Summer’s over, the children’s clubs at restart at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre this month:
Tag: Young people
Packed autumn programme at North Edinburgh Arts
From arts clubs for kids to gardening groups for adults, there’s something for everyone at North Edinburgh Arts this autumn!
Inverleith Youth Forum: get involved!
Inverleith Young People’s Forum is starting up again and looking to recruit new members (see poster below).
Interested or like to find out more?
Contact Callum McLeod, Community Learning & Development Worker on 332 6316 or email Callum.mcleod@ea.edin.sch.uk
Dancing with wolves
Local youngsters shine in dance performance
Liminal Dance Company brought their Red and the Wolf to North Edinburgh Arts on the latest leg of a Scottish tour – and, together with local young people, took an appreciative audience on a magical journey.
Choreographer Gemma Williams and professional dancers worked with a locally-based community cast of young people aged 8-16 in a series of workshops which culminated in a live performance of the work on Wednesday evening.
Inspired by the Little Red Riding Hood fairtytale, Red and the Wolf tells the much-loved story through music, movement and dance and took the audience – who were not merely passive observers, but became part of the performance – on an ever-changing, fantastic journey.
It was a fascinating experience, a real adventure, and all credit to the young participants Gemma Williams, Justine Lim, Christina Duncan, Abigail Courtney, Katherine Rennie, Jiaya Aui, Gabrielle Glean, Staney Mckay, Ferdie Mckay, Sorcha Minto, Julie Dorozynska, Freya McNicoli, Inez MacIntosh and Rhona Payne who really put their hearts and souls into the performance. Bravo!
Next stop for Red and the Wolf is Musselburgh’s Brunton Theatre (11 – 15 August)
Tay-riffic fun at Youth Work Games!
Muirhouse Youth Development Group’s (MYDG) fourth annual youth work games took place on 14th & 15th July, bringing teams of young people, staff and volunteers from across North Edinburgh and Aberfeldy to compete in the decathlon event at the headquarters of Wildfox events, on the banks of Loch Tay (writes KATIE TUFF).
This event brings together youth organisations who may not necessarily work together on a regular basis, to show teamwork, companionship and friendship through the events and social interactions. Creating opportunities for young people to get involved in sport and exercise in a unique but inclusive way.
This year was the biggest yet with 13 teams competing for the sought after youth work games trophy. The ten events took place over the two days by the banks of Loch Tay, which was a beautiful setting for the first event, the cross country run, followed by the tandem bike ride race and finishing off the day in wetsuits with a swim and canoe on the Loch.
MYAdventure were working in partnership with MYDG , taking the lead on some of the events and were part of the staff team. Both Leaders and young people gave it their all to get points for their teams with some friendly competition and great participation from everyone.
As evening set on the athletes village, we were joined by the Dancing Feet Ceilidh band who gave a great night of live music with leaders and young people dancing around the marquee to some old Scottish classics, and learning some new moves (some a bit confusing!), culminating in everyone getting involved for a final rendition of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ to finish off the night.
The second day was welcomed with beautiful sunshine and some tired but enthusiastic young people raring to get going. The Swamp football tournament kicked off the day’s events, accompanied by archery, tree climb, tug of war and long jump all leading up to our final and most anticipated event, the assault course.
This year we had Perth and District YMCA Ybounce bring along their inflatable assault course and slide. The assault course had everyone getting involved ending in a youth leaders vs. youth work games staff showdown. This proved to be the favourite amongst all the events.
The prize giving ceremony was next on the agenda with most teams receiving medals. This year our Youth Work Games trophy winners and overall champions were Kids in the Street from Craigmillar ,who annihilated any competition by winning most medals and scoring an impressive 25 points over the two days! Granton Youth Centre came second with 12 points and the Breathe project from Aberfeldy third with 10 points. Rowlands from Selkirk were the recipients of the Sportsmanship award for showing enthusiasm, teamwork and all round good spirit for the event.
This year we received funding from the North Edinburgh Partnership to run the event, without which it would not have taken place to the level that it did. It was great to see so much enthusiasm and excitement around the event, with young people coming together, getting to know each other and work as part of a team.
It is our hope that the experience can be looked back on and the skills learned can be transferable back in the youth organisations after the event. A huge well done and thank you goes to everyone involved!
Plans are now being set for Youth Work Games 2016 for a bigger and better event, if you are interested in hearing more or want to book up for next year, please contact MYDG office on 0131 332 3356.
