DRYLAW/Telford Community Council is to introduced fortnightly litter picks across the area following the success of a recent cleanup on the cycle path near the Red Bridge.
The first one takes place this Sunday – location and meeting time will be confirmed when the community council meets at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre tonight.
To get involved, to suggest clean-up hot spots or for further information check out Drylaw Telford Community Council on Facebook or email CC secretary Pam Higgins at pamhigginsdtcc@gmail.com
SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE DRYLAW NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
“Edinburgh has been amazing. I can’t say anything other than that.”
More than 1,300 people fleeing conflict in Ukraine have arrived through Edinburgh’s Welcome Hub, with the significant majority of all arrivals to Scotland coming in through the city.
Located in a peaceful and secluded area close to the Airport, the Welcome Hub offers some respite after long and difficult journeys reaching Edinburgh, with medical assistance from the NHS available.
Established with the support of the Scottish Government and other partner agencies in Gogarburn at the RBS/NatWest campus, it involves a huge, combined effort – from both volunteers and Council officers – to welcome around 40 new refugees a day, which is approximately four times that of the national average.
Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, Andrew Kerr, said:“I am truly proud of the incredible response Edinburgh has provided to Ukrainians seeking sanctuary here in Edinburgh.
“The support we’ve provided to over 1,300 refugees to date wouldn’t be possible without the time of volunteers, the donations we’ve received or the generosity of residents. The number of local people giving over their hearts and their homes to become host families has been nothing short of remarkable. I want to thank everyone involved – from Council colleagues and partners, to every volunteer who has been working tirelessly.
“We are starting to see up to 90% of all arrivals to Scotland enter through Edinburgh’s Hub, which demonstrates the scale of responsibility we now face. I’m pleased that the feedback from those using our services has been very positive and other cities have been turning to Edinburgh as an example of best practice.
“There is a significant ongoing effort to ensure every refugee settling in the city receives a warm welcome and access to vital support. It remains an extensive piece of work which involves a great deal of resource, but we are committed to supporting every person who settles in Edinburgh, as far as we possibly can.
“This includes everything from arranging accommodation, transport, interpreters, access to GPs and healthcare, counselling, education, employment support, host checks and other vital services.”
Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk, the Holova (Chair) of the Association of Ukrainians in Edinburgh, said: “We have come full circle from the Association being set up. We were beginning to become quite a quiet community here in Edinburgh, but now we are using the community centre for the reasons that our fathers set it up. We are supporting newly-arrived Ukrainians and their families in Edinburgh, until they choose to go home.
“We’ve been giving out SIM cards and bus passes. We’ve also got laptops and iPads so that the students who have arrived can continue their studies and stay connected to Ukraine.
“Edinburgh has been amazing. I can’t say anything other than that.”
Paul Wilson Chief Officer of Volunteer Edinburgh said: “Once again our Community Taskforce Volunteers have been amazing. For almost two months we have been deploying volunteers seven days a week at the airport to welcome people from Ukraine and help guide them to the Welcome Hub.
“Our volunteers have done Edinburgh proud, often going beyond the call of duty. They have stayed until the early hours of the morning at the airport to make sure passengers arriving on late-night flights are supported.”
“I am so proud of all our Community Taskforce Volunteers who not just helped at the airport but have provided informal language support, sorted donations, and packed hundreds of back packs with basic supplies.
Things are only getting busier, and with Edinburgh increasingly becoming the hub for arrivals to Scotland it is the partnership approach the Edinburgh has taken that is ensuring that displaced Ukrainians are receiving the help and support that they need.”
Bridie Ashrowan, Chief Executive, EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council) said: “Our hope for the Ukrainian people is peace in the very near future, but in the meantime it is vital that we at EVOC, and the community and voluntary sector, collaborate with partners across the City (and at a national level) to offer a warm welcome to those who are arriving in Scotland.
“Edinburgh Community Food, Fresh Start, North Edinburgh Arts and Cyrenians are already on the ground, providing emergency food support and more organisations are coming together to deliver on a longer-term approach.
“The Edinburgh Community Transport Operators Group are helping with onward travel from the Airport and other community and voluntary organisations are involved in delivering support for children and families, providing opportunities for Ukrainians to learn English and to build social connections.
“It’s so important that they settle into and feel part of the communities where they live… in Edinburgh or further afield.”
