North West News and Events 2021 07 01

1st July ‘21 – NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES IN NORTH WEST EDINBURGH Coronavirus - Latest update on COVID-19 and City of Edinburgh Council services Latest updates • Delays to grounds maintenance - grass cutting, weed control etc • Phased reopening of key Council services • From 26 April, non-essential Council house repairs restarted • Find out about coronavirus testing at centres or at home • Who is currently being offered the coronavirus vaccine? Find out on NHS inform • Download the NHS Lothian FAQs on COVID-19 for schools

Schools and early years Latest update on schools and early years

Children and young people are getting geared up for a summer of fun as an exciting programme of activities is being delivered by over 100 City of Edinburgh Council services and partner organisations across the Capital. The Get into Summer initiative is part of a nationwide scheme funded by the Scottish Government to create a variety of opportunities for children and their families to play, socialise and re-connect over the summer. The activities will build on the regular summer programmes put on by the Council and partners and are taking place in communities across the city. They will help children and young people to get healthy, creative and most importantly, re-connect with each other after a disrupted school year caused by the pandemic. A key focus of the programme will be activities targeted to those families from low income households who may otherwise struggle to access such experiences during the holidays. The overall programme has a focus on opportunities for youth and children’s work, very young children and their families, with opportunities for sport, outdoor, art and cultural activities. Some of the partner organisations putting on events and providing support include: 6VT Edinburgh City Youth Café, Disability Services, Intercultural Youth Scotland, Edinburgh Young Carers, Lochend Football Academy, National Galleries of Scotland, Play2Learn Sports Coaching and Shakti Women’s Aid.

More info here: Get into Summer

North Edinburgh Arts' Capital Project Update & Notice of General Meeting Wednesday 21 July at 6.30pm held online via Zoom

Dear North Edinburgh Arts Friend, North Edinburgh Arts Board and Director have been working in partnership with Council officers to develop the Planning application for the MacMillan Hub submitted last week. Details and a link to the full application on the planning portal can be accessed here: www.northedinburgharts.co.uk/development NEA are continuing to work on the costs and timetable for the MacMillan Hub, focusing on the extension and refurbishment of our building as an integral part of the Hub. Our Fundraiser, Roger Horam at Red Lynx, and Board continue to apply for funding and have had positive meetings with a range of statutory and third sector funders. On 3 June 2021 the Council agreed to put forward NEA for consideration as part of the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. On 10 June 2021 the Council agreed to put NEA, as a key part of the MacMillan Hub, forward for the UK Levelling Up Fund. This fund needs support from our local MP, and we thank Christine Jardine MP for her support. We would be grateful, too, for your support of NEA’s ambitious plan, and welcome any input you may be able to make, on behalf of our community, to decision makers at both the Scottish and Westminster Governments who will be assessing our applications for funding. If you have any questions or want more information please get in touch with us by emailing our Director Kate Wimpress at [email protected] I also would like to invite you to our forthcoming General Meeting on 21 July 2021 at 6.30pm, most likely to be held via Zoom, and would be pleased to speak with you then if you are able to attend. Yours sincerely Lesley Hinds Chair, North Edinburgh Arts on behalf of the North Edinburgh Arts' Board of Trustees

GRANTON COMMUNITY GARDENERS

In this newsletter: • Invitation! Scran Van next in the community garden: Weds 21st July • Community Survey Results • Wednesday Gardening Club • Join Granton Community Gardeners • Bakery Update

We can’t currently run our usual indoor Community Meals, but it’s still good to share meals together where we can do so safely. This Summer we’re running a wee series of outdoor Community Takeaway Meals, in partnership with Scran Academy and Pilton Community Health Project. Hot meals are served up from the Scran Van, and you can either take them away or eat at tables in the garden. The next dates are now confirmed as: Weds 21st July 5pm-6.30pm Weds 25th August 5pm-6.30pm Weds 22nd September 5pm-6.30pm The food is all free, you can make a donation if you wish. Bakery Update

Fresh baked sourdough bread and treats on sale every Saturday 10am-2pm Bread is Pay What You Can Afford. from Pilton Community Health Project, at the top of Pilton Drive North

