Fresh Start gets down to business

Joyce Clark
Joyce Clark

Resettlement charity Fresh Start has welcomed it’s first ever Business Manager as the charity goes through a period of growth. Joyce Clark takes up the newly created role with the Pilton-based charity, which works to help people make a home for themselves.

Ms Clark comes from a business and marketing background, with her most recent role in the third sector at Sacro, the national community justice voluntary organisation.

The new Business Manager role was created to help the charity grow as demand for its services continues to rise. Fresh Start’s board of directors decided at the start of the recession to promote a programme of expansion which has helped them to meet some of that demand – but the charity is still unable to help all those who need it.

Fresh Start provides a range of services: a Starter Pack service to help people with the basics needed to set up a new home; a Hit Squad service to help people decorate their new home and provide social support; and a training and employability service for people who have been homeless through its social enterprise in PAT Testing.

Keith Robertson, Fresh Start’s Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to welcome Joyce to Fresh Start in this newly created role as we expand and grow. Fresh Start has already come far from its roots, based in one of the member’s garages, helping just a handful of people in Pilton. But we are growing faster than ever before and we’re delighted Joyce is starting to help steer the ship in the right direction.”

Business Manager Joyce Clark said: “Fresh Start is a place where real tangible results can be seen in helping people to turn their lives around, thanks to the right kinds of support. I’m delighted to work with such a committed organisation and team – and look forward to helping the charity continue to support people to have a fresh start in life and develop ways of meeting the growing demand.”

FreshStartlogo

Happy birthday Betty – at last!

Careful with that knife, Betty!
Careful with that knife, Betty!

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!

dance1

partygoers
partygoers

dance2

dance3

party1

Ian Moore sings!
Ian Moore sings!

Living Well North Edinburgh: ‘helping people grow’

 

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond visits LWNE
FIRST Minister Alex Salmond visits LWNE

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:

July to Sept 13 newsletter

Playing Out’s back!

13.7.13 poster

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 CraigroystonTotalCraigroyston

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

gala

Happy birthday to North Edinburgh’s ‘strong women’!

Rowan Alba's Helen Carlin and Sue Evans
Rowan Alba’s Helen Carlin and Sue Evans

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!”

RA2

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.

MoneyAdviceServiceCAB

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.

PCA

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

binz

Have your say on West Granton/West Pilton tonight

PosterWestPiltonCC2013

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.

WPNC