) power to the people!

‘Power to the People’, an introduction to the history of protest in Scotland, restarted at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre this morning but a few spaces for new faces are available for the new session.

Community Learning and Development worker Lynn McCabe, who devised and supports the course, said: “The Power to the People course started back this morning (Tuesday 29 January) at 9.45 in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, the first session of the second term which will cover the period 1800 – 1900. From now until the end of March we will be looking at the Radical War, Chartism, the Great Disruption, the Campaign for Home Rule and the birth of the Labour and Trade Union Movement. We have regular visits and have a few outside speakers each term – next week our guest speaker will be Alex Wood. We have a few spaces on the course at the moment and new people can join at any time.”

The first term proved to be very popular (pictures below), so if you’d like to learn more about the history of Scottish activism drop in to Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Pilton Drive North (telephone 552 5700) on Tuesday mornings for a 9.45 start, or email lynn.mccabe@ea.edin.sch.uk for further information. It’s free – all welcome.

World Cafe returns with a double helping!

The World Cafe is back! Black Community Development Project’s monthly dining event at North Edinburgh Arts was hugely popular, offering local people the opportunity to meet informally and taste foods from all over the globe. The Cafe was one of the victims of CORE’s recent closure, but the transition group subsequently established has decided to resurrect the global dining experience – and they’re kicking off with a double helping, with TWO World Cafes this month!

The Transition Group is keen to hear the views and gather the opinions of North Edinburgh’s BME residents and promise an afternoon of ‘workshops, food and entertainment’ for participants at the two World Cafe events.

The first World Cafe will tak place at North Edinburgh Arts Centre on Friday 16 November from 3 – 7pm, and this will be followed by a second World Cafe at a new venue on a new day – Saturday 24 November sees the first World Cafe at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre from 3 – 7pm!

Booking is essential, so to book or for further informaiton please contact:

Adil Ibrahim on 07533 790 126 or email adilabuelseed@hotmail.com or Deborah Clark at ELREC, dclark@elrec.org.uk

TG Event Flyer 6th Nov 2012-FINAL

Last chance to see City Park plans

Local residents have another opportunity to see Link’s plans for City Park at a presentation to Granton and District Community Council tonight at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Pilton Drive North.

Link wants to build over 200 homes on the City Park site and held two pre-planning application exhibitions last week. Both were well attended, but if you missed the opportunity to see what’s being proposed tonight is your last chance – for the moment at least!

The community council meeting starts at 7pm – all welcome.

Residents to fight City Park housing plans

Local residents will fight plans to build housing on City Park. A new Save City Park campaign group has been set up to challenge plans to build houses on the site off Pilton Drive North. The group says that the area needs it’s last remaining green space and could not cope with more traffic on roads and side streets.

Save City Park campaigners say that City Park – the former home of The Spartans – ‘is a vital part of Edinburgh’s landscape and heritage and plays an important role in enhancing the city’s environment. It is one of an ever decreasing number of green “lungs” in a city of ever-increasing development.’

The group says that a plans by Link Group to build a mixed-tenure housing development on the City Park site would destroy the quality and character of the local area and put even more strain on already overstretched local services.

Falkirk-based Link Group employs 400 staff and celebrates it’s 50th birthday this year. The company is ‘one of Scotland’s leading providers of housing and related services’. The organisation’s website continues: ‘The Link companies help to deliver innovative regeneration projects in partnership with local communities, including health facilities, environmental initiatives, training schemes and financial inclusion projects. We are committed to the welfare of tenants and to the principles of social justice and inclusion.’

Interested members of the public will have three different opportunities to see and hear what is being proposed for City Park at a series of consultation events over the coming fortnight. Next Wednesday (24 October) Link will have a staffed presentation from 4.30 – 7.30pm at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Pilton Drive North and on Thursday (25th October) the exhibition moves on to The Spartans Community Football Academy off Pilton Drive, again from 4.30 – 7.30pm.

Link representatives will also be making a presentation to Granton and District Community Council’s meeting on Monday 29 October at 7pm in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre – this meeting is open to members of the public and all are welcome to attend.