Full newsletter can be downloaded here

GREENSPACE SCOTLAND NEWS

MyParkScotland Lighting up Gyle Park in Edinburgh Just launched! A project by the Friends of Gyle Park to make everyone feel safer in the dark depths of winter. The group are raising funds to have lighting installed along the path. They have already managed to raise £5k from West Edinburgh Neighbourhood Network and are looking to raise another £10k from public and business donations. Find out more, and donate

Supporting crowdfunds, text giving and parks If you want to raise funds for your park or greenspace project then please get in touch. Every project listed on the MyParkScotland crowdfunding page also has the opportunity to raise funds through a unique text code. People can donate from £1 to £20 via text, a super simple way for donors to easily support your project. Contact to find out how MyParkScotland can help you raise funds for your project. Show how much you love parks and greenspaces by helping others achieve their park dreams by making a donation to support an outdoor classroom, play areas, park events or a park bothy.

GetGrowing Scotland resource launched GetGrowing Scotland is a new online hub for groups and individuals gardening and growing in their local communities. If you want to start or improve a growing site in your community or at home, visit the hub for resources, support and inspiration. Please also contribute your stories and ideas to get communities growing.

Map marks launch of Edinburgh’s first Food Growing Strategy A new interactive map highlighting Edinburgh’s food growing sites and projects will make it easier for people to find out about and get involved in local food growing activity. Part of the of the city’s Food Growing Strategy which aims to increase the opportunities for people and communities to grow food in Edinburgh, encourage more people to buy and enjoy locally grown food, and encourage more people to become involved in food growing and local food projects.

Edinburgh City Council approves its Parks and Greenspace Investment Report Plans for how over £4m will be invested in parks, greenspaces and cemeteries in a programme of priority works being rolled out across 2021 and 2022 have been approved by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Culture and Communities Committee.

Six Predictions for Edinburgh’s Future Green Spaces As part of Edinburgh’s Science Festival this digital event (to 11 July) will transport you to a virtual gallery overlooking Arthur’s Seat to explore and create your own exciting visions for the future of greenspaces in Edinburgh. Local artists and ecologists have got together to imagine a 'better', greener future for Edinburgh. How do you think have they done, and what would your vision be?

SURF Awards now open for applications The awards purpose is to highlight, celebrate and share the achievements of initiatives that address physical, social and economic challenges in communities across Scotland.

More news from Greenspace Scotland here:

NEWS FROM EVOC

DROP-IN VACCINE CLINICS NHS Lothian is now running drop-in vaccination clinics for both the over 40s and those aged 18 to 39. You will be able to receive your 1st or 2nd second dose (if it's been more than 8 weeks since your first).

Find out more

FESTIVAL FAVOURS FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS

This summer, Edinburgh International Festival will gift 21 groups in the city their own piece of the Festival, bringing artists and creativity directly into communities across the City. The ideas and opportunities are endless - e.g. a performance, a workshop - and interested groups (with an EH postcode) can apply with a specific request for how they might connect with the International Festival.

Find out more & apply

GREEN HEALTH PRESCRIBING REPORT

Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation recently published a report that explored green health prescribing in Lothian. It looked at how to raise its profile, understand barriers and enablers, share success stories and identify what needs to be in place to embed it across the health and care system.

Read the report

Read more EVOC news here EDINBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD

Spaces are available for our next REHIS Food & Health course, Wed & Thurs next week, 9.30-1pm both days. An excellent nationally recognised introduction to all the basics of nutrition and healthy eating for all ages groups, delivered by one of our experienced nutritionists. £45 p/p including materials and 1 resit (if required) Book your spot here: https://www.edinburghcommunityfood.org.uk/Event/rehis-food-and-health07

Spartans Community Football Academy Walking Football Come and enjoy walking football with us every Monday from 12-1pm. All you need is a pair of moulded studs or blades and if you don't have any, we have some that you can borrow. Walking football is open to all adults and is a great low impact way to keep fit and meet new people. To meet Covid-19 guidelines players need to come ready to play as there is no changing room access. External toilets are available. Free of charge for now. Contact Garry Betts [email protected] to play or for more information.

NORTH EDINBURGH ARTS

Summer's here!

School's out, and it's time to have some fun and be creative! Our summer programme is jam-packed with free creative activities for all ages, from outdoor adventures to creative map making. Scroll down to see what we've got in store for you. To make sure everyone is safe and can take part comfortably, numbers will be limited in line with current Government Covid-19 guidelines. Places are free but advance registration is essential, and priority will be given to North Edinburgh Arts Good Neighbours and local residents of Muirhouse and Pilton (postcodes EH4 4, EH4 5, EH5 1, EH5 2). We're here to help! If we can help with your booking in any way, please give us a call on 0131 315 2151 or email [email protected] - we will need to take the same details as you would give to book online via Eventbrite, so please try to have this information ready when you get in touch. Pop into our Community Café Our Community Café is open Monday to Friday, between 10am and 2pm with indoor and outdoor seating in the garden area so pop in for a cuppa in the sun or a wee bite with your family or friends. Take- away is also available.

Full information here

LATEST NEWS: Council Leaders urge caution as Edinburgh COVID cases remain high Council Leaders have urged people to take care and carry out regular testing as COVID cases remain high in the Capital. The appeal follows today’s (Tuesday, 29 June) announcement by the First Minister, in which she called for “renewed care and vigilance” at this critical moment. This week, Edinburgh and the Lothians recorded the highest number of COVID cases in Scotland. In response to the high numbers, several community test centres have opened around the city over recent weeks. Free COVID tests are on offer for people who don’t display any symptoms, aiming to break the chain of transmission by catching asymptomatic cases which could still be infectious. Community test centres are open for people with no COVID-19 symptoms: • Walk-up mobile testing unit, Heart of Midlothian Football Club, Wheatfield stand accessed via Wheatfield Street/Place, until Sunday, 11 July • Drive though mobile testing unit at Hibernian Football Club, in the car park behind the east stand accessed off Albion Place/Hawkhill Place until Sunday, 11 July • McDonald Road Library until Saturday, 3 July - test pick-up available • Wester Hailes Library until Saturday, 3 July - test pick-up available • Fountainbridge Library from Monday, 5 July to Saturday, 10 July - test pick-up available • Drumbrae Library Hub from Monday, 5 July to Saturday, 10 July - test pick-up available Find out more about Council services during the pandemic on the Council website. Read more about the daily COVID vaccination uptake online.

Edinburgh Leisure - Supporting families on low-income to 'Get Into Summer'

Apply by Sun 4th July!

Thanks to funding from the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Leisure will be bringing a summer of fun back safely to their venues across this city and supporting children and families living on low incomes to 'Get Into Summer'. Edinburgh Leisure is offering parents or guardians, who are living on a low income and who would like their child to have the opportunity to take part in fun, engaging and exciting sports this summer to fill in the form on the Edinburgh Leisure website. Applications need to be received by Sunday, 4th July 2021. Edinburgh Leisure is offering spaces on their swimming, gymnastics, dance, and tennis programmes, with no cost to the family applying. The coaching programmes take place in a variety of venues across the city, on various dates, with some one-day sessions and some full-week activity programmes. Edinburgh Leisure is also offering spaces for families to attend their AquaDash Extreme and Clip n Climb sessions. Families who are eligible for the programme include children who receive school uniform and meal grants, care experienced children, young carers, children whose families are in receipt of Universal Credit and children supported by a child’s plan. Tommy George, Community Development Manager at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We want to support everybody to get active and enjoy their summer but for many families, the cost is a real issue. “Thanks to this funding, however, we can now support families living on low incomes to get active, learn key skills, build confidence and esteem, as well as having fun, in a safe environment. The Scottish Government has released funding to local authorities across Scotland to help address the negative impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland. The priority for this funding is to provide opportunities that will allow children and young people to socialise and reconnect with peers, get active and most importantly have fun, during the summer. There will be 147 funded spaces for children living on low incomes within their summer sports programme. In addition, 300 fun activity spaces will be offered to families to try AquaDash Extreme and Clip ‘n Climb sessions. Spaces are limited for each coaching programme. However, applicants who can be flexible on dates and want to increase their chances of being allocated a space are advised to tick as many sessions as they are able to attend on the form. There will also be a free football programme for young people from S1 to S6 to take part in for those aged 11 years and above. The sessions are taking place at Broughton High School, Portobello High School, Meggetland and Jack Kane Sports Centre between 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm. The sessions start the week beginning 12th July and run until Thursday, 12th August. There is no need to book - anyone interested can just rock up and bring their squad for games. There will also be a weekly free ‘Sport on the Beach’ session at Portobello for primary school-aged children. Further details to follow. If you fit the eligibility criteria, to apply for coached activities, click here. To apply for family activities, click here.

