DECEMBER 2005 Issue No. 6 7
Free
INSIDE
THIS
ISSUE
Castlebrae time travellers visit mining museum...
page 5
picturethis
competition
Caption to go here - names in email accompanying photo
Haystax’s winning ways
A COLLAGE MADE by young artists just had a long trip through to Glasgow.
chance to celebrate the difference and from a local nursery was amongst four “It’s the first thing we’ve entered and amazing impact lottery funding has had winning entries chosen for an exhibition actually won, and I think it was good the across Scotland and the rest of the UK and held in Glasgow to celebrate National children were recognised, as well as all the recognise the wonderful things people have
Lottery Day recently.
The artwork was created by children aged extremely chuffed. I think it was quite good work that the staff put in. They were all done with their lottery grants.
“This year we focused on the impact of three and four attending Haystax nursery. to show where the money’s going and what money invested in projects benefiting chilThey used leaves, tubes, and pieces of it has achieved because we have received dren and young people as it represents more wood, to show how they would spend £1 funding from the Lottery.” million to make their community a better Since 1994, childcare groups and youth by The National Lottery across the UK.” place to live. The collage was chosen from organisations in Scotland have received Fellow judge Angus Farquar was than half of the total raised for good causes entries across Scotland by a judging panel £856 million towards better facilities, impressed with the creativity on display in featuring artist Angus Farquar as well as equipment, and outdoor play and after all the entries. Dharmendra Kanani and Azra Sheikh of school activities from the National Lottery. Big Lottery Fund Scotland. Haystax was recently refurbished thanks to imaginative young people can be and some Staff and children from Haystax were a lottery award of £30,308 granted in of the artwork seen today is fantastic. It was invited to the launch of exhibition, titled January to Craigmillar Childcare Services. not easy to choose only four winners from
He said: “I am always amazed at how
Win a £10 voucher page 12
‘The Big Picture’, which was held in the Scotland Street School Museum in Dharmendra Kanani said: “We were over- play.” Glasgow - spiritual home of famous design- whelmed by the imagination and enthusi- Sue Kirbitson added: “It’s good to be asm shown by the young people, and are recognised for achieving something posi-
A proud Su Kirbitson of Haystax said: happy that so many were able to participate tive. The staff worked hard to encourage the
“The parents were delighted and the chil- in The Big Picture. We would like to thank children with their skills in the nursery and dren just thought that it was great, though all the groups for putting in the time to they’ve actually produced something that is
Big Lottery Fund Scotland Director all the wonderful artwork that was on dis-
December Stars &
Handy Phone
er Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
numbers...
page 15
- they were kind of a bit taken aback by it come up with such fantastic pictures.
- now recognised by an awful lot of people
because they are quite young, and they’d He explained: “National Lottery Day is a outwith just the parents and the locals.”
- 2
- The Chronicle..December 2005
The Chronicle is an
Housing transfer New worker for
independent newspaper published by Craigmillar Community Newspaper Limited (CCN Ltd.) for the people of Greater
result expected by Christmas
Bingham area
Craigmillar.
KAREN WATTS IS THE Capacity Building Project’s
COUNCIL TENANTS IN make an informed choice in the newest recruit.
CCN Ltd. is a Private Limited Company funded by the City of Edinburgh Council through the Craigmillar Partnership and the
Edinburgh will soon be able to Ballot.
Karen would like to introduce
vote on proposals to transfer all
Tenants were encouraged to herself to residents of the
Council homes to the City comment on the proposal. 585 Craigmillar area, and in particular
- of
- Edinburgh
Housing tenants took the opportunity to do Bingham. so. These comments have now Her role as development worker,
Association.
Edinburgh Community Newspaper Trust.
A result is expected before been collated and analysed and will involve working with Christmas. If tenants vote “yes” they too, show strong support for Bingham’s local residents, comthen CEHA say they will start to the Council’s proposals. munity groups (especially the deliver the promised improvements as quickly as possible.
