Dear All
Over the past few months Police in Edinburgh and the City of Edinburgh Council have been working in partnership with representatives from the City’s Muslim, Sikh and Hindu communities. More here: http://www.scotland.police.uk/contact-us/hate-crime-and-third-party-reporting/shared-vision-your-decision-islamophobia-edinburgh-project
We want to help create a city free from hate crime, in particular so-called ‘Islamophobia’. Individuals and groups, supported by a charity or organisation, as well as charities and organisations themselves, can submit an application to receive up to £5,000 worth of funding per project.
The total fund available is £40,000 and has been jointly funded by Police Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Government and will help deliver activities and solutions to help reduce prejudice and foster positive relationships.
This could be through a series of events designed to bring communities together, working with perpetrators of hate crime to change attitudes, producing and delivering learning materials, or an idea of your very own. The Edinburgh public will decide which applications are successful. The closing date is 12 December. Spread the word!
I thoroughly enjoyed hosting and taking part in the City Sanctuary event held at the City Chambers last Saturday involving 70 people in a mapping exercise with refugees and supporters from a range of agencies and faith communities and helping build and sustain a ‘culture of hospitality’.
We worked out together on what was available across the city for people to come together and get to know each other. Watch this space for the next steps! Find out more about City Sanctuary here: https://edinburgh.cityofsanctuary.org/
It was lovely to be at ELREC’s (Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council) fundraising Gala Dinner at Heriot Watt University on Sunday evening and an absolute pleasure to meet up with Khalid Mir and his family.
I have known the Mirs for a very long time and they have made a huge contribution to the life of Portobello and the wider community, including founding the Portobello Pakistani Education and Cultural Centre at Fishwives Causeway. It was right and proper that Khalid was awarded a scroll as one of the very worthy ELREC ‘Equality Champions’ 2016. Fortune was smiling on their table, as they also won two raffle prizes!
Do you want your own plot at Jack Kane’s Garden Globe community gardening project? Or just to come and have a look-see? Over the winter they will be building some new beds in the garden. So, if you might like one of these beds then do come along to the plot holders meeting on Saturday 26 November between 11am and 12 noon or phone the project worker Elly on 0131 6571595 or email garden.globe@jackkanecommunity.org There will be warming drinks and roasted chestnuts too! Sounds very tempting!
Want to see inside the new Portobello High School? Come along to the Community Open Day on Saturday 3 December from 10am – 2pm. See you there!
You know the Great Tapestry of Scotland? Well, Craigmillar is getting its very own tapestry, to be designed by local legend Andrew Crummy himself, son of Helen Crummy the first organising secretary of Craigmillar Festival Society.
I went to the archives open day at the Thistle Centre of Wellbeing on Monday morning, the first of several local events to help gather people’s thoughts and ideas about what should be included before Andrew gets to work on the designs.
We browsed through old photographs and artefacts from the local area and we trawled some local people’s memories and will do more, so that you can help pick out the ones you think should be on the Craigmillar tapestry. More here about what this is all about here: http://www.scotlandstapestry.com/
Greengables Nursery and Family Centre is celebrating its Green Flag Award and invites everyone to a celebration with art/craft activities eco information refreshments – with cake! They are at 8A Niddrie House Gardens, EH16 4UF.
Could you be Edinburgh’s next big social entrepreneur? Join us on 30 November to meet the Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network (ESEN) team and hear a brief talk from a successful local social entrepreneur. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask any questions about starting up a social enterprise over a cup of tea or coffee and a bit of cake!
If you have a business idea or run a community group, and are interested in learning more about turning it into a social enterprise, then this is the event for you. Presentations will start from 5:45pm, but do come along from 5:15pm for a tea or coffee! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/intro-to-social-enterprise-north-east-tickets-29104666842 More about ESEN here: http://www.edinburghsocialenterprise.co.uk/?doing_wp_cron=1479832033.7973129749298095703125
Rhythm-making Workshop Sat 3rd December at Wellsprings 71 Whitehill St Newcraighall EH21 8Q (£20/£15) Young people 10-15yrs old can attend this inspiring percussion workshop FREE when accompanying a paying adult – Martin Neil is exceptional at encouraging new talent as well as developing existing skills! To book, contact info@wellsprings.uk.net or call 657-1169
Acorn Services (242 Portobello High Street) are proud to be an official drop off point again this year for Forth Ones Cash for Kids Mission Christmas Appeal.
