News

Read below to find out all the latest news and announcements from PEP.

Welcome to PEP at Christmas!

Credit crunch – what credit crunch !! After saving all year for the annual festive treats the ladies and gents let their hair down in a programme that included a visit to the Kings theatre (Aladdin) and a shopping trip to Stirling . The individual and dual social club parties all were sold out and the photos show just how enjoyable they all were. The finale was at the Queensberry Bowling Club where everyone got together and had a ball. We had a huge resource of drivers, volunteers and willing staff to choose from (and of course Santa Douglas and all his little helpers.) A three course meal was served to over 70 people and the plates literally flew out of the kitchen as the PEP staff formed their now famous “Production Line” technique. Music was provided at all the functions and we would like to thank Brian and Pat (terrific entertainers) for their continued presence and contribution to our social clubs. As you can see from the photos – we all enjoyed ourselves.

Roll on 2009

Our Acting Manager, staff and volunteers would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Christmas & a joyful New Year.

PEP’s Ongoing input to Learning and Training

Looking back on the 2007-2008 Individual Learning Opportunities for staff, volunteers and PEP users shows an astounding ------7, 530 "individual learning opportunities" created. Helen Tait as Head of Learning (now also acting manager of PEP) addresses this issue by not only identifying them, but developing and delivering some herself. External providers, many that are accredited include Telford College, Clan, CEC Equalities Unit, Paths to Health and North Edinburgh Incubator and the Inverleith Unit. In addition to this we have now become an accredited centre for Art working in collaboration with Telford College.

Courses included: World Cuisine – Healthy Eating – Literacy through art – Introduction to the History of Scottish Politics – Photography – Art History – ICT course for Tutors.Numerous courses are set up with a view to supporting individuals on the route to work, improving health awareness and Literacies.

PEP recently ran a pilot project tutoring parents to equip them with the tools needed for homework support. This was aimed at children who were underachieving due to lack of access to computers.

We provided both the tutor and the laptop (these being left for the parents for practice purposes) Pictured is a member of our board completing the Working In Groups with Adult Literacy Learners” accreditation, facilitated by the City Literacies and Numeracies for Edinburgh (CLAN)

12th October 2008

Class Culture & Cuisine in Dublin’s Fair City

Nine group members from the Neighbourhood Group and three staff went on an educational trip to Dublin as part of their Class, Culture and Cuisine Project. Most of the group members had never been on a plane before so that alone was a huge challenge.

The group walked for miles to visit lots of the sights, learned some historical facts, sampled the local produce which included Guinness and Dublin cobbler and tried some Irish dancing. They also went to visit Clareville sheltered housing complex were they had lunch a dance and a sing song.

Sunday 12th October

Using 2 PEP buses, the congregation of St Andrews Muirhouse -took great joy in their annual treasure hunt/mystery tour. They visited the World Heritage Site at New Lanark (created by the amazing Robert Owens) before finishing off in Linlithgow. Below is a photo of the treasure hunt winner Kit Law, now 5 times in a row champion! Minister Brenda Robson wishes to pass on her thanks for PEP’s continual contribution to St. Andrews and all the other local churches.

It was our Pleasure Brenda

Volunteer Recruitment

Assembly Rooms September 2008

The Annual Volunteer recruitment Drive (facilitated by the Volunteer Centre) was attended on behalf of PEP by Roy (Volunteer Manager, Jim (Vice-Chair) and Diane. Diane is a 3rd year student on placement from Edinburgh University , studying Community Education. Open to the public at 12.00 noon the three took enquiries until 8.00pm advertising both our services and volunteering opportunities. This year we talked to around 70 people from all walks of life and took 25 enquiries to be followed up within a week. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the organisational skills of the Volunteer Centre and our fellow exhibitors for what was a pleasurable experience for both exhibitors and the visitors attending.

Gone Fishing !

