Tag: West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

Welfare reform: getting the facts in Forth

The current reform of welfare and benefit payments is the biggest to be undertaken for over sixty years. Whether you agree with the reforms or not, the changes will affect hundreds of thousands of people across the country. How will you be affected? Find out at a briefing and information session later this month. 

Forth Neighbourhood Partnership’s Health Action Group is hosting a briefing on the Welfare Reform Act on

Wednesday 17 October from 10 – 11.30am in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.

Granton Information Centre’s Roddy Samson (pictured below) will be leading the session – which is aimed at local community, voluntary and statutory organisations – and there will be ample opportunity for questions and discussions.

Roddy Samson said: “The Welfare Reform Act 2012 introduces the greatest changes to welfare benefits in sixty years. These changes will have far reaching impacts for benefit claimants and their families, particularly for vulnerable people and the services which support them. The impact of these changes will affect those in receipt of Incapacity Benefit, Employment Support Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credits and Job Seekers Allowance. This event will give you the opportunity to learn about the latest details of the Government’s welfare reform programme and help you to understand the new system and prepare for the changes ahead – where possible.”

To find out more or to book your place at the West Pilton briefing, contact Forth Neighbourhood Partnership’s partnership development officer Jim Pattison on 529 5082 or email jim.pattison@edinburgh.gov.uk

TRIP meets next Wednesday

Tenants & Residents in Pilton (TRIP) meet next week on Wednesday 29 August at 7pm in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.

The Agenda so far:

– Stair cleaning complaints
– Neighbourhood partnership
– Edinburgh Tenants Federation fuel poverty meeting
– Muirhouse tenants group update
– Fortnightly bin collections

Open to all West Pilton and West Granton residents.

For further information see TRIP’s blog at http://piltonresidents.org.uk/

 

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

PCA: working for West Pilton for over half a century

Established in 1958, Pilton Central Association (PCA) is North Edinburgh’s oldest community-managed organisation and the group is looking for community support at their forthcoming AGM. PCA was set up to maximise community influence, address poverty and bring real economic and community benefits to the area, and those aims remain the driving force behind the organisation today.

Based at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre (which it manages), PCA supports community involvement and participation within North Edinburgh and works closely with other agencies and stakeholders to help tackle poverty and to improve the appeal and wealth of the local area. Through innovative initiatives and creative approaches, PCA aims to work together with others to ensure that the community is at the heart of local decision-making.

West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre (pictured above) is North Edinburgh’s longest established community centre and the building in West Pilton Grove remains the hub for community learning and activity in the area. The Centre’s varied programme of activities is tailored to meet the needs of the whole local community – young and old, educational and recreational. Earlier this year the Neighbourhood Centre became the home of North Edinburgh’s newest food co-op, the Fabby Food Store.

Pilton Central Association also provides the building and supports the Thrift Shop on 26 Ferry Road Drive. The Thrift Shop sells second-hand clothes and household goods, providing an invaluable service for local families. Run by friendly volunteers, donations of clothes, household goods and children’s toys are always wecome – and the Thrift Shop would also welcome new volunteers to join their happy band, so get in touch if you would like to volunteer for this community resource!

The PCA also supported the local Community Employability service by providing a home for the project at 28 Ferry Road Drive, just next door to the Thrift Shop. Community Employability, (formerly Working Links), a local one stop shop committed to helping North Edinburgh residents into education, training and employment, closed earlier this year after failing to secure a new contract. PCA is hoping that the building will now be used by other community organisations.

PCA’s Betty McVay, who received an MBE for services to the Pilton community in 2000, said: “The PCA does have a remarkable history and we are very proud of what the organisation has achieved. What is more important, however, is the future and for communities to flourish we need active organisations and active, committed local people to make that happen. Many of the challenges facing our area today are just the same as those the community faced all those years ago – and when there are improvements, we’ve got to be vigilant to make sure things aren’t allowed to slide back. The PCA, like all community organisations, needs committed activists to make sure that the community’s voice is heard – that’s one thing that’s never changed over the years and it’s as important now as it ever was. There’s still work to be done.”

 

PCA’s AGM will be held in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre on Thursday 30 August at 6.30pm. All welcome

For further information telephone 551 3194 

Simply scrumptious food events this week!

Pilton Community Health Project’s Caroline Gibb has been in touch to remind us of a couple of food-centred events taking place this week:

Tuesday 24 July, 12-2pm: West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, 19West Pilton Grove 

Fabby Food Store Picnic & Barbecue 

A drop in event at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, people can come along and make their own burger, veggie kebab or salad, and find out more about Pilton’s newest food co-op at the same time.  Loads of indoor space if we get unlucky with the weather!

