Dear All

RSPB Edinburgh Local Group will be at the Figgate Park tomorrow, Saturday 26 January between 10am – 3pm to contribute to the UK wide citizen science project – The Big Garden Birdwatch. Please do pop along to the Figgate and help them identify all the birds that use the Figgate Park. I saw a great spotted woodpecker there this week. There will be a gazebo set up close to the community bird feeding station.  Check out this link for how you can also be part of this project by counting the different bird species in your own garden https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/

Tribe’s Family Festival is on Saturday 26 January, 10am – 12 noon at Tribe Porty, 19 Windsor Place.  “A morning of taster, demos and introductions.  Whether you are expecting or looking for some stuff to do with your little ones, come and and say ‘Hi!’ and be part of the Tribe Family”.

Many more people understand the concept of volunteering than they do time-banking, where you can expect a tangible return for your effort. A lot of Portobello Timebank members have regular shifts as volunteers, and thousands of charitable institutions could not exist without this ‘third sector’ community. Portobello Timebank also need volunteers to keep things running by being committee members. The committee set policy and organise events and community activities as volunteers and a variety of people do specific tasks. If you have a little time to spare and are interested, do contact info@portobellotimebank.co.uk.  More about Portobello Timebank here: http://www.portobellotimebank.co.uk/

Portobello Timebank will be doing a small-scale clean-up tomorrow, Saturday 26 January, around the area between the Christian estate and Portobello Golf course in advance of their community garden development nearby. Please bring your own gloves – and litter-pickers if you have them. Meet at the Hope Lane/Stanley Street junction at 1.30pm.

The new Castlebrae Community High School is currently being developed and the plans are out to consultation for a full 12 weeks.  The school community are deeply involved in putting the plans together and they had a session last night in the school.  There is a public drop in session at the East Local Office, on 30 January from 3.30pm to 7pm.  Find out more on line here: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/cf/newcastlebraeschool/

The Council has submitted a planning application to re-instate the municipal clock on the Baptist Church building on the High Street. Portobello Amenity Society and Portobello Heritage Trust have been working on this since 2004, with remarkable patience. Thanks to the City Archivist, we proved that the clock was gifted to Portobello and therefore is part of Edinburgh’s Common Good property and must go back on display – fifteen years after it was taken down on safety grounds. 

A small group of over 60s play badminton at the Jack Kane Centre and are looking for new members to come and join them on Wednesday afternoons, 1.30-3.30pm. They say they love it there and the staff are really friendly – as are the group who play.  You would be very welcome to come and try.  Just turn up, no pressure, and it’s only £2.65 to play.

Gold and Gray Soccer Academy’s February Camp can now be booked online. Again there will be limited spaces per age group so book up asap to avoid missing out!  If you would like to attend the camp for single days or half days then please message us for more info  More here: http://goldandgraysocceracademy.co.uk/book-now/

There is still time to find out about the Council’s tough budget proposals with the swingeing cuts imposed by Scottish Government and respond to the consultation here:  https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/bi/changephase2/ before the next Finance and Resources Committee; Papers here:  http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/4620/finance_and_resources_committee

Nice to see financial cooperative Castle Credit Union getting some publicity and profile in the Scottish Parliament.  We still have a branch still based in Craigmillar, where it all started when North Edinburgh CU and the Water of Leith’s CU study group came together to form Castle.  More here: https://party.coop/2019/01/18/credit-unions-a-serious-mainstream-alternative-to-banks/. And here: https://www.castlecommunitybank.co.uk/

I hear tell there is a book shop to open on Portobello High Street.  I can’t wait and I do hope they stock this one by a local Craigmillar author, Alexander Brown : https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/ex-boxer-s-new-novel-sheds-light-on-edinburgh-s-gritty-underworld-1-4796341/amp 

Have a great weekend!

Maureen

Councillor Maureen Child

Labour Councillor Portobello/Craigmillar Ward

Office: 0131 529 3268

Mobile: 07718 666 481

Facebook Page: Maureen Child Standing Up for Portobello/Craigmillar

Twitter: @MaureenChild1

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