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The Big Lunch!

The Big Lunch 2014 Countdown – 50 days to go!

On April 12th, with just 50 days to go until the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours, The Big Lunch is urging everyone across Scotland to get involved in this year’s event on Sunday 1 June.

The Big Lunch is a very simple idea from the Eden Project. The aim of the Lottery-funded event, now in its sixth year, is to get as many people as possible to have lunch with their neighbours once a year.

Free packs can be requested online, they include posters, invitations, an inspiration booklet and other materials to help organise a Big Lunch, and get-together for a day of friendship, community and fun.

Michelle McManus, who has been a supporter of The Big Lunch since 2013, said: “The Big Lunch is a fantastic idea that is having a positive impact in communities across Scotland and I’d encourage anyone to get signed up and get organising.

“I got the ball rolling in my street last year and held one for my neighbours.  We had a great day getting to know each other better. It makes a difference knowing who lives on your doorstep, you can make new friendships and look out for each other.”

Getting your own Big Lunch off the ground is simple and inexpensive, people are the key ingredient.

Organising a Big Lunch is easier than you think; all you need to do is follow a few simple steps:

  1. Settle on a venue, anywhere from a street to a garden or local community space
  2. If you’re planning a street party, don’t forget to apply to close your road (contact your local council for advice – see www.thebiglunch.com for advice)
  3. Invite your neighbours, with free invitations available in your Big Lunch pack
  4. Decide on who will bring what food, such as a bring-your-own picnic or a barbeque
  5. Arrange your decorations and music, bunting templates are also included in the pack.

The benefits of having a Big Lunch?  Research from The Big Lunch showed that over 60% of organisers say having an event in their community made them feel less isolated and 86% of the 3.65 million people that took part in last year’s Big Lunch reported a positive long term effect in their neighbourhood as a result.

Emily Watts, communications manager for The Big Lunch in Scotland said: “The Big Lunch is all about getting together and having fun. They can be big or small and don’t need to cost much because everyone brings something to the table.

“It’s a great way to get neighbours talking, sharing conversation, skills, resources – and, of course, the key ingredient is food! It’s not too late to take part in this year’s event on 1 June so why not sign up now for your free pack and get your own event started.”

  • The Eden Project started The Big Lunch in 2009 with the belief that we’re better equipped to tackle the challenges we face when we face them together
  • The Big Lunch is led by the Eden Project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund and supported by Halifax, Asda and Streetclub by B&Q. Find out more about The Big Lunch at www.thebiglunch.com
  • The aim is simply to bring as many people as possible together for lunch with their neighbours once a year and encourage the sharing of conversation, ideas, skills and resources
  • Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall is Patron of The Big Lunch
  • The Big Lunch takes place annually on the first Sunday in June, but events can be held on another day if it works better for the community

See how The Big Lunch comes to life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un-ooSya828

The Big Lunch Impact: Feeding Community Spirit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8_1cccjp3c

For further information contact:

Julie Gracie, Golley Slater, 0131 220 8787 / jgracie@golleyslater.co.uk

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High Hedges

This week (from 1 April) the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013 came into effect to help resolve issues with high hedges which are having a negative impact on domestic properties.A hedge
Where neighbours are unable to resolve the issue of a high hedge, this new legislation gives homeowners and occupiers a right to apply to Edinburgh Council for a high hedge notice.The Council will act as an independent and impartial adjudicator, considering the position of each party, before making a decision.The intention is that the new law will resolve problems caused by hedges (hedges which are over two metres tall and block out light) and allows Edinburgh Council to enforce decisions taken. You can find more about the new legislation and how to make an application for a high hedges notice including the relevant fees on the Edinburgh Council website.

(copied from Planning Edinburgh blog)

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Promotion of the Waste Action Grant

Communities across Edinburgh are being urged to submit their applications to the City of Edinburgh Council for a Waste Action Grant as the deadline fast approaches.

Both small and large grants are available to fund eco-friendly projects that will encourage more people in the Capital to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Environmentally conscious householders, community groups, youth groups and schools are all being urged to submit an application for funding by Thursday 17th April.

A range of funding is available, from smaller grants of £50-£200 to larger grants of £500 – £2500.

For more information

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20048/waste_education/483/waste_action_grant

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Meet the Funders

Meet the Funders Event  on Thursday 1 May 2014

The Ballroom, Assembly Rooms , 50, George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LR

Please come along to the  next Meet the Funders event on Thursday 1 May 2014!

This is  a free &  informal market place event where you can meet  many different organisations which  offer grants /other support to community groups.

Just drop in between 1pm & 4pm!

Here is a link to the current  list of exhibitors

http://www.edinburghnp.org.uk/about-nps/funding/meet-the-funders/

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Lord Provost’s Inspiring Volunteering Awards -2014

Nominations for the 2014 Lord Provost’s Inspiring Volunteering Awards are now open.

The annual awards ceremony is organised by Volunteer Centre Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Compact Partnership as part of Volunteers’ Week, the national celebration of volunteers and volunteering.  This event is hosted annually by the Lord Provost and City of Edinburgh Council.

The awards celebrate the accomplishments of volunteers, and the major economic and social benefits they provide as a result of their voluntary activities. This year the event will take place on Wednesday 4th June 2014 and is by invitation only. This is your opportunity to recognise the contribution of your volunteers by nominating them for an Award.

You can nominate your volunteers online through this Survey Monkey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6LBL3VW

Organisations can nominate up to three individual volunteers and one team. There is no guarantee that any of them will be invited to accept their award at the City Chambers as we are strictly limited on numbers, however all nominated volunteers will receive a certificate – if not in-person, then in the post.

