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The Junction would like your vote!

The Junction and Port of Leith Housing Association have been shortlisted for a Scottish Charity Awards, for our partnership in creating purpose-built new premises for the Junction to offer services to young people in Leith.

There is also an award for the people’s choice so please consider voting for the Junction!

Click here to VOTE NOW (SCVO website)

Many of you have already visited our beautiful new building and we’re still getting comments from young people about how welcoming it is and that they feel relaxed here.

Many thanks for your support!

The Junction – Young People, Health & Wellbeing

82-86 Great Junction Street

Edinburgh EH6 5LL

0131 553 0570

www.the-junction.org

Charity number SC036721

Company number 278505

Finalist at the Scottish Charity Awards 2014

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Event: ‘Community Empowerment: Voice, Participation, Action’

When Tuesday 6th May 2014

Where Royal College of Surgeons, King Khalid Building, Edinburgh

Who  Speakers include

  • Derek MacKay MSP Minister for Local Government and Planning, The Scottish Government
  • Petra Biberbach Chief Executive, Planning Aid Scotland
  • Ian Cooke Director, Development Trusts Association Scotland
  • Pat Watters CBE Chair, National Community Planning Group

Why The Community Empowerment bill will enable community councils to take leading roles in running community assets.

The Community Empowerment Bill

The Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill was a 2011 SNP manifesto commitment and forms part of the Scottish Government’s response to the recommendations of the Christie Commission and the Scottish Government and COSLA review of Community Planning.

The Scottish Government’s consultation on the draft Community Empowerment Bill closed in January 2014.

Feed into the legislative process

As the Scottish Government releases the results of the consultation and prepares for the Bill to begin its legislative journey through the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood magazine’s timely Community Empowerment conference will give you the opportunity to reflect on the Bill and feed into the next stages of its development.

Network and debate with colleagues from across Scotland

The Minister for Local Government and Planning will deliver the keynote address at the conference. He will be joined by experts in service delivery and community representatives from across Scotland.

At the conference you will hear their views on the Bill and have the opportunity to share your comments on how Scotland’s communities can become more empowered.

Read more and book here: http://communityempowerment.holyrood.com

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Commission on Strengthening Local Democracy

Interim Report

Here’s the headlines

Give control to communities for fairer, wealthier, healthier Scotland, says commission on local democracy

The Commission on Strengthening Local Democracy has published its interim report, suggesting that Scotland would be fairer, wealthier and healthier if local communities had control over the issues that matter to them.

The report from the independent Commission, set up to look at how communities could be given a stronger say over public services, found that local democracy in Scotland has been gradually dismantled over the last 50 years, and that Scotland is now one of the most centralised countries in the western world.

Read more here: http://www.improvementservice.org.uk/news-and-features/news/give-control-to-communities-for-fairer-wealthier-healthier-scotland-says-commission-on-local-democracy/

Download the report: http://www.localdemocracy.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Local-Commission-April-2014.pdf

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The Trams are coming!

Members Briefing 452: First day of Edinburgh Tram passenger service announcement

The date of the first day of Edinburgh Trams passenger service will be announced publicly today.

Councillor Lesley Hinds will be joined at the Gyle Centre tram stop by Transport Minister Keith Brown and Transport for Edinburgh Chief Executive Ian Craig at 9am today to unveil the start date of 31 May 2014, with a specially liveried tram bearing the date and #readytoroll.

The confirmation of the May ‘go live’ date comes as Edinburgh Trams approach the latter stages of a period of essential and rigorous testing, commissioning and driver training in preparation for the return of trams to Scotland’s Capital.

The system has been assessed, training and testing have reached a satisfactory stage, meaning that the four-week countdown can begin.

Media Plan for the announcement:

8:45am – Media assemble at Gyle Centre tram stop

9:00am – Liveried tram pulls up at Gyle Centre tram stop bearing launch date and #readytoroll hashtag
– Council press release issued announcing date and promoted via social media

9-9:30am – Photos and interviews carried out with Cllr Hinds, Ian Craig and Mr Brown with liveried tram in backgroun

Further information:

Katie Spence

Tram Communications Manager
E-mail:katie.spence@edinburgh.gov.uk

Tel: 0131 529 6225