West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre is hosting a free family BBQ today from midday – lots of fun activities for the whole family.
All welcome – call 551 3194 for more info.
Tag: West Pilton
Happy birthday Betty – at last!
Betty McVay’s belated eightieth birthday celebration finally took place at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre last Friday, and the party proved to be well worth the wait.
Most readers will know that Betty has not been well, and she was forced to put her original party plans on hold when she was taken into hospital last month. However regular readers will also know that Betty is a wee battler and there was no way that the milestone party was not going to happen as soon as she was well enough again!
it was almost a ‘This Is Your Life’ event as friends and colleagues from across the years joined Betty and her family at West Pilton – as someone remarked, there were hundreds of years of community activism together in the Neighbourhood Centre that night and it was a great opportunity to share stories and memories.
In a year that’s seen old Greater Pilton lose activists and community characters like Billy Anderson, Brian Robertson, Stevey Hay and Gwen Chrystal, Betty’s party gave the community something to smile about – even if the raffle prizes were among the worst in history!
Belated happy birthday then, Betty – and keep battling!
Living Well North Edinburgh: ‘helping people grow’
Local community mental health organisation Living Well North Edinburgh is based at West Pilton Park.
Formed in Autumn 2011 following a merger between PROP Stress Centre and the Clermiston-based Threshold Mental Health Project, the essence of LWNE is people working together to improve the mental health and wellbeing of their local community and themselves.
‘LWNE is all about helping people grow’
If you want some support, friendship, understanding or just a friendly face, then come along to LWNE. We offer relaxation sessions, and other groups such as confidence building, arts and crafts. We also have a number of weekly Drop Ins. Our regular newsletter details our future plans and activities. So, if you are feeling fed-up, depressed, stressed, anxious or isolated, please phone for an informal chat or to make an appointment to come and meet us.
Living Well North Edinburgh
5 West Pilton Park, Edinburgh EH4 4EL
Telephone 343 6375
Email: info@livingwellnorthedinburgh.org.uk
Click on link to see a copy of LWNE’s latest newsletter:
Playing Out’s back!
Safe play areas for children was an issue identified by local parents and carers during last year’s Total Craigroyston consultation – two Play Out events were held last summer which were very successful.
This year they will be held in local green spaces.
The first Play Out of the summer will be next Saturday 13 July, in West Pilton Park – all welcome, and even better, if you or any local volunteers can help on the day, please get in touch! Two more Play Days will be held, down at the Waterfront and in Muirhouse Park later this summer; details will follow …
Sarah Low
Community Learning & Development/Total Craigroyston
30 June date for West Pilton & Muirhouse Gala
This year’s West Pilton and Muirhouse Gala, which takes place on Sunday 30 June, will feature a procession and gala court.
The procession will include local groups, schools, nurseries, a marching band plus much more. The procession will start leave Craigroyston Primary School at 11:45am and parade through the streets of Muirhouse and West Pilton to arrive at West Pilton Park at 12pm.
For more information on all things Gala email wpmcgala@gmail.com
Happy birthday to North Edinburgh’s ‘strong women’!
Rowan Alba’s Stramullion Service celebrates ten years at West Pilton Park
Rowan Alba chief executive Helen Carlin and project manager Sue Evans were joined by staff, supporters and service users past and present at a reception to celebrate the tenth birthday of the organisation’s homeless women’s unit in North Edinburgh last Friday. Local MP Mark Lazarowicz was among the guests who gathered to mark the important milestone at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.
Rowan Alba’s Stramullion Service in West Pilton was established in 2003 in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council to provide secure short-term supported accommodation for up to ten women and their children in individual flats. Stramullion works with women aged 16+, with and without children, who are homeless – this includes young people who are in transition (for example, leaving care), women whose families have broken down, and those involved in offending, or alcohol or drug misuse.
Stramullion staff provide advice and support to enable each woman to build the personal skills and resources they need – equipping them to move on from homelessness in a positive and healthy way. Each personal support plan depends on individual circumstances and need, and just some of the core services which many Stramullion clients need include:
- Welfare and benefits advice
- Budget and debt management
- Life skills training and home management
- Tenancy maintenance support
- Resettlement and social activities
- Advice, information and support to access local community services
- Referral to specialist social work, health and counselling services
- Help with applications and grants
- Move on support when the time comes to move in to their own home
- A follow-up service after re-settlement.
