Granton History Hub: Volunteers needed

If you are interested & want to know more, please visit our website, or come along to Granton:hub any time between 1-4pm on Tuesdays 12th and 19th December.

Stay as long as you like – simply say ‘hello’ or we can set you to work!

Contact Tamsin at history@grantonhub.org

Cycling World Champs: Charity partner calls for volunteers 

  • Volunteers and fundraisers across Scotland prepare to help World Bicycle Relief deliver 1 million bikes to communities in need around the world 
  • More cycling-loving volunteers needed to bring World Bicycle Relief events to life in key Championship venues including Glasgow, Glentress, and Fort William 

Ahead of the first-ever UCI Cycling World Championships in Scotland in August, World Bicycle Relief, the official Global Charity Partner of the 2023 event, is preparing to announce an ambitious programme of events and activities created to unite communities across Scotland to celebrate the power of the bike. 

But first, World Bicycle Relief is calling on audacious Scots to donate their time at the Cycling World Championships. 

Cycling fans who sign up as volunteers will join World Bicycle Relief’s passionate team to celebrate the sport’s greatest athletes at this world-first event – all while fundraising to help to provide 1 million bicycles to transform the lives of thousands of families and communities around the world. 

World Bicycle Relief’s volunteers will get involved in exciting activations alongside iconic World Bicycle Relief partners; lead community bike rides; support school and club activities; and help deliver inspiring fundraising activities. All with the goal of raising money to provide bikes and train mechanics. 

In Glasgow, the Glasgow Green BMX hub will be home to a VR experience where volunteers will help the public can ride a Buffalo Bike and see exactly what the bike’s recipient would.

In George Square, volunteers will support a milk churn challenge, where participants will try and shift full milk churns with and without the help of a Buffalo Bike – a great way of demonstrating how a bike can boost physical capabilities and help people transport goods.

In event villages around Scotland volunteers will also help sell merchandise and man donation points, as well as host competitions and challenges for the public.  

World Bicycle Relief works with communities to provide Buffalo Bicycles –  sturdy bikes specially designed to carry heavy loads and handle rugged terrain –  to people in need who live in rural, unpaved areas. These bikes can transform lives by helping schoolchildren and adults access education, employment, and healthcare.   

Mark Kiehlmann, an Agile Project Manager based in Glasgow, has volunteered for World Bicycle Relief since 2020 and is looking forward to leading the charity’s Cycling World Championships mountain biking volunteer team alongside his wife and three children: 

“I’ve witnessed first-hand the transformation that bicycles can bring to children, women and men in countries like Kenya where I once worked. Children could shorten the time taken to get to school by cycling, allowing them to travel more safely and quickly while providing more time for essential chores like collecting firewood or water. While women I met, like Irene, could transport more of the food she grew easily, sell it fresh and get home safely by bicycle.

“The Cycling World Championships is going to be an incredible opportunity to share World Bicycle Relief’s life-changing message that anyone, anywhere in the world should have the opportunity to pursue their goals without feeling stuck or unsafe due to distance or lack of transportation.

“I can’t wait to get involved in the biggest cycling event ever where the world’s greatest riders will make history in Scotland and show the world the power of the bike – all while making a difference to communities around the world!”

Edinburgh North East Scouts has opportunities for volunteers

Sign up for the online information evening on Tuesday 29th November at 7.30pm here https://sesscouts.org.uk/edinburgh-north-east-scouts-information-event/ 

We know everyone is busy, so this event is taking place online to fit in around family, work and life. It’ll only take 1 hour and will be informative.

Did you know Edinburgh North East Scouts has almost 100 young people on a waiting list to join?

And they need new helpers to support their 14 Scout Groups in Portobello, Craigentinny, Craigmillar, Duddingston, Calton, Joppa, Stockbridge, Pilrig, Broughton, Trinity, Leith, Newhaven, Wardie and Willowbrae. 

Sign up for this event to find out about the exciting things the Scout Groups get up to and flexible volunteering opportunities.

Demand by young people to join Scouts in the Edinburgh North East area is good with youth waiting lists growing. However, they need new adult volunteers to reduce the waiting list and enable more local young people to benefit from Scouting. 

Edinburgh North East Scouts is looking to the local community and organisations to help change the lives of local young people. They are appealing for help to reduce the youth waiting list and support 100 more young people to benefit from Scouts. 

Scouts is only possible thanks to superstar volunteers – ordinary people, like you, making an extraordinary difference in young people’s lives. They are looking for new adult volunteers to assist their existing leader and executive team.

So please consider what you can do and if you know anyone who may be willing to get involved and ask them to come along to the event too. It is possible that they may consider a job share if that was of interest to you?

Scouting has a reputation for helping young people to develop resilience, a positive character, respect for others, good community skills, as well as physical and mental fitness. Can you help inspire the doers and give it a goers of the future?

FACT 1: There are 14 Scout Groups in the Edinburgh North East area and they all want to provide more Scouting to more local young children.
FACT 2: You don’t need to have any specific skills or be Bear Grylls to lend a hand.
FACT 3: They have a collective youth waiting list of almost 100.
FACT 4: If you volunteer as a Leader to get involved now then they can look at how your child could get automatic entry into their preferred Scout Group.
FACT 5: You don’t have to have previous Scouting experience to get involved. 

As a District, they want to offer your child and other local children across the Edinburgh North East area the chance to participate in all the fun experiences and adventures they do in Scouting week to week such as, camping, fire-lighting, climbing and abseiling, and yes, learning how to tie and use knots (these will come in handy in later life!). 

Are you passionate about seeing local young people succeed? Are you a team player with a positive, can-do attitude? Do you enjoy fun activities? Do you want to do more in your community?

Are you more of a ‘behind the scenes’ person? Do you have a skill or hobby you can share? Then this event is right up your street.  Scouts has the opportunities – you just show up, get stuck in and make memories for life! 

We all have the power to help young people to realise their potential.  You don’t need to have been a Scout when you were younger.

You don’t even need to know how to put up a tent. Their door is open to people of all ages, genders, races and backgrounds, and they’re only able to change lives because people like you lend a hand.

There’s lots of ways you can get more involved with Scouts as a parent, carer or family member. From helping out occasionally on a family rota or as part of their Executive Committee to stepping up as a leader, their volunteering activities are as varied as you. 

The good news is you shape what you do and the time you have to give. Scouts happens when a lot of us give a little … and no, you don’t have to be a Scout or outdoors expert to volunteer.

Most of their volunteers work directly with young people aged 6-18 through their Beaver, Cub and Explorer groups – helping young people gain skills for life through fun activities.

District Commissioner, Rob Whitelaw, said: “This isn’t a job application, and you certainly don’t have to be an adventurer like Bear Grylls to get involved with Scouting and in fact not many of our volunteers are!

“Do you have first aid knowledge? Are you good with numbers? Handy in the kitchen? Or are you a DIY whizz? We all have useful skills, and you can volunteer and help in many ways.

“Are you ready to inspire a generation of young people to experience fun, friendship and real adventure? The opportunities to volunteer with us are flexible. Think of something you’d like to do, and chances are it’s just what we require.

“Whatever your skills, experience and interests, we can find a role for you!”

Sign up for the online information evening on Tuesday 29th November at 7.30pm here:

https://sesscouts.org.uk/edinburgh-north-east-scouts-information-event/

Earth in Common needs your help!

Do you have a few hours to spare each weekday from tomorrow – Monday 17th January?

Earth in Common (formerly Leith Crops in Pots) are in need of some help shifting bits & bobs/decluttering/organising ahead of our big renovation.

Tea & coffee will be provided!

Wrap up warm & come chat with our team from 10am.