Sony’s workshop on drugs. Pictures by Nick Gardner
So, what’s like to be young in Leith? Drugs, drink, gang culture and nowhere to go were main topics of discussion in The Citadel that Friday afternoon. At first sight all the media stereotypes of youth are there on flipcharts at our Open Space event for young people. Listen to workshop discussions and you find plenty of surprises. Here’s some for starters:
“You have to be so cautious. I have boys and they are 12…sometimes they will say something, like, about a bomber jacket and I say ‘don’t call it that’ and they are like ‘but mum it’s called a bomber jacket’ and I’m like ‘call it something else’
It might almost be funny if it wasn’t so sad. Of all the findings in a new Scottish Government report that image of the bomber jacket sticks in the mind. With one poignantly simple description a young mother gives a vivid glimpse of what it is like to be a Scottish Muslim in an age of fear and suspicion.
So, is Leith ready for the Big Society? Even as we speak, the very active Leith community theatre group, ACTive Inquiry, is working with local people to explore how communities can improve life in their neighbourhood. Then they aim to turn drama into real life.
Continue reading “Power to the People – an Action Plan for Leith”
Our World Kitchen brunch was a great success (and more about that later). Food is a fantastic way of bringing people together but food is also an essential part of life. For the Women’s Federation for World Peace their new World Recipe Book is now a way to raise money for Japan.
What will changes to the welfare system mean for you? Here’s an invitation to a conference on Monday 14 March which aims to raise awareness of the impact of radical changes to the benefit system. Although the event is of particular importance to disabled people, anyone interested in this highly topical subject is welcome – as long as there is enough room in the conference centre at Norton Park. George Lamb, Leith Open Space member, explains:
Not to be missed. With samba drums, dancers, bagpipes, food and fiddlesticks – Fun at the Place on Saturday 5 March is clearly going to be some celebration. Continue reading “Fun At The Place”
Sofia steals the show: photograph by Martyna Kamecka
The pictures say it all. There were many magical moments at the first Welcome Home open stage night – Sofia’s grin, Maria’s love letters, Gordon’s poetry, Lotus Leaf’s jazz – and the second event promises many more. Come to the Fort Community Wing on Monday 21st February for a whole-hearted celebration of Leith’s cultural diversity. And please bring a plate of food that reminds you of home.
Continue reading “Cool as a cucumber: Welcome Home to cultural diversity”
What is violence? Young people from ethnic minority communities in Leith are being invited to join a thought-provoking project which will turn real life experience of violence into a new Forum Theatre production with ACTive Inquiry. The project is run jointly by Shakti and NHS Lothian. Now over to Lisa Rigby at Shakti who explains the aims of this creative new community research…
Hello and welcome to a great new idea. This story – first posted for Burns celebrations in 2010 – takes a new turn for 2011 as Clan Radio joins with Kiltr (social media networking for the Scottish diaspora) to bring you the Burns Super Supper. Click here to enjoy the feast. Continue reading “Your DIY guide to the Burns Super Supper”
The internationalist Robert Burns would love it. His memory is celebrated at the Burns Supper following this year’s annual meeting of the Scotland Zimbabwe Group on Saturday 29th January. Raising money for Zimbabwe charities. Continue reading “Burns supper, Zimbabwe style”