As a result, there are no grounds Lismore Parent Action Group), to change the offer to tenants, as and council departments to
These include: over 3,000 of the set out in the pack they were sent. introduce and support a number least popular homes in the city Councillor Sheila Gilmore, of new initiatives that will benbeing demolished and replaced Executive Member for efit and support the people of with new ones; all other homes Community Safety and Housing that area. will get new kitchens and bath- and Chair of City of Edinburgh These initiatives might be social get-togethers. If you have any ideas about what rooms, efficient heating and other Housing Association, is pleased to anything from after school you would like to see happening improvements; more money to see that the consultation work has clubs for children, more youth in Bingham, you can contact tackle antisocial behaviour and been well received by tenants. services in the evening and at Karen at the Capacity Building create safer, cleaner neighbour- She said: “This is a once in a life- weekends, women’s groups to Project on 0131 661 0200. hoods; an extra 10,000 affordable time opportunity. Tenants across homes to be built by CEHA and the city have the chance to vote other housing associations in the for the biggest change in housing city over the next 10 years; infla- in Edinburgh since the first
The views expressed in the Chronicle are not necessari- ly those of the Editor or the Board of Directors.
tion-only rent increases in Council home was built. I would CEHA’s Business Plan (guaranteed urge people to use their vote and
Merry
Christmas & a Happy
Editor: Sally Fraser
in a legal contract for 5 years). vote ‘yes’.”
Reporter: Fergus Grierson
- In the largest consultation pro-
- Also during the last four weeks,
gramme ever conducted by the the Tenants Information Service Housing Service, nearly 14,000 (TIS) - the independent tenants tenants (61%) were interviewed adviser has consulted around 180 (12,600 in person and 1,400 by tenants through a series of local
Craigmillar Chronicle Unit 9A Castlebrae Business Centre, Peffer Place
- telephone).
- meetings and a conference organ-
Results indicate that only 9% of ised with the Council and those tenants involved in the con- Edinburgh Tenants Federation sultation intend to vote ‘no’, 58% (ETF).
Edinburgh EH16 4BB Tel: 0131 661 0791 Fax: 0131 661 0559 e-mail:
to vote ‘yes’ and 33% are still undecided.
TIS assessed the CEHA Business Plan and concluded that
N ew Year
Earlier last month the Council’s the proposal offered tenants a bethousing transfer Stage 1 Notice ter deal by providing more investcalled Housing Transfer: What it ment in tenants’ homes than they means for you was delivered to would get by staying with the
Registered in Scotland Registration No. 205722
t o a ll our r ea der s
- every tenant in the city.
- Council.
- This information pack was
- Having consulted directly with
- developed
- with
- Edinburgh nearly 14,000 tenants it is clear
Tenants Federation and represen- that the majority of them are tatives of the Board of CEHA. It aware of the proposals, undergave tenants detailed information stand them and more than 8 in 10 about the proposal so they can tenants (81%) intend to vote.
COPY FOR INCLUSION
IN THE
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If you would like to place an advertisement in the
Craigmillar Chronicle please
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e-mail: [email protected]
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- The Chronicle...December 2005
- 3
Bridgend Farm set for organic allotments
Local student tells how education changed her life
STUDENTS FROM A variety of school, but my teacher hadn’t poverty, lack of role models, lack
backgrounds told an audience at been very encouraging. I started of encouragement, poor past edu-
Napier University how educa- attending the group in 2002 and I cational experiences, homeless-
tion has changed their lives.
Six students who improved their by David Graham from Napier still go now. I love it! It is assisted ness, or drug abuse.
“By helping people develop as lives by accessing education and his support is brilliant. He individuals, we improve their through courses run by Napier really knows how to get the best prospects and their self-esteem University’s Lifelong Learning out of people and there’s a real and ultimately help communities,
- department told their stories at the sense of community spirit.
- and the country as a whole to
An established Edinburgh allotment
- Creating Learning Communities
- “There’s a real mix of people; prosper.”
- event at Craiglockhart Campus some of the older people do it as a
- Napier has formed a number of CITY
OF
EDINBURGH in, whether for fun, to learn about recently. Among the students was Lynda usually looking to use it as a step- including Apex Scotland, the fingered local residents to take they’d like to take more exercise Whyte (26) from Niddrie who, ping stone to bigger things.” Ripple Project, Skillnet, the on allotments at a new commu- and spend time with others in a after experiencing a bout of While attending the group Lynda Platform Adult Learning Centre, nity plot set to open in the beautiful spot. depression, decided to follow a worked on childhood ambition to study art by obtained a place on the BA (Hons) Learning Link to provide a range hobby, but the younger ones are partnerships with organisations Council is appealing to green- organic gardening, or because
- a
- portfolio and Access to Industry and Adult spring.
- People from the local area are
The Council plans to transform a particularly encouraged, and joining Artists in Craigmillar - a Illustration course at Duncan of of pathways into higher education field at Bridgend Farm in groups can apply. Adaptations community group established by Jordanstone College at Dundee including community-based Craigmillar Country Park into 60 designed to make gardening easiaccess and degree level study. organic allotments, available to er are also offered for those with These organisations provide a rent from March 2006.
Plots and half plots will be
Napier University in 2001.
University.
