Tag: Total Craigroyston

The facts of The Matter

The Matter is a new way for young people to tell their councils and governments what they think about issues that concern them, and a group of local teenagers unveiled the first edition of their new publication and presented their findings at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre last month.

Commissioned by the Total Craigroyston initiative, six young people from North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum spent six manic weeks researching, consulting, interviewing, writing and producing their very own newspaper – The Matter – to articulate younger people’s views on how their voices can be heard in the Forth community planning process. The teenagers did receive some assistance – The Matter was supported by design agency Snook in partnership with Young Scot and Firstport.

We promised last month that the young journalists would produce their own article about the project for NEN – and here it is:

Matters2us article

Matters2us is our group name for the newspaper that expresses young people’s voices. We as young people got the privilege of becoming the first ever pilot group to have produced a paper with the team called: The Matter. Our deadline was 6 weeks, so you can imagine how strenuous the whole process was!

We were given a client, an editor and a designer to help us produce the paper and went out to explore the Forth Neighbourhood Community and ask a question. That question that was given to us by the client – Tim from Total Craigroyston/Edinburgh City Council – the question was ‘How can young people’s voices be heard successfully in the Forth Neighbourhood Community Planning Process?’

We consulted with roughly 200 young people around the area and out all of the ideas into the paper. With the ideas the young people gave, we produced 3 big ideas and on our launch night we explored these ideas in greater detail with the audience. The launch night was about highlighting the achievement of us making a newspaper and getting it known to the local community more, whilst also letting the public know about our process of the paper.

In the audience were members of the general public from the community, Edinburgh City Council workers, Councillors, young scot, snook and young people. The outcome was fantastic: people want to support us in finding funding to do a second print and  praised us on the work we had done.

We as a group extremely enjoyed this experience and hope to do it again sometime in the future!

North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum

NEYPF@hotmail.co.uk

 

 

 

What’s The Matter?

Well, The Matter is a new way for young people to tell their councils and governments what they think about issues that concern them and a group of local teenagers unveiled the first edition of a new publication and presented their findings at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre last night.

Commissioned by the Total Craigroyston initiative, six young people from North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum spent six manic weeks researching, consulting, interviewing, writing and producing their very own newspaper – The Matter – to articulate younger people’s views on how their voices can be heard in the Forth community planning process.

And what were their findings? Well, you’ll have to wait for those – the young people have clearly developed a taste for journalism so they are going to write an article about The Matter themselves for the NEN. Watch this space!

The Matter is supported by design agency Snook in partnership with Young Scot and Firstport, who support new and emerging social entrepreneurs in Scotland.

Total Craigroyston: draft ‘road map’ discussed

The Total Craigroyston initiative’s Draft Road Map was produced following a number of consultation meetings across the area. The Total Craigroyston team went back out into the community again last week to get feedback on the draft report, holding sessions at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, Craigroyston Community High School and North Edinburgh Arts Centre. This feedback will help guide the way forward for the initiative which was set up to improve the life chances of children and families in the Craigroyston High School cluster.

Total Craigroyston’s Tim Packer said: “We had 18 people at the feedback events last week and we will be meeting with others over the weeks to come to continue the conversation about the Road Map and the initiative as a whole.

During the sessions we asked people not only to comment/feedback but also to ‘sign-up’ to particular actions identified in the Road Map. The response to this has been encouraging and we will be following up with those people/organisations on how to take things forward with them.

There has been a lot of interest in the Timebanking scheme and other general opportunities to volunteer and we will make sure how these provisions are accessed is included in the work of Total Craigroyston. Information and communication have continued through the feedback sessions to be an important area requiring further work. It has been great to have a good number of young people involved – they have contributed to a number of the actions and will be involved in taking forward the work.

The Road Map itself is available on the Forth Neighbourhood Partnership website or directly from http://www.edinburghnp.org.uk/media/12573/Road%20Map%202012%2009%2003.pdf. In order to break down the areas of work identified within each of the themes we are preparing a more detailed action plan (with names and some timescales). This will identify who is taking forward each of the areas of work. So, the ‘next steps’ are to go, with the local community and staff, and do the things that people have identified!

If anyone wants to talk about the Road Map then they can contact Christine (Mackay, Total Craigroyston manager) or myself.”

 

Total Craigroyston is based at North Neighbourhood Office, 8 West Pilton Gardens, Edinburgh EH4 4DP

Telephone: 0131 529 5056

Email: tim.packer@edinburgh.gov.uk

Blog: http://totalcraigroyston.wordpress.com

 

Total Craigroyston Draft Roadmap

Total Craigroyston: draft 'road map' discussed

The Total Craigroyston initiative’s Draft Road Map was produced following a number of consultation meetings across the area. The Total Craigroyston team went back out into the community again last week to get feedback on the draft report, holding sessions at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, Craigroyston Community High School and North Edinburgh Arts Centre. This feedback will help guide the way forward for the initiative which was set up to improve the life chances of children and families in the Craigroyston High School cluster.

Total Craigroyston’s Tim Packer said: “We had 18 people at the feedback events last week and we will be meeting with others over the weeks to come to continue the conversation about the Road Map and the initiative as a whole.

