Free football in Gorgie and Dalry tomorrow!

If you are aged 8-18 and live in the Gorgie/Dalry Area, come and have a game! As part of Operation Cipher Lothian and Borders Police and Dunedin Canmore are holding free football sessions through December and the New Year. Girls and boys welcome, just bring comfortable clothes and trainers, and an emergency contact name and telephone number.

Tomorrow Saturday 19 January 2013
Dalry Park
10am-2pm

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Community Safety leader, Councillor Cammy Day, said: “Taking part in the free football is a great way for local young people to get to know police and council staff. Operation Cipher 2 is all about connecting with the local community and breaking down barriers.

“The Council and its partners are committed to maintaining and improving the quality of life in the city. A big part of this by actively talking and listening to the local residents in the area to understand what concerns them most in their neighbourhood, and working with them to make a real difference.”

Based in Gorgie, Dalry and Fountainbridge, Operation Cipher 2 follows on from the recent success of the first Operation Cipher, which was based in the Calders area of the city.

The aim of the project is to speak with local people and encourage them to work with the different agencies involved to improve the area. Since this project started in November the teams have been dealing with antisocial behaviour issues in the area such as dog fouling, fly tipping, smoking related litter, graffiti and noisy neighbours. However, what really marks out this project though are the different methods by which the teams are engaging all sections of the community.From hosting games of football with local teens on a mobile pitch to meeting with older reading groups in the local library the teams have been working hard to make sure that they engage as wide a range of residents as possible.

“What we want to do is speak to as many local residents as possible. We want them to tell us where the problems are in the area and how they want to see us deal with them. All the agencies involved are professionals at what they do but what we’re looking for are local residents to give us their local knowledge of what’s going on in the area. Rather than waiting for people to come to us we’re going out into the community, to local supermarkets, local youth clubs and the local library to make it as easy as possible for people give us their thoughts.”

If you live or work in Gorgie, Dalry or Fountainbridge and want to get involved in this project contact the South West Neighbourhood Office on 0131 527 3800 or email southwestteam@edinburgh.gov.uk