posted 21 Jul 2010 06:50 by myEdinburgh Admin
Community clean ups to help keep Edinburgh beautiful have increased
significantly over the last three years.
As a result of several initiatives including the Services for
Communities 'Edenburgh' campaign - the number of community litter-picks
has more than trebled over the last three years.
In 2007, over 1,200 volunteers who took part in litter picks,
however this has increased dramatically to over 5,000 volunteers in
2010.
For a number of years the City of Edinburgh Council has been
involved in the National Spring Campaign alongside Keep Scotland
Beautiful - to encourage local residents to become involved in clean
ups.
These types of activities prevent litter and fly-tipping, as well
as educating people on the rubbish they throw away and the impact this
can have on their local community.
Over the last three years, groups of local people, voluntary
organisations and schools have all contributed to making Edinburgh a
stunning capital city.
Councillor Robert Aldridge, Environmental leader at the City of
Edinburgh Council, said: "This is fantastic news as community clean ups
all contribute to making Edinburgh a cleaner and greener city. These
activities also benefit the local community, with everyone helping to
make their local neighbourhoods cleaner and more attractive.
"I would like to say a big 'thanks' to all the volunteers who
have been giving up their free time over the years, to keep our
reputation as - one of the most beautiful cities in Britain."
Donna Niven, of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: "We'd like to
thank all the volunteers who have taken part in litter picks across
Edinburgh this year. We are working towards a Zero Waste Scotland so
the simple act of clearing litter taken by these volunteers will make a
real difference to local communities and visitors to the city; giving
people a more pleasant environment to enjoy."
Free clean up kits can be ordered on line at
www.keepscotlandtidy.org/springclean
To arrange a community clean up contact Lorna Farquhar, Task
Force Manager, the City of Edinburgh Council on 0131 529 5821.
Source: The City of Edinburgh Council
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posted 8 Jul 2010 05:09 by myEdinburgh Admin
Community newspaper The North Edinburgh News may soon not be a viable concern.
The North Edinburgh News occupies a modest but highly visible office on Crewe Road North, next door to a cluster of shops and businesses, and a bus stop. It's a good site for a paper because people can wander in with stories, and often do, according to Mary Burnside, the NEN editor.
Today, however, it's relatively quiet, as the paper's small staff await delivery of the latest edition of the paper from the printers. The top story - Craigroyston High School's impressive performance in the recent World Maths Day competition. The school came first in the UK, 8th in Europe, and 32nd in the world, the kind of good news story about the area that the NEN was set up to promote.
"The paper was set up by the community because everything they read in the Scotsman and the Evening News about North Edinburgh was about crime and junkies" says Burnside. The core aim of the paper ever since, she says, has been to "provide relevant information to local people, and provide a platform for their voices."
The community paper prints 14,500 newspapers every month with an estimated readership of around 35,000. But Burnside says that, after years of cuts, the paper is coming to the end of its life - unless new sources of funding can be found soon.
The paper, and a number of other community papers across Edinburgh, were previosuly funded by the council through the Edinburgh Community Newspapers Trust.
The council still produces its own newspapers, at a cost of more than £155,000 per annum. It has even recently began to produce locally oriented editions or "wraps" - but funding for community papers was cut three years ago.
The council says that competing priorities and the understanding that the papers would find their own sustainable sources of income meant that the funding had to end. But the result was that independent papers like The West Edinburgh Times and The South Edinburgh Echo, and The Gorgie-Dalry Gazette, which had been operating for twenty five years, had to close.
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posted 25 Jun 2010 05:00 by myEdinburgh Admin
Children’s Art Day will see scores of children, their teachers and their families descending on visual arts venues, schools, youth and community organisations across the UK, to be inspired, engaged and entertained by art. Mon 12 July, 11am (5hrs), Free – just drop in! Children’s Art Day A chance for children of all ages to get creative! Come and listen to Vivian French explore the creatures in the ‘Drawing Book’ exhibition and then have a go at designing your own imaginary animal. Storytelling and art activities This year for Children's Art Day, the Scottish Storytelling Centre is delighted to host an event that encourages children aged 5-14 to explore their creativity for free on Monday 12 July at 11am. Come and listen to popular Children's author Vivian French as she explores the identity and character of the animals in the Centre's current exhibition The Drawing Book, investigating each beast with considerable wit and wisdom. After discovering where your imagination can take you, enjoy the opportunity to have a go at designing your own imaginary animal! Illustrator Cate James uses her artistic talents to help lead this fun creative session. There will be five different story sessions during the day, at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm – each followed by a craft activity. This Children’s Art Day event is the perfect combination of stories, drawing and imagination to keep the youngsters entertained for the afternoon. Over the years Children’s Art Day has received invaluable support from some of the country’s most talented artists, including Antony Gormley, Cornelia Parker, Richard Wentworth and Bridget Riley. For the second year running it has also received backing from Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London. For further information contact Lindsay Corr lindsay@scottishstorytellingcentre.com or 0131 652 3272 For general information about Children’s Art Day, go to www.engage.org |
posted 15 Apr 2010 04:14 by myEdinburgh Admin
Innovative travel campaign A Better Way to Work is launching its year long programme with an Active Travel Event in Castle Street, in Edinburgh’s City Centre on Wed 21st April 2010 10:30am - 4pm where visitors will have the opportunity to try out some of their free services! A Better Way To Work is funded by the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Fund and aims to increase the health and wellbeing of people travelling to and from work as well as promoting the financial benefits. With just under half of Edinburgh’s residents living less than 5 miles from their workplace A Better Way to Work offers practical help for people to consider cheaper, easier, faster and alternative modes of transport than their car. Almost 40% of all car journeys are less than 3 miles so options such as walking or cycling will be promoted, as well as public transport and car sharing. A Better Way to Work is a unique project aiming to help Edinburgh workers change their commuting habits and represents a first for any city in the U.K. The project is being managed by Social Enterprise, the Bike Station using a £750,000 grant from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund and has ambitions plans to get 12,500 people changing their commuting habits.
On the day visitors can sample:
- Free taster cycle training with our Cycling Scotland accredited cycle trainers
- Opportunity to try our demonstration loan bikes
- Personalised travel planning advice
- City Car Club demonstration
- Dr Bike giving free MOT for bikes
- Energy Saving Scotland advice centre information stall
- And free coffee and sandwiches for those who take part!
Event organiser Gina Alcock said: “What we are offering is practical solutions including advice and equipment as to how people can make their owncontributions to active travel in how they get to work. The service is entirely free and we are actively seeking companies with up to five hundred employees who want to be part of making their team part of an healthier and happier City workforce. The central point of the day is that taking responsibility in this way can be fun and rewarding in many ways. We recognise that change is much easier to make when properly supported.” Local MSP Robin Harper said: "People are increasingly aware of the cost, inconvenience and stress of driving to work, but oddly, many still need to be convinced about the alternatives. This project offers just the right help to Edinburgh residents: practical advice on how to improve their journey to work and how to make walking and cycling work for them. As well as the benefits for individuals, this approach can also help improve the quality of life for everyone in the capital, through reduced congestion, better road safety and improved air quality. I'm delighted to see the Climate Challenge Fund supporting the Bike Station with this innovative idea: it's exactly the sort of project we had in mind for the Fund when we were developing it." A better way to work is working in partnership with a wide range of project partners. These being: Lothian Buses, Edinburgh City Car Club, The Energy Saving Scotland advice centre, Edinburgh Napier University, Spokes, Sustrans, Cycling Scotland, Challenge for Change, Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative and Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.
