The community campaign to save Craigentinny allotments at Telferton is well underway.  If you want to be part of the Portobello Community Council consultation, please do lodge any objections with them to the planning application (15/05072/PPP) by close of play TODAY Friday 27 November http://www.portobellocc.org/pccpn/2015/11/10/telferton-allotments-planning-application-have-your-say/ .  But it would also be just as important to comment directly to direct to the planning department by 4 December.

Today is also the funding deadline for Edinburgh Community Solar Co-op:  http://www.energydash.org/project/edinburgh-community-solar-co-op  By last Tuesday, £1.2 Million had been raised towards the £1.4 Million target share offer.  So if you can and want to be part of this, sign up now to avoid disappointment.  Edinburgh residents get priority.

The White House Kitchen Presents John Connor & Guests Friday, 27 November Doors open – 7.00pm Tickets £5.00 at the door. More here: Tonight!

Portobello Market – The Force Awakens – 9.30am to 1.30pm Saturday 5 December in Brighton Park. BG Cycles will be there from the beginning offering a free bicycle check. Last chance to pick up traders’ one-off seasonal goodies. 26 traders on site and a full list of everything available is on the PEDAL website. Please like out Facebook page: Portymarket Map: https://goo.gl/bDOQjD

A reminder about MEET THE FUNDERS! Thursday 3 December 1.00 – 4.00pm Portobello Town Hall, 147-149 High Street, Portobello Edinburgh EH15 1AF (– and do stay on for Portobello Street Fest!) Meet the Funders is a free public marketplace event providing access to funding information for community projects. It’s a great opportunity for groups to discuss their ideas with potential funders and collect a range of information about possible sources of grant aid. No need to book – just drop in.

Exhibitors expected include:

The LOOPs Networks – Local Opportunities for Older People – is still looking for feedback from those who work with older people throughout Edinburgh.  Please get in touch if you can help:  LOOPS Evaluation

Reading Champion was revealed this week at Craigmillar Library.  More here:  Reading Champion

And here’s an opportunity to help make inspire the reader of the future:  http://chronicleonline.net/2015/11/24/volunteers-wanted-to-read-to-toddlers/

And there are a wealth of volunteering opportunities out there! Volunteer Edinburgh, now based at 222 Leith Walk, helps people find volunteering opportunities, and also finds volunteers for organisations that need them.  With one-in-four people in Edinburgh regularly volunteering, the organisation’s mission is to inspire even more people to get active and become involved in their communities, enhancing their lives, and the lives of others.

Lunchtime workshops in Magdalene, look to build cooking confidence and find ways to reduce our food waste. It’s a big topic at the moment, with Hugh’s War on Waste featuring on prime-time telly, and they’re keen to help local residents save money on wasted food and cook up some tasty, healthy meals in the meantime!

Workshops will be taking place every fortnight at the Magdalene Community Centre. The next two sessions are on Tuesday 1st December and Tuesday 15th December, both starting at 12 noon. More here: Magdalene Edible Estate  I can see Magdalene people really flourishing!  Gardening is good for your mind as well as your body: bit.ly/20ZyJgG

Scottish Water is reminding customers to follow their Card, Check and Call advice to stop bogus callers. With the dark winter nights here, and SW staff taking thousands of water samples from customers across the country, they are advising people how to recognise a genuine Scottish Water employee from a bogus caller when they turn up at their door. More here: Beware Bogus Callers

The Portobello Timebank Christmas Party will be held at the Dalriada, 7:30 – 9:30pm on Thursday December 3.  Same night as Portobello’s Street Fest when lots of events are taking place 5-8pm.  One of Anna Moffat’s favourite photos – and mine – from the Art Walk Porty exhibition, ‘Be Nice’ is currently on display at The ‘Wild’ Flower Shop and will soon be available to buy as a framed print on Ann’s website. Photo

Professional drummer, Martin Neil, will be holding a workshop on Saturday 5 December 2015 in Wellsprings, Newcraighall. For the ‘Developing Percussions’ workshop, held from 10:30am to 4:30pm in the upper room of Wellsprings, 71 Whitehill Street, Newcraighall, EH21 8QZ, Martin Neil will draw on his knowledge of different styles of music that he has learned from his travels. More here: Workshop

This week, I visited social enterprises Breadshare, The White House Kitchen and Hunters Hall Housing Cooperative with other Councillors, as part of an open invitation to Councillors to find out first-hand about the third sector, volunteering and social enterprise in our City.  More on Breadshare here: http://chronicleonline.net/2015/11/21/breadshare-giving-edinburgh-a-slice-of-healthy-inspiration/

The digital news Chronicle Online have recently launched a new “what’s on” page, bringing together all of the events and meetings happening in your area in one handy place. If you have an event you would like to be added to this page then please let them know at http://chronicleonline.net/submit-your-story/ or by emailing hellochronicleonline@gmail.com

The popular Portobello ParkRun takes place weekly in Figgate Park and here’s their latest report :  fb.me/2a1U60rNZ

Proposals to install 24hr waiting restrictions in some streets in East Edinburgh wp.me/p6Feb4-e1

Newhailes House are having festive fun activities between Saturday 5 December – Sunday 13 December. You can escape the pressures and join them in the Stables courtyard. Book tickets and find our more here:  Newhailes

Portobello Art School is coming to Tribe Porty. Classes for adults and kids. Find out more here: fb.me/5jZAspKu0

There is some great stuff reported to the Communities and Neighbourhoods Committee which might be of local interest: Communities and Neighbourhoods Committee 24 November 2015 Full Meeting Papers

Here’s an image of the new Towerbank Primary School dining hall extension Image of the new Towerbank Primary School dining hall extension

Designs have been revealed for the new accommodation being built by the City of Edinburgh Council to cater for increased free primary school meal provision.

Planning applications have now been submitted for the accommodation at four schools across the capital , one of them Towerbank. The new buildings and extensions are needed so the Council can meet Scottish Government requirements to provide free school meals for all P1 to P3s.

On Sunday 29 November, the wonderful Robin Chapel is holding its Advent Carol Service at 4pm. The service will include traditional carols, sung by the full Chapel Choir, with Advent readings and I’m looking forward to be doing one of them. A great start to the week!

Whatever you do, have a great weekend!

Best wishes

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.

Have your say on Council spending and services

by 10 December 2015