Dear All

Fun things happening for kids this Summer, starting at the weekend with Here Comes the Summer on Portobello Beach and Promenade tomorrow (Saturday) from 1pm to 4pm and a Family Fun Day in Brighton Park, 12noon to 3pm.

This Sunday, Bridgend Inspiring Growth (BIG) is throwing a party as part of the Power of Food Festival which is taking place over the Solstice weekend. Lots of community gardens and food projects will be welcoming visitors, old and new, to see what they’re up to and celebrate the power of food! Check out their website to see what’s going on: Power of Food Festival

Lynne Beattie, Regional Development Officer for Scottish Volleyball is letting us know about Beach Volleyball Primary Schools Summer Camp coming up in July.  With all the recent activity on the beach, it has highlighted the need to get the local kids onto the beach playing our amazing sport.  Whether I am down there coaching club volleyball or training for my next competition, we are forever getting asked about our sport and where and when people can join in.  For me, beach volleyball could really be a sport that brings the East neighbourhood community together, giving our local young people a new activity from which they can learn so much more than just volleyball.  It gets them outdoors, with friends and they get a good run around too. The camp is branded as S.H.A.P.E Beach Volleyball (Schools Holiday Aspire Programme Edinburgh).  This is a pilot camp but will hopefully run as a series of camps throughout the school year… all on the beach.  It will be aimed at the new Primary 6/7/S1 age group and no experience is needed.  The camp will take place on Portobello Beach from 9-12 noon from Monday 13 July – Friday 17 July in front of the Portobello Swim Centre.  Most importantly the camp will be fun, with the opportunity to be outdoors and be coached by international players and coaches along the way.   I hope it will engage as many kids as possible in advance of some more targeted work I will be doing within the local schools in the new school year. 

Edinburgh Garden Partners matches people who want to garden with people who have space to share. They focus on those who need the most help, often older or disabled individuals or carers. Garden partnerships can help vulnerable people remain independent in their own home and reduce social isolation, while at the same time garden volunteers benefit from access to gardening, befriending, food growing and more.  See here: Garden Partners

Community consultation is beginning on a plan for the new park which will transform the current Portobello High School site, once a new St John’s Primary School is built.  To receive regular updates, or get involved please join the e-mail distribution list by contacting ELGT at: yoursay@ELGT.org.uk or ring 0131 445 4025 and you will be kept informed of upcoming events and ongoing progress. See here on Portobello Community Council website for more details.

As part of its three year partnership, Edinburgh International Festival recently met the new S1 pupils at Castlebrae Community High School and introduced them to Italian opera with pic.twitter.com/hwLmA7CPqJ  And here is a great video which includes one of Castlebrae’s automotive apprentices on school-leaver success with the Edinburgh Guarentee: bit.ly/1Fm9Yg3

Portobello Online has a new Events section, which brings together Facebook Events taking place in the Portobello:  fb.me/6DzN0GwVw

In response to several requests there is now a third Portobello City Car Club car at Windsor Place, EH15 2AJ.  City Car Club is a pay-as-you-go way of driving a car without the hassle and expense of owning one.   Phone 0845 330 1234 or go on line to find out more.  City Car Club Edinburgh

The topping out of the new Portobello High School happened this week.  Report here:  Portobello High School

The story behind The Portobello Reporter has appeared in the media here: All Media: Portobello Reporter and is being picked up by STV Local next week (we think).

What a transformation with this fabulous mural at Figgate Park. Click here: fb.me/zlTXaWpV  The Art Under the Bridge project involved lots of local children and their artwork is on display at Portobello Library. pic.twitter.com/dTJTVvTdaj

The Jack Kane Centre do some fantastic, groundbreaking work with youngsters, older people and families and is one of the projects being sponsored by Asda right now.  If your are ever in Asda at the Jewel with some spare change then please drop it in one of the charities boxes: See here:  pic.twitter.com/yiPzOhJacg

Portobello, 99 ice creams, and Britain’s Lost Seaside Heritage appeared in the national press recently.:  http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/portobello-99-ice-creams-and-britains-lost-seaside-heritage-the-sweet-taste-of-success-10315732.html

Four years ago, Edinburgh was enchanted by mysterious book sculptures. Be involved with the last: paperscissorsstone321.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/if-you…

Which of these five Zero Waste ideas is your favourite?  Make Things Last | Zero Waste Scotland

A new directory to help people in Edinburgh find Trusted Traders has now been launched: bit.ly/1BlLPeH

Have  good weekend!

Maureen

Councillor Maureen Child | Labour Elected Member | Portobello/Craigmillar (Ward 17) | City of Edinburgh Council | City Chambers | High Street | Edinburgh | EH1 1YJ | Tel 0131 529 3268 | Mobile 07718 666 481| Twitter @MaureenChild1

p.s. My face-to-face Councillor Advice Sessions, or ‘Surgeries’, are usually every Monday at 5.30 pm in Castleview Community Centre, 76 Craigmillar Castle Avenue (Phone 661 4064) and then at 7 pm in Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue (Phone 529 5558).  Now also at Craigmillar Library, 101 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DT, 1st Wednesday of the month, drop-in session 5pm-5.30pm, thereafter by appointment only up until 7.30pm. Please phone me on Direct Line 0131 529 3268 or Mobile 07718 666 481, or email maureen.child@edinburgh.gov.uk to check availability, make an appointment or request a home visit.