Five things you need to know today Edinburgh!

MSP to hold funding event today – Pedal on Parliament – Church changes service this Sunday – Newington Library – World Book Night at Leith Library

Colin Keir MSP is to hold a funding advice open day today for all charities, voluntary organisations and social schemes who work within his constituency of Edinburgh Western.

The event, which aims to bring together funders such as The Big Lottery, The Bank of Scotland Foundation , the Scottish Government Climate Challenge Fund, City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Airport and Sainsbury’s together with local charities, will take place at St Thomas Episcopal Church, Glasgow Road, between 10am – 12pm.

Attending the event will be representatives from many major charities and voluntary organisations which work within Edinburgh Western, as well as representatives from major funders such as those listed above and more.

Colin Keir MSP said:-“It’s my hope that fruitful relationships between funders and charities, and some great funding opportunities, will arise from this event, as the work which these groups do for the local community is not only extremely important, but invaluable.”

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Local cyclists and pedestrians are asked to go and join the campaign for cycling safety at Pedal on Parliament which is for both pedestrians and cyclists.  The ride will take place tomorrow Saturday 26 April 2014  when cyclists from all over the country will be gathering in The Meadows at 11:30am before cycling together down the High Street to The Scottish Parliament in order to highlight the benefits that active travel could bring to Scotland. There are various feeder rides and all the details here at the website.

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A CITY centre church is moving its Sunday service so that its members can support the Bupa ten-mile race with jelly babies and running music.

Augustine United Church, on George IV Bridge, normally holds its morning worship at 11am but will shift the service to 1pm on Sunday to support the runners.

Rev Fiona Bennett, minister at Augustine United Church, said:- “As Christians we want to promote wellbeing for people and planet. Our worship is part of our spiritual wellbeing but we also want to support physical health and to encourage all those who will be running on Sunday.” “A lot of these races in Edinburgh are held on Sunday mornings which make it hard for people to access our church building – so instead of seeing this as a challenge, we’ve turned it into an opportunity to help serve our local community.”

‘One of our members, Mandy Scott, is also running in the race so we will be cheering her on and interviewing her as part of our service at 1pm.”

Augustine United Church is part of the United Reformed Church and has formed a local ecumenical partnership with St Columba’s by the Castle Episcopal Church and Greyfriars Kirk, Church of Scotland. The congregation also works in partnership with the Metropolitan Community Church.

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Can you help by donating goods to Newington Library for the fair they are holding there next month?

 

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If you missed it World Book Night took place on Wednesday night. Here is an Edinburgh Libraries video of what went on at Out of the Blue Drill Hall when books were being given away.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTfyq6mlFlk]