Posts filed under 'community news'
Natural Progression: 600 pieces of black bamboo set the scene for dance in the Botanics on midsummer night.
Poetry, politics and planting: we can look forward to a long hot summer, if events in this month’s newsletter are anything to go by. Get involved in environment politics through our Leith Open Space Opening Doors shadow scheme, and learn about an inspiring intercultural summer school. Don’t miss Dialogues of Wind and Bamboo midsummer’s event in the Botanics, look out for Poet’s Corner in Dalmeny Street, and watch Redbraes community garden grow. Come and help us plant some tatties in Persevere Garden on 21 June and relax in the Botanics on midsummer eve.
June 18th, 2008
Women of all faiths, and none, are invited to take part in a discussion about faith and feminism at YWCA Roundabout Centre, Gayfield Place on Wednesday 14 May, 7.00 pm. If you know anyone who would be interested, pass on the news.
Faith and Feminism is hosted by the Edinburgh Feminist Network who organised the very successful Reclaim the Night march in Edinburgh last autumn. Rebecca Heller of EFN says the discussion promises a fascinating insight into the experience of women of different faiths. But you don’t have to belong to a particular faith or be a feminist to take part. So far Rebecca says the panel includes a Christian, an atheist, a Humanist and a Pagan.
If you would like to take part or know someone who might like to then get in touch with Rebecca. She says: “If you are considering speaking but are nervous, please don’t worry - some of the other panel are dead nervous too (naming no names!) and the chair will ensure that the discussion and any questions are kept as safe and as gentle as possible.”
You can email Rebecca at: E_F_N@myway.com
May 11th, 2008
Changing views of Leith: artwork by Tommy Perman
Are developments in Leith meeting the needs of local people? Deborah Cameron is keen hear your views of plans for Leith.
Deborah, who is a student at Heriot Watt University, is studying for her MSc
in Urban and Regional Planning. Working as a planner for Aberdeenshire Council, she is gathering research for her dissertation, “To assess the potential for Leith’s waterfront development proposals to provide for the city-wide needs of Edinburgh”.
As she explained in an email to Leith Open Space, “My objectives are to review the future citywide needs of Edinburgh as set out in the development plans. From reviewing the policies I shall set out my own set of criteria for social, economic and physical issues. I am going to investigate through key stakeholders their perceptions of what Leith proposals are likely to achieve in terms of satisfying the city wide needs.”
We have put her in touch with some of our friends and supporters but she is hoping to gather views from as many individuals, stakeholders, community groups, and community councils, as possible to get a wide range of responses.
You can contact Deborah by emailing us at leithopenspace@btconnect.com or through her work:
Planning & Environmental Services
Aberdeenshire Council
Tel: 01358 726408
March 30th, 2008
Nahid Aslam of Leith Open Space attended the launch of a new community project based in Leith targeted to help people affected by poverty. Here she explains what the project does and how you can get involved.
The Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty (ECAP) officially launched its Solidarity Phone Tree on 2 March.
ECAP is based at ACE, 17 West Montgomery Place, Leith, EH7 5HA and is part of a wider UK Network bringing together activists, advice workers and campaigning groups to tackle the causes and effects of poverty.
The Phone Tree has been set up to provide support for people who are having serious problems with authorities such as the Council, Benefits Office, Sheriff Officers, employers and bad landlords, etc.
They are looking for volunteers so if you are interested in getting involved then please come along to an ECAP meeting. They meet on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, 7.30pm at ACE.
Next couple of dates: 8 April, 13 May.
Phone 0131 557 6242 or just turn up – you’ll be most welcome.
March 30th, 2008
Time to dig out our wellies and head for the opening of the new Perseverence Community Garden at 11am on Wednesday 5 March. Leith Open Space is looking forward to sharing a plot with Greener Leith and we will be marking the spot by planting one of the fruit trees Alastair Tibbitt has ordered for the occasion. With any luck they will come with good weather.
Behind the walls, Perseverence Community Garden waits for planting
This is the result of a lot of hard work by Greener Leith supported by many environmental and community groups in the Leith area. For Leith Open Space it is the outcome of our Open Space discussion day in May 2006 when Mary Moriarty, vice chair of Leith Festival took part in an afternoon workshop and just happened to mention a campaign for a community garden in Leith.
Mary’s enthusiasm was infectious and we soon found ourselves getting involved. Now for the digging and planting…come and join us if you can. (See Fay’s blog, Leith twinned with Havana? for more).
February 28th, 2008
Another great opportunity for anyone interested in gardens, crafts and the environment. All rolled up in one. Friends of Dalmeny Street Park are looking for volunteers to help make three raised-bed planters to grow plants for the local community.
You would get the chance to work with (and learn from) experienced sculptor and teacher
Graeme Murray as well as meeting skilled craftsmen working at the Woodschool near Jedburgh (if you have never been there, it is a fantastic place and well worth a visit).
The project, sponsored by Scottish Natural Heritage, begins in March with a photo-shoot at Out of the Blue in Dalmeny Street (another fantastic place well worth a visit) and runs for two months.