Welcome arrangements
Free transport is provided from the airport to the Hub and arranged from Edinburgh bus and train stations where required, 24 hours a day. We organise onward travel to, for example, hotel or host accommodation. The safety and wellbeing of refugees remains paramount and we are also coordinating home and host checks through our licensing team.
For people settling in Edinburgh on the Homes for Ukraine and Super Sponsor scheme, we provide the first part of their £200 resettlement grant at the Hub.
We’ve also set up a 24-hour helpline (in our customer contact team) for Ukraine arrivals in Edinburgh. To date the line has been very busy, averaging over 50 calls a day.
As an extension of the Welcome Hub, the customer contact team is providing a specialist drop-in facility at 249 High Street. This operates Monday to Friday, 10am-12pm and 2-4pm, with an interpreter present to help people settling in Edinburgh with benefit and grant payments.
Since opening in April, colleagues have supported 250 people, primarily with financial and employability support. Work is also underway to recruit Ukrainian-speaking customer contact advisors.
Volunteer efforts and donations
The response from residents and businesses has been typically generous. EVOC and Volunteer Edinburgh are leading on a strategic approach to co-ordinating this goodwill and the work of third sector groups in the city, focused around four main themes – food, translation, transport, and the volunteer ‘taskforce’.
The Ukrainian Club on Royal Terrace has become a point of community support and communications for people when they settle, with regular coffee mornings/events at which the Council, DWP and other partners attend to give advice and support. This is where many donated items are being collected under the Club’s direction.
Alongside resident and local community efforts, the Visitor Attractions Group (Capital Group) have provided free tickets to key Edinburgh attractions, including the Castle and the Zoo.
Edinburgh Leisure have provided passes for leisure centres, while Boots have donated toiletries, Clarks have donated shoes and NatWest is continuing to provide office space for the welcome hub. The Edinburgh Tattoo has also provided office space, for donations to be sorted.
The rucksacks we hand out at the Welcome Hub – filled with initial donations of essential items such as toiletries – are well received and special rucksacks with teddies are provided to children. We also have a supply of baby accessories including baby boxes, buggies, prams, and car seats.
Education
We’re arranging places for early years and schools, with many children and young people already supported into education.
With support from charities, electronic devices such as laptops and iPads are being provided to student aged arrivals to ensure they can continue studies in Ukrainian. The Ukrainian Club has also funded a number of bus tickets and passes.
When children are enrolled in a school, families can apply for a National Entitlement Card through Travel.AllocationPanel@edinburgh.gov.uk. Ukrainian applications will be fast tracked.
We have also been working with partners to support the Dnipro Children’s charity, a Hibs Supporters Group, which has had a relationship with children’s homes in Dnipro since 2005. The charity arranged to bring 52 children and six house mothers to Scotland. We are providing provide ongoing support, including education and health, in partnership with the Dnipro Charity and Edinburgh College.
Twin City support
We are continuing to maintain supportive relationships with and respond to appeals from our counterparts in Edinburgh’s twin cities Kyiv and Krakow. Following an appeal to the Lord Provost from Kyiv to help protect their monuments and statues, and in a show of ingenuity and collaboration between ten different organisations, over 3,000 sandbags were sourced and transported on an easyJet flight from Edinburgh to Krakow.
We are now working with a Scottish charity, Sunflower Scotland, to send over 10,000 more sandbags – this time to Kharkiv – along with a ton of potatoes, on the city’s request. A shipment of shoes has also been made to Kyiv.
In an ongoing display of solidarity, the Ukrainian flag continues to fly above the City Chambers while the Granton gasholder remains illuminated in blue and yellow.
VOLUNTEER EDINBURGH is looking for new board members.
Volunteer Edinburgh’s aim is to inspire more people to become active citizens and volunteer. We’re looking for people of all backgrounds, ages and experience to join our board of trustees and to help us achieve our goals.
You can find out more about applying to join the board, and what’s involved in the role, in the nomination pack on the trustees page of our website here.
Now is the time to apply – deadline for nominations is 16.00 on Friday 20 May.
If you have any questions, or if you would like information in a different format, please get in touch with us at finance@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk.
