The FREE Create to Escape Exhibition is open at the Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street until TODAY – Friday 8th September!
Hurry – this excellent exhibition closes at 2pm!
PICTURES David Bishop/ArtSquat
The young people who attend Spartans Alternative School are excited to share with you their up and coming art exhibition CREATE TO ESCAPE
Where: Out Of The Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG
When: 5th – 8th September 2023
Exhibition and coffee shop
Open daily 10am-5pm Friday 10-2pm.
The collection of collaborative work by the Young people attending the Alternative School at Spartans Community Football Academy explores the interaction between art, mental health, social identity, and personal perception.
Through spray painting, film, sculpture, design, music, and photography, young people take art outside the curriculum to create space for escapism and well-being within their sometimes hectic and stressful days.
You will also get the chance to see CONCRETE JUNGLE, a film written and directed by the young people and filmed and edited by Rory Easton. This was a collaborative project with writer in residence, Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Chris Barkley.
Sales from the Exhibition will raise money for the charity Turn The Tables DJ, which offers workshops to improve mental health for those affected by homelessness
This exhibition has been possible with the support from ArtSquat, a charity that supports artists on low income to showcase their work.
We are very excited to see you there!
Sporting Memories group starts TODAY – 22nd August.
Join us on Tuesdays from 1-2pm for conversations on sport, local history and more. Meet new people and enjoy relaxing at Spartans.
WILLOW DEN SCORES AT SPARTANS
Willow Den at Spartans, Scotland’s first outdoor nursery at a football facility, received 5’s across the board in its first review visit by the Care Inspectorate.
Based in Ainslie Park Stadium, home to Spartans Community Football Academy, Willow Den aims to improve the health and wellbeing of children in Scotland through access to fully outdoor early learning and childcare.
The nursery scored 5’s or ‘Very good’ across the board for care, play, learning, setting, leadership and staff team. The report commented, “Children were very happy, settled, and confident in the setting. They were supported by kind, gentle and nurturing interactions, helping children to feel safe and loved.”
Deborah Grant, Chief Executive at Willow Den said, “We are delighted to receive such positive feedback from our first inspection. Our nursery is based in an innovative outdoor setting, which enables children to follow their curiosity and develop their knowledge and skills.
“Research shows outdoor play as vital to emotional, physical, and mental health and well-being and critical to all aspects of childhood learning and development. This is why we are ambitious and want to open in more locations so more children and families in Scotland can play and learn in nature from nature.”
Willow Den was founded by Inspiring Scotland to accelerate outdoor nursery provision in Scotland and further its work developing outdoor play and learning.
Celia Tennant, Chief Executive of Inspiring Scotland said, “We are delighted Willow Den at Spartans has received such positive feedback from its first inspection.
“Our work over the past 15 years at Inspiring Scotland has highlighted the impact of high-quality outdoor play as an essential catalyst for healthy childhood development and a fundamental part of growing up in Scotland.
“We know outdoor play is a life-enhancing experience and together we want all of Scotland’s children to thrive outdoors.”
Debbi McCulloch, deputy Chief Executive from Spartans Community Football Academy said, “It is our vision to be a welcoming and inclusive social home for our local community.
“Hosting an outdoor nursery is part of this vision – it is wonderful to see pre-school children having fun and learning right here on our doorstep. Our education pathway now extends from nursery school all the way to college. The Edinburgh Care Inspectorate report is testament to the hard work of everyone involved.”
In 2021, the social enterprise secured £225,000 loan funding from Social Investment Scotland (SIS) matched by a £225,000 grant from the SIS Growth Challenge to support its launch.
Chris Jamieson, head of investments at SIS said, “It is great to see Willow Den thriving and receiving such a positive first review, as well as great feedback from parents.
“The outdoor nursery is an excellent example of a high-impact social enterprise that is meeting an immediate community need for early years education. We look forward to working with Willow Den as the organisation develops and grows in the years ahead.”
“Throughout the report, parents commented, “It is clear their number one focus are the children and making the nursery a safe and nurturing environment where the children thrive” and “we know that this is a very special place with very special people who care for and support our child completely.”
Willow Den is currently looking for more locations to expand outdoor play in Edinburgh. If you would like to find out more, please visit willowden.scot/
‘celebrating the diverse voices, stories and talent of local people, from across the city and beyond’ – NOELLE COBEN, EIBF Communities Programme Director
As a charitable non-profit making organisation, the work of the Book Festival stretches far beyond the month of August. Our Communities Programme runs year-round and is focused on inspiring and empowering people of all ages and backgrounds.
Our dedicated team work closely with local organisations to create tailored events and activities for a range of community groups throughout Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.
This year we have:
As an outpouring of this year-round work, we run a series of events during the Festival that have been created both for and by those taking part in the programme. We can’t wait to share them with you!
Stories and Scran – Mon 14 Aug | 19:30 – 20:45
Stories and Scran returns for its fourth year – a joyful event celebrating the dynamic and thought-provoking work created by our Citizen participants.
The evening includes a sweet snack provided by Scran Academy (a catering social enterprise based in North Edinburgh) and readings and performances from local groups across the city.
Tickets are on a Pay What You Can basis.
Letters of Hope – Mon 21 Aug | 19:00 – 20:00
What would you tell an outsider about where you live? What hopeful things would you write to your future self?
These were two creative questions our writer in residence, Chris Barkley, has been exploring with young people from the Spartans Alternative School.
Featuring short film, music, and readings, this event celebrates the diverse voices and creative talent of local young people.
Tickets are on a Pay What You Can basis.
