Sunday 31 July 10.30am – 1.30 pm
WATER OF LEITH CLEAN UP & Family Picnic
Why not come along to the ANNUAL RIVER CLEAN-UP (trousers and long sleeves to avoid the nettles recommended!) And so why not bring along a packed lunch and/or picnic stuff and sit and enjoy some friendly company after the clean up?
Meet at Canonmills Clock (Next to the bridge at the bottom of Brandon Terrace) at 10.15am
ALL WELCOME
The Water of Leith Conservation Trust and Pilton Equalities Project (PEP) are among twenty four community groups from across Scotland to share in a funding boost of £175,000 to make a real difference in their local areas.
Clydesdale Bank’s Spirit of the Community Awards announced the substantial donations to voluntary groups at an awards ceremony in Glasgow earlier this week to recognise the charities and not-for-profit organisations which are going the extra mile.
Water of Leith Conservation Trust has been awarded £10,000 to support its community and volunteer development programme which aims to target new groups and extend existing partnerships. The funding will be used to increase the hours of the Community and Volunteer Officer, purchase additional equipment such as litter picks, produce a volunteer guidance pack and cover staff training costs.
Pilton Equalities Project (PEP), which aims to enhance the quality of life for older and other vulnerable adults in North Edinburgh, has been awarded £5,000 to expand its literacy programme, combining both literacy and employability skills.
Another award for Edinburgh was National Trust for Scotland, awarded £5,000 to assist with its ‘Beyond the Gate’ six month pilot project which will deliver weekly events at the Hailesland Child & Family Centre in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh. National Trust will work in collaboration with the centre staff to deliver a gardening programme focused on growing food and promoting healthy eating as well as outdoor learning.
The awards, which launched in January this year to mark the Bank’s 175th Anniversary, were open to a range of organisations across the third sector which could demonstrate their support for the local community. Groups were invited to enter the awards scheme under one of three categories; education, employability and environment.
Three winners have been selected in each category, securing a funding boost of £10,000. An additional five winners in each category have been awarded £5,000. A further £10,000 was awarded to one charity whose contribution to the community the judges felt was outstanding meaning one organisation received £20,000.
David Thorburn, Chief Executive of Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, said: “Clydesdale Bank’s Spirit of the Community Awards aim to recognise and support the vital contribution that voluntary and charitable organisations make to their local communities. It has been inspiring to see the great work which is being done at grass roots level across the country. “Water of Leith Conservation Trust, Pilton Equalities Project and National Trust for Scotland are extremely deserving winners which have been recognised for their community spirit with these awards from Clydesdale Bank.”
The recipients said they were delighted to receive the awards. Helen Brown, Trust Manager at Water of Leith Conservation Trust, said: “As a small charity this kind of investment in our work and that of our volunteers means an enormous amount. We work to keep Edinburgh’s river clean, green and full of wildlife. Thank you to Clydesdale Bank for recognising our work and choosing to support us.”
Helen Brown is pictured below (centre) with Water of Leith’s award
The Water of Leith is flows from the Pentlands through the heart of Edinburgh to Leith, and it takes a bit of work to keep the river looking it’s best. The Water of Leith Conservation Trust organise regular clean-ups along the stretch of water, and Inverleith Community Learning and Development worker Callum McLeod was involved in the latest spruce-up on 29 July.
He said: “I’d walked the route with Ben from the Conservation Trust and there was no shortage of things to do! Thankfully we had a good team of volunteers on the Sunday and we tackled some troublesome Himalayan Balsam, which is a very invasive flowering plant, and there were a number of log jams to clear. There were also some lighter lighter duties – tending to the formal garden areas and there was no shortage of litter all the way along, unfortunately – but that meant there was something for everyone to do.”
Tons of rubbish cleared from the water and riverbanks tidied up!
It does take a lot of work to keep the Water of Leith looking good, but you can do your bit as a volunteer – check out the website at www.waterofleith.org.uk Among the rewards – apart from the exercise, companionship and fresh air – is a chance to see birds like sparrowhawks and kingfishers up close, and an amazing variety of wildflowers along the banks. It’s like being in the country in the middle of the city!
