Edlife - Summer 2016 - East Dunbartonshire Council
Transcription
Edlife - Summer 2016 - East Dunbartonshire Council
Connecting Council and Community Summer 2016 ed Comic Con comes to town see page 3 Amanda Toms (Head of Medusa Cosplay and Props) as Sakuyamon Cosplay Inside your Council magazine: Big in Japan, Award Success, Bearsden Community HUB 2 edlife www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk Contents Welcome to the Summer 2016 edition of Edlife, the Council magazine for the people of East Dunbartonshire. This edition is packed full of ideas on how to entertain the kids this summer and there is a sneak preview of what is in store at this year’s Kirkintilloch Canal Festival on pages 10 and 11. 125ml glass campaign 3 Big in Japan 4 Business Awards 2016 5 School news 6 Kilmardinny House latest 7 Huntershill Sports Hub 8 What’s on this summer 9 Kirkintilloch Canal Festival 10 Find out about what is happening with East Dunbartonshire’s major development projects including the Bearsden Community Hub (page 8) and the new Lenzie Meadow Primary School (page 6). This year’s Business Awards winners are featured along with the Council’s STARs 2016 and some recent award successes for our schools and pioneering road improvements. Smoke-free play park 12 Awards success 14 Your local Councillor 17 As always we hope you enjoy this edition of Edlife. If you have any comments, then please email us at edlife@eastdunbarton.gov.uk Fostercare appeal 18 Thank you Pioneering partnership in store Residents of East Dunbartonshire are being offered a 10% discount by a leading builders' merchant as part of a pioneering new partnership. Grafton Merchanting GB has been awarded a contract to supply all of the Council's building, plumbing and heating, electrical and maintenance materials. The five-year arrangement which will be handled by the company's Buildbase and Plumbase branches - includes a 10% discount for all residents of East Dunbartonshire. In addition to the community benefit, the contract will save public money, reduce waste and increase efficiency. The partnership involves a hi-tech managed stores system, using mobile handsets with real-time stock updates to ensure materials are only purchased when they are needed. Grafton is now responsible for providing the full range of construction materials to the Council’s maintenance teams working on housing stock - such as kitchens and bathrooms - and general infrastructure, including street lighting. This document can be provided in large print, Braille, or on CD and can be translated into other community languages. Please contact the Council’s Communications Team on 0300 123 4510. Ann Davie, Depute Chief Executive - Education, People & Business, said, "This contract is a win-win not just for the authority, but for the whole of East Dunbartonshire. It's focused on helping the Council to save money and remove waste from its maintenance and capital programme work. "Not only that, the agreement reached with Grafton includes the offer of a 10% discount to all residents. That means a saving not just for the public purse, but local residents direct." East Dunbartonshire residents will be able to access a 10% discount by showing ID and a valid proof of address (eg utility bill) at the Glasgow branch of Buildbase 528b Blochairn Road, G21 2DZ and the Kirkintilloch branch of Plumbase - Unit 8-9 Eastside Industrial Estate, Kilsyth Road, G66 1QG. The new contract is part of the Council's ongoing transformation programme to ensure it delivers the most effective services possible for its people and communities - as efficiently as possible. Contact us To contact the Council, whatever your enquiry, contact Customer Services: 0300 123 4510 Customer Services can also be contacted in person at the Kirkintilloch Community Hub or at one of the two interim Hubs in Bishopbriggs Library or in Brookwood Library in Bearsden. You can also email: customerservices@eastdunbarton.gov.uk Edlife is produced by the Communications Team, East Dunbartonshire Council, 12 Strathkelvin Place, Kirkintilloch, G66 1TJ. Email: edlife@eastdunbarton.gov.uk For further information: www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk Please get in touch if you have comments on this magazine or if there are any future features you would like to see. Printed on recycled paper East Dunbartonshire Council takes no responsibility for advice or information contained on external websites. Acceptance of advertising does ont imply endorsement of the goods or services. Readers considering purchase or major investment decisions are advised to seek appropriate professional advice. A wide range of information on the Council is available