One City Trust Projects in Sighthill Gorgie

Good to see some great local projects getting funding from the One City Trust.
The grants come from a contribution to the One City Trust from Engie aas part of their Community Engagement Fund....

'Community Investment Funding 
As part of the community benefits commitments within the North Sighthill contract, Engie have contributed £50,000 for community projects in south west Edinburgh.  
A number of funding awards were made through the Lord Provost’s charity, the One City Trust, and Engie’s contributions have been awarded to the following local groups: 
• AboutYouth – funding for a diverse programme of activities for young people aged between 7yrs – 19yrs, including activity programmes, youth groups and outreach initiatives. Particular focus in the Calders, Wester Hailes and Sighthill. 

• African Connections – funding for arts and entertainment activities and local projects. 

• Space & Broomhouse Hub – funding for a neighbourhood community growing project at Broomhouse Home Farm. 

• Community One Stop Shop – funding for specialist advice post (Advice Plus). 

• South West Edible Estates (SWEE) – funding for a neighbourhood community growing project at Murrayburn/Hailesland. 
Congratulations to all of the above groups who received funding awards. For more information on the One City Trust, please visit www.onecity.org.uk '  

I am a great fan of the One City Trust (as Lord Provost I was its President for 5 years) which fights inequality and exclusion in Edinburgh. When I took up the post the Charity had sunk into a position of inactivity not seen since the great days of its creation out of the Lord Provosts Commission on Social Exclusion a decade before. In 2012 I created the  Lord Provosts Rapid Action Fund and set about raising new money for the trust (rather than just spending the interest) . By 2017 , 5 Marathons and a Burns Supper brought the cumulative total well over the 100,000 mark. Add to this contributions like that above from Engie and the OCT is now making a real difference in the City.

Call for referrals / volunteers

Received the following ...

Dear Cllr Wilson,



I hope that this finds you well and that you're having a good week.



My name is Georgia Artus and I work for Edinburgh charitable partnership, Vintage Vibes. We tackle isolation in older people in Edinburgh through creating long lasting friendships based on shared interests.



The reason I'm getting in touch is because we've been recruiting for volunteers in the Gorgie over the past couple of months and we currently have more volunteers than isolated older people (over 60s) in the Gorgie area.



In addition, we are about to outreach for volunteers in the Broomhouse/Sighthill area and we anticipate the same situation occurring. 



We're looking to increase the number of referrals we receive surrounding isolated older people in and around the Gorgie/Broomhouse/Sighthill areas.



Would you perhaps be able to help us spread the word that we are currently open for referrals from Gorgie/Broomhouse/Sighthill?



If you need any more information please don't hesitate to let me know. 



Many thanks in advance for any help you can offer.



Georgia

Georgia Artus

Development Manager - LifeCare / Vintage Vibes

t:  0131 343 0958 | e: georgiaartus@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk  | t: @GeorgiaArtusEd  

Water Turbine for Saughton Park

Just had some great news! We are all set to start on the water turbine. Why am I so pleased? It all started in 2004 when Paul Turner came to me and showed me a report by Garvald that outlined the possibility of a water wheel on the Weir at Saughton Park. I took it to the Council who did their own phoeseability study in 2005 which concluded that there were a number of points on the Water of Leith (including the Weir) where microgeneration was possible. This also included our three reservoirs in the Pentland Hills. Fifteen years, another phoeseability study , a switch from water wheels to water turbines , a successful launch of the Balerno Village trust turbine on Harlaw reservoir, a petition and many , many emails and updates later and it looks like it is finally happening.  I have been an advocate for this project throughout even putting a motion to the full Council to tie it in with the celebration of the Hundred years since the Scottish National Exhibition (two administrations ago). Huge congratulations and thank you to Linda Anglin the Saughton Park Project Manager who has finally got this off the ground.

If all goes according to plan it is expected that work will commence on or just after 22 April and be completed by the end of this year. 

Lots Happening in Gorgie Dalry

There's a lot going on in Gorgie Dalry just now. Firstly the reopening of Dalry Pool after a six month refurbishment. Edinburgh Leisure in partnership with the Council have spent a million on the centre (Scotland's ninth oldest). One of the reasons I am so pleased about this is it is only a few years ago I was out on the streets campaigning against the baths being shut (and not for the first time). This investment in the future is therefore all the more welcome . Special offers on membership till the 28th Feb. If we want to keep it then we have to use it. I may be one of the few people now who remembers the baths when they were actual baths. It was very popular and at that time some of the stairs still did not have baths or showers . The old action areas were a big step forward in that respect. It is easy to forget how far we have come. I remember flats in the Wardlaws that had no hot water other than a boiler fixed to the wall. The action areas fixed a lot of that with its 60-90% grants including my own stair in Caledonian Rd. (although I already had a shower so it was mostly communal stair, roof and exterior).

Another big one is St Brides. For the last couple of years the centre was deteriorating (not so much as a community centre but as a venue). It had gotten so bad that the centre lay empty through August when every other venue in the city was packed. I posted it on my Facebook and also mentioned it to the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival of which I am on the board. Cllr Fullerton (also on the board) immediately supported the idea and it all took off from there. The other Councillors for the area Dixon and Graczyk lent their support and the result is incredible. Things on every day ! a real asset for the community Now the year round base for the Jazz and Blues Festival , the Carnival and still a dynamic community centre. Everything from the Gorgie Dalry Music Group to the Carnival Academy. Check out the program.... The hard work of a few people has to be recognised and in particular Rona Brown Chair of the Management Committee. In recognition of this and other work in Gorgie Dalry Rona was recently awarded the William Y Darling Award for Good Citizenship (I was her proposer) . Once again use it or lose it. The Blues and Jazz Festival's involvement was made possible by PLACE (Platforms for Creative Excellence which was launched in St Brides) funded buy the Council , the Scottish Government and the Festivals themselves.

Finally on St Brides I was pleased to present my defibrillator (the one I ran the London Marathon for) to the Centre.  It is outside the centre so it can be accessed publicly. This was organised through St John and the City which is a charity I helped to launch which has now installed well over a 100 defibs across the city including two in Waverley Station and one on every Tram (one of them another one of mine).  I have run five Marathons now in four years , all jointly for the One City Trust and St John in the City . That might be my last but I am waiting to hear! By the way these defibs are so easy use that should you need to you should not be put off because you have not had the training . You can't do any harm as it assesses the patient and if a shock is not needed it won't give one . It even talks you through it.