Work continues to bring the Heart up to the state where it can open fully to the public, but in the meantime, those of you who missed our Enliven event recently, need not worry. We’re holding another taster event on Saturday 26th November, from 2 to 4pm.
This is a Coorie-In as winter approaches, where you’ll be able to take part in all sorts of craft activities and visit different parts of the site – the Anchor Building, The Creel Building and the Victoria Building. Different activities will be taking place in each.
Some of our recently trained volunteers will be ready to welcome you to a reminiscence session in the Atrium; The History of Education Centre will invite you to visit the transformed classroom on the first floor which will be the new home of the Victorian Schoolroom; The Men of Leith’s Shed will welcome you to their workshop in the Creel Building and tell you about their new Repair Shop, while the Anchor Building and the old gym hall will host numerous physical activities and craft sessions.
Do come along and see what’s on offer. There will even be food tastings!
Don’t miss it.
Can you help?
If you’ve visited the blog page on the website, you will have seen that there are various questions being posed of you. If you haven’t visited, check it out.
We’re searching for the families of two men who taught at VPS during the First World War. Please do have a look and see if you can help.
The latest blog also features an intriguing find in the Victoria Building. Do you recognise it? It is burned into the floor on the first floor.
Those of you who have volunteered to help out at the Heart are being invited to a chat with our Volunteer Coordinator, Bryan, a tour of the site with our Manager, Roger, and maybe even a sandwich or a coffee and cake, on Saturday 19th November, from 11 till 2.
Please register to volunteer via the volunteering page on the website and let us now what activities you would be interested in helping with.
We would like to know by Tuesday 22nd if you will attend the event so that we can get the catering right.
Finally, we are pleased to welcome the Edinburgh-based youth theatre group Lyra to present our very first public performance in the Heart.
This will be Snowstorm, a charming winter’s tale for children aged 5-8. It will take place on Monday 21st November at 6pm.
Tickets are free but are strictly limited and must be booked in advance.
Email admin@heartofnewhavencommunity.co.uk with Snowstorm in the title, to enquire about availability, and pass the word along to those who might not otherwise have heard about it.
PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need, has revealed it will be opening the doors of its new shop in Edinburgh next week.
Bargain-loving customers will have the opportunity to pick-up an array of pre-loved and new items when they are welcomed into the South Bridge store for the first time on Thursday 3 November.
The charity shop will support PDSA’s vital veterinary work across its 48 Pet Hospitals – including its local centre in the city – which care for thousands of pets whose owners struggle to afford essential treatments.
Cluster Shop Manager Fiona Lawrie said the new store will provide cash-conscious customers with the opportunity to purchase high-quality, cut-price products while supporting a vital veterinary service.
She added: “We are absolutely delighted to be opening our new shop in South Bridge and supporting the important work carried out by PDSA’s Pet Hospitals which help thousands of poorly pets and support their owners through challenging times.
“We understand that many people are struggling financially due to the rising cost of living and are looking forward to helping those who are feeling the squeeze by offering a wealth of pre-loved and brand-new items at great prices. From clothes and books to homeware and toys, we are certain that shoppers will find some incredible hidden treasures.”
Volunteer roles, which offer a great opportunity for people to boost their CV, gain valuable work experience, and grow in confidence while helping sick and injured pets, are available at the new charity shop.
Fiona said: “We’re looking for friendly and dedicated people aged 18 or over to join our team at South Bridge in Edinburgh. Volunteering with us is a great way to give something back to the community and make a real difference to the lives of people and pets.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t have previous retail experience – we provide full training, and we’ll reimburse your travel expenses so you’re not out of pocket. All you need is a few spare hours a week, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn.
“The pandemic had a huge impact on PDSA’s fundraising activities which is why the support provided by our retail volunteers is so important. We don’t receive any government funding towards running our vital veterinary services so the generosity of the community who donate items to our shops, and the time dedicated to us by our volunteers, mean we can be there for pets and their owners when they are most in need.”
The new shop will be open from 9.30am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday.
To find out about volunteering opportunities at the new store, please contact Fiona Lawrie by calling 07557 196831 or email lawrie.fiona@pdsa.org.uk.