A Better Way to Work
The Bike Station
250 Causewayside
Edinburgh, EH9 1UU
Tel: 0131 667 3558
Web: www.findabetterwaytowork.org |
posted 14 Apr 2010 14:06 by myEdinburgh Admin
From 0800 until 1400 hours on Sunday 18 April 2010 some services will be effected by diversions or delays to allow the Edinburgh Half Marathon to take place.From 0830 to 1030 hours services 12, 19, 21, 25, 34 & 49 will be unable to serve the Lochend area. Full details of diversion routes can be found by clicking here . From 0800 to 1400 hours service 26 (Seton Sands and Tranent journeys) will be unable to serve the coastal road between Levenhall and Cockenzie East Lorimer Place. Full details of the diverion route can be found by clicking here . Buses will observe all bus stops on diversion. |
posted 7 Apr 2010 06:43 by myEdinburgh Admin
Holyrood Park, Edinburgh’s biggest and most popular green space, is gearing up for a unique multi-cultural celebration of the environment and enjoying the outdoors - Ecofusion - on Sunday 11 April. The family-friendly, free event – the first of its kind – aims to encourage people of all ages and from all backgrounds to make the most of the natural environment around them and the opportunities this presents for exploring and enjoying Scotland’s outdoor spaces and cultural heritage. Ecofusion, from 11am to 4pm, will take place inside and around four colourful Indian marquees adjacent to the Holyrood Park Education Centre. Out in the park, visitors will be able to try their hand at a variety of outdoor activities including scaling a climbing tower, having a go at a cycling obstacle course, and meeting the world’s fastest bird of prey, the peregrine falcon. They’ll also be invited to explore the park’s archaeology and take a walk through time to meet Iron Age Holyrood characters who’ll teach them about the challenges of life some 5,000 years ago. In the Education Centre, there will be a host of interesting activities, such as an opportunity for visitors to learn some ancient natural crafts – including willow weaving, bow drilling and pot making. They can also find out about the wildlife which flourishes within Holyrood Park and have a go at recording some of the many species which are to be found in it. Special activities children can take part in and enjoy include creating seed bombs and planting their own wildflower seeds in pots. Within the marquees, environmental, cultural heritage and multi-cultural organisations will be offering the chance to take part in a wide range of nature-related craft activities from around the world, such as Nepalese plate making, Chinese knotting, Japanese origami and henna painting. A multi-cultural fusion of entertainment will also be offered in the marquees, with music by Sambasene and Diwan, dancing by the Nepalese Scotland Association and story telling and puppet shows. And the acclaimed Mosque Kitchen will be tempting visitors with some delicious dishes from India and Pakistan. Hosted by Historic Scotland, which manages and cares for Holyrood Park, and with funding from the Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland, Ecofusion is being coordinated by the Forum for Environmental Volunteering Activity (FEVA) and the environmental volunteering charity, BTCV Scotland. Supporting and participating in the event is a wide range of environmental sector, and community-based multi-cultural organisations which, for the past year, have been working together in a partnership project called ‘Working with Difference’ (WWD) to generate public interest, particularly amongst minority groups, in the outdoors. Representing FEVA and BTCV Scotland, Julia Duncan says: “Ecofusion is all about encouraging more people - particularly from minority groups - to access the outdoors and to engage with their environment and enjoy nature. This event celebrates the work of the WWD partnership to date and is designed to entice many more people to find out about the huge range of opportunities there are to explore Scotland's outdoor spaces. “We’ve a fantastic range of fun activities planned for all the family so we hope as many people as possible will come to Holyrood Park on Sunday 11th April to join in our celebration of the outdoors and try out lots of new ways of enjoying the environment.” Pete Rawcliffe, Scottish Natural Heritage Head of Quality of Life said: "Ecofusion is an exciting introduction to all kinds of inspiring activities and opportunities to encourage people to access the outdoors on their own doorstep. It is an event that clearly demonstrates that Scotland's outdoors can be enjoyed by people in Scotland of all ages and from all backgrounds, in urban as well as rural green spaces. SNH is pleased to be supporting the event and will be on hand to offer help and advice for people attending on how to make a positive difference to their health and welfare by embracing a regular outdoor activity habit." Romena Huq, Engagement Officer with Forestry Commission Scotland in the Central Belt added: "The Commission is very active in supporting work to encourage diverse communities to connect with and get the many benefits that woodlands and the environment offer. “During the event we will be putting our commitment to this on a higher level by launching a new strategy which will focus on engaging with BME communities and hard-to-reach groups. Many of the groups that have been involved with WWD and Ecofusion will be working with us to develop activities within forests and woodlands themed around health, faith and heritage." Historic Scotland Royal Parks Visitor Services Manager Martin Gray concludes: “We’re delighted to be hosting Ecofusion and welcoming the many participating organisations to Holyrood Park. One of our key priorities is raising public awareness of everything this wonderful green space offers and generating an appreciation of the cultural heritage and natural environment – not only here in the park but elsewhere in Scotland. There is so much to see and do outdoors at any time of year and this event highlights how we can all make the most of that and enjoy the free entertainment nature offers us.” For more information on Ecofusion, visit www.feva-scotland.org/ecofusion |
posted 30 Mar 2010 10:42 by myEdinburgh Admin
our community our future
People
concerned about issues affecting them and others in their community
could now
get help from the Scottish Community Foundation to have their voices
heard by Scotland’s
decision makers.
The Scottish
Community Foundation’s Our Community Our Future initiative – funded
by Big Lottery - is offering mentoring to new groups of motivated
community
members to explore a local issue. A budget of up to £20,000 is available
per
group to get local people involved in improving their communities; build
skills,
connections and confidence, and develop a plan of action to start making
a
lasting difference.
