I’m slipping this week, I’m afraid.  Two long winter walks and coffees at Newhailes one day and then the White House Kitchen, Craigmillar have raised my spirits. Good to meet and chat with people along the way. I do hope you’re all enjoying the run up to Christmas activities locally. Window Wonderland is shaping up nicely and we’re aiming to do all pur Christmas shopping in Porty. 

This week, I want to make another plug for this:

The Portobello and Craigmillar Neighbourhood Network are now inviting applications from constituted community and third sector groups that carry out services which benefit people living in the Portobello and Craigmillar areas. The Community Grants fund application form as well as the guidance notes are contained within the link for downloading  Portobello and Craigmillar Community Grants Fund – Edinburgh Partnership. (please read carefully before progressing your application)

This exciting funding opportunity is for local communities to use in many ways such as;

• Start – up grant for new groups or community projects
• Buying a new piece of equipment for your group
• Improving or developing your community groups activities
• Raising awareness of your groups activities
• Finding out about the needs in your community
• Small scale projects that enhance quality of life and complement other improvements in that area.
• Supporting projects which progress the aims of the Locality Improvement Plan (LIP)

The Portobello and Craigmillar NN Community Grant fund totals £22,637:

• The maximum amount constituted groups may apply for is £3000

Using the link above, the application process is now live and will close on Wednesday 12^th January 2022 at noon. Any applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.  The funding panel will aim to make a decision on the week beginning the 24^th January 2022.

When sending your completed application form electronically then please use the e mail provided: communitygrantfundpcnn@ea.edin.sch.uk

When posting your completed application, it should be marked confidential and for the attention of:

Iain Twaddle

Lifelong Learning Team

Craigmillar and Portobello Community Grants

C/o Castlebrae Community High School

2A Greendykes Road

Edinburgh

EH16 4DP

(Due to COVID restrictions please do not hand in any completed application forms or associated documents to this postal address)

In the meantime, if you  have any questions regarding your application or the process, then e-mail:  communitygrantfundpcnn@ea.edin.sch.uk and one of the team will respond.

For me, this week has been largely devoted to Pensions Audit and Pensions Committee business.  Hence the need for long walks! From time to time, I get emails asking me to tell Lothian Pension Fund to make detailed investment decisions – to divest or buy shares for moral reasons. That would be illegal. There are a whole range of social, environmental and company governance issues that might affect the return on the investments, not only climate change.  Our duty is to ensure LPF can pay pensions, as and when they fall due, and ensure our defined benefit scheme remains affordable for employers, of which Edinburgh Council is only one.  This report details what Lothian Pension Fund (LPF) has been doing over the last year in this area.  It’s a lot more complex than you might think:

https://www.lpf.org.uk/downloads/file/156/stewardship-code

Happy reading!

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