 

Tuesday 24 July, 11am -1pm: Millennium Centre, Muirhouse Medway

 Simple Snacks at MillenniumCentre Summer Youth Club

Making your own tasty veggiewraps.  Places must be booked for this event by calling 0131 467 3578.

 

If your group or organisation is planning an event you would like to share with our readers please get in touch.

Here's food for thought – free summer events!

 

The FOOD for THOUGHT FORUM, in association with Pilton Community Health Project and Barri Grubb, has highlighted a feast of free food events across the Forth area over the summer holidays. How’s this top ten for tempting treats?:

Saturday 7 July 11 – 2pm

West Pilton Community Garden & Planting Day

West Pilton Place, next to Pilton Youth & Children’s Project Greenhouse – all welcome, just turn up!

 

Tuesday 10 July 10am – 12 noon

Craigroyston Cookery

Craigroyston High School, Pennywell Road – phone to book on 538 7285 or 477 7801.

 

Thursday 12 July 1 – 3.30pm

PEP Summer Fayre

West Pilton Park – all welcome, just turn up!

 

Tuesday 17 July 10am – 12 noon

Craigroyston Cookery

Craigroyston High Schoo, Pennywell Road – phone 538 7285 or 477 7801 to book.

 

Thursday 19 July 11am – 1pm

Spanish Cooking at Barri Grubb

Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway – To book your place call 551 1671.

 

Tuesday 24 July, 11am – 1pm

Fabby Food Store Picnic and Barbecue

West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre – just turn up!

 

Tuesday 24 July 11am – 1pm

Simple Snacks at Millennium Centre Summer Youth Club

Muirhouse Millennium Centre, Muirhouse Medway – call 467 3578 to book.

 

Wednesday 1 August 12.30 – 4pm

Trip to the Botanics’ Edible Garden

Bus leaves The Haven Project, Craigroyston Primary School. To book, call 551 1671.

 

Saturday 4 August 1 – 4pm

Granton Community Gardens Barbecue

Corner of Boswall Parkway and Wardieburn Road – just turn up!

 

Wednesday 8 August 11.30 – 3.30pm

Trip to Craigies Farm

Bus leaves PCHP, Boswall Parkway. Phone to book on 551 1671.

 

 

 

Here’s food for thought – free summer events!

 

The FOOD for THOUGHT FORUM, in association with Pilton Community Health Project and Barri Grubb, has highlighted a feast of free food events across the Forth area over the summer holidays. How’s this top ten for tempting treats?:

Saturday 7 July 11 – 2pm

West Pilton Community Garden & Planting Day

West Pilton Place, next to Pilton Youth & Children’s Project Greenhouse – all welcome, just turn up!

 

Tuesday 10 July 10am – 12 noon

Craigroyston Cookery

Craigroyston High School, Pennywell Road – phone to book on 538 7285 or 477 7801.

 

Thursday 12 July 1 – 3.30pm

PEP Summer Fayre

West Pilton Park – all welcome, just turn up!

 

Tuesday 17 July 10am – 12 noon

Craigroyston Cookery

Craigroyston High Schoo, Pennywell Road – phone 538 7285 or 477 7801 to book.

 

Thursday 19 July 11am – 1pm

Spanish Cooking at Barri Grubb

Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway – To book your place call 551 1671.

 

Tuesday 24 July, 11am – 1pm

Fabby Food Store Picnic and Barbecue

West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre – just turn up!

 

Tuesday 24 July 11am – 1pm

Simple Snacks at Millennium Centre Summer Youth Club

Muirhouse Millennium Centre, Muirhouse Medway – call 467 3578 to book.

 

Wednesday 1 August 12.30 – 4pm

Trip to the Botanics’ Edible Garden

Bus leaves The Haven Project, Craigroyston Primary School. To book, call 551 1671.

 

Saturday 4 August 1 – 4pm

Granton Community Gardens Barbecue

Corner of Boswall Parkway and Wardieburn Road – just turn up!

 

Wednesday 8 August 11.30 – 3.30pm

Trip to Craigies Farm

Bus leaves PCHP, Boswall Parkway. Phone to book on 551 1671.

 

 

 

Local office for rent

Do you know of any group that would be interested in  leasing community offices in  Pilton?
The former Community Employabilty office on Ferry Road Drive is  fully equipped and has a good sized meeting space. Rent is negotiable.
If you are interested you can get further information and note interest  by contacting: Linda at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre on 551  3194.