Category Archives: News and Events

Edinburgh Planning Concordat Engagement Fund – very small uptake

Edinburgh Council’s Planning Committee agreed in August 2013 to provide small grants (around £300) to assist community councils in carrying out engagement on major applications*. Recently, the Planning Committee stated that it’s received only 2 applications for such grants. It has asked CCs:

  1. Is there a particular reason why you have not applied for grant assistance to engage with the wider community?
  2. Are there any changes to the rules which would make it easier for you to apply for assistance?
  3. Any other comments?

*As far as the author of this post is aware, the Edinburgh Planning Concordat is the framework for this assistance.

Leith Central CC’s planning subcommittee suggested the following reasons:

  • available funds are insignificant compared to developers’ resources
  • the timescales to deploy any funds are often very short: CCs who will often struggle to submit a considered response, don’t have time to think about applications at this point
  • unless a consultation can address all relevant households (efficiently and reliably), any quantitative results are statistically irrelevant (or even unreliable, as we can’t check the authenticity of individual responses); so we rely on old-fashioned qualitative methods – small numbers, but free
Of course, CEC could automatically pay a consultation grant to a CC (proportionate to scale of application) as a major application is being submitted (and the processing fee is collected).

 

 

Community Payback Orders consultation

(adapted from an email to CCs from the Criminal Justice Service)

The CJS wants to hear your views on Community Payback Orders (CPO). These are given out by the Court so offenders can pay for their crimes as an alternative to a prison sentence.

In particular, the CJS wants to know what you think about the unpaid work part of a CPO, which replaced community service in 2011. This is when an offender does unpaid work within the community.

  • Do you have any experience of offenders doing unpaid work in your community?
  • Do you have any ideas about residents, community projects or organisations who could benefit from unpaid work support?

You can send in your views by completing the CJS’ consultation form. If you provide contact details, the CJS will let you know when the Council’s 2013-2014 CPO Report is available.

If you know of someone or a group that could benefit from unpaid work support, you can complete the CJS’ suggestion form. Please note that the CJS may not be able to help with every request but they will tell you why.

Why the CJS is asking for your views

Your information will help the CJS improve how it works with communities. It wants to increase understanding of CPOs and their importance in helping offenders reintegrate into society and reduce the likelihood of reoffending. The CJS also wants to generate more discussion with communities about unpaid work opportunities.

You can contact the Criminal Justice Service via enquiries.criminaljustice@edinburgh.gov.uk or 0131 469 3408

Clearance day at Pilrig Park

FW Balfours Botany Sat 23 August 1030 12pm

Balfour’s Botany: Making Pilrig Park more Wild!

Over the summer months artist Andrea Geile and horticulturalist Rebecca Govier have been working with local groups to investigate the legacy of Edinburgh botanist John Hutton Balfour (1808-1884). Known by some as ‘Woody Fiber’ his enthusiasm for botanical exploration was not just for the discovery of new species, but in understanding ‘their place in vegetation’. Inspired by ‘Woody’, Balfour’s Botany combines both his passion for teaching and the desire to understand a plants ‘place’, bringing this dynamism once more to Pilrig Park.

Clearance Day – at the ‘wee’ play park Saturday 23 August, 10.30 – 12pm in Pilrig Park

Supported by the Friends of Pilrig Park the aim of the clearance day is to prepare the area behind the small play park for native planting, which will take place in September.  There will also be litter kits available to help pick up the rubbish that has accumulated over the summer months.

For more information about this event, contact – friendsofpilrigpark@gmail.com

This event is open to all – no experience necessary

Join in and join us for a free Working Lunch from 12.30pm

Citizen Curator, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, 21 Hawthornvale, Edinburgh, EH6 4JT 

44+(0)7812167130 info@citizencurator.com

Neighbourhood Environment Projects – how to get involved!

(adapted from an email from Loraine Duckworth of Leith Neighbourhood Partnership)

Leith Funding Panel has been working on ways of raising awareness of the Neighbourhood Environment Projects fund and increasing involvement from local people.

Please click to download a NEP Project Proposal Form. The process chart is to explain the process by which ideas for small(ish) environmental improvements from a community group or individual would be considered.  The proposal form sets out what is needed to process such an idea.

The next meeting of the Funding Panel is on 11 September. Please send ideas either to contact@leithcentralcc.co.uk or directly to Loraine.

Loraine Duckworth | Partnership Development Officer | Leith Neighbourhood Partnership | Services for Communities | City Centre

Leith Team| Cockburn Street| Edinburgh | phone: 0131 529 7403 | Mobile: 07739188437

Volunteer recruitment fayre

(Adapted from a post on Leith Links CC‘s blog)

Visit Scotland’s biggest Volunteer Recruitment Fair!

Date: Wednesday 24th September 2014

Times: 11am until 7pm
Venue: St Paul’s and St George’s Church (P&Gs), on York Place, Edinburgh EH1 3RH (at the top of Broughton Street)
Cost: Free Entry 11am-7pm– no need to book – just turn-up!
Charities, voluntary organisations and community groups are searching for volunteers, people like you! After more than a decade, the Annual Volunteer Recruitment Fair is firmly positioned as the capital city’s volunteering event of the year.  It will showcase volunteering opportunities from across the city, putting potential volunteers in touch with hundreds of organisations.
If you’re considering volunteering, this is a fantastic opportunity to meet face to face with around fifty organisations currently looking for volunteers plus access hundreds of other volunteering opportunities, all under one roof.  
Last year our volunteer recruitment fair helped around 1,000 people in their search for volunteering opportunities to make connections with the organisations that needed them.  Make sure you’re one of them this year.
There are many benefits to volunteering, it’s a great way to use and develop your skills, try something new, make new friends and contacts, boost your confidence and general wellbeing, gain valuable experience, and of course, make a real difference!
The Fair will also feature:  volunteering and employment specialists * * café * * access to hundreds of volunteering opportunities across the city * * over 50 organisations looking for volunteers **
For more information visit: www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk or call Lara on 0131 225 0630
Lara Celini
Core Services Manager
Direct dial: 0131 603 5163 (Lara’s usual days of work are Mondays-Thursdays)
lara.celini@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk
Volunteer Centre Edinburgh
24 Torphichen Street (3rd Floor)
Edinburgh EH3 8JB
0131 225 0630
www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk