Dear All
The fabulous Edinburgh Tool Library, with their giant tool box, is in Portobello Library from 4pm to 7pm on Mondays and it is going really well. Now the Tool Library is open in Craigmillar Library too, every Tuesday afternoon. Please do drop in between 1.30pm and 3.30pm to find out more about the Tool Library, become a member, donate tools or volunteer. It works just like a normal library, but with tools instead of books. So whether you need a hammer or a spanner, a drill or a sander, you can borrow it from the Tool Library. The annual membership fee is by donation and flexible, depending on what you can afford. If you have any questions, please contact Anna on anna@edinburghtoollibrary.org.
There was a lot going on last weekend, so – like me – you might not have managed to cover the whole of Artwalk Porty. Time to catch up this coming weekend, if you can. Programme here: http://www.artwalkporty.co.uk/
Did you see the wonderful photos of the coastal rowing off Portobello often see them setting off and think you would like to have a go at that too? Try the ‘Social Rowing’ session with Row Porty on Sundays. See their website: rowporty.org.uk/join-us/
Well done to the Porty Hornets P7s rugby team on their first matches of the new season – they won all three! Our friendly Portobello Rugby Club are always looking for new players, both boys and girls, so if you want to be part of a winning team please do get in touch! https://www.facebook.com/
The programme for the 2017 Portobello Book Festival, 6 – 8 October, has now been revealed. They have a busier programme than ever this year. Tickets to all events are, as always, free and will be available now from Portobello Library. I’ve got mine! Click the link below to see the full programme and look out for more info about each individual event over the coming weeks.
https://
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The Portobello community, through Action Porty, now have the keys and own Bellfield. The church and halls in Bellfield Street were acquired through Scottish Government funding in the first urban community buy-out in Scotland. What a great achievement! Bellfield would like to be able to refurbish the building to open for community use without having to borrow, so have started a crowdfunder that has already raised more than a quarter of the £20,000 we need. Click here to find out more and donate:
If you want to become a Belllfield Member, do sign up on-line. You will receive our email direct and be invited along to any AGM or special events that we hold. Join up here: https://www.bellfield.scot/
Tribe Porty are wanting as many people as possible to fill in their survey as they are trying to assess local interest in certain topics to help plan for their next development. You can find it here, https://
You might have seen a pony riding riding with a wheelchair user. More about how it came about here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/
They say Portobello beach can be accessible to anyone, in any wheelchair, on a regular basis; just contact ponyaxes.com
Police Scotland is consulting about what their local area priorities should be. What communities tend to want to see are officers out on the beat and responding to urgent calls. However, a considerable amount of resources are put into tackling local priorities in a number of different ways. Some of these are responsive, to deal with – for example – a rise in housebreaking. Other resources are proactive, like the investment made in Council liaison officers. Please respond here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.
People sometimes ask me what happened to Neighbourhood Watch. Well, it’s gone digital. The local police are recommending you sign up to Neighbourhood Alert which is a way of getting free online alerts and targeted information about where you live.
https://member-registration.
Portobello Community Choir welcomes new people! Every Wednesday 7.15pm – 9.15pm in Portobello Baptist Church Hall. Go along and discover what your voice sounds like and the joy of singing with others http://www.
Brunstane Primary School’s head teacher Kevin Brack is walking 26 miles round Edinburgh in support of Street Soccer which makes such a great contribution to the Wellbeing of young people. He has already busted his target, but if you would like to bust it even further in a great cause, here is Kevin’s Just Giving page link:
Would you like to be a volunteer? Or want to find out more about volunteering opportunities? If so, you’re welcome to come along to a Volunteers’ Fayre at The Thistle Centre of Wellbeing on Thursday 14 September between 12.30pm and 3pm. Ian who is a peer supporter at Thistle has set-up the event so that you can meet organisations which are looking for some extra help and have a chat about volunteering. Any organisations who would like to take part, can contact Ian on ian.fair@thistle.org.uk.
There is still just time to take part in child bereavement charity Richmond Hope’s Mile of Memories event on Saturday 23 September on Portobello Prom 12 noon to 2pm. If you want to take part in the event, please call Richmonds Hope soon on 0131 661 6818. If you would like to know more, and donate to the charity, click here: http://www.richmondshope.org.
A new weekly social group for adults promises to be a great way of meeting new people and adding some laughter to Mondays, starting this Monday from 5.30pm-7.30pm at The Thistle Foundation, working in a local partnership with Carr Gomm, Richmond Cafe and get2gether.
One of the many highlights of my week was meeting up with Kirsten Law who was appointed less than a month ago to work at the Citadel Youth Centre as their new North East Locality Youth Work Development Worker. Kirsten is working within the remit of the Youth and Children’s Work Strategy for Edinburgh 2017–2020 to map current services, identify gaps and work with young people to develop initiatives to fill these gaps. KIrsten’s appointment is a first in Edinburgh, and we’re hoping to work together in North East to make it a great success. Kirsten can be contacted by phone on 0131 554 0510 or email Kirsten@citadelyouthcentre.
I often asked a lot about the state of Brighton Place and what is happening to reconstruct the road; and living nearby, I often wonder on my own account! A decision on the surfacing material to be used in Brighton Place will be made at the Transport and Environmental Committee in December. A further report on the historic sett policy will also be presented to Committee on the same Committee agenda. The findings of this report will be taken into consideration prior to making the final decision on Brighton Place. The transport sections design teams have already completed most of the design work for both sett and asphalt resurfacing. So they would hope to be on site within a few months of the December Committee making a decision.
Have a great weekend, when it comes!
Best wishes
Maureen
Councillor Maureen Child | Labour Elected Member | Portobello/Craigmillar (Ward 17) | The City of Edinburgh Council | City Chambers | High Street | Edinburgh | EH1 1YJ | Tel 0131 529 3268 | Mobile 07718 666 481 | Twitter @MaureenChild1 | Facebook Maureen Child for Portobello/Craigmillar