The Stramullion (an old Scots word for ‘strong woman’) service believes that accommodation, support, education and employment provide women with the best route off the streets and out of the misery caused by homelessness.
Speaking at the anniversary event, Rowan Alba CEO Helen Carlin said: “I’m really delighted to be celebrating ten years in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council and all our supporters. I’m especially pleased to see so many current and past service users turning out to celebrate with us.”
Stramullion project manager Sue Evans, who has been at West Pilton since day one, added: “This is a very special day for us and it’s great to see so many people here. It’s really brilliant!”
News from West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre
More free mone advice at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre this Friday (12 April) from 10am – 2pm, courtesy of Money Advice Scotland and CAB. Sessions are free, but by appointment only – to make yours call 551 3194.
LOOKING FOR LOCAL OFFICE/MEETING SPACE?
Are you a small business or community organisation looking to rent affordable office/meeting space?
Pilton Central Association has space available in the West Pilton area and would be open to discuss possible full or shared use of the space on a temporary basis.
Conditions of Let and rent are negotiable.
If you are interested or would like further information plese contact Willie Black on 0751 568 6421.
Additional recycling sites in Pilton and Muirhouse
The following additional recycling facilities have been sited in West Pilton and Muirhouse:
West Pilton Crossway top of street on pavement at the dead end ( between 1 and 2) – 2 x packaging, 1 x paper, 1 x glass
West Pilton Gardens outside number 26 on pavement – 1 x packaging, 1 x paper, 1 x glass
West Pilton Drive outside number 35 at bollards- 2 x packaging , 1 x paper
Ferry Road Gardens at the seating area, 1 x packaging bank, 1 x paper bank
Ferry Road Drive outside number 36 – 2 x packaging, 1 x paper
West Pilton Green on carpark outside number 35 – 2 x packaging, 1 x paper
West Pilton Steet outside number 9 on pavement- 2 x packaging, 1 x paper
Muirhouse Park Left hand side of number 31 ( on road) – 2 x packaging, 1 x paper
Muirhouse Drive outside park entrance – 2 x packaging, 1 x paper
Pennywell gardens outside number 49 on pavement- 1 x paper, 1 x packaging
Muirhouse Drive on pavement across from number 11 – 2 x packaging, 1 x paper
Muirhouse Park across from number 49 at at park entrance at side of litter bin – 2x packaging, 1 x paper
Have your say on West Granton/West Pilton tonight
How could your local neighbourhood be improved? You can express your views on priorities for West Pilton and West Granton at an informal event organised by Forth Neighbourhood Partnership this evening.
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre is the venue and the event runs from 6 – 8pm.
Link Up makes things happen in Muirhouse
The popular Pork Butcher’s shop on Pennywell Road reopened for just a week recently – not to sell meat, but as a community drop-in resource. Muirhouse Link Up project worker Julie Crawford explains all:
“The purpose of the week was to do a few things –
Promote Link up project which started in May last year. I work with local people in Muirhouse and West Pilton to identify activities that bring different groups of people together to take part and contribute on an equal footing. The activities could be anything, from people having a cup of tea together to taking part in an activity. We’ve been working with local people to develop a monthly bingo evening, which has seen over 60 people attend the last few months, supporting the Tenants and Residents In Muirhouse Group (TRIM), an Arts and Baking group at North Edinburgh Arts, establishing community cinema and much more.
During the week we had a huge map on the shop wall and local people were invited to write on it and give us views about places that are important to them, what people do in the community and things that they would like to see. Over the course of the week 250 people came through the door, which was fantastic. The highlight was seeing local artists using the space to work with young people doing light photography and some film-making. The shop window will be used by City of Edinburgh Council to advertise 21st Century homes and community activity – I believe there is massive potential to use the space by community organisations.
Link up will continue to work with local people to set up activities which they have skills or interests in, just get in touch! Local people are already running new activities this year, including chess and archery!”
To get in touch with Julie, call 315 6405 or email Julie@mydg.org.uk
You can also check out Muirhouselinkup on Facebook or ‘tweet’ @linkup11