Our City, Our Stories – Various dates | 18:15 – 19:15
Our City, Our Stories is an inspiring, recurring event, showcasing new writing from both professional and non-professional writers across our Citizen project (and other community-based groups including Intercultural Youth Scotland and Open Book).
Join to hear them perform their stories: a collective love letter to Edinburgh.
These events are free.
Return to Planet Citizen – Sat 26 & Sun 27 Aug
Explore the weird, wonderful world of Planet Citizen in this multi-media installation. You’ll find artifacts, writing, and impressions of a planet as far away as imagination can take you.
Return to Planet Citizen was created by pupils from St. Thomas of Aquin’s RC High School and Tynecastle High School in collaboration with professional artists. Join free 20-minute tours of Planet Citizen every 30 minutes (last tour 15:30).
This event is free.
Beyond the Book Festival Village …
Aware that not everyone can attend Book Festival events in person, our Communities Team work closely with partners and institutions to bring events to groups who might otherwise be excluded. This is thanks largely to the support of the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.
This August, author/illustrators Rob Biddulph and Nadia Shireen will visit the wards of the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, for instance, and writers including Jenni Fagan, Doug Johnstone, and Alan Bissett will visit six prisons across Scotland.
We hope this newsletter has given you a taster for some of the amazing work our Communities Programme are involved in.
NEW YOUTH WORKPLACE AT SPARTANS COMMUNITY FOOTBALL ACADEMY
Leading construction and property consultancy Thomas & Adamson (T&A) is helping revitalise a community football centre with the creation of a carbon neutral, state-of-the-art youth facility in North Edinburgh.
Work begins on the new £1m Spartans Youth Workplace building later this year, with T&A providing project management, quantity surveying and principal designer services.
The new 200m2 building will replace the Spartans Youth Community group’s temporary facility currently sited next to Ainslie Park, the home stadium of football club, Spartans FC, in Pilton.
The innovative project will be one of the most sustainable community facility builds in Scotland, with local labour and responsibly sourced materials used in construction, and photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and air source heat pumps systems installed to reduce emissions and fossil fuel energy consumption.
Once opened, the centre will include a kitchen, arts centre and community space where young people can socialise and work together. It will also feature a roof terrace, pool tables and table tennis.
A key part of the development has been engaging with young people in the community to take their needs and wishes on board, alongside youth workers and other local stakeholders who all contributed to the design.
David Young, Partner at Thomas & Adamson, said: “Thomas & Adamson is delighted to be involved in helping bring this new community facility to life, for the benefits to the local community, but also for the sustainable nature of both the construction and the eventual running of the Workspace”.
While affiliated to the Scottish Professional Football League Two side Spartans FC, the new Spartans Youth Workplace has been funded by private investment and public grants as a hub for the whole community in the Ainslie Park area to enjoy.
The building work is due to begin in autumn 2023 and is estimated to take 24 weeks.
LAUNCH PROMISES MORE STALLS, MORE MUSIC, MORE FOOD and.. SUNSHINE!
Next month’s North Edinburgh’s Community Festival will be even bigger than last years event, organisers announced at Tuesdays launch at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.
Around 6000 people attended last year’s gala event, and with at least SEVENTY marquees (up from 50 last year) and and not one but TWO music stages there promises to be even more for the local community to do, see and enjoy on 13 May.
Highlights include:
Disney-themed LIFT Parade from Muirhouse Millennium Centre to West Pilton Park to launch the Festival.
More than 70 local organisations and charities with Community Stalls
Two music stages: the open air Park Stage and the Green Room stage in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre
The music line-up features a wealth of local talent. Performers include local youth orchestra Tinderbox, Granton Youth’s Mixtape Music Club and a session from ever-popular Fischy Music.
There’s a musical medley from the Edinburgh College Musical Theatre Group, performances from local choirs including Ama-zing Harmonies, AUGB Ukranian choir, Craigroyston High School Choir and a high-energy performance is guaranteed from local punk rockers Yer Local Bams. Low Tide, Rai Williams, Laurent and Abigail Kerner will also be performing live on the day in a musical feast.
Family events and activities will include Bookbug with Muirhouse Library and a Storytelling session with Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Citizen writers.
Fancy some sport? You’ll be spoilt for choice as Access Parkour, Spartans Community Football Academy and Inverleith Rugby Club will all be there. And there will be children’s Zumba classes.
North Edinburgh Arts will be organising arts and craft activities and Screen Education Edinburgh will offer film workshops. There’s an Army obstacle course, too.
There will also be learning and upskilling opportunities provided by local organisations including Edinburgh College will be offering course taster sessions.
All in all, there really should be something for everyone. And with sunshine (almost) guaranteed, it promises to be a great day.
Local activist Willie Black, a member of the Festival planning committee, introduced Tuesday’s launch. “We are very excited about this year’s Festival and it promises to be a really great event, a community celebration for everyone to enjoy.
“We have a wealth of diverse talent in this community and we want to share that talent far and wide. We’re looking forward to offering a warm North Edinburgh welcome to thousands of visitors next month, and the hope is that the Festival will be a great success and that it can become an annual event.”
North Edinburgh Community Festival is on Saturday 13 May from 12 – 5.30pm. Free event. All welcome.
IMAGES FROM LAUNCH EVENT:
SPARTANS are looking for your once-loved winter woolies!
If you have children’s jumpers and jackets we are collecting donations to give to our local partners.
Drop items off at The Academy until January 9th.
Thank you XX
FOOTBALL FUN NEXT WEEK
Looking for something that’s fun, social, energetic and a good craic? Still Kicking, our women’s only football fitness could be for you.
FREE OF CHARGE.
Thursday evenings 7-8pm
robynmccafferty@spartanscfa.com