Alternatively, visit the following link to apply for a role online:
No pet owner should be faced with losing a beloved pet because they can no longer afford to pay for treatment. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn.
PDSA encourages all supporters to sign up for Gift Aid* if they are a UK tax-payer, to help their donations go even further. Gift Aid allows PDSA to claim an additional 25 per cent of the value of each item sold.
LOTHIAN list MSP Foysul Choudhury visited Tiphereth Camphill last week.
The Labour MSP said: “I really enjoyed my visit to Tiphereth Camphill in Edinburgh, where I saw how they bring together diverse communities to work and grow together.
“They support those with learning difficulties to gain opportunities and skills, all within a beautiful and serene landscape that encourages members to find purpose and belonging.
“Tiphereth is a place where fun, work and care go hand-in-hand. I was encouraged to see a model of care that promotes creativity, flexibility, understanding, learning and adapting, which is of great benefit to the community members. Tiphereth Camphill gives members with learning difficulties the chance to engage in skilled work, such as woodwork, and has given many an opportunity to uncover their hidden talents and sense of purpose.
“I was interested to see how such a model, which promotes inclusive relationships and autonomy, could be replicated in the design of the new National Care Service. Tiphereth Camphill wants to ensure that a new National Care Service does not impose standard templates of care but instead gives those with learning difficulties opportunities such as skilled work.
“However, I learnt that there is a problem with a decline in volunteers. I also learnt of problems they are facing with energy costs and the cost-of-living crisis, which could be influencing volunteers to give up the role and find paid work, out of necessity.
“I intend to raise this with my colleagues and the Cross-Party Group on Volunteering, which I co-convene, to try to find a solution which could support this sector during this difficult time.
“I will also raise some of the issues faced by those with learning disabilities with the Social Justice and Social Security Committee.”
We would like to invite you on our Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Royston Wardieburn Community Education Centre Management Committee on Tuesday, 25 October 2022, 2 pm – 3 pm
Venue: Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, 11 Pilton Drive North, Edinburgh EH5 1NF
We would like to extend this invitation to the centre users, local community groups and organisation who use this community facilities on regular basis at the centre.
We are looking for people to join the Management Committee who can bring new skills and expertise; therefore, all North Edinburgh residents are welcome.
Tea coffee and refreshment will be provided.
This is a public event, no registration is required to attend. For any further information, please contact us via email: rwccmc@yahoo.com
Please find attached the agenda and minutes of last year AGM.
Looking forward to see you at the AGM on 25th October,
And apologies if it seems a long one: it’s just an indicator of how much is happening!
Well, we’re open for business! All right, perhaps not fully open, but we have held our first public events in the Anchor Building and they’ve been great successes. We will build on them as we approach opening in the old Victoria Building.
Enliven was a taster event supported by the Edinburgh Wellbeing PACT, held on Saturday 24th September to allow members of the community to see what HONC and some of their partners will be offering once the whole of the Heart is open. Over 100 visitors of all ages came through the Heart’s gate to investigate.
Some of our Partners demonstrated their wares, including Ink on Mesh with screen printing and the Victorian Schoolroom with Victorian crafts and toys inside and gird and cleek races in the playground, while Men’s Shed showed off their new workshop in the Creel Building. The Newhaven Community Choir and Men’s Shed members contributed to some musical offerings.
Hannah Watt, the Learning Community teacher for the Trinity Academy cluster was also on hand to help youngsters make their own keyrings while the planters in the playground were refreshed as volunteers leant a hand with new planting.
“The weather was very kind, the biscuits all eaten and all of the partners and volunteers felt that the day had been a success and worthwhile,” reports Community Projects Coordinator and Trustee Norma Johnston.
Calling all volunteers, registered or not
Have you already volunteered to help out in some way? Please note that we have revamped our call for volunteers on the website where there is now an updated form. If you have already volunteered you will be contacted by our Volunteer Coordinator Bryan with a link to the new form. After all, you may have moved away or found other things to do with your time since you first contacted us. If so, please let us know so that we can take you off the list.
