Tag Archives: Public events

Event: ‘Community Empowerment: Voice, Participation, Action’

When Tuesday 6th May 2014

Where Royal College of Surgeons, King Khalid Building, Edinburgh

Who  Speakers include

  • Derek MacKay MSP Minister for Local Government and Planning, The Scottish Government
  • Petra Biberbach Chief Executive, Planning Aid Scotland
  • Ian Cooke Director, Development Trusts Association Scotland
  • Pat Watters CBE Chair, National Community Planning Group

Why The Community Empowerment bill will enable community councils to take leading roles in running community assets.

The Community Empowerment Bill

The Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill was a 2011 SNP manifesto commitment and forms part of the Scottish Government’s response to the recommendations of the Christie Commission and the Scottish Government and COSLA review of Community Planning.

The Scottish Government’s consultation on the draft Community Empowerment Bill closed in January 2014.

Feed into the legislative process

As the Scottish Government releases the results of the consultation and prepares for the Bill to begin its legislative journey through the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood magazine’s timely Community Empowerment conference will give you the opportunity to reflect on the Bill and feed into the next stages of its development.

Network and debate with colleagues from across Scotland

The Minister for Local Government and Planning will deliver the keynote address at the conference. He will be joined by experts in service delivery and community representatives from across Scotland.

At the conference you will hear their views on the Bill and have the opportunity to share your comments on how Scotland’s communities can become more empowered.

Read more and book here: http://communityempowerment.holyrood.com

Leith Community Education Centre

As they say:

Leith Community Education Centre is one of the busiest community centres in Edinburgh and approximately 3,000 people come through its doors every week. It is situated on the first floor of the New Kirkgate Shopping Centre, in the heart of Leith. It was refurbished in 2004 and boasts a Sports Hall, a smaller Hall, 4 general purpose rooms, a room which is suitable for crèches and also a recently refurbished café. The Centre is extremely well used throughout the week, by more than 120 local groups and is in high demand as a venue for meetings, training events, AGMs and conferences.

Many local voluntary organisations meet at the Centre, offering literacy support, help with finding employment, carers support, outreach teaching, help with stopping smoking and support for people with a learning disability. Many different classes run throughout the week with English classes, dance classes, drama groups, history groups, art classes, martial arts and computer classes among a few. Many youth clubs meet at the Centre and offer a place for young people to have a laugh and enjoy the company of their friends in a safe, welcoming environment.

The cleaners who work in the building won Direct Cleaning’s Service Excellence Award in 2005 and continue to ensure that the Centre is clean and welcoming to all. We are working to ensure that the programme of groups and events running in the Centre is varied and relevant to the local community and that those who come into Leith Community Education Centre feel that they are an important part of the collective success of the Centre.

Learn more at their website!