It’s Wednesday the tenth of February. Welcome to today’s bulletin from Porty News.
And thanks to several people who’ve drawn attention to the news that we will soon have a cycle path (albeit temporary) from Portobello all the way to Musselburgh. The City of Edinburgh Council had taken soundings from local people who liked the idea – but it would have to stop at the East Lothian border as all of that local authority’s funding had already been committed. But the Council there accepted that a cycle path that stopped at the county boundary just didn’t make sense – so they made an application for additional funds to Sustrans which was successful.
There seems to be growing interest in organisations changing their status. We’ve heard about Porty Central changing from a limited company to a body with charitable status - a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Now, it seems, the Jack Kane Centre across in Craigmillar is doing something similar. At the moment, it’s an unincorporated charity but it wants to get the protection of being a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). Its officers have already held meetings with the Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council to find out the implications. Their next step is to work out a timetable for how to make progress with hopefully a result within weeks.
I keep hearing about the way the lockdown – and in particular the closed schools – have placed considerable emotional stresses on families, sometimes to breaking point. There is help available through what are known as Family Connection Centres. They’re safe friendly places that help children and young people as well as parents and other family members learn how to cope with new family circumstances. The chief executive of the umbrella organisation, Ruth Campbell, is a member of Grow Porty and recently asked the help of other members to donate indoor plants to brighten up the charity's parent room and playroom. Now that’s something that’s worth supporting.
Finally, the beast from the east has turned even the beach white – and people have taken to doing fun things in the snow. There’s been sledging at Joppa Quarry, building snowmen at various places and, our favourite, a snow circle on the beach by the inimitable Paul McPail - and thanks to Gyselle Dye and Rich Howells for the excellent pictures. And people have also been taking photographs and videos of the snow-covered golf courses and parks and expressing the hope that the the snowy conditions remain for a few days longer.
Take care in the snow. More tomorrow (all going well)