The City Park campaigners concerns are highlighted on their new website which can be found at http://savecitypark.co.uk

Has housing reached saturation point in East Pilton? Or is the need for more social and affordable housing more urgent than green space? What do you think – let us know!

WIG hail success of first health day

North Edinburgh’s Womens International Group are delighted with the success of last week’s Health Day – the first of it’s kind organised by the womens’ group based at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre. Over forty women of all ages took part in a full day of events and activities in Royston Wardieburn – and while they may not all have gone home a lot healthier, they definitely went home happier!

From registration and refreshments at 10am it was a packed programme – Jane Jones gave a talk about ‘What Affects Our Health?’, there was Zumba and aerobics in the sports hall, pamper sessions and gentle exercise; all before lunch time!

A short presentation by local women got the afternoon activities underway, and this was followed by talk on Breast Awareness by Lynda Luke of the Breast Screening Service. Julie Smith gave a presentation on North Edinburgh Time Bank and Roberta Blaikie gave a brief contribution about North Edinburgh Credit Union. The final hour of the day was dedicated to social activities and fundraising for McMillan Cancer Trust in the cafe community room, with a nearly new stall and raffle.

Women’s International Group (WIG) said: ‘We would like to thank the following organisations for their support : Community Learning and Development, Royston Wardieburn Centre Management Committee, Pilton Health Project, North Edinburgh Arts, Telford College students, the Breast Screening Service, McMillan Cancer Trust, North Edinburgh Time Bank, North Edinburgh Credit Union and Stepping Stones. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the individuals who have given up their time or who have contributed to the raffle or nearly new stall and the local businesses who have made donations.’

Thanks to Community Learning and Development worker Lynne McCabe for the following Health Day pictures:

WIG to host Women’s Health Day event

North Edinburgh Women’s International Group (WIG) invite you to our very first Women’s Health Day on Thursday (4 October) from 10am – 3pm in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, Pilton Drive North.

Come along and try out gentle exercise, Zumba, relaxation techniques, pamper sessions and much more – and all activities are free!

The Centre cafe will be serving a cheap, healthy lunch between 12 noon – 1pm.

Give yourself a break for a couple of hours, try out something new, meet other local women and help us raise some money for Macmillan Cancer Trust (there will be a raffle, ‘nearly new’ table and a guess the weight of the cake competition).

For more information call Lynn or Lydia on 552 5700 or email Lynn at lynn.mccabe@ea.edin.sch.uk

Womens International Group

Stepping Stones annual general meeting

Stepping Stones (North Edinburgh) will be holding their AGM on Thursday 20 September at 12.30pm in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, Pilton Drive North. All welcome.

Stepping Stones is one of North Edinburgh’s longest established and most succesful community-led organisations, and has worked with young parents (up to 25) and pregnant teenagers from across the Greater Pilton Area of Edinburgh since 1986.

Stepping Stones provides structured but flexible support to young parent families and pregnant teenagers, providing centres where parents can relax, enjoy themselves and their children. The varied group work programmes include leisure recreational and educational activities and is designed to offer a wide range of learning opportunities to the family.

Individual support is also available to complement the group work sessions. Individual support includes counselling, help with parenting, play therapy, relationship advice, career and training advice, housing and debt management, etc. A designated worker provides individual and group support to very young pregnant teenagers.

For further information about Stepping Stones (North Edinburgh) telephone 551 1632, email ststnorthed@hotmail.com or visit their website at www.steppingstonesnorthedinburgh.co.uk Then again, you could find out all the latest Stepping Stones news by attending the AGM!

Royston Wardieburn women go global!

WIG (Women’s International Group) is a new group for local women interested in issues affecting women. The group was established in March this year after a successful event organised by local women to celebrate International Womens’ Day.

Since then the group has organised a number of local events including a hustings before the Council elections in May, a public meeting on housing issues and a film show. The group meets every second Thursday from 1.30 – 3pm in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Pilton Drive North.

First meeting this term will be on Thursday 6 September – new members welcome. For more information, contact CLD worker Lynn McCabe on 552 5700 or email Lynn at lynn.mccabe@ea.edin.sch.uk.