Capital’s economic position – Council open new respite centre for children – Active Communities – Electoral roll – Calling all artists
Councillor Frank Ross is the Economy Convenor and he has written a long article on the council’s news blog about the economic position here in the capital. He focuses on the Strategy for Jobs initiative which was launched a year ago, and some of the most important development sites around the city.
Councillor Ross concludes:-“One of the Capital Coalition’s commitments is to provide for Edinburgh’s economic growth and prosperity. The key is to embrace the opportunity that these under-used city assets offer us to create new employment and prosperity for the city, and for Scotland as a whole.”
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A disco Jacuzzi bath and Hogwarts floating lights in the dining room are just some of the exciting new features at a state-of-the-art children’s respite centre which will be officially opened today.
The £2.4m Seaview centre, run by the City of Edinburgh Council, can accommodate up to 60 children and young people aged between 5 and 17 with a range of disabilities and additional support needs. It provides regular short breaks full of fun activities and an outreach care at home service.
The building will be opened by 19-year-old Ryan Moffat who used the former centre for the past nine years, and Cllr Paul Godzik, Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee.
The Council adopted a unique approach to the project by involving staff and children from the very start of the process, inviting them to take part in consultations where they were asked what they would like to see in their new building.
The children’s ideas ranged from floating lights to a flying fox and tree house in the garden, all of which have been included in the design team’s plans. Features requested by staff, such as improved access and plenty of space for wheelchairs and hoists have also formed part of the final design.
All built on one level, the new centre – designed by the Council’s own in-house team of architects – boasts colourful, fun decor, living and sleeping areas as well as a specially designed sensory garden.
Councillor Godzik said: “Respite care is an extremely important service and the new Seaview centre offers a wonderful setting to provide this. Both the young person and their families can benefit immensely from the facilities at the centre.”
Ryan said: “We wanted a football pitch and we are all over the moon that there is one. The new building is really good and everyone will love it especially the garden with the newly-planted flowers.”
Carol Mentiplay, Seaview Manager, said: “What makes the centre so special was all the work that went into taking on board the ideas from both children and staff. I can’t praise highly enough everyone involved in the design and construction process as their enthusiasm has rubbed off on everyone else and resulted in a perfect building.”
The new complex has been built on the site of the city’s old Lismore Primary School, replacing the former building in Joppa which was a children’s home.
Other designs elements which the children came up with include: a willow tunnel to run out onto the all-weather football pitch, murals on bathroom walls to make bathtime fun, chill out zone for teenagers and a recycled welly boot artwork wall in another chill out zone.
Although you can no longer see the sea, children were keen to keep the name to keep link with old centre but also because it is very easy for children with speech difficulties to sign ‘Seaview’.
Construction work started in May 2012 and the centre welcomed its first users in August this year.
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Edinburgh residents, including sixteen and seventeen year olds are encouraged to register ready for the Scottish independence referendum next year.
You will shortly receive your annual electoral registration form through the post and you are being encouraged to complete and return it promptly so that you can have their say at next year’s polls.
In 2014 Electors will be able to cast their vote at the European election in May and at the independence referendum in September. Anyone who is aged 16 or over on 18 September 2014 will be able to vote in the referendum, so every house is also being sent a ‘young voters’ form to register their details. People completing the registration forms are being urged to make sure the details of any soon-to-be 16 or 17 year olds in their household are included.
People who don’t receive their forms should contact the electoral registration office on 0131 344 2500.
Electoral Registration Officer Joan Hewton said:- “People are talking about the referendum with family and friends, but the only way to have your say is to vote on 18 September 2014, so make sure you’re registered to vote. Registering is quick and simple. All you have to do is update and return the registration forms with details of everyone who lives in your household and is eligible to vote; and remember to include anyone who will turn 16 by 18th September 2014. It’s straightforward, any young person who is 15 and will be 16 by the 18th September 2014 should add their details to the young person’s form and anyone 16 or over should add their details to the main household canvass form.”
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Up-and-coming artists living in Edinburgh have just a few days left to apply for funding from a bursary programme run by the City of Edinburgh Council and Creative Scotland.
A variety of grants up to £1500 are available for artists/makers to establish themselves and their work through the Emerging Artists bursary scheme or the Visual Artists and Craft Makers Awards schemes. The organisations are calling on interested artists to apply before the deadline of Friday 11 October 2013.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