If you would like to volunteer now, then please go to the website and follow the links. We are currently looking in particular for volunteers to help with DIY skills such as painting & decorating, pulling up carpets, cleaning windows, upholstery, as well as minute takers for sub-group meetings. Please go to:
We are also planning a volunteer meeting some time in November so that you can meet each other. If you’re registered, you will be contacted with the details. Hope you can make it!
If you can’t volunteer your time, you may be able to contribute in kind. Are there any local businesses out there who feel they could sponsor us in any way or contribute practical necessities?
On 5th September, the Conservative party elected a new prime minister of the United Kingdom. Scotland has not voted for a conservative government since 1955, and Liz Truss marks the twelfth prime minister in the last hundred years elected without majority support in Scotland (writes Fraser of Allander Institute’s ALLISON CATALANO).
The last time Scotland’s vote mirrored the majority was in 2005 – the last time that a general election resulted in a Labour majority.
The Brexit vote in 2016 is another good example of how far Scotland’s opinion differs from that of the UK majority – less than 40% of Scottish voters approved the referendum to leave the EU, compared to more than 50% from Wales and England.
Scotland’s status as a minority among the UK electorate isn’t so surprising from a population standpoint – Scotland only accounts for about 9% of the total UK electorate. England, by contrast, claims 84% of all voters.
The vast difference between Scotland’s opinion and UK electoral outcomes may result in worsened well-being for the Scottish population. People derive a sense of satisfaction from having the ability to participate in and impact politics and governmental structures. This satisfaction, termed “democratic well-being,” is weakened by perceived or structural inequalities.
Participatory inequality stems from any situation in which a particular group is unlikely to or discouraged from some form of civic participation, which includes behaviours like voting, interacting with political campaigns, activism, or volunteering.
Examining voting in particular, Scottish voters may feel disenfranchised from the political sphere in the UK because of the perceived lack of political power on a national level, and may be less likely to choose to vote or express an interest in politics.
Certain groups in Scotland may also be more or less inclined to participate in national or local elections.
Income levels, health, and educational attainment may all result in different levels of participation both within Scotland and when comparing Scottish participation to the rest of the UK. In this sense, there may be participatory inequalities within the Scottish population and when comparing Scotland to the UK as a whole.
Using Understanding Society: the UK Longitudinal Household Survey, we determined that age, income, health, education, and employment statuses are correlated with an individual’s level of interest in politics, and the likelihood that they voted or volunteered recently. Understanding Society is a yearly panel survey, with yearly data available from 2009 to 2021.
Does participation differ in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK?
Scotland has a high level of average engagement across all survey years relative to Northern Ireland and Wales, but a lower level than England.
Scottish residents are more likelyto have volunteered in the past year than residents of Northern Ireland or Wales, but less likely to have volunteered than English residents.
Scottish voting habits vary. Scotland had the lowest turnout in 2001 and 2005, and the highest turnout in 2015 and 2019. Scotland generally has higher turnout than Northern Ireland but lower turnout than England or Wales (Figure 1).
Scottish residents are more likely to express aninterest in politics than in Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland’s responses are roughly similar to England. Interest in politics across the UK increased in 2016 following the EU referendum vote, particularly in Northern Ireland, and peaked in Scotland in 2018 (Figure 2).
Figure 1: General election voter participation by constituent country
Figure 2: Interest in politics by constituent country
Despite Scottish residents being relatively politically engaged, Scotland experiences substantial gaps in participation based on health, income, education, and employment.
Scotland has the largest gap in participation between individuals that considered themselves in good health and individuals that considered themselves in poor health in the United Kingdom (Figure 3).
The lowest income quintile in Scotland is more engaged than the lowest income quintile in Wales or Northern Ireland. However, Scotland experiences larger gaps between the highest and lowest income quintile than the national average in political interest. Notably, the bottom income quintile in Scotland was more likely to have voted than in any other part of the UK. Political interest was also higher than the national average for the lowest earners.
Individuals with no qualifications in Scotland are less likely to volunteer than anywhere else in the UK, although they are more likely to have voted in a general election than the UK average. Unqualified individuals in Scotland are less likely to express an interest in politics than in England or Wales.