Nick Addington,
the Foundation’s grants director, explained: “The emphasis is on
communities coming together to achieve positive change. For example, you
may
want to help your community have its say on how local assets and
resources are
used, or how services are delivered. Perhaps you’re concerned about
threats to the sustainability of your local community, changes to the
environment, or the local economy. Our staff will work with small groups
of
people for about a year, to help them start tackling issues that matter
to
them.”
The
Foundation is currently inviting expressions of interest from possible
participants anywhere in Scotland.
Groups of at least four people can apply, though they don’t need to be
formally set up as a group or organisation. For more information, see
the
website www.scottishcf.org/ocof
Expressions
of Interest must be received by 30 April 2010. |
posted 30 Mar 2010 08:03 by myEdinburgh Admin
There’s loads going on in libraries
this Easter – here is a selection of some of the events taking place
across the city. Contact your
local library to find out what’s happening in your area.
Corstorphine
Library
Easter crafts for 5-12 yr olds. Thursday 1st April
3.30pm-4.30pm (tickets available at the Library from 25th March)
Spring Crafts for 5-12 yr olds. Thursday 8th April
11.30am-12.30pm (tickets available at the Library from 25th March).
Storytime and Crafts Make a pop-out chicken and
creepy crawly bugs. Tuesday 6th April,2.30-3.30pm. For ages 4-6yrs
Storytime and crafts make an egg diary and creepy
crawly bugs. Tuesday 13th April, 2.30-3.30pm. For ages 7-10yrs
Portobello
Library
All our events are for boys and girls aged 4- 10:
Easter cards and crafts: Saturday 3rd April, 11am –
12pm
Craft surprise: Friday 9th April, 2 – 3pm
Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits: Thursday 15th April, 2 –
3pm. This event is free but ticketed, pick up your tickets in advance
from the library
Piershill
Library
Eggciting Easter Eggstravagansa. Help us
paint the dinosaur eggs! FREE CRAFT EVENT For 5 to 10 year
olds
Please note children under 8 years need to be accompanied by someone
over 12 years old.
Tuesday 6th April 2010 , 3.30pm to 4.30pm. Free tickets
available from library staff
Wear old clothes – there’s painting involved in this event!
Edinburgh Community Food Initiative will run a FREE CRAFT
EVENT based on the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, for 5 to 8
year olds.
Please note children under 8 years need to be accompanied by someone
over 12 years old.
Tuesday 13th April 2010, 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Tickets available from library staff from two weeks before the event. |
posted 22 Mar 2010 09:40 by myEdinburgh Admin
National charity Planning Aid for Scotland, is holding a free training event on Saturday 27 March for Edinburgh’s Community Council representatives.
The seminar aims to increase the skills, knowledge and confidence of Community Councillors to have their views heard on planning and related issues.
The event will be of particular interest to recently elected Community Councillors and will be delivered by PAS volunteers, who are all professional planners.
Stephanie Gray, Planning Aid for Scotland Training Officer said:
“Our training and information events are about taking planning directly to the people. Community Councils have a vital role to play in the planning process and this event is designed especially for them.”
The event will take place at the Business Centre, Edinburgh City Chambers, High Street from 09.30 until 15.30. To book places call Stephanie on 0131 220 9732 or training@planningaidscotland.org.uk.
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posted 22 Mar 2010 09:04 by myEdinburgh Admin
King’s Camps is the UK’s leading sport and activity camp provider for 4-17s during the school holidays and is running camps this Easter holiday at James Gillespie’s High School in Edinburgh from the 6th to 16th April. King’s Camps is a fantastic week of fun, sport and activity for children and with a choice of over 30 different sports and activities that provide fun friendship and achievement, there’s something for children of all ages and interests to get excited about. Not to mention the theme days, competitions and team challenges which make each day on camp really special. King’s Camps is also running International Soccer Schools during the Easter holiday from the 12th to 16th April. International Soccer Schools is a fantastic football coaching camp for 5-10s that takes inspiration from the world’s best football. King’s Camps is committed to providing families with complete peace of mind, while giving children a great holiday experience. King’s Camps has an exemplary health and safety record, is registered with OFSTED and has achieved the RoSPa Gold Award for the last four years. For more information and to book visit kingscamps.org or call 0845 643 5269. For further details please contact lucy.roberts@kingsfoundation.org. www.kingscamps.org www.kingsfoundation.org Camp Address: James Gillespie’s High School, Lauderdale Street, Edinburgh, EH9 1DD |
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