Katie Tuff, Muirhouse Youth Development Group
Edinburgh’s young people worry over career prospects
But STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) offers good career opportunities for young women too
As thousands of teens nervously await tomorrow’s exam results, new research from Scottish Gas has highlighted the depth of anxiety among youngsters in Edinburgh about their career prospects …
- Two thirds (66.5%) of young people in Edinburgh worry they might not find a career
- Young women are the most anxious about salary expectations: over a half are concerned about their future earnings
- Young men in Edinburgh show more confidence when it comes to salary, expecting to earn £34,732 before the age of 30
- The survey shows young people believe their parents’ generation had it easier
Two thirds (66.5%) of 15-22 year olds surveyed in Edinburgh are concerned about the possibility of not being able to find a job in the future, while 67.5% are anxious about ending up in a ‘dead end’ job.
Research shows that young women are concerned most about being in a low paying job, with 58% admitting they fear that being in this situation in the future, compared to 77% of young men.
In Edinburgh, young women’s salary expectations reflect these worries: those surveyed assumed their earning potential was over 13% lower than their male counterparts. The research showed that on average, young women expected to earn £29,963 by the time they are 30, while young men expect to earn £34,732.
Young people are convinced their parents’ generation had it easier. Over half (55%) of those surveyed think it is more difficult for them to find a good job than it was for their parents.
Nearly a half (45%) believe it is harder for their generation to find a job with a good salary, while a third (33%) of youngsters think it is more difficult to find a job with good prospects.
When asked about future career paths, the research for Scottish Gas shows that some sectors of the jobs market continue to be overlooked by many young women in Edinburgh. Just under half of those surveyed (46%) admitted they had never considered working in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) sectors.
Last year, just 3.3% of applicants for Scottish Gas’ technical and engineering apprenticeship schemes were women. The company has since put in place a number of measures to attract more women to its apprenticeship scheme. This includes hosting open days aimed at women at its Training Academy in Hamilton and launching a new mentoring programme.
The research found that women in Edinburgh are turning their back on these industries for a number of reasons, including a perception that the industry is sexist (11%), or better suited to the opposite sex (11%). In addition, 44% of young women put their reluctance to work in STEM sectors down to their lack of knowledge of the subject area. A further 6% also say there are not enough role models in these industries.
The results cast doubt on the quality of career advice youngsters get from their parents. The research revealed parents in Edinburgh were almost twice as likely to advise boys to take on an apprenticeship compared to girls. 15% of parents would encourage their son to take on an apprenticeship while only 8% of parents would give the same advice to their daughter. Just over a quarter (28%) of parents said they offered differing career advice to their children, depending on their gender.
John Lochrie, former Scottish Gas apprentice and now Operations Director for HomeCare Services at Scottish Gas, said: “There are some fantastic opportunities for both women and men in these sectors, so I’m concerned to hear that so many young women are put off by careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.
“With boys already taking advantage of apprenticeships, I would encourage girls to think about engineering. Apprenticeships are a great way into an organisation, and at Scottish Gas they allow you to earn while you learn and develop skills for life.”
For young people considering a career in STEM, more information can be found online athttp://www.britishgas.co.uk/the-source.
Julie Dickson (above) is currently training at the Scottish Gas Academy in Hamilton.
Julie, 24, joined the Scottish Gas apprenticeship scheme in January last year. She is now training to become an engineer at the Scottish Gas Academy in Hamilton. She applied for the programme whilst working at Scottish Gas’ contact centre in Uddingston to make appointments to fix boilers.
Julie said: “I started working at Scottish Gas during a really bad winter. I would speak with engineers to make sure they were going to help customers who needed our support first, such as the elderly or those with young children. It was really inspirational hearing how they went the extra mile to help people stay safe and warm, despite heavy snow and freezing temperatures. So when I heard that we were recruiting for apprentices, I decided to apply and I couldn’t believe it when I was accepted!”
When Julie arrived at the Scottish Gas Academy she instantly felt right at home. She said: “On my first day, I wasn’t surprised that I was the only female apprentice. I know, from my own experience, that women aren’t really encouraged to go down this route from school. All the apprentices are treated the same and the support and encouragement I get every day from my instructors is amazing.
Talking about the training, she added: “The training is second to none and it has really built up my confidence as well as a lot of my general skills. I really like the fact there’s a mix of practical and theory on the course. I can be learning how to test a boiler in the classroom one minute then apply what I’ve learnt on a mock boiler in the workshop the next. We also get to shadow qualified engineers as well, so we’re fully prepared and confident in our abilities by the time we get to a customer’s home for the first time by ourselves.”
Julie was also inspired to become an apprentice engineer because of her father, who’s now very proud of her achievements. She said: “My dad works for an aerospace engineering company and started his career as an apprentice. When I was 14, I went along to a ‘bring your child to work day’ at his firm, and that’s when I realised that a career in engineering was for me. I’m delighted I’ve had the chance to get on the road towards following in my dad’s footstep and I’m really excited about the future.”
