Citizens Advice Bureaux mark anniversary
Edinburgh writers’ success
Portobello sur mer
Neil Diamond & Kenny Rogers in Gorgie
Tree for every child scheme
Jim Eadie MSP lodged a motion to mark a notable anniversary for one of Edinburgh’s best known services and they threw a party at Holyrood with a special guest:
S4M-12072♦ Jim Eadie: 75th Anniversary of Citizens Advice Edinburgh—That the Parliament congratulates everyone at Citizens Advice Edinburgh (CAE) on the charity’s 75th anniversary, which was marked by a reception on 15 January 2015 that was attended by the Princess Royal; understands that CAE is one of the UK’s oldest citizens advice bureaux; notes that it was established in 1939 at the outbreak of the war in order to advise residents about allowances, evacuation and pensions and to help trace soldiers lost in battle or captured as prisoners; recognises that it currently employs over 260 volunteers and paid project staff; notes that they work from 28 locations across Edinburgh and provide advice on a number of issues, including debt, employment, disability, healthcare, housing, money advice, mediation and welfare; welcomes the development of CAE and understands that, over the last year alone, it has dealt with over 27,000 enquiries; expresses its gratitude to all of the paid and voluntary staff who have been active at CAE throughout the years, and wishes the bureau the very best in all its future endeavours.
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Four Edinburgh-based writers have come one step closer to achieving their dream of having their work published, after being named as the recipients of a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award 2015.
D P Colgan, Basil W. Davies, Olga Wojtas and Aiko Greig are four of the 10 recipients of the coveted award, run by Scottish Book Trust in association with Creative Scotland. The awards provide 10 talented, unpublished writers with financial support to enable them to concentrate on developing their work, as well as professional guidance to help them move towards publication.
Each recipient receives £2,000, as well as a tailored package including mentoring from writers and industry professionals, training in public relations, social media and performance and the opportunity to show their work to publishers and agents.
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A little film to take you to the seaside:
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Green councillor Chas Booth was pleased after one of the decisions of the Transport and Environment Committee advanced one of his projects last week. The project is to plant a tree for every child born in Edinburgh each year, but it has to be said that the project started some time ago in August 2013 so it has taken a bit of time to get here.
There are nearly 6,000 children born in the city each year so the cost of the project would have to be considered as part of the budget process, but it would be one way of combatting climate change and reducing carbon emissions. The council estimates that some trees might cost around £5 but others which are more mature could cost up to £5,000 apiece.
Delighted my “Tree for Every Child” proposal being taken forward by #edincouncil. Currently plant only 1 tree for every 4 lost.
— Chas Booth (@CllrChasBooth) January 13, 2015
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
