Dear All
Coffee mornings are like buses in a traffic-congested city; nothing doing, then they all come along at the same time. Two coffee mornings this Saturday! The Portobello Timebank one in the Baptist Church Hall I told you about last week. The Guild at Portobello and Joppa Parish Church, Brunstane Road North are also hosting a Coffee Morning on Saturday 7 April to raise funds to support Guild projects in the wider world. Costing just £2 for coffee and cake there will be home baking and preserves on sale, and a tombola. Everyone is warmly welcomed! Such is our craving for coffee, cake and good company, some of us might manage both…..
Also this Saturday, the return of Portobello,Market, last months having been aisle of the bad weather. Click here for full details: http://www.pedal-porty.org.uk/
A Spiritual Fair is taking place in Caffe Nero, Fort Kinnaird on Sunday 8 April 5-7pm. ‘Spirit Rhythms’ is run by local church charity Wellsprings Community: live music and free stalls open to all.
The Craigmillar Book Group is on the first Wednesday of every month. Tea, coffee and refreshments are provided. Pick up the next month’s title at the Library. For more information, ask a member of staff or contact the book group on: craigmillar.library@edinburgh.
Neighbours who go that extra mile have been formally thanked at the Council’s second Good Neighbour Awards for their inspirational commitment to making the lives of their neighbours better. I think the shy fourth award winner, not photographed in the press release, is someone I know in Portobello/Craigmillar Ward. The Jeanette Harkins I know is not one to step willingly into the limelight, and she is a very worthy winner for all that. http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/
People are often super-quick to criticise Council performance, but consistently fail to take time to understand the real challenges we face together. The independent report “Local government in Scotland: Challenges and performance 2018” has been published on Audit Scotland’s website this week. To read more about it and download a copy, follow the link below: http://www.audit-scotland.gov.
Further to last week’s Update, the eagle eyed noticed I gave no actual date or contact details for the Age-Friendly Knowledge Cafe. Duh! Everyone in Craigmillar and Niddrie aged over 60, or working with this age group, is invited for a free lunch on 26 April at 12 noon in The White House, 70 Niddrie Mains Road. To book a place, contact Meiko at 07974881186 or e-mail M.makita@nw.ac.uk
Surfers Against Sewage spring clean is next Tuesday 10 April from 11am-12:30pm, starting outside Portobello Swim Centre. Litter pickers and gloves supplied, so come along and maybe bring a bag for your pickings. Of you want to organise a community litter pick yourselves, in your own neighbourhood, the Council will led a hand : http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/
Another date for your diary: Portobello Heritage Trust’s AGM is in Portobello Baptist Church Hall, 185 Portobello High Street, on Monday, 16 April 2018. The AGM starts at 7.30 pm and then there’s an illustrated talk by Gavin Willshaw titled “Portobello: People and Places Wikipedia Editathon”. All welcome.
I mentioned last week Drake Music’s 20th Anniversary Concert coming up. Very well worth listening to Peter Sparke’s account of the fabulous work Drake Music Scotland do and it’s impact in this interview: https://www.channelnewsasia.
At a recent Edinburgh Living Landscapes partnership meeting at the Botanic Gardens, I met Charlotte Johnson who is working on this fabulous project which should be of particular interest to us who live in Portobello, Joppa and Eastfield and all along the Edinburgh coastline to Cramond. More here: https://
The structural damage to the beach access ramp next to the Figgate Burn outlet will be repaired by a Contractor working for the Council’s flood prevention section. The work is scheduled for w/c Monday 16 April. They will work mostly in the morning when the tides is low. They will try to minimise inconvenience to residents and Prom users throughout the course of the works.
It’s really good to hear that the police and Council are working so effectively together to tackle the scourge of motor cycle crime and anti-social behaviour which is such a priority for our area. More here: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/
Congratulations to Portobello’s Bath Street Collective Custom Build – John Kinsley Architects who have been shortlisted for an award. Fingers crossed they win! More here: http://www.eaa.org.uk/about/
A massive congratulations to Reverend Liz Henderson who, with Jessie Douglas, confounded the wonderful Richmond’s Hope children’s bereavement charity based in Craigmillar. Liz has been appointed a Chaplain to the Queen. Whole story here: https://stv.tv/news/features/
Local resident, Malcolm Scullion is a huge inspiration for those of us that value the great work the Thistle Foundation do, particularly working with those living with long term health conditions. A volunteer for quiet a while, Malcolm actually started paid work with the charity this week, continuing to promote an organisation that helped him find what truly matters to him. Thanks to Thistle, Malcolm is no longer defined by what is the matter with him. As the Thistle says, ‘Life is for Living’ whatever Health challenge you might have. Find out more from Malcolm’s story: https://malcolmscullion.
Best wishes
Maureen
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
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