Looking forward to Portobello Book Festival this weekend?  The first event was last night in Portobello Bookshop on National Poetry Day with the brilliant young writer Michael Pederson. There are always a few tickets events at the venue door, if there are none left at Portobello Library. It’s all here: https://portobellobookfestival.wordpress.com/

Portobello Market is on again in Brighton Park this Saturday 5 October from 9.30am to 1pm.  Details here: https://www.pedal-porty.org.uk/food/portobello-market/

The Tool Library will be part of Tribe Porty’s Craft Market this Sunday 12 noon to 5pm, with food, drink and good cheer. The Library will be selling antique tools, things they’ve made, and they will be running an awesome class for juniors. Click here: https://edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk/

Spirit Rhythms is moving to a new venue at Costa, Fort Kinnaird this Sunday 6 October. Enjoy live guitar, drink excellent coffee and take part in a free spiritual fair from 5pm onwards, run by Wellsprings Community.

Last week, we Councillors had the opportunity to hear about the work and findings, so far, of the Edinburgh Poverty Commission.  The work is going into its final ‘places’ phase and is looking for the widest possible input from people with experience of poverty.  Read all about how you can contribute here: Ihttps://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/bi/edinburgh-poverty-commission-phase-three-places/

The first meeting of the new Portobello Community Council will take place at 7.30pm on Monday 28 October at the Baptist Church Café on Portobello High Street.  The Individual Members nominated are Elaine Murray, Craig McIntyre, Lee Kindness, Ruth Walker, Esther Gray, Miranda Hurst, Michael Leeman, Paul Goodwin, John Cleland and Lauren Berrie.  The Registered Local Interest Groups with representatives are Brighton and Rosefield Residents Association (Catherine Etoe), Duddingston Primary School Parent Council, (Rhys Nealon), The Wash House (representative to be advised), Towerbank Primary School Parent Council (Geoff Lynn) and Joppa Tennis Courts Club (Marjorie Thomas).  Councillor Mary Campbell is convening that first meeting as Portobello’s Returning Officer.

Craigmillar Community Council also had enough nominations to continue and the following were nominated as Individual Members: Darren King, Heather Henderson, John Clark, Nelson Johnstone, Paul Moffat, Thomas McArthur, Ishrat Measom, Honor Flynn, John MacKenzie-Anderson and Shah Noor Chowdury.  Registered Local Interest Group  Members are Barbara McLuckie (Newcraighall Tenants and Residents Association) and Sylvia Hawthorne (Jack Kane Centre Management Committee). As Returning Officer for Craigmillar, I only have five out of the twelve CCC members’ emails, so the notice of the meeting, agenda and new Community Council Scheme will have to go out by ‘snail mail’ for their first meeting on the second Tuesday in November.

More about Community Councils and how they operate here: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20133/community_planning/730/community_councils

Citizens Advice Edinburgh, Portobello branch are also looking for volunteers. They are currently looking for advisers, admin support and receptionists. Training will be provided. Yu can pop into the office at 8a Bath Street on a Friday afternoon for an informal chat with one of the team. They’re really keen to get a new receptionist for Wednesday mornings.

The absolute highlight of my week was hearing all about the fantastic Craigmillar Books for Babies’ Better Together project from the perspective of parents, professionals and partners in speech therapy, health visitor and early years staff.  Ian Clark of Iconic Consulting said in presenting his independent evaluation: “This is one of the best examples of partnership I have come across in 19 years.”  Quite an accolade for the way this community works together! More about Books for Babies here:  http://www.craigmillarbooksforbabies.org.uk/

Books for Babies is just one of the projects of the Craigmillar Literacy Trust who also run the Craigmillar Book Festival which is coming up next month.  http://craigmillar.org.uk.gridhosted.co.uk/craigmillar-book-festival/

That’s all for now.  Do let me know if you want ‘updated’ on anything else. 

Best wishes for a good 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