Wednesday 23rd September

PEP volunteers try their hand on this ancient art of feeding the family. But today the kids would have to go hungry. Only John caught a 1.3 lb mackerel and George let his little tiddler go to become a bigger fish to catch another day. The guy’s enjoyed their day and now meet regularly doon at Newhaven Harbour. Well Done John for winning the Catch of the Day

(Cleaned up again John !!)

If you would like to join the team contact

Wullie Adams at PEP

0131-315-4466

Thursday, 18 September 2008

Andrew's Success Story

Andrew Crighton who has worked as a volunteer with our project for the last year has secured himself a job on the staff of the Capital Hotel in Clermiston. Andrew ( a fervent Hibs fan) worked with the painting and decorating /gardening team and is well known as a 'Grafter' who was always first to turn up in the morning. Andrews reflections on his year with PEP: " I think PEP is a good place to work in. It's nice to work with people at PEP and the group I was involved with. It will be great to work with new people but I will miss this place and be sorry to go. This will be Andrew's first full-time job.

We'll miss you Andrew, but we are always pleased to see the volunteers further themselves, and were still here to give you support and encouragement if you feel you need it. Good Luck. Please leave a goodwill mesage for Andrew through the comments facility on the Blog Spot

Cronies Count Club Cash

Frances Durie (Social Development Manager) and Jim McGinty (in a volunteering role) count, bag and bank the club money acrued from PEP's Social Club Scene each week.

This money allows Frances to plan trips, picnics, outings and Guest Acts for the members as a way of alternative Social Interaction and in an effort to keep things fresh and variable for all. This is one of the many VOLUNTARY ROLES available at PEP.

1st September 2008

Steven adds his finishing touch

Steven Moir who has faithfully attended and nurtured plants over the summer, leaves his signature on a ceramic plaque.

Thanks Steven for the added colour you brought to our garden.

Showing offenders a positive way forward

(Edinburgh Evening News)

Published : 27th August 2008)

By MANDY HOSEY

28th August 2008

DESPITE an estimated reduction of 40,000 crimes a year, Scotland's prisons are filled to capacity. The Community Service Order (CSO) is often seen as an alternative to imprisonment for offenders, and Pilton Equalities Project (PEP) is a voluntary organisation in north Edinburgh which offers placements to offenders who have been given a community service order.

The people who are placed on CSO with us have committed a crime which might otherwise have resulted in prison, and we have a screening process to ensure that offenders are placed in appropriate placements.

People's perception of community service can be that the offender has been given an easy option. That is not PEP's attitude towards Community Service. We want to enable offenders to change their way of thinking by helping them make a positive contribution to their community through supervised unpaid work.

As well as the essential disciplines of regular attendance, prompt timekeeping and satisfactory work performance, each placement within PEP aims to provide emotional, physical and mental challenges and one-to-one support which help them work through the underlying causes for their criminal behaviour.

Over the last two years, we have been allocated seven people who have had a CSO imposed for a variety of offences. Each person has completed between 80 and 240 hours and we want to share the outcome of our experience so far.

All offenders on placement have been asked to work with a group of our most vulnerable and needy clients who may be disabled and who have mental health needs.

It is fair to say that none of the offenders came from a background where voluntary or community activity was the norm and none of the offenders placed with PEP had any experience of the kind of group they were to work with.

PEP's experience of working with offenders has been overwhelmingly positive and, to the best of our knowledge, no offender placed with us has re-offended.

• Mandy Hosey is a community mental health worker with Pilton Equalities Project

ALLEGATIONS PUT TO REST

Following PEP's merger with Muirhouse Six Circle, PEP has been the subject of a vicious, anonymous smear campaign - over the last 2 years anonymous letters have poured into various funders and council officials.

As a result PEP must be the most reviewed and inspected project in Edinburgh !

Sometimes, PEP staff and Board have felt a bit downhearted but mostly the organisation has stayed optimistic and positive, knowing this was the right response to difficult circumstances. We were also heartened by the fact that all the mudslinging in the world wasn't appearing to have much, if any, impact on our service users.