20 national charitable organisations to be recognised by The Queen for their work empowering young people
The UK Government yesterday announced a special one-off addition to the annual Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), in honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Her Majesty has displayed a life-long commitment to public service throughout her 70-year reign, and the annual QAVS is the highest award given to small volunteer groups across the UK. Awardees cover a wide range of activities such as dementia support clubs, community theatres and therapeutic garden projects.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for Volunteering will now shine a spotlight on 20 national charities working to empower young people aged 16-25. The number 20 has been chosen to reflect 20 years of QAVS.
A special judging panel has been convened for the award, comprising civil society sector experts and youth representatives including Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Fionnuala Jay O’Boyle and Ndidi Okezie.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “Since The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was set up 20 years ago to commemorate the Golden Jubilee, thousands of hard working local volunteer groups across the UK have been recognised for benefiting their communities.
“We’re delighted to be extending our recognition this year to some outstanding national charities through this special Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for Volunteering.
“We want to celebrate the important work done by national charities to empower young people with the skills they need to develop and grow. This is a fitting way to recognise the 70 years of selfless service Her Majesty has given to this country.”
Sir Martyn Lewis CBE, the QAVS Chair said: “Her Majesty’s faithful service to the nation over 70 years has been an inspiration to us all and is mirrored by countless acts of volunteering happening each day across the UK.
“For this special Jubilee Award we are looking forward to celebrating outstanding work with young people, helping them to flourish and be the best they can be. It’s a theme that’s important to all of us and is close to Her Majesty’s heart.”
The Platinum Jubilee Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is now open for applications until 17 June. Nationally registered charities helping young people (aged 16-25), who have had a national impact either on a UK-wide, or England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland basis are invited to apply.
A judging panel including sector experts and young people will select 20 winners to be announced in The Gazette in October. Winners will be presented with this special award at a ceremony in November.
Recent QAVS winners include:
Small Acts of Kindness who provide practical gift bags to lonely and socially isolated older people in Hertfordshire and signpost them to support services.
Equation in Nottingham who deliver projects in schools and the community to help prevent domestic abuse and encourage healthy relationships.
Gurnos Men’s Project in Glamorgan who get disengaged young men involved in community volunteering and horticulture, as well as helping them improve core skills.
Second Wave Centre for Youth Arts in London who run creative projects with young people and work with them to explore key issues such as knife crime and grooming.
Friends of M.V. Freedom in Dorset who take disabled people out to sea on a specially adapted boat.
Via Wings in County Down who provide a wide range of support to those in need, including a food bank, teenage supper club, homework support, learning, and counselling.
Westhill & District Men’s Shed in Aberdeenshire where socially isolated men can share skills, make friends and work together on repairing/refurbishing projects for the community.
Nominations for the 2023 QAVS awards are now open until 15 September 2022.
We’re inviting outdoor enthusiasts among your readers to join charity Meningitis Now on an exhilarating but scenic adventure to take on a Three Peaks Challenge and help us beat the deadly disease.
The Three Peaks Challenge between Friday 10 and Sunday 12 June entails climbing Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, the highest peaks in Wales, England and Scotland over just 36 hours.
It is not for the faint-hearted, but those taking part will take an enormous amount of satisfaction from the challenge whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery and supporting our fight to beat meningitis in the UK within a generation.
Sadly, meningitis and septicaemia continue to affect thousands of people in the UK and kill more under-5s than any other infectious disease. Help us to fund research to eradicate this devastating disease, raise lifesaving awareness and support those affected.
Our weekly drop-in community gardening sessions, on Thursdays from 1 – 3pm, are open to everyone.
The community garden is inside the allotment, go through the gate from the back of Toby Carvery car park, past the containers, and its the gate on your right.
Last week we prepped beds, planted strawberries, beans and peas. More bed prep and making paths and areas for fruit bushes for this week.
Dress for the weather, wellies for the mud are best”
Statement from the CCC Management Committee (25/2/22):
We can now confirm that as of 23rd June 2022, CCC will be vacating their current premises at 191 St John’s Road after being served formal notice by the site’s owners. This is in line with neighbouring units.
We are currently in the process of assessing alternative sites for the continuation of activities currently undertaken by the various groups who use the Hub and are consulting with the group leaders.
In respect of the charity shop, this will continue to operate as usual up until the end of the lease and in the meantime we are also looking at alternatives as to where the shop may be based in the future. We are also communicating with the shop supervisors.