Anyone who drops a gift in to Acorn can help themselves to some sweets. Gifts must be new and unwrapped for kids aged between 0 and 18.
John Connor and Guests playing again at The White House 70 Niddrie Moans Road this Friday 25 November Doors open 7pm £5 a ticket.
The next meeting of Portobello Community Council will be held on Monday 28 November at 7:30 pm in Portobello Baptist Church Hall, 185 Portobello High Street. Agenda is here: http://www.portobellocc.org/ ; Facebook: www.facebook.com/PortobelloCommunityCouncil ; e-mail: secretary@portobellocc.org
The local police give a report and take questions at the start of the meeting and items for discussion include: Portobello High School– update from pupils ; The George Bingo Hall – update from the new owners on proposals; Safe use of the Prom; General Survey– discussion on repeat of a general survey; Treverlen Park – discussion on forthcoming planning application for the site of the former Portobello High School.
Parson’s Green Primary School tell me their Christmas Fair is on Saturday 3 December 12 noon-2pm Entry £2 for adults, 50 children 5-15and under fives free. All the fun of the Fair including Barracuda’s pizzas.
Towerbank Primary School Christmas Fair is on Saturday 10 December 2pm – 5pm. It looks like a fantastic event with lots of innovative ideas and entertainments for the whole community. Look out for posters and spread the word. All welcome! Adults free for this one and kids pay £1, but that includes 5 tokens to do fun things.
It’s fantastic to see St Johns RC Primary School offering the option to purchase fair trade uniforms! https://stjohnsportobello.com/ More of this please!
Creative Kidz Bingham Family Christmas Crafts on Saturday 26 November 1pm – 4 pm in Southfield Church Hall, Bingham. Creative Kidz Bingham are also on Facebook. From January onwards, Creative Kidz will be the last Saturday of the month, every month, same time same place.
Reminder that this is Book Week Scotland and lots of things are happening around the country, in and between schools and libraries. More here: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland This is what’s happening at Craigmillar Library: http://craigmillarreadingchampion.tumblr.com/post/153305965928/ta-da-our-book-week-scotland-programme-is-here and I know there is lots happening at Portobello Library too. And if you can’t make it to the Library it can come to you! See here: http://chronicleonline.net/2016/11/17/bringing-the-library-to-you/
Meet the Funders is a free public marketplace event providing access to funding information for community projects. It is an opportunity for groups to discuss their ideas with potential funders and collect a range of information about possible sources of grant aid. The event is arranged on Thursday 8 December from 11am to 2pm in the “Gorgie Suite” at Tynecastle Stadium. I have a list of funders who will be there, if you would like it.
After a wander along to Joppa Rocks, here’s a blog we discovered about Hugh Millar, self taught geologist and key Scottish Enlightenment figure who once worked as a stone mason on Niddrie Marischal House when it was the seat of the mine-owning Wauchope family. And he later lived and tragically died at Shrub Mount, Portobello. http://www.frasermacdonald.com/tag/geology/
“How do people really take control of their lives and their surroundings? Control can’t be doled out like porridge or conjured up by voting in elections. There’s no single button we can press. But it can be built up steadily if people get together and local conditions are right.” So says the wonderful Anna Coote of New Economics Foundation. Do read more at : http://neweconomics.org/communities-build-control/ Positive news stories do help empower people. It isn’t rocket science, actually – it’s common sense. More here: https://www.positive.news/2016/society/media/24020/positive-news-stories-bring-people-together-study-finds/
I leave you on that positive note. Enjoy the rest of your week, and the weekend when it comes around!
Best wishes
Maureen
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