Scotland’s Towns Partnership

We are pleased to announce the Scotland Loves Local Awards are now open for nominations.

APPLY

The Scotland Loves Local Awards are a celebration of all that is great about our nation’s towns and neighbourhoods- recognising and rewarding unremarkable dedication and commitment towards shaping a sustainable, successful future with localism at its heart. They are about highlighting the people, places and projects which are leading the way in making a difference, delivering benefits which will help make our communities cleaner, greener, stronger and fairer whether through design, delivery or sheer determination. Awards include the commendation of a High Street Hero - a business or organisation (or an individual associated with one) which has gone above and beyond to support those around them, whether inside or outwith the Covid-19 pandemic. The event will also celebrate inspirational leaders; those who embrace heritage and culture to the benefit of their community, positive place-makers; and businesses who are doing their bit for and responding to the climate emergency.

Friends of Inverleith Park

Full newsletters can be viewed here: Park News | Friends of Inverleith Park

Read about what’s going on on the park in their latest newsletter.

Welcome to your July Newsletter from Heart of Newhaven

This is a newsletter about past, present and future. First: the past. We have been receiving plenty of positive feedback from the Pots of Kindness project. If you remember, this involved pupils from Victoria Primary School potting up edible flowers, herbs and vegetables and distributing them to some of the isolated or elderly members of the community, whose details were supplied by the Pilmeny Development Project. Recipients have been responding. "What a lovely idea. It is so nice to be part of this initiative. As you know I am housebound, so it is great that I can still be part of the community while being at home. I loved the beautiful letter I received from the pupil - what a fantastic idea. Thank you,” said one. Mary from PDP received a phone call once one pack was delivered "Thank you so much for the plant and letter - I absolutely love it. I am delighted with the wee package and the letter from the pupil was adorable. And the man who delivered the package was really friendly - thank you". A few weeks later, the same recipient rang Mary to say "My plant has started sprouting - I have it on my window sill and I check it everyday. It was great getting the instructions on how to help the plant grow. I really am delighted to be part of this project - thank you". "My spinach has started to grow - I love Spinach and I think I might be like Popeye after this. The letter from the pupil was so sweet - thank you,” said another. We’re glad it has proved so welcome.

Read more here FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES Our Community Grants Fund is open and welcoming applications from constituted groups across North West. Maximum award is £5000, though some Neighbourhood Networks are encouraging smaller awards to allow them to support more projects. Each Neighbourhood Network in NW (Almond, Forth, Inverleith and Western) can consider applications that directly benefit the local area, and in particular help tackle the main priorities of the NW Locality Improvement Plan – social isolation, education and focused work in ‘North Edinburgh’ to tackle poverty and inequality. Please contact [email protected] for more information and application pack. Please also get in touch if you’d like to discuss a potential project. Tesco Community Grants – apply now for the next round of funding The grant scheme is open for applications and will provide grants of up to £1500 to support projects focused on children and families and for projects that tackle food insecurity. This includes local community growing projects and activities and every three months we fund 261 different projects across Scotland. The scheme is open to registered charities and not-for-profit organisations, via an on-line application form

CHECK IN, CASH OUT CAMPAIGN Every year, hundreds of millions of pounds in vital financial support goes unclaimed by older people in Scotland. Age

Scotland’s Check in, Cash out campaign aims to raise awareness and increase take-up of the social security support available to help older people live well. With around 150,000 pensioners in Scotland living in relative poverty, and many more on the cusp of it, Age Scotland wants to see action to end pensioner poverty on all fronts.