- Lynda said: “I joined Artists in
- She added: “I’d like to teach art
- disabilities.
- Craigmillar when it had just start- in future, but I’d like to do some number of pre-access programmes
- A Project Open Day, with activi-
ed after I’d found a leaflet adver- freelance illustration first. I’m so for groups such as ex-offenders, available at the site, a 10-minute ties for gardeners of all ages will tising the group. It seemed like a glad I came across that leaflet, minority ethnic groups and local walk from Craigmillar Castle also be held on Saturday April
- good way to get myself back into otherwise I probably wouldn’t be people
- in
Lochend/Restalrig and Oxgangs plot will be £35; prices are half opening of the site in March.
Stringer, areas. for pensioners and people on There will be more details about
The event saw a number of stu- benefits. this in a future issue of the
There will be help on offer for Chronicle.
Craigmillar, Road. The annual fee for a full 8th, shortly after the planned
- learning.
- doing what I am now.”
- “I’d graduated from Napier with
- Professor
- Joan
- an honours degree in publishing in Principal
- &
- Vice-Chancellor,
2001, and had worked with a Napier University, said: “Napier dents presented with awards in
- small publishing firm for a couple has a long tradition of providing recognition of their achievements people who haven’t grown veg-
- For more information or if you
of years but I didn’t enjoy it and lifelong learning opportunities and also featured a speech from etables and fruit before, as well as would like to rent a plot, contact realised it wasn’t for me. So, I left and improving access to higher former Runrig singer Donnie plenty of information on organic Allotments Officer Ian Woolard and was unemployed for a while education. Our aim is to give peo- Munro - now director of develop- gardening - which produces great on which really sapped my confidence.” ple who may have missed out on ment at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, food as well as being good for [email protected] Lynda continued: “It was my furthering their education a sec- Skye’s Gaelic College, who told wildlife. For more information about the mum who really encouraged me to ond chance to do so. This includes of his experiences of working in The site will include a communi- community allotment and health go along to Artists in Craigmillar. people striving to overcome cer- communities isolated from further ty allotment health project where project contact Antonia Ineson on I’d wanted to study art after tain obstacles in their life such as and higher education. anyone can come along and join 0131 536 9425.
- 311
- 7072,
- 4
- The Chronicle...December 2005
CNA: aiming to meet community needs
THE CRAIGMILLAR URBAN Design
CNA work closely with all of the land-
ACCESS TO:
jobs training a future
Framework (UDF) is set to be one of the lords in the Craigmillar area. They also most significant parts of the regenera- work closely with Parc, the company set up tion of Craigmillar.
to implement the UDF. The Community
Local housing project, Craigmillar Regeneration Forum have a director on the Neighbourhood Alliance (CNA) is working Parc board, Norrie Davies.
CVs • applications • interview techniques • training • support
hard to ensure that local community needs are considered and met first. CNA Manager Susan Carr, explained: city with city-wide participation and local
“We aim to make sure that the community residents sitting on the shadow board of the are getting their say and being properly proposed new city-wide housing association. represented. The most important thing is that local people living in the community the have a say in what happens to them.” The project organise and facilitate meet- conjunction with CNA, have arranged a ings each month with all the neighbour- fact-finding visit to Glasgow in December.
East Edinburgh has become known as one of the most involved communities in the
Worktrack provides the following services:
CVs
•
•••••assistance with applications assistance with covering letters assistance with interview skills up to date job & training vacancies access to jobs & training via the internet
As a direct result of a recent meeting of
Greendykes Neighbourhood
Association to discuss the UDF, Parc in
training employment access fund - providing support for vocational training
hood tenants’ and residents’ groups. To date there are ten groups in the local area. Greendykes area where people can turn up Susan said: “We make sure every group and look in detail at the plans for their area.
An open day is also planned for the
- gets accurate information and an update
- Susan continued: “We are also pushing
GET BACK ON TRACK
CONFIDENTIAL FREE FRIENDLY
Open Monday - Thursday: 9.30 - 12.00 and 1.30 - 4.00
Friday: 9.30 - 12.00
from the Community Regeneration Forum the issue of the high-rise blocks in (CRF). We also organise special meetings Greendykes and what is going to happen to for things such as the Stock Transfer and them. The Greendykes Neighbourhood
- the UDF.”
- Asociation has also campaigned to ensure
CNA endeavour to make the process of that if the stock transfer goes ahead, getting involved effortless for local resi- Greendykes residents will have the option dents. To this end they offer to take the of being a City of Edinburgh Housing bulk of the day-to-day work away from Association (CEHA) tenant.”
Come and make an appointment today to discuss the job you want