At Castlebrae Community High School, the message to their students is that learning is an ongoing process and takes place in lots of different contexts, not just in classrooms.  More about all that is going on in and outside another of our great local schools here: http://www.castlebrae.org.uk/  They do some really sector-leading partnership working to improve learning. 

From March 20 (next Monday!) local residents – who are on the Register of Electors and within the area of interest – will receive ballot papers asking them whether or not they support the community buyout bid for Bellfield Church and Halls. If support is demonstrated, our local constituted group, Action Porty, will then combine the funding pledged from the Scottish Land Fund with further sources of funding to complete the community buyout and we will have Saved Bellfield.  More here:  https://www.bellfield.scot/

There are lots of reasons to visit our local library.  I sometimes drop in to use the Wi-Fi when it’s not working too well at home.  In Craigmillar, the charity Books for Babies run the baby and toddler Rhymetimes at Craigmillar Library every Tuesday from 11am – 12 noon.  Anyone can drop in with their small child for songs, rhymes, stories and lots of fun!  Contact Michelle on 0131 621 2621.  It was great to get into conversation with one young mother in the Library on Tuesday morning.  She’s had lived in the area for four years and is finding the library a great place to spend time with her baby and meet new people.

There have been some great activities in Craigmillar Castle Park over the past couple of months which have been attended by over 220 participants. These have included bulb planting with the local primary schools, woodland thinning with the local men’s’ sheds, wild art activities and guided walks.  These woodlands are now 20 years old which will be celebrated with an event on 29 March where 2 new trees will be planted which will be selected by the local primary school. Time for a Spring Clean, Saturday 25 March, 1pm to 3pm. You can help give your local park a spring clean with other members of the community. All Craigmillar Castle Park events can be found on Facebook .  For booking and more info email: ben@elgt.org.uk . For more details on any of ELGT’s events, please visit www.elgt.org.uk or contact the office  at info@elgt.org.uk or phone 0131 445 4025.

Another plug for the new Edinburgh Trust community grants scheme from EVOC who have helped us shape it.  Can you make a difference? Do you have what it takes to bring people together and help our communities thrive? Click here:  http://www.evoc.org.uk/updates/edinburgh-trust-community-programme/  I also spoke about it to David Calder for one of his Porty Podcasts last week (No 28) : http://porty.org.uk/news/porty-podcast/

Choose Youth Work! – voting is open. Young people in Edinburgh are being asked to vote on projects to deliver youth work across the city. During February 2017, the Council invited groups to apply for up to £10,000 to spend on youth work activity that will benefit young people between 11-25, either locally based or citywide. The applications were screened at the beginning of March by a group of young people and Council officers, based on priorities that were decided by young people following a consultation in 2016. This is the first year of a three year programme, with 60k to allocate this year, rising to over 100k in year 2, and over 500k in year 3. A total of 16 projects will now face a public vote. It is now up to you to decide which of these projects young people would like to see being delivered. If you are aged between 11-21, and live in Edinburgh, you can vote for your three preferred projects. Voting opened on Friday 10 March and closes at 5pm on Monday 27 March 2017.

Young people can vote:

• Online on this site: https://edinburgh.participare.io  
• At the Big Vote Party on Friday 24 March, 1.30pm at the Festival Theatre
• In selected community centres – ask your centre for more information

Results will be announced in April and projects will begin from May 2017. This is young people’s chance to decide how money is spent that benefits them.

If you have a Young Scot card, when you vote online you will also receive reward points and these can be redeemed against a range of awards. You can find out more about Young Scot here:  http://young.scot/  If you or yours would like to find out more, please contact CF.Commissioning@edinburgh.gov.uk

Playing Out is a pilot scheme that lets you close your street for free to run children’s play events. It runs from 1 April to 31 August 2017. Applications are now open. Download the guidelines to closing your street for a play event below.  Please note the 6 week notice period may be reduced slightly for closures during the April school holiday. Click here: .http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20100/support_for_families/1553/playing_out

The new relocated Lidl store in Craigmillar town centre opened before the cycle parking rack was installed, which did not go unnoticed and was all over Twitter and in my email inbox within hours – or so it seemed.  Cycle parking was indeed part of the planning consent and I believe they were installed two days after I complained through the planning officer. 

Portobello Rotary held an excellent concert on Saturday evening where Steka and the Thistle were the charitable beneficiaries.  I was called up to do an impromptu talk on Thistle, a task which would have had my legs run to jelly at one stage in my life.  I hope they raised loads of cash for those two good causes.

Rotary also look after Newcraighall train station planting and one member went along last weekend to take a look at the Spring display.  “The daffodils are lovely, and the barrels are not at all bad, with a few of the purple crocuses rescued from the heather bed. Sadly, there’s the remains of some crocuses, dug up and vandalised by rabbits in the heather bed. What’s the attraction of eating crocus bulbs? “  A question for our local Gardener’s Question Time team?

There is a lovely write up of the pop up event Craigentinny -Telferton Allotments a few weeks back.  See here: https://www.ctallotments.com/single-post/2017/03/07/Allotment-Pop-up-Cafe

A snippet of history of Joppa Salt Pans:  http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/people-places/when-sea-salt-was-scotland-s-white-gold-1-4389154

Looking to treat yourself, your family or your friends this Mother’s Day? Look no further for fizz, food and fun …Fabulous fundraisers, Ladies Glitterball, are holding an Afternoon Tea with musical performances and stalls selling lots of beautiful treats at Eskmills on Sunday 26 March.  Book a table for you and a group, have a great afternoon and support Link Up Women’s Support Centre at the same time – what’s not to like?! Tickets are on sale now – please email ladiesglitterball@Gmail.com to request yours or message them via their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Ladies-Glitterball-592651367428408/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf More information also at: http://www.edinburghpalette.co.uk/ladies-glitterball-host-mothers-day-afternoon-tea/

More on the real life story of what a few really determined positive Craigmillar mothers can do – just start a world class community arts movement:  http://dangerouswomenproject.org/2017/03/08/dangerous-mothers/   I would hope things have changed since those days and that Council and other public agencies are much more inclined to do things with people, rather than to and for people,  That is a culture shift we have been pushing to shift even more over the last five years and here is a report for Full Council tomorrow that charts how far we think we have come in making Edinburgh more of a Co-operative Capital. http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/53564/item_84_-_the_cooperative_capital_framework_2012-17_-_final_progress_report

That’s all for now!

Best wishes

Maureen