The Pilton-basedCommunity Organisation for Racial Equality (CORE) is to close. Formerly the BCDP (Black Community Development Project), the project which grew out of the Muirhouse Anti-Racism campaign of the early 1990s will be formally wound up at an extraordinary general meeting in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on 29 August.
At it’s height CORE was one of the most influential community-led equality organisations in the country – growing from humble beginnings in a room in Craigroyston HIgh School to staging prestigious conferences in Edinburgh’s International Conference Centre – but funding issues and financial struggles over recent years has forced directors to seek closure of the organisation.
Chairperson Dr Fernando Almeira Diniz confirmed that CORE has been experiencing financial problems for some months, but said that the Board will not be making any statements at this stage. “I am sure that you will see that we cannot do anything which could be regarded as pre-empting what might happen at the EGM”, he said.
CORE’s EGM will be held at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Wednesday 29 August at 6pm. Following the formal business procedures it’s planned to have a general discussion – ‘an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of CORE /BCDP, followed by a Community-led discussion about ways of engaging BME Communities in developing future provision of public services in North Edinburgh.’
For further information, or if you plan to attend, please contact Adil Ibrahim at CORE, email adil@coregb.org.uk by 25 August.
Happier times: Director Tesfu Gessesse addresses CORE’s 2007 AGM
Community police officers will be holding a drop-in session at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Thursday (5 July) from 7 – 8pm.
PC Sarah Hall of Drylaw’s Safer Neighbourhood Team explained: “Myself and Constable Tony Lawrence are holding regular Police Drop-In sessions at the new Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre. We hope this will be a chance for residents to informally meet their local community Police Officers and raise any questions or concerns they may have.”
Dates set after next Thursday are Thursday 2 August, Thursday 30 August, Thursday 27 September, Thursday 25 October and Thursday 22 November. All sessions are from 7 – 8pm.
YAHOO! (Young At Heart Open Outlook) meets every Friday at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre from 1.30 – 3.30pm.
Thanks to Forth Neighbourhood Partnership, who provided a grant to start this club, we have produced an interesting programme which local people are enjoying. We have had outings to museums and day trips and have organised several Singalongs and Tea Dances which have been well attended – we hope to continue to provide a social connection that older people can enjoy and benefit from.
We welcome the opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of everyone who cares to come along. The new Centre has brought a much-needed facility to the area and we need to make full use of the classes being introduced there.
Women’s International Group (WIG) is holding a public meeting to discuss housing issues next Thursday evening (17 May) at 6.15pm in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre. All welcome.
A spokesperson for WIG said: “A number of housing officials, local councillors and reps from the Tenants Federation will be in attendance to respond to questions/issues from the floor. One of the aims of the meeting is to raise awareness about some of the changes which are going to affect local people currently claiming benefits (e.g. the bedroom tax/under occupancy penalty which will result in any working household with an extra bedroom losing part of their housing benefit; and the benefit cap which will be deducted via people’s housing benefit and universal credit. These are important issues and we hope to see a lot of people attend the meeting”.
The Women’s International Group (WIG) was established at a succesful event organised to celebrate International Women’s Day in March (pictured below).
We hope this will be a chance for residents to informally meet their local community Police Officers and raise any questions or concerns they may have.”.
Hustings at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on Thursday 26th April from 6-8-30pm. Chance to ask your prospective candidate for the Forth Ward what they will do for the area should they be elected on to the council All Welcome.
The new Royston Wardieburn Community Centre in Pilton Drive North is the venue for Forth Neighbourhood Partnership’s public meeting on Wednesday from 5 – 7pm.
Partnership Development Officer Jim Pattison said: “The meeting will focus on Community Safety issues across Forth and will include a performance by Forth Youth Theatre and presentations by young people from Pilton Youth & Children’s Project and Muirhouse Youth Development Group. There will also be a chance to talk about issues in your local area and meet with local Safer Neighbourhood Officers”.
Cllr MacLaren unveils plaque while Joan Turner looks on
Councillor Marilyne MacLaren unveiled a plaque to formally open the new Royston Wardieburn Community Centre yesterday. Cllr. MacLaren said the ‘fantastic new centre’ is a major achievement and she praised the efforts of the local community for creating a centre it can be proud of.
The Education, Children & Families leader said: “This is a very exciting day. As you all know a new community centre for Royston Wardieburn has been on the ‘to do’ list of the Council for many, many years and I am really pleased that despite the financial challenges we have faced we have delivered this fantastic new centre for the community”.
She went on: “You will remember that original plans for the new centre were to build at Royston School, but when I came into post and talked to you it was clear that you didn’t want that – you really wanted the new centre to be built here, as this is ‘neutral ground’ that allows the people of the different neighbourhoods – particularly the young people – to come together. That seemed to me to make perfect sense, so the opening of this new building today is a major achievement of the local community. You told me what you wanted and we have made it happen, so well done to all of you for sticking with that commitment”.
The original Royston Wardieburn Community Centre opened in 1965 and, not unnaturally, the building in Pilton Drive North was showing it’s age after over forty-five years of constant use. Over recent years the Centre’s management committee has campaigned tirelessly to get their building replaced and now at last – after a few false dawns and many ups and downs along the way – the superb new centre is open for business for the whole community to enjoy.
Royston Wardieburn is the first new centre to open in North Edinburgh since Muirhouse Millennium Centre opened in August 2000. The new building has all that the old building had and much, much more – a sports hall, state of the art computer suite, games room, café area and meeting rooms large and small. There’s also ample accommodation upstairs for centre staff, the Stepping Stones team and local Community Learning and Development workers.
The opening of the building is a dream come true for the centre’s chairperson Joan Turner. After watching a short documentary about the history of Royston Wardieburn she said: “Royston Wardieburn is a special place for so many people with a lot of happy memories. If the new Centre is even half as successful as the old centre has been I think we will all be well pleased”.
It was certainly a day to remember at Royston Wardieburn and community activists, politicians, local workers, schoolchildren and centre members turned out in force to celebrate the occasion. The afternoon was packed with activities – a Royal Scottish National Orchestra ensemble entertained guests and there was a presentation and short film (thirty hours edited down to five minutes!) presented by Roberta Blaikie of the Old Centre’s History Group. Councillor MacLaren also presented certificates of achievement to local children and members of the management committee who have successfully completed their REHIS Food and Hygiene Training, enabling them to assist in the building’s café. Guided tours of the building were also provided for guests to see the superb new facilities the centre has to offer.
Congratulations to everyone involved with the opening of Royston Wardieburn’s new community centre – and here’s to a successful 45 years!
Pictures: Opening day images
Councillor MacLaren and RWCC chairperson Joan Turner
Roberta Blaikie with young achievers
More fun and games outside the CentreRSNO musicians entertain guestsCertificates for management committee members
Is your New Year’s resolution to manage your money better? Would you like to find new ways to save money? ‘Money Matters To Me’, a new course starting at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre next week, could help you to save those precious pennies.
The free, fun and informal course starts on Wednesday 25 January and runs from 10am – 12 noon. To book your place or for more information call Nicola Ross on 332 6316, email nicola.ross@ea.edin.sch.uk
The Pilton-based Community Organisation for Racial Equality (CORE) is to close. Formerly the BCDP (Black Community Development Project), the project which grew out of the Muirhouse Anti-Racism campaign of the early 1990s will be formally wound up at an extraordinary general meeting in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre on 29 August.
