Dear All

Magdalene Guerilla Gardeners and Portobello Timebank have organised a litter picking event in on Saturday 13 March from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Do feel free to join in!  Greig McGlinchey wants to inspire the whole community to take pride in their surroundings.  He says that looking out of windows to see rubbish and over-gown greenery has had an impact on his mental health. He wants to build on the community spirit brought on by the pandemic.

Edinburgh Bioquarter at Little France and the Thistle Foundation in Craigmillar are teaming up to offer an on-line question and answer event on 26 March 2pm-3pm.  This ‘Ask the Scientists’ community engagement event is an opportunity for local people to have their questions about Covid answered by experts in the field through a friendly, inclusive, online event. Do join them for a very special live webinar.  Click here for a place: www.covidqanda.eventbrite.co.uk and email your question to questions@thistle.org.uk

I picked up for social media that people had appointments for a Covid vaccination but had not received any letter about it.  Fiona Brown tried to spread the word that way, posting “ARE YOU WAITING FOR YOUR LETTER? So it seems there is a big problem with COVID vaccination appointment letters not having been sent out. If you or anyone you know thinks they should have received an appointment by now, call the COVID vaccine helpline 0800 0308013 then option #2  and check if you’re on the booking system. Please share.”  This has now been picked up by the mainstream media.  Click here: https://www.scotsman.com/health/confusion-reigns-as-scots-told-they-have-covid-vaccine-appointment-but-no-confirmation-letter-3163162

The amazing Kevin Findlay and Andrew Constable are running 5k every day to raise money for the fabulous Kids in the Street football charity based in Craigmillar.  Please click here and donate if you possibly can: https://gofund.me/a7e4fc3d.  And here’s a clip with James Donald telling us what KITS is really all about for Castlebrae Community High School youngsters : https://twitter.com/andyconstable/status/1367577770369376258?s=21

We Councillors got an email from someone upset about Council’s review of our history of alert and colonialism, having picked up from the Telegraph newspaper that the aim was to remove statues and monuments.  The Evening News got it right: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/13127/edinburgh-slavery-and-colonialism-legacy-review-group-an-update and here’s the full information from the Council: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/heritage-and-retro/heritage/dont-tear-our-statues-down-says-sir-geoff-palmer-amid-controversy-over-edinburghs-historic-links-to-slavery-3157353

Police Scotland, Council and the Coastguard have been working together on a plan to better ensure that they can respond quickly to an emergency off Portobello Beach.  They have come up with a plan, reported on here in the Evening News: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/new-portobello-beach-safety-signs-to-be-in-place-for-summer-months-as-wild-swimming-and-water-sports-popularity-on-the-rise-3158489?fbclid=IwAR3jug1Js5urA44vXn1Ci3fJldEM-zl7jpeWxyCr6m8mZM4oadLHQAWVnlY.  The briefing note has been promoted by Portobello Community Council with details of how to feed back your views: http://www.portobellocc.org/pccpn/

A couple of new rounds of small community grants programmes were advertised this week, from The University of Edinburgh  https://www.ed.ac.uk/local/community-grants and the Edinburgh One City Trust: https://onecitytrust.com/grant-funding-programme/?fbclid=IwAR3k1C2EFnpHYhh3p91Laz2ITwkAKo1uATRMbD3tVZHD9JXKYoIIUJeRQbU

It was lovely to see such a positive piece this week on our wonderful bin men who do the most fantastic job for us week-in, week -out: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bin-men-buckle-up-to-handle-tide-of-extra-waste-in-edinburgh-mpvxfjf0n/?fbclid=IwAR2ocDxarB9zqGuNlhEU_ZFsoSOqkuLsjY6KMccXelnIUNUrkxZWGvT6fSI

I got this through the Facebook page for Friends of Little France Park.  Parks and green spaces have never been more important for us and for the wildlife they support.  Click here and enjoy: https://www.thrivinggreenspaces.scot/?fbclid=IwAR2nZ-l8D1gMrzn3_v1URPN6t2-hHADMVxYItY-Ejr_xwHySGpwwyoMM0yA

I know I am behind with emails and sometimes they disappear into the ether, or sink to the bottom of the pile, so please do get back in touch if you’re still waiting.  We do get a lot of emails, sometimes to all four of us which can occasionally cause a wee bit of confusion about who in the Portobello/Craigmillar Councillor Team is dealing with what and how.

I am happy to go out and about and meet up outside if you have something you need to talk about face to face.  I’m looking forward to one of those ‘real’ meetings later on this morning.

Have a good weekend and stay safe and well!

Maureen