Now Julie wants to use her experiences to inspire other women to apply. She said: “I’d encourage anyone to consider an apprenticeship. You get to learn life-long skills and get paid to do a job that’s rewarding and enjoyable every day. My goal is to become one of the top engineers in my area to hopefully make other women realise they can get a career in engineering if they work hard.”
Police seek witnesses to Granton motor bike incident
‘What it does, sadly, is highlight the risks faced by those who choose to ride stolen motorbikes’ – Chief Supt. Mark Williams
Police are appealing for information following a serious road traffic collision on West Shore Road last night. A fourteen year old boy is in a serious condition in hospital following the incident.
The incident occurred at around 11.20pm, when a BMW 1150cc motorcycle struck a wall. The rider, a 14-year-old boy, was thrown from the vehicle and subsequently landed on nearby rocks.
Police and emergency services attended and the Scottish Ambulance Service took the boy to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where his condition is described as ‘serious’.
The motorcycle is understood to have been stolen.
Officers investigating the incident are now appealing for any witnesses to come forward.
Chief Superintendent Mark Williams said: “This was a terrible incident that has left a local boy badly injured. Thankfully it wasn’t more serious as the consequences could have been fatal.
“What it does sadly, is highlight the risks faced by those who choose to ride stolen motorbikes and it demonstrates the impact this can have on both the individual, their families and the community.
“We are appealing for anyone with information regarding this incident to contact us immediately.
“In unqualified hands motorbikes are extremely dangerous and tackling the theft of motorbikes and vehicles will continue to be a focus for local officers.”
New meningitis vaccination programme begins today
MenACWY programme gets underway in Scotland
The MenACWY vaccine is introduced for 14-18 year olds from today, and young people are being urged to make sure they’re protected.
Earlier this year it was announced that in response to a rise in the number of cases of meningitis W, and based on advice from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation, a MenACWY vaccine would be introduced to replace the MenC vaccine used in the adolescents and freshers vaccination programmes.
The vaccine will be offered to students under the age of 25 attending university for the first time this Autumn, along with a catch-up programme for all 14 to 18 year olds.
Those planning to go to university are urged to make an appointment at least two weeks before they go or, failing that, during Freshers’ week.
From this week, older teenagers will start receiving an invitation letter and information leaflet, asking those who have left school to get the vaccine at their GP practice as soon as possible.
Young people returning to school in August will receive their vaccine in school during the coming academic year.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “The launch of the MenW vaccine prevention programme for teenagers is great news. This vaccine also protects against MenA, MenC and MenY, making sure young people are protected at such an important time in their academic lives.
“I would urge everyone who is eligible for the vaccine to make an appointment with their GP, or if they’re still at school to take up the offer of the catch-up programme there. They might be busy preparing to leave for university, working or enjoying their summer break, but a short appointment really could make an enormous difference to their future health.”
CEO at Meningitis Now, Sue Davie said: “As a charity dealing with the consequences of the disease on a daily basis I would plead directly to parents across Scotland to make sure that their children get the Men ACWY vaccination. We are particularly concerned with those going to university in the autumn as they are at a higher risk from what has been called ‘freshers’ flu’.
“It is critical that young people are not complacent about the disease and they take the necessary steps to protect themselves, stay vigilant and seek urgent medical help if they suspect it. This is a cruel disease, it does not discriminate and could significantly alter the future outlook for young people if they are not protected or meningitis aware”.
Meningitis Research Foundation Scotland Manager Mary Millar said: “Adolescents aged between 14 and 18 are more likely to carry meningococcal bacteria than any other age group and offering the ACWY vaccine to all of them should stop the bacteria from being passed on. This means that even unvaccinated people will be protected from catching the disease – an effect known as herd protection.
“Although we welcome the implementation of the ACWY vaccine amongst 14-18 year olds over the next couple of years, it will take time for herd protection to be established so babies (who are particularly vulnerable to developing disease) will remain unprotected. Fortunately, the MenB vaccine Bexsero, which will be routinely available for babies from September, also protects against this ST-11 MenW strain.”
21-year-old Sally Bound from Inverness contracted meningococcal meningitis while away from home at university. She said: “I was in my third of four years at uni and I was working late to meet a course deadline. I remember my housemate leaving for her boyfriend’s house at 8pm at which stage I started feeling really tired, achy and a bit nauseous – earlier in the week I had met a friend, who was recovering from flu for a drink so I was hoping I hadn’t caught his flu.
“I also wondered if it might be food poisoning but as I knew nothing about meningitis, other than seeing photos in doctor’s waiting rooms, it never crossed my mind it could be that – especially as I thought it was only young children who contracted meningitis.