We will continue to update the local community, our members, volunteers and staff as we make progress to identify and hopefully secure other premises.
If anyone has any ideas or suggestions for alternative premises for the shop or activities please let us know via admin@ccchub.online’
Did you know you can volunteer with Police Scotland as a Special Constable?
Police Scotland will be hosting an online event and Q&A with the aim of offering insight into the role of a Special Constable, the recruitment process and the training involved.
The event will take place on Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, 23 February, 6.30pm – 8pm.
If you’re interested in learning more about the unique skills you can develop and how you can give back to your local community, please email:
The countdown is on to nominate local young heroes for the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2022, which recognises the extraordinary young people who are making a real difference to the lives of others.
Now in its sixteenth year, the awards highlight the triumphs of young people across a range of categories – from sport and the environment to enterprise and volunteering – and shine a light on the invaluable contributions made by remarkable young people across Scotland.
Nominations are still open at youngscotawards.com and will close on13 February 2022.
The results are set to be announced on 27 April 2022 by BBC Radio 1 DJ Gemma Cairney at a star-studded red-carpet awards ceremony hosted at Edinburgh’s International Conference Centre.
The winners will join a prestigious roll call of previous recipients including RuPaul’s Drag Race champion Lawrence Chaney and social media star Jamie Genevieve. Charitable duo Jack Mullen and Alfie King were crowned 2021’s ‘Young Scots of the Year’ for their work raising donations and keeping community spirit alive during the pandemic.
“It’s an honour to be able to celebrate their achievements, so if you know someone who’s gone above and beyond to help others – we want to hear about them! Please make your nomination today.”
Awards host Gemma Cairney said: ‘I’m over the moon to have been chosen to host the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards again this year!
“There’s still time for people across Edinburgh to celebrate the young people who have made a real difference to their communities so make sure you get your nominations in. I can’t wait to meet your local young heroes.”
The categories for 2022 include:
· The Arts
· Community – Sponsored by the Scottish Government
· Enhancing Education – sponsored by Skills Development Scotland
· Enterprise
· Entertainment
· Environment – sponsored by First Bus
· Equality and Diversity – sponsored by Arnold Clark
Edinburgh Leisure is on the search for new volunteers to step this way to train as walk leaders for their award-winning Active Communities programme, Ageing Well.
A Walk Leader training course will take place on Friday, 18th February from 10.00am – 1.30pm. The training is laid back and friendly and there are no exam or tests.
The Ageing Well Project is run by Edinburgh Leisure in partnership with NHS Lothian and delivers a range of city-wide activities which support people to become, and remain, active in later life. The emphasis is on meeting new people and making physical activity accessible and enjoyable.
Ryan Dignan, Health Development Officer (Older Adults) at Edinburgh Leisure explained: “Our programme relies on the generous support of volunteers – older adults who give up 1 or 2 hours a week to help and support other older adults to get or stay active.
“No previous experience is necessary – just enthusiasm, the ability to get on well with people from differing backgrounds and ages and a love of walking.
“It’s not just Ageing Well who benefit from the volunteers’ gift of time, our volunteers say that they develop deeper connections within their communities, feel better physically, mentally and emotionally; and are better able to manage health conditions such as stress.
“On completion of their training, they will lead or support one of the many weekly walking groups that take place across the city.
In 2018 the Ageing Well programme was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), which is the highest award given to UK volunteer groups and is the equivalent of an MBE. The award reflects the tremendous contribution of Edinburgh Leisure’s Ageing Well volunteers and the positive difference they make to the lives of participants.
Ageing Well activities have been developed to cater for a wide range of tastes and abilities and all activities are either led by or supported by fully trained volunteers, who are all older adults themselves.
Jerry Gregson, one of Ageing Well’s valued volunteers who gives up 2-3 hours of his time each week, and who has been involved with the programme for 15 years explains: “Being retired, I love having the regular social contact that being a walk-leader brings, as well as the satisfaction of knowing I am doing something that is useful to others in our age-group.
“It’s also an excuse to explore the many highways and byways across the city. We take walkers to places they didn’t know about and wouldn’t go themselves, certainly not alone. Even after 15 years, I get a kick from someone saying, ‘I’ve never been this way before’.”
Anyone interested in volunteering as a walk leader and to join the training course on 18th February should email: ryandignan@edinburghleisure.co.uk