Eligibility criteria:

  • The Awards are only open to people volunteering in the City of Edinburgh
  • There are no age restrictions
  • Volunteers must have volunteered for at least six months with your organisation before being eligible to be nominated
  • If they have previously received an “Inspiring Volunteering Certificate” at the City Chambers they should not be nominated again
  • Only fully completed nominations will be considered for individuals or teams, and we will quote from these statements when presenting the awards

All shortlisted nominations will be considered for the Lord Provost of Edinburgh’s Inspiring Volunteer of the Year Award 2014.

In addition to our usual team and individual nominations, last year we introduced a number of special recognition categories to highlight some of the diverse areas of volunteering across the City of Edinburgh, including:

  • A Young Volunteer (aged between 11 and 25 years old)
  • Long Standing Contribution to Volunteering Award (an individual who has volunteered for 10 years or more, and has made an outstanding contribution)
  • Charity Shop Volunteer
  • Fundraising Volunteer
  • Trustee Volunteer
  • Health & Social Care Volunteer (volunteers engaged in health and social care, including support work, befriending or projects which reduce social isolation and help assist independent living)
  • Sports Volunteer (volunteers actively involved in supporting sports in their communities).
  • Environment & Conservation Volunteer (volunteers engaged in environmental activities including education, conservation or gardening).
  • Arts, Culture & Heritage Volunteer
  • Housing / Tenant volunteer ***NEW category for 2014 ***

Volunteers Week runs from the 1st – 7th June 2014. We encourage all volunteer involving organisations to organise their own recognition events during Volunteers’ Week, whether that be their own mini awards ceremony, coffee morning, lunch or social activity for their volunteers. It’s a great opportunity to do something to say thank you, and show your volunteers that they are valued and appreciated.

*** Nominations close on Monday 7th April 2014 at 6pm ***

Looking back

In 2013 Alison Drever, a Volunteer Adviser, Benefits Specialist and Case Checker for Citizen’s Advice Edinburgh Leith Bureau was selected by Edinburgh’s Lord Provost and Volunteering Ambassador Donald Wilson as “Inspiring Volunteer of the Year 2013”

Laura Plumb, Advice Services Co-ordinator at the Leith Bureau said that: “Alison’s commitment and contribution to Leith CAB and our clients has been exemplary over the last 16 years, not only has Alison been a valued adviser with a particular expertise in benefits, but she has also been our Tribunal representative for our clients in benefits Tribunals. Alison is very organised and methodical, and her skills and knowledge are invaluable to both clients and fellow advisers who frequently consult her on the more complex aspects of benefits, as well our trainee advisers as Alison is also one of our more experienced mentors and helps to train new volunteers in the skills of advising, and she always goes the extra mile to resolve her client’s problems”.

Watch this short film about why Alison won the award: http://tinyurl.com/o3dmgjv

In 2012 Barbara Johnstone, Organiser for Ravelrig Riding for the Disabled was named ‘Inspiring Volunteer of the Year 2012’. You can see why she deserved this award by watching this short film:http://youtu.be/SKqZsepKdnU

In 2011 Michele Lindsay, a Classroom Assistant at Access to Industry was named ‘Inspiring Volunteer of the Year 2011’. You can see why she deserved this award by watching this short film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZS44WEHWvc&list=UUO2SRSCUDfPuCbXBztn6_2g&index=9&feature=plcp

With thanks to volunteer Richard Morgan for shooting and editing the above films.

What information will I need to complete the nomination process?

To help you complete the nomination process, here’s the information you will need to know or have to hand for each volunteer and / or team that you wish to nominate:

  1. Full name of nominated volunteer (or team name).
  2. The Volunteer Role they fulfil and what it involves.
  3. Date they started volunteering with you (and when they finished, if they have since ended their volunteering with you).
  4. Information to help you write their Nomination Statement, ie. you should be able to describe what the individual volunteer or team has achieved through their volunteering and the difference they have made. It’s great if you can cite examples of their commitment and impact. It’s also nice if you can highlight personal qualities and attributes that they bring to the role.

Nominations can be submitted online here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6LBL3VW

For more information please contact:

Lara Celini, Public Services Manager

Volunteer Centre Edinburgh, 24 Torphichen Street (3rd Floor) Edinburgh EH3 8JB

Direct dial: 0131 225 0630

(Lara’s usual days of work are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays)

lara.celini@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk

www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk

We are also delighted to welcome Dorothy Thomson, Events Assistant Volunteer to our team, and appreciate her assistance in organising this event.

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Red and Blue Box Collections

Calendars for the red and blue box collections are going online this year. Calendars have been posted only to those with assisted collections this week.

In recognition of the fact that more people have access to the web, and to help drive down the amount of paper and costs involved with distributing more than 140,000 calendars each year, we currently only offer the refuse, garden and food waste calendar online, and the new red and blue box calendar is now online too.  In addition, we offer a link on our website to Green Box Day so that residents can get reminders of their next collection for garden waste and red and blue boxes.

We continue to send out calendars to those residents that received help with their collections (called an assisted collection) and anyone who still wishes to have a paper copy of the calendar, can contact us either by email or by calling 0131 529 3030.

There is a directory for the red and blue boxes here: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/redandblueboxdays, which lists the collection dates, and there will be a calendar linked to this that residents can download by Wednesday next week.

Non Internet users will be informed of the change by traditional media – posters are being distributed to neighbourhood offices, community centres, libraries, dentists and doctors surgeries.  Furthermore, we will provide information to community life pages and community papers.

Additionally, there is no change to the frequency or schedule of collections at the moment, so residents can continue to put their recycling and refuse out on the same days as before.  We will inform all residents when the service changes later this year.