During the sessions we asked people not only to comment/feedback but also to ‘sign-up’ to particular actions identified in the Road Map. The response to this has been encouraging and we will be following up with those people/organisations on how to take things forward with them.

There has been a lot of interest in the Timebanking scheme and other general opportunities to volunteer and we will make sure how these provisions are accessed is included in the work of Total Craigroyston. Information and communication have continued through the feedback sessions to be an important area requiring further work. It has been great to have a good number of young people involved – they have contributed to a number of the actions and will be involved in taking forward the work.

The Road Map itself is available on the Forth Neighbourhood Partnership website or directly from http://www.edinburghnp.org.uk/media/12573/Road%20Map%202012%2009%2003.pdf. In order to break down the areas of work identified within each of the themes we are preparing a more detailed action plan (with names and some timescales). This will identify who is taking forward each of the areas of work. So, the ‘next steps’ are to go, with the local community and staff, and do the things that people have identified!

If anyone wants to talk about the Road Map then they can contact Christine (Mackay, Total Craigroyston manager) or myself.”

 

Total Craigroyston is based at North Neighbourhood Office, 8 West Pilton Gardens, Edinburgh EH4 4DP

Telephone: 0131 529 5056

Email: tim.packer@edinburgh.gov.uk

Blog: http://totalcraigroyston.wordpress.com

 

Total Craigroyston Draft Roadmap

Forth Neighbourhood Partnership meets on Tuesday

Forth Neighbourhood Partnership’s next public meeting will be held on Tuesday 21 August from 7 – 9pm in Craigroyston Community High School, Pennywell Road.

The Total Craigroyston initiative will be the main agenda item.

For further information visit the website www.edinburghnp.org.uk/neighbourhood-partnerships/forth or telephone 529 5082. All welcome.

Total Craigroyston – update

Manager Christine Mackay gives an update on the Total Craigroyston initiative:

Consultation meeting at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

I hope you have all had a good summer in spite of the dreary weather.

Many thanks to all of you who contributed to our consultation events. In total, 215 local residents and front line staff, from 37 different teams and organisations were involved in nine events.

We had expected to be ready to share the outcome with you earlier in August but in the end, processing all the information we received took longer than we thought. However, we now have a draft ‘Road Map’, which will set the direction for the Total Craigroyston Initiative. The information and insights that we gathered have been grouped into themes and we have identified a range of short and long term actions that we would like to achieve over the life of the initiative.

What is obvious is that there is a real strength within the community and a desire to build on the good work that is already going on. Of course, some challenges were identified and we hope that we can make progress on these in order to achieve the kinds of changes that people would like to see.

We have organised a range of meetings to present the findings of the research back to people who were involved and other stakeholders.

The meetings will take place on the following dates:

Tuesday 4 September at 2pm in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

Wednesday  5 September at 7pm in Craigroyston Community High School

Thursday 6 September at 10am in North Edinburgh Arts Centre.

Everyone is welcome but please book a place by contacting Julie Innes by telephone on 469 3162 or by email on julie.innes@edinburgh.gov.uk. Childcare can be arranged for those who need it. Please let Julie know when you book a place.

The draft Road Map will be available on Monday 20 August from the Total Craigroyston Blog at totalcraigroyston.wordpress.com and if you have any comments or observations please let us know.

As well as the meetings above, there will be a short presentation to the Forth Neighbourhood Partnership on Tuesday 21 Aug at 7pm, which is open to everyone.

Two Play Out days were organised by Total Craigroyston

Teddy Time at Muirhouse Library

All local teddy bears and their families are invited to Teddy’s Rhyme Time at Muirhouse Library on Monday (13 August) from 11 – 3pm.

Part of the Total Craigroyston initiative, Teddy’s Rhyme Time is a fun event that  children aged 3 – 6 years old and their families – and teddies, of course – can enjoy.

Among the fun activities on offer are Rhyme Time, finger-puppet making, face painting, Fingernotes Music, PEEP for babies, badge making and Lickety Spit. The Play Talk Read bus will be there too, and bring along a packed lunch for a Teddy Bear’s Picnic!

Sounds like fun!

Another PLAY OUT this Friday!

It’s fun – even when it’s raining! Last week’s Play Out in Muirhouse

Go on – play out in the street! Following last weekend’s inaugural Play Out in Muirhouse on Saturday, the Total Craigroyston team has organised another fun day this Friday – and this time it’s in West Pilton.

This Friday, from 11 – 3pm, part of Ferry Road Drive will be blocked off to traffic and will become a fun family playground!

Among the activities planned are water balloons, traditional street games, water slides and puppet theatre with Licketyspit.

Last weekend’s event was a great, make Friday’s even better. Go on – play out in the street!