Find out more

Funding news from Scotland’s Towns Partnership

Newly Added Funding • Regeneration - Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund | N/A | open now • Regeneration - FCC Scottish Action Fund | £2,000 - £40,000 | opens 15 September, closes 1 December • Environment - Historic Environment Scotland Repair Grant | £10,000 - £500,000 | open now • Healthy Towns - Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis Fund | max £1,250,000 | 1 September • Culture and Arts - Barrack Charitable Trust | £500 - £5,000 | 31 October • Culture and Arts - Friends of the National Libraries Grants| £200 - £20,000| 1 November • Culture and Arts - Buccleuch Charitable Foundation | £250 - £500 | open now • Culture and Arts - National Museums of Scotland NFA Special Funding Scheme 2021-22 | N/A | open now • Community - ScotWays Small Grants Scheme | £500 - £1500| 31 August • Community - Safe Deposits Scotland Charitable Trust | total fund £168,000 | 19 August More information here

CAPS Advocacy: Peer Volunteer Development Worker, 15 hours per week, Salary: £24,657 per annum FTE, (£ 10,203 pro rata), Lothian. CAPS has a new role for someone with their own lived experience of mental health issues to work with the people who volunteer with us in our collective advocacy projects. The role includes recruiting new volunteers, matching people with relevant volunteer opportunities in CAPS and providing learning and development opportunities to enhance people’s experience of being involved in Collective Advocacy. https://goodmoves.com/vacancy/a4s3z00000xnaHWAAY/peer-volunteerdevelopment-worker North Edinburgh Childcare

JOB VACANCIES North Edinburgh Childcare is one of the premier providers of high quality, affordable childcare and education services in Edinburgh and is known for its community based approach to delivering accredited childcare training. The organisation is strongly grounded in an inclusive ethos which underpins both our excellent services and our commitment to staff, their training and professional development. Ciurrent vacancies can be found here

Funding and grants from Paths for all Smarter Choices, Smarter Places ArtRoots Funding for the National Cycle Network in Scotland Tesco Community Grants Henry Duncan Grants Jobs Smarter Choices, Smarter Places Manager - Paths for All

More news from Paths for All here

REH Patients Council have a senior human rights educator post: Senior Human Rights Educator with Royal Edinburgh Hospital Patients Council – Goodmoves as well as four human rights educator posts: Human Rights Educators x 4 with Royal Edinburgh Hospital Patients Council – Goodmoves They've all been kindly funded by the EH&SCP and involve the delivery of a human rights awareness- raising programme, primarily to professional staff and people with lived experience of mental health issues. Applications are encouraged from all people with lived experience of using, or caring for people who use, mental health services. Any help getting the word out there so we get the best possible new recruits will be gratefully received!

SCRAN ACADEMY – VACANCIES

At Scran Academy, we are proud to be a Scottish Living Wage Employer, and as a small employer, supporting and investing in our staff is important. We are committed to being a caring and forward-looking organisation not only through pay, but Continuing Professional Development and leadership opportunities. Full information here Join the Youth Scotland team

We are currently recruiting for two new exciting roles within our team. If you have the skills, experience and passion then we want to hear from you. Join us as our new Administrator who will be supporting Youth Scotland’s youth awards or as our new Senior Development Worker for the Young Islanders Network. Full info here

Although I try to filter events that have passed, cancelled or changed, please check dates and times with organiser, especially during these times, thanks, Elaine Please email me at [email protected] if you have any community news to share. Preferred format is a link to your website or a jpeg or word document if possible, and I would ask you to give me as much notice of events as possible to enable local people to attend if interested. We will only use any data to provide you with updates associated with the North West Locality and your data will not be shared. This is in line with the City of Edinburgh Council's Privacy Notice. You can opt out at any time by using this link to unsubscribe.