“I went to bed about midnight feeling very sick and by 3am I was starting to get really worried that I was not very well, my arms and legs had gone very heavy and I felt as though I had a temperature. I rang my mum who was at home in Scotland, she suggested I called an ambulance but living on one of the most popular streets for students and having previously been called a bit of a drama queen I refused, too embarrassed I was causing a scene over the flu.
“Very quickly after that the sickness became worse and my head and neck began to ache. I contacted NHS direct and as instructed by them, I checked myself for a rash but didn’t find anything.
“However, I realised I needed to go to hospital and that being called a drama queen really was not that bad compared to how I was feeling.
“I have very little memory from there on but woke from a coma a day later so grateful to hear that I would be okay and discovering how lucky I had been as a couple of more hours without treatment could have made the outcome very different. After a few weeks I made a full recovery but I know that many university students have sadly not been so lucky.”
TV ‘Hair’ star is guest speaker at Graduation
Former Telford student Denise McAdam announced as guest speaker at Edinburgh College Graduation
Hairdresser to the Royals and reality TV show judge Denise McAdam will be guest speaker at Edinburgh College’s Graduation ceremonies in September.
Denise, who grew up in Penicuik and studied hairdressing at the college, has worked with the Royal Family, international supermodels and Hollywood stars and is currently one of the judges on BBC Two’s popular amateur hairstyling competition Hair. She will give the guest speech at the Graduation ceremonies on 25 September at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.
The college’s Graduation ceremonies celebrate the success of HNC, HND, Advance Diploma and degree students.
Denise first came to the forefront of British hairdressing in the 1980s and is known for being the first female celebrity hairdresser in the UK.
Having worked with photographers David Bailey, Lord Lichfield, Lord Snowden and Terry O’Neill, she came to the media’s attention when she styled the Duchess of York’s hair for her wedding to Prince Andrew. Denise went on to receive the Royal warrant in 1989 and was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal for services to the Royal Family in June 2010.
She has worked with generations of style icons including Grace Kelly, Joan Collins, Yasmin Le Bon, Cindy Crawford, Jane Seymour, Naomi Campbell and Kylie Minogue.
Denise said: “It’s an honour to share graduation day with Edinburgh College’s talented and enthusiastic students. I am inspired to celebrate their achievements, hard work and the passion they have given to their chosen subjects throughout their time at the college. The college and lecturers have encouraged and worked incredibly hard to prepare their students for the work place, further education or to go forth and change the world. My own memories and my time at Edinburgh College inspire me every day.”
Rehearsals under way for Red and the Wolf
Some of our local young people have been hard at work at North Edinburgh Arts this week, working with professional group Liminal Dance on a new dance production they will perform in public next Wednesday evening.
Red and the Wolf by Liminal Dance is an immersive dance theatre performance working with locally based community cast of young people.
The work explores movement and dance through storytelling and suggestion based on the familiar source of the story Little Red Riding Hood.
The audience will be taken on a unique ever changing journey as the story unfolds. Participants have been exploring movement, dance and storytelling with professional artists who have helped them explore their own creativity and imagination to create a truly unique experience for dancers and audience.
Over July and August Liminal dance will be working in partnership with the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, Citymove Dance Agency, Aberdeen, Woodend Barn, Banchory, North Edinburgh Arts, Edinburgh and The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh.
The project is led by Gemma Williams, Choreographer and artistic director of Liminal dance, She is interested in producing new ways to produce dance work which involves young people directing shaping and making the work alongside her.
This project is open to up to 25 young people each week, ages 8 – 16. The company will take them through a series of workshops and creative sessions looking at storytelling, developing and using their imagination, improvisation, dance technique and choreography. At the end of the week the group will present a final show created from the various workshop sessions.
The project is designed to be accessible to any level of participant as part of the same process, with opportunities to use, extend and develop their artistic experience whatever level it may be.
Red and the Wolf is designed to explore movement and dance through storytelling and imagination with a group of young people working and performing with professional artists. The project will create unique journeys for the participants as they are given the freedom and tools to develop their own roles, becoming a creative cog in an ever changing collective journey.
Liminal Dance are currently working with participants at North Edinburgh Arts , with their performance on Wednesday the 5th of August at 7.00pm
People involved in local performance:
Liminal Dance Company:
Choreographer Gemma Williams
Dancers Justine Lim and Christina Duncan,
Audio and visual Artist technician Jason Lim
Production Advisor Matthew Hawkins
Community Cast at North Edinburgh Arts:
Katherine Rennie, Jiayi Li, Stanley and Ferdie McKay, Julie Dorozynska, Freya MnNicoll, Inez MacIntosh, Sorcha Minto, Gabrielle Glean