Today, following the third review by the Council, we print a copy of a letter received from the Health & Social Care Department which, we think, puts the whole matter into perspective...and, we hope, closes the lid on a challenging two years. click here to read report.

Fun in the Sun

A picnic and a paddle at Gullane beach and a trip tothe funfair at Burntisland were just two of the activities enjoyed by the Neighbourhood Group over the summer.

We spent the month of July out and about on various trips having loads of fun and making lots of noise. All members had a great time and are already making plans for next year.

PEP - Annual General Meeting

18 August 2008

in Royston/Wardieburn Centre

1) In attendance: -Ken Smart, Joan Turner, Isa Black, Ella Kelly, Muriel Falconer, May Johnstone, Betty Mitchell, Di Johnston, Ina McDiarmid, Roger Horam, Betty McVey, Jean Howie, Brian Eddington, Dorothy Leurs, Ella Olssen, Irene Garden, Al Garden, Jim McGinty, Rena Ganson, Susan Graham, Graeme Steele, Tony Delahoy, Bobby Lee, Rosemary Cook, Betty Scammell, Nancy White and Elizabeth Maginnis.
2) Apologies: - Cathy McDonald

3) Irene welcomed everybody to the meeting and gave a brief talk on the issues PEP faced over the previous year
4) Minutes of previous AGM: – approved.

5) Matters Arising: – none

6) Manager’s report: - Elizabeth outlined the following issues:

• The anonymous complaints and the Council’s positive response
• Budget cuts and continuing financial problems
• The excellent Council review
• The establishment of the homecare service
• The success of the Neighbourhood Garden
• Individual successes of service users and volunteers

7) Financial Report: - Elizabeth explained the accounts as presented were still in draft form as there were still a couple of issues to be resolved. The Board would be asked to approve them in final form at its next meeting.

8) Election of Office Bearers:
• Irene Garden unanimously elected as Chairperson
• Jim McGinty unanimously elected as Vice Chairperson
• Tony Delahoy unanimously elected as Treasurer


9) The following were elected as members of the committee:

Joan Turner - Martha Thom - Isa Black - George Johansson - Muriel Falconer

May Johnston - Nancy White - Cathy McDonald - Al Garden.

10) Malcolm Chisholm MSP was invited to speak: Malcolm mentioned problems with Fairer Scotland Fund, high fuel and food costs, the free central heating programme and free bus passes. Afterwards, he took questions from the audience

11. There was no other business and the meeting closed at 11.30am.

---

Visually impaired painter

feels her way round subjects



Blind Artist Ann Forrest with a few of her works of Art

Published Date: 09 August 2008

By Adam Morris

HER last experience of art was when she left school 46 years ago at the age of 15, but that wasn't the biggest obstacle facing Ann Forrest in her quest to become an artist.

The 61-year-old has managed to hone a talent for painting, despite being barely able to see the canvas. Thanks to an art course run by a local organisation, the Royston woman has sold her first painting and is now preparing to study art at Telford College .

She struggled with her sight from birth, when she had eye abnormalities and chronic glaucoma, but in the last 20 years her vision has deteriorated so much that she requires a white stick and gets a feel for her painting subject by touching it before painting. "I'm fiercely independent and am able to live on my own and get about," she said. "My husband Robert died 12 years ago and my son Ciaron helps me a lot.

"I left school at 15 and had done nothing since that (art wise). I went to a mainstream school but when your sight is like mine art isn't something you are inclined to do."

However Mrs Forrest moved into a sheltered housing project at Royston Mains Close and learned about the Pilton Equalities Project, which carry various classes for vulnerable people locally. She went through an art course and discovered she had a genuine ability for something she had never considered an option, and within weeks she sold a painting.

She said: "If it hadn't been for PEP I'd never have done this. "The tutors at PEP are a great help to me when I'm doing it." She will now take what she has learned forward and begin an art course at college when the new academic year begins.

