Dear All,

Last week Turn2us’ Edinburgh Trust launched a new community funding programme for Edinburgh, asking “What can you do to help your community thrive?”

Turn2us has been providing financial support to residents in Edinburgh for the past six years through its Edinburgh Trust. I have been serving on its Advisory Committee since the beginning. Until now, the Trust has focused on providing financial support to people needing short term help for themselves and their families – and still does. But now, with the launch of a new Community Programme, the Edinburgh Trust are looking to fund projects that can provide more lasting and longer terms solutions to help improve lives, reduce poverty and get the best out of the people and resources in their community. More here: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/About-Us/News/Turn2us-launches-Edinburgh-Community-Programme

A lovely account of a visit to the Thistle Centre for Wellbeing and all it has to offer: “Bright, airy and welcoming, Thistle’s new headquarters at 13 Queen’s Walk, Edinburgh have been recently rebuilt, and extend a warm invitation to service users and anyone who, with a long-term health condition, would benefit from the health and wellbeing services that Thistle offer. As they say on their Facebook Page ‘We are a health and wellbeing organisation that supports people with long term conditions to manage life better. We work with the person, not the condition, to improve their health and wellbeing.’  More here: http://www.franmacilvey.com/visit-to-thistle-foundation-edinburgh/  You would all be made very welcome, as Fran was!

A humpback whale was spotted on the Firth of Forth this week and became a bit of a star!  More here: nhttps://www.facebook.com/edinburgh.evening.news/videos/1398126980245873/

The anticipation of the start to the demolition of the main tower of the 1960s Portobello High School has been ‘building’ all week, with the tall cranes arriving.  Not everyone is equally delighted to see it go, because it carries so many school community memories, however, the Evening News had a story about it and what will be put in its place:   http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/portobello/demolition-work-to-begin-on-old-portobello-high-school-1-4384431

With every new development, we need to scour our memories and ideas for street names with an historic connection to places.  With all the building going on in Craigmillar and Portobello, it is a good time to reflect on where the names of our streets come from and come up with some possible names ourselves, maybe.  This is an interesting blog by the planning department whose job it is to come up with names – often with the help of local people.  Click here: https://planningedinburgh.com/2017/03/06/whats-in-a-street-name/

Another fantastic Porty Podcast form David Calder, this time on an environmental theme.  Portobello Timebank had a busy weekend in Magdalene Glen doing an amazing big clean up, with more obviously needing done.  And their Gardeners Question Time attracted about 90 people on the Sunday.  Listen here: http://www.buzzsprout.com/71622/483804-26-gardening-and-keeping-your-home-warm.mp3?client_source=buzzsprout_site&download=true

Here is a great opportunity to meet up with friends and hear top class music on your doorstep on Saturday night. The amazing Davie Luhanga will be playing his afro-rhythmic music.  Davie was a headlining Malawian singer who has now moved to Scotland and is building his professional career here. He’s an amazing performer and you can get a taste of some of his music here http://www.sparedogrecords.com/souls-of-the-ghetto/ . The wonderful Edinburgh Police choir is also playing and a range of other support acts. And there’s be plenty of opportunity to mix and chat over interval refreshments . The concert is being organised by Rotary Portobello and profits are being split between STEKA and The Thistle Foundation. It would be great to have a good turnout from Porty and lovely to see you there.  Tickets are £10 from Top Hat / Skylark / Live, Laugh, Love or £11 online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/charity-concert-edinburgh-police-choir-and-supporting-artists-tickets-31751034198?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=esfb&utm-source=fb&utm-term=listing  More information here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1468455083219324/1468457153219117/?notif_t=like&notif_id=1488586564872527  They will also have tickets at the door and charge half price for children (£5).  I hope to see you there!

The Save Bellfield Campaign needs to reach the final phase of our buyout of this treasured community space, but it will only happen if the community votes to support the community right to buy. From Monday 20 March, envelopes will be coming through letterboxes for everyone in Porty who is on the Electoral Register. You can make sure you are on the Electoral Register by phoning the Electoral Registrar’s office on 0131 344 2590. This envelope will contain a ballot paper from the Scottish Government which will ask people to vote on saving Bellfield.  The majority of the community need to vote to support the buyout for it to go to the final phase. So do spread the word. Action Porty, and the team taking this community buy-out forward, will be leafleting everyone in the designated area. They are looking for volunteers to help us do this. If you would like to help for a few hours, please get in touch! Action Porty email: friendsofbellfield@gmail.com or send to Action Porty, 12 Bellfield Street, Edinburgh EH15 2BP.  The campaign will also be using the Porty Light Box at the top of Bellfield Street to promote the ballot.  They are looking for people to get their photos taken outside the space and provide a quote about why they would like the space to be saved for the community. If you want to volunteer, do let them know! Or if you have an image of the space that you are happy for them to use, please pass it on to Action Porty.

More on registering to vote here: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20033/elections_and_voting/101/register_to_vote  Please do ignore the link I gave you in last week’s update!  It doesn’t enable you check if you are on the role already, as I mistakenly thought it did.  Thanks to a reader in the Registrar’s office for spotting that! Phoning them up is the best way to find out – 0131 344 2590.

I had noticed that the pitches were marked out in Cairntows Park next to Peffermill Road and was delighted to hear this week that the pavilion building in Cairntows Park will soon be leased to Castlevale Youth Development Club. The club plan to carry out a programme of works to bring the premises to an acceptable standard for use with the football pitches.  The club’s plans for the premises will bring the property back into use following many years lying vacant.   Excellent news!  

That’s all I have time for just now.

I hope to see you around!

Kind regards

Maureen