Residents evacuated from Muirhouse – Volunteer gardeners and painters needed! – Friends of the Earth AGM and workshop – Dog stolen in North Edinburgh – Dads Activity Day in Gilmerton
This was the scene outside Fidra Court in Muirhouse last night where residents were evacuated following the discovery of a suspicious package.
Walking home & stumble upon lots of police activity at Fidra Court, Muirhouse. Local sources say a ‘bomb scare’. pic.twitter.com/hfSyUjlYib
— Swivel Eyed Broon (@Mr_Mark_Brown) April 18, 2014
Fidra is one of several high rise blocks. Residents were taken to the common rooms in Birnies Court while police and the Bomb Disposal Squad investigated.
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An Edinburgh resettlement charity is looking for people who are nifty with a paintbrush or green-fingered to join its band of volunteers.
Fresh Start, which helps people previously homeless make a home for themselves, urgently needs people to join its Hit Squad team and Gardening team.
Keith Robertson, Managing Director at Fresh Start said: “You don’t need to be an expert gardener or decorator! We are just looking for people with some basic skills who can work as part of a team and support vulnerable people to get back on their feet.”
Hit Squads work alongside new tenants to help them decorate their new house. Volunteers help prepare the rooms for decorating including cleaning, sanding, lining walls and painting the whole room. Last year 120 clients received support to decorate their new home through the Hit Squad service.
But while Hit Squads work alongside new tenants to help them decorate their new house, it is more than just a decorating service. Not only does it improve a client’s living space but also teaches new skills to help them establish and maintain a home and it also benefits people through positive social contact, helping to combat vulnerability and isolation
The charity is also looking for people to volunteer in its allotment where food grown such as vegetables, herbs and potatoes will be used in cookery classes at Fresh Start’s Food Station.
The Food Station service aims to tackle health inequalities amongst people who have been homeless by giving access to refurbished cookers, cooking classes, food packs and budgeting advice.
Mr Robertson added: “Both these projects are fundamental to Fresh Start’s work helping to combat vulnerability and isolation often experienced during periods of homelessness. Hit Squads support people to learn new skills that will enable them to maintain their home, while our cookery classes and gardening projects help people to learn basic cooking skills as well as enjoy being outdoors in the garden.”
To find out more about volunteering, visit http://bit.ly/freshstartvolunteer or contact Fresh Start on 0131 476 7741 or email enquiries@freshstartweb.org.uk
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Friends of the Earth Scotland are holding their AGM and a workshop on 17 May 2014.
“Would you like an economy that ensures our wellbeing and doesn’t jeopardise our environment or our children’s future? We currently have an economy which depends on growth, which doesn’t make us happier, demands ever more resources and increases inequality.
The workshop, which runs from 2pm until 4.30pm, will look at some of the radical changes we need to:
transform energy generation
exert public control over the direction of the economy
finance sustainable development; banking rules to rein in excess and greed
achieve greater income equality and environmental justice
Expert speakers will share their thoughts on these topics followed by breakouts and open debate.”
The event follows the Friends of the Earth Scotland AGM which will be held in the morning, to which all members are welcome. Both are being held in the Methodist Church Halls, Nicolson Square, Edinburgh.
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This dog has been stolen from outside Morrisons at the Waterfront. Do you know the bald man wearing jeans and a Hawaiian shirt who is thought to have taken him?
Thank you to TRIM for the photo of Glen. If you have any information about the dog please call Police Scotland on 101.
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Something for you dads next Saturday!
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