For more information:
contact Lise Bratton on 07776 043 786 or email: mail@lisebratton.com
February 21st, 2008
A good place to meet , this is a community orchard in Prague in late summer
How about this? A place where people of all cultures meet to grow fruit, flowers and vegetables and make new friends as they grow plants. Community gardens offer wonderful opportunities for bringing people together and it can happen in Leith. After a lot of hard work behind scenes, Greener Leith hopes to turn words into actions on Monday January 28 when a community garden is one of the main items on the agenda for their first meeting of the year. Please come along and join Leith Open Space in supporting this great project.
Plans for the Persevere Community Garden will be discussed at Greener Leith’s meeting in Leith Kirkgate Community Centre on Monday. As Alastair Tibbitt of Greener Leith explains: “The garden is adjacent to the Persevere High Flats, it is roughly triangular and walled in on all sides, but still gets some sunlight. It’s got loads of potential, and the council has recently split the space into a series of mini allotment plots - all of which are currently ‘bare earth’.”
Alastair hopes local community groups will get involved, sharing the work of turning bare earth into a fertile garden. The idea is to organise one or two events during the year, starting with a celebration to launch the site by planting some rare fruit trees in the garden.
Hoping to see you in The Persevere Room, Kirkgate Centre on Monday January 28 at 7.30pm! There are other interesting items on the agenda, such as the Pilton Park berry hedge. For more information see the Greener Leith website.
January 24th, 2008
“Everyone is welcome to attend and many local people do come along.”
In translation it means a ‘meeting place’, but Swietlica means much more than that for members of Edinburgh’s Polish community. And weekly social activities are not restricted to Polish people. Monday gatherings at Fort Community Wing are welcoming events for all local people, as volunteer organisers explain in a short article Kasia Raszewska has sent to Leith Open Space blog.
“The Edinburgh Polish Community ‘Swietlica’ was established in Leith in April 2006 by a group of people committed to making a positive change. Swietlica provides a range of activities and services for Polish migrants, particularly for people who are disadvantaged, isolated or vulnerable.
This is the first and very successful community facility for the new migrant Polish community in Britain, providing free advocacy, social support, guidance, and advice services. In its first year Swietlica received more than 4,000 requests for support from adults and children. This high level of demand confirmed the need for a community base and support services for the Polish community. Since then, Swietlica has been a focal point for Polish people, providing an evolving range of services including: welfare advice, information, counselling, education as well as social activities. Although the centre caters mainly for the migrant community everyone is welcome to attend and many local people do come along.
All services, activities and food are free of charge. All this has been made possible by the dedicated, steadfast commitment of a strong volunteer group of 30 Polish professionals: social workers, teachers, psychologists as well as service users who are regularly helping out at the Centre. The generous donations and funding not just from within the Polish community but also from the wider Scottish community are of great importance. In particular, the funding and support received from Multi-Cultural Family Base, Fort Community Wing, Cattanach Charitable Trust, City of Edinburgh Council, North & Leith Local Development Community Grants Fund, Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh have been of great assistance.
If you would like to find out more, visit Swietlica, open every Monday between 4 and 9 pm at Fort Community Wing, North Fort Street, EH6 4HR.”
Email: info@swietlica.org.uk
January 23rd, 2008
Once again members of Leith Open Space group are warming up for an energetic night at the Edinburgh Refugee Centre. The annual Winter party is always a great event: good food, vibrant music and a really welcoming atmosphere among people from many different countries. Come and join us if you can on Thursday December 13 from 7.00-10pm.
The Winter Party at St George’s West Church – with a Ceilidh band “Shandrixâ€?, Indian band “Sahaj Dharaâ€?, international food and entertainment for all the family – marks the end of a busy week at the centre beginning on Tuesday December 11 with the Christmas Art Workshop to make decorations for the party. In between there’s a walk through the lights of Princes Street to see the new exhibition at the City Art Centre, “Seeing Dragons in the Clouds”, before finishing with the visit to the German market.
Norman weekly activities continue as usual with an employment workshop on December 13, immigration advice session on December 18 and housing information for refugees on December 20. The centre is closed for Christmas between December 21 and January 2.
For more information contact Edinburgh Refugee Centre manager:
Neil McCulloch St George’s West Church 58 Shandwick Place,
Edinburgh, EH2 4RT
Tel 0131 226 1499
December 5th, 2007
Picture by Nick Gardner
Are you a budding photographer? If so, Jackie Mearns of Leith Community Involvement Project invites you to take part in a photography competition open to anyone with a Leith link. CLOSING DATE 31ST JANUARY.
“My Leithâ€? is the name of the competition run by Jackie in conjunction with “Regenerate” community newsletter. All entries will be featured in an exhibition next year and the best photographs may also be published in the “Regenerateâ€? newsletter and other forthcoming publications produced by the Leith Neighbourhood Partnership.
There are three age categories – Children (up to 12), Young People (13 – 21), and Adult (21 and over). Prizes of a trophy and Ocean Terminal shopping vouchers for each category have been generously donated by Forth Ports PLC.
You are allowed up to three entries and can either email your digital pictures to leithphotos@hotmail.co.uk or send hard copies to Jackie Mearns, Leith Community Involvement Project, 4 Duncan Place, Edinburgh EH6 8HW. Please call Jackie Mearns on 0131 554 9951 if you have any questions. Good Luck!
PS, thanks to Nick for his view of the rapidly changing shore of Leith. You can see lots more of Nick’s news and views on his wide-ranging community website Leith and North News.
November 27th, 2007
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