PEP manager and Forth councillor Elizabeth Maginnis paid tribute to Mrs Forrest.

The Labour councillor said: "She really is one of the rising stars in PEP. "We provide many services and Ann's achievements show what can be done by anyone and the help is there for them. c"We try to encourage people to learn new things and Ann is now going on to college which is fantastic for her and the project. She showed an interest in art when she first came and we helped her realise that."

First Crop of the First Year

The Community Garden (across from the main PEP Building) has just produced its first crop of radishes and green peas. Photographed is PEP's Literacy Worker Theodora Hidalgo who amazed us all by even contemplating that we cold grow a crop in a community garden, with the more cynical people saying it could never happen. Yesterday morning however they were proved wrong. These vegetables, which include potatoes, lettuce, leeks, carrots and cauliflower will be used for the Neighbourhood lunches in a "HEALTHY EATING PROJECT" run by Theodora. Everyone is looking forward to having a real home grown meal.

Well done everyone !!

Inclusion Alliance

Help gives Sensory Garden a splash of Colour

Local lad Steven Moir, supported by his carer Ian, has given his time to help maintain the PEP Sensory Garden .

Steven was presented with a cheque from Inclusion Alliance to help him buy the colourful plants and plant pots for the garden. All he then had to do was add green fingers.Steven was introduced to PEP at a Volunteer Fair last year and asked if there was a task he could help with. Steven said he had an interest in gardening and with Ian’s assistance they started to dig the soil and plant new flowers, which now delight PEP’s service users and Staff.

Thanks Steven and well done.

British Gas Partnership Working with PEP

Recent partnership linking with British Gas resulted in a number of their employees given time off to work in the community. PEP was chosen as one of their outlets and has resulted in an extended linking due to the success deemed by British Gas - PEP and the volunteers . The feedback from Deborah Hitchings and Dawn Fowler , both working in the social club scene, was one of initial nervousness due to the fact that they did not know how they would be received by the older users (being about the 20 years old mark – everyone is old at their age!!) Dawn said: "After the food was served the members were treated to activities that were very varied and included chair exercises, karaoke, quizzes, comedy DVD. I came away with a great respect for the volunteers. Most of the members come along, not for the food, but to intereact with others that care". Deborah said: "I feel great, everyone was so welcoming and I had a really good time. it's great to know that you made someone feel better just by being there to listen".

**Due to this success more workers from British Gas are due to start mid August and we welcome a long term associationwith a great British Institution and local employer 'with a Community Heart'.

Edinburgh History Tours - Summer Programme 2008

I was delighted to be invited again to lead tours of Edinburgh as part of the PEP summer programme. I had ideas on structuring a bus tour on a social history basis - exploring how Edinburgh had expanded over the centuries from it's  origins in the overcrowded Old Town . My hope was that it would get us all thinking about our lives now in North Edinburgh - how this came about - the effects of housing and employment etc.

I had anticipated that there would be good input from participants with real life experience of theOld Town and I was not disappointed. Isa Black in particular brought home the reality with her description of life for a family of 9 children brought up in a room and kitchen in the Canongate. A move to a larger family home in West Pilton brought about real improvement in lifestyle. Those of us who are younger really do find it difficult to appreciate quite how much living has improved over the last half century!

Over all I think our outing was a good experience for all involved.

Richard (Tour Guide)

SUMMER PROGRAMME 2008

The Monday day-trips have seen 2 full buses each week travelling to the picturesque and historic towns of Perth, Stirling , Burntisland and Linlithgow. Good weather blessed all of the outings and made the walk around Linlithgow’s loch a lovely experience. An extra treat was in store with the Burntisland trip coinciding with the local Gala day.

Perth , Stirling and Linlithgow’s wealth of history, shops and cafés kept all the sightseers from PEP busy and many bags of shopping made their way back to Edinburgh on the buses!

All of the trips have been a great success.

Roll on next year!