For further information about Play Out contact Sarah Low on 552 5700, and to find out more about the Total Craigroyston initiative check out the blog at http://totalcraigroyston.wordpress.com

 

 

Roads Closed for Total Craigroyston’s Play Out

Muirhouse Park was closed off for four hours yesterday for a Play Out event. Total Craigroyston’s Sarah Low explained what it’s all about: ‘Play Out involves closing a street for a few hours, meaning children and families can play safely in their community. Among the activities were lots of traditional games – skipping, football, rounders and even ‘pop-up theatre’! Local parents identifies the need for events like this during the recent Total Craigroyston consultations.”

Local man Robert Pearson was there, and he takes up the story:

Road closed signs positioned at either end of MuirhousePark, this was out of the norm. Was it another police incident – or something else?

It was certainly something else and something that’s never happened in Muirhouse  before! Local group Total Craigroyston had arranged a fun, safe environment for children and families to play.

From 11am until 3pm the street was a no-go for any motor vehicles, which was enough to get the kids smiling. But when the fun started, the smiles got even bigger!  Total Craigroyston staff and volunteers from North Edinburgh Women’s Group had many games and activates in mind, and officers from Lothian and Borders Police were also here to enjoy the fun and get to know the locals.

Huge thanks to Mr and Mrs Hardwick who kindly allowed a water slide to be set up in their very own garden, it was not long until the kids had formed a very orderly queue!

Who would have thought that a little bit of fairy liquid, water and a sheet of plastic would keep many kids happy for many hours, with competitions to see who could slide furthest. 

 

The fun went on for many hours; other activities included chalking on the road, designing your very own puppet, rounders, football and much more.

Father of three David Graham, of Ferry Road Drive, only heard of the event from one of his friends just the day before. He said: “It’s fantastic to hear kids joking and laughing and it’s fantastic to see so many parents enjoying the activities with their children.” David was also keen to promote next week’s Total Craigroyston event, which will take place in his street.

Many adults took part in the game of rounders – that was until someone managed to lose one ball over the roof and another in the hedge! It was all part of the fun.

My own children really enjoyed the day. Six year old Thomas said “My favourite part of the day was the water balloons” –  and he especially loved throwing the balloons as the police officer! Nine year old Gary added that it was brilliant be able to play safely in the street and not have to worry about cars. He really enjoyed the water slide and making his own puppets.

Over 100 children enjoyed the fun and joined in with many activities, and despite the heavy sudden downpours the fun continued. Huge thanks to everyone who helped and made this day possible.

Some more pictures:

 

 Lothian and Borders police officer being chased, rather than chasing; he was soon to be hit with a water balloon!

   Above: Local children Gemma (6) and Emily (9) perform their very own puppet show with assistance from Licketyspit staff.

 

Words and pictures by Robert Pearson

Roads Closed for Total Craigroyston's Play Out

Muirhouse Park was closed off for four hours yesterday for a Play Out event. Total Craigroyston’s Sarah Low explained what it’s all about: ‘Play Out involves closing a street for a few hours, meaning children and families can play safely in their community. Among the activities were lots of traditional games – skipping, football, rounders and even ‘pop-up theatre’! Local parents identifies the need for events like this during the recent Total Craigroyston consultations.”

Local man Robert Pearson was there, and he takes up the story:

Road closed signs positioned at either end of MuirhousePark, this was out of the norm. Was it another police incident – or something else?

It was certainly something else and something that’s never happened in Muirhouse  before! Local group Total Craigroyston had arranged a fun, safe environment for children and families to play.

From 11am until 3pm the street was a no-go for any motor vehicles, which was enough to get the kids smiling. But when the fun started, the smiles got even bigger!  Total Craigroyston staff and volunteers from North Edinburgh Women’s Group had many games and activates in mind, and officers from Lothian and Borders Police were also here to enjoy the fun and get to know the locals.

Huge thanks to Mr and Mrs Hardwick who kindly allowed a water slide to be set up in their very own garden, it was not long until the kids had formed a very orderly queue!

Who would have thought that a little bit of fairy liquid, water and a sheet of plastic would keep many kids happy for many hours, with competitions to see who could slide furthest. 

 

The fun went on for many hours; other activities included chalking on the road, designing your very own puppet, rounders, football and much more.

Father of three David Graham, of Ferry Road Drive, only heard of the event from one of his friends just the day before. He said: “It’s fantastic to hear kids joking and laughing and it’s fantastic to see so many parents enjoying the activities with their children.” David was also keen to promote next week’s Total Craigroyston event, which will take place in his street.

Many adults took part in the game of rounders – that was until someone managed to lose one ball over the roof and another in the hedge! It was all part of the fun.

My own children really enjoyed the day. Six year old Thomas said “My favourite part of the day was the water balloons” –  and he especially loved throwing the balloons as the police officer! Nine year old Gary added that it was brilliant be able to play safely in the street and not have to worry about cars. He really enjoyed the water slide and making his own puppets.

Over 100 children enjoyed the fun and joined in with many activities, and despite the heavy sudden downpours the fun continued. Huge thanks to everyone who helped and made this day possible.

Some more pictures:

 

 Lothian and Borders police officer being chased, rather than chasing; he was soon to be hit with a water balloon!

   Above: Local children Gemma (6) and Emily (9) perform their very own puppet show with assistance from Licketyspit staff.

 

Words and pictures by Robert Pearson