Scotland experiences a greater gap in participation based on work-related benefits compared to the rest of the UK. Individuals receiving in-work income or unemployment benefits are less likely to have voted, volunteer, or express a political interest in Scotland than anywhere else in Great Britain.
Figure 3: The gap in civic participation between self-reported good health and bad health is wider for each behaviour in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK
How do inequalities impact civic engagement in Scotland?
Health and income inequality are consistent predictors of voter turnout in Scotland. Scotland’s wide range of participatory behaviour based on health is particularly interesting.
Scotland has a unique relationship with health inequalities, and a history of unusually poor health outcomes based on region, education, and income. Although health inequality takes many forms, life expectancies provide a good frame of reference.
In general, higher incomes beget longer lives. Scotland is a complete anomaly in this regard – despite having the highest average income in the United Kingdom, Scottish people have the shortest life expectancy.
Life expectancies also vary widely within Scotland, and even within cities and neighbourhoods. For instance, a male born in Glasgow between 2018-2020 has a life expectancy that is 7.5 years shorter than one born in the Shetland Islands.
Within Glasgow neighbourhoods, the difference in life expectancies is striking – males born in the least deprived areas can expect to live 15 years longer than males born in the most deprived areas.
I examined the health impacts on voting, volunteering, and political interest based on individual’s self-perceived general health, mental health, long-term illness or disability, and receipt of any illness or disability benefits.
Individuals that consider themselves in poor health are less likely to engage in civic behaviour compared to those that considered themselves in generally good health (Figure 4). Overall, self-perceived general health was the most significant health predictor of civic behaviour.
Figure 4: Inequalities in civic participation by self-reported health status
Surprisingly, claiming a long-term illness or disability did not impact an individual’s ability to participate. This is largely because of the broadness of the term “disability” – a person can be disabled in a way that limits their ability to vote, but many disabilities are easier to manage and would have no impact on someone’s ability to understand politics or volunteer. Receiving disability benefits, however, indicates that a person’s circumstance is difficult enough that it interferes with regular work and income.
The Understanding Society Survey has 41 different benefit classifications. Using their descriptions as illness or disability benefits, I looked into people who received at least one of the following benefits: severe disablement allowance, industrial industry disablement allowance, disability living allowance, war disablement pension, incapacity benefit, received working tax credit (including disabled person’s tax credit), and any other disability benefit or payment.
Scottish residents receiving some form of disability benefit were:
10% less likely to have voted in the most recent election than Scottish residents that did not receive disability benefits
19% less likely to report an interest in politics
41% less likely to have volunteered in the past year
Receiving work or income benefits is another way of looking into the degree to which income inequality affects participation. I considered the following benefit classifications to be low income or unemployment benefits: income support, job seeker’s allowance, national insurance credit, housing benefit, rent rebate, universal credit.
Receiving work or income benefits affected participation more substantially than those receiving disability benefits (Table 1).
Table 1: Proportion of each population which participated in the following civic behaviours
Voted in a recent election
Interested in politics
Volunteered in the past year
Receiving unemployment or income benefits
66%
20%
8%
Receiving illness or disability benefits
72%
26%
10%
Total Scottish population
80%
32%
17%
Income inequality is also closely related to civic participation. By dividing household income into five quartiles of the population, we found that the highest-earning 20% of the Scottish population was significantly more likely to participate in civic behaviours (Figure 5). This is a clear example of participatory inequalities based on income.
Figure 5: Civic participation inequalities based on income quintile
Education also has a significant impact on all aspects of civic participation. Volunteering is the most notably impacted behaviour by education; only 4.4% of Scottish residents without educational qualifications reported volunteering in the past year, compared to over 27% of Scots with university degrees.
Table 2: Percentage of each population which participated in the following civic behaviours
Voted in a recent election
Interested in politics
Volunteered in the past year
No educational qualifications
73.5%
21.3%
4.4%
Scottish average
80%
32%
17%
Has a university degree
87.6%
38.4%
27.1%
Scotland suffers from unequal participation across a number of metrics, most notably education, income, health, and benefit receipt status. Poorer, less educated, and less healthy Scottish residents are less likely to have participated in voting and volunteering. The differences in participation are also larger within Scotland than any other constituent country in the United Kingdom.
Civic participation – whether by voting or by selecting causes to volunteer for – ultimately shapes political agendas. Values that are important to low-income, unqualified, or unhealthy members of society may be overlooked on a national scale due to disproportionately low levels of participation among these individuals.
The more equality in participation among all levels of society, the more that any particular group is able to better their circumstances.
Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) has launched its’ autumn campaign to recruit new Panel Members to support infants, children and young people in their local communities.
Across Scotland, the organisation are looking to recruit volunteers from a diverse range of backgrounds aged 18 and over who can listen, show empathy, build trust and show compassion to support this group of young people.
Panel Members are volunteers from local communities who take part in children’s hearings. Their role is to listen and make legal decisions with and for infants, children and young people. They are there to ensure that the young person is at the heart of every decision made – because every decision, no matter how big or small, has an impact on the life of the child or young person in the hearing.
All Panel Members, once selected, all take part in the CHS dedicated Learning Academy, in partnership with West Lothian College. In addition to the training the Panel Member will also gain a Professional Development Award for ‘Children’s Hearings in Scotland: Panel Members’, a verified award by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
Children’s Hearings Scotland National Convener and Chief Executive, Elliot Jackson, says: “Scotland has an ambition to be the best place in the world to grow up, to make sure all children are loved, safe, respected and able to fulfil their full potential.
“For some children and families, the Children’s Hearings System has a significant role to play in this ambition. Children’s Hearings couldn’t operate without volunteer Panel Members making decisions with and for children and young people.
“To do this, we are committed to having children at the heart of everything we do – including recruitment.
“This campaign comes at an exciting time of growth and change at CHS and is totally centred on what young people who have experience of children’s hearings, are telling us they want to see in their Panel Members.
“Qualities like being caring, compassionate, open minded, empathetic and a good listener. If you want to make a difference in your local community, I encourage you to take the opportunity this year to apply to join our unique volunteer community.”
Clare Haughey MSP, Minister for Children and Young People, said: “Panel Members play a critical role in ensuring children and young people’s views are heard by placing them at the heart of their hearing and, in the current challenging climate, it is vital now more than ever that we recruit new volunteers to continue this.
“This is a unique opportunity to join a diverse, empathetic, caring panel who will listen to children and young people.”
Children’s Hearings Scotland is the organisation responsible for recruiting, training and supporting volunteer Panel Members.
There are 2,500 volunteer Panel Members across Scotland who take part in children’s hearings and make decisions with and for infants, children and young people in their local community.
In 2020/21 16,2481 children’s hearings were held across Scotland supporting 8,9771 children and young people. The majority of hearings during the pandemic have been held virtually which was a massive undertaking for our volunteers who managed to continue providing their support throughout.
There are a range of reasons that a child or young person may be referred to attend a children’s hearing; in the last year, approximately 85%¹ of all referrals were on care and protection grounds.
Applications for new Panel Members open on 01 September to midnight 6th October 2022 and you can apply by going online to: https://chscotland.gov.uk/
Bield Housing and Care, a specialist provider for older people, has launched a new volunteer initiative to bring together its diverse community.
Coinciding with Pride Day, Bield‘s ‘Rainbow Network’ initiative will see tenants invited to join a volunteer-led group focused on inclusivity and fostering a safe and social environment for members of the LGBT community.
It is hoped that bringing together like-minded tenants will not only create a social space but also actively engage and encourage tenants to share ideas for enhancing inclusivity.
The group is part of Bield’s efforts to highlight the importance of the nine legally protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Zhan McIntyre, Head of Policy and Customer Standards at Bield, said: “The Rainbow Network has been set up to create an inclusive space for our diverse community to come together.
“We’re delighted to be launching during Pride Month and to host the first meeting on 28th June – Pride Day. Tenant opinions and feedback form the baseline for our entire business, so we are always looking for ways to improve communication and engagement with our customers.”
One of the tenants already involved in the Rainbow Network said: “The LGBT scene is very oriented around younger folk but many of us older ones have been active and ‘out’ for decades, it’s just as we get older we can become marginalised and lonely.”
Anyone interested in attending the virtual group should contact feedback@bield.co.uk in order to receive a link to the meeting.
The Rainbow Network is one of many initiatives recently introduced to get feedback from the people who know and use Bield’s services.
It comes just days after Bield held its first major customer engagement event since the pandemic, which saw the important annual fixture on hold for more than two years, enabling the organisation’s CEO and Directors to meet face-to-face with customers.
The engagement event gave tenants the opportunity to influence Bield’s strategy for the next five years at a time when the sector faces numerous challenges including soaring energy prices, the introduction of new legislation and climate change.
Bield is a registered charity dedicated to providing flexible housing solutions and support for older people with around 180 developments and over 5000 customers across Scotland.
The Royal Highland Show is urging visitors to snap up remaining tickets as demand soars for the event, which takes place next week from Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th June.
There are only a few hundred tickets remaining for the Friday and Saturday of the event, which this year is celebrating 200 years since the very first Highland Show took place back in 1822 – the first time in it’s 200 years that two days will sell out ahead of the event.
With huge demand for Friday and Saturday tickets, the only way to guarantee entry now is to buy in advance. There are still car parking tickets available to purchase for every day of the Show.
Mark Currie, Director of Operations at the Royal Highland Show, said: “We are delighted that Show goers are clearly as excited as we are about the return of Scotland’s biggest outdoor event. With Friday and Saturday looking like sell-out days, we’re encouraging people who might be holding off to book Friday or Saturday now, or to consider a Thursday or Sunday visit.
“If for any reason you can’t attend this year, luckily you can still catch the action through RHS TV – it will be broadcast live from the Showground over the four days and available to watch for free on the Royal Highland Show website.”
The Royal Highland Show, supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland, will take place 23-26th June 2022. Tickets, including for car parking, must be pre-purchased online this year and no tickets will be available to buy on the gate.
The Show will be broadcast online this year via RHS TV, funded by the Scottish Government.
For further information and to purchase tickets please visit:
Volunteer Edinburgh are pleased to be working with the RHASS to deliver the Volunteer Showmakers programme at the Royal Highland Show 2022.
The volunteering programme for the RHS has been completely renewed for 2022 which is the 200th anniversary of the show.
Volunteer Edinburgh are recruiting Volunteer Showmakers, who will welcome visitors to the event, providing information to the public and helping to ensure that every visitor has a fantastic time.
The four day event runs from the 23rd June to the 26th June and Volunteer Showmakers will be deployed throughout.
The show, first held in 1822, is the pinnacle of the agricultural calendar. Each year over 1,000 trade exhibitors, over 2,000 livestock competitors entering into 900+competitions (with over 6,500 animals) and tens of thousands of visitors come to the Royal Highland Show to experience the best of farming, food, and rural life. You can see a short video from the 2015 edition here.
Some key information about volunteering as a Showmaker:
Dates: Thursday 23rd , Friday 24th , Saturday 25th, and Sunday 26th June
There are two shifts available per day (morning 7am-1pm and afternoon 1pm-7pm)
You can volunteer on as many days as you wish, but there is a maximum one shift per day
There is a dedicated Volunteer Hub where lunches, snacks and refreshments will be available during the during the shifts
Free travel to the Royal Highland Showground on dedicated Lothian Buses services is available to all Volunteer Showmakers
We have developed a streamlined on boarding process to ensure you have all the information and support that you need to volunteer with the 2022 Showmaker programme
You will need to complete a short online induction
You will be issued with a Yoti RHS volunteering card and this will allow you access and is separate from the CTV accreditation.
To sign up please follow this link and complete this short form. You will be asked to indicate the shift/s that you wish to volunteer for.
Please note that if you wish to volunteer with colleagues, you will each individually need to complete the form, but you may wish to coordinate and select the same shift times.
Sign up now using this link or by clicking the grey button below: www.voled.in/rhs22