"THE SHINDIG"

Eighty members attended PEP's Shindig held at the Queensberry Bowling Club. Entertainment was provided by'Fantasy' whose medleys had everyone up on their feet.

A two course meal was prepared and provided by PEP's staff (otherwise known at this time of the year as PEP's Trolley Dollies!) Members all enjoyed the day, some going home with their raffle prizes.

Bringing the Garden indoors!

We may have had a washout of a summer so far,but the flower arranging class soon rightened things up with their floral arrangements. The day ended with a light snack of strawberry and cream scones, baked and donated by Betty Scammell.

HIGH 5: DR RAY HARRIS

(Edinburgh Evening News)Dr Ray harris, principal and Chief Executive of Edinburgh's Telford College, chooses his top five most iconic symbols in Edinburgh.

1. The Parliament Building. Not for its architecture but because it has become a place for the public and special interest groups to meet MSP's - and they have reciprocated by welcoming and listening to us

.2. Minibuses emblazoned with PEP. Everyday in North Edinburgh I see these on the move and it reminds me of the excellent work carried out by projects such as the Pilton Equalities Project.

3. The Hub inside Edinburgh's Telford College. Once filled with students and community visitors, it came alive.

4. The cosmopolitan nature of Edinburgh. We welcome several hundred international students to the college every year.

5. The McEwan Hall. Perhaps this is the Grand old lady of Edinburgh halls,where generations of students have solemnly graduated.

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD GROUP EXPERIENCE THE OUTDOORS:

MAKING THE MOST OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES

(Pilton Retreat)

(25 June 2008)

Fifteen members and the staff of The Neighbourhood Group are off to Ratho. The programme of activities will include a trip down the historical Union Canal (provided by the Seagull Trust), Blair Drummond Safari Park, orienteering and feeding the trout at the Beecraigs Country Park . The group will be encouraged to keep a log of their experiences. We look forward to hearing about THEIR ADVENTURES.

Scarecrow

(24 June 2005)

This week the Neighbourhood Group worked together to create a scarecrow as part of their Therapeutic Art Class. Group members assembled a handsome looking farmer using old clothes, a straw hat, bits of material and shredded paper. Once complete this scarecrow will be proudly positioned within PEP’s Neighbourhood Garden. A name for our scarecrow will be decided next week.

INSPIRING VOLUNTEERING AWARDS

(7 June 2008)

This event is in recognition of contributions made by volunteers organised by the City Of Edinburgh Compact Partnership and the Volunteer Centre Edinburgh.

Award for ‘Partnership’ .

John Anthony was placed with PEP through ‘Action for Employment’ (A4E) and has become a highly valued volunteer assisting with office maintenance, painting and decorating service, gardening service and odd jobs.

Award for 'Innovation'

Iain Nicholson joined PEP as a volunteer minibus driver. His volunteering skills included supporting the Weekend Resource with their recent photography course, peer ICT support, painting & decorating and gardening. Iain is now employed with PEP as Transport co-ordinator

EXCELLENCE - THAT'S PEP!!

(3 June 2008)

Community Learning & Development Review

To read the report click here

Home Care Pilot Service
(29 May 2008)

PEP have identified through a community survey that there is a significant proportion of older people in North Edinburgh with unmet health and social care needs. To meet these needs we will be operating a ‘free of charge’ Home Care Service for 4 weeks from mid April 2008, provided by volunteer Home Care Assistants who will be trained and Disclosure checked. The service will offer a range of services e.g. shopping, cleaning, laundry etc to people age 50+ in their own homes at a frequency and time appropriate to their needs. Personal care will not form part of the service provision.

David Rutherford, an Independent Consultant, is responsible for the outcome of this pilot scheme and was assisted by Ross Greig who was on placement to PEP during his first year at Edinburgh University studying Community Education. If you require further information contact Helen at PEP on 315 4466 or

click here to email Helen for more information or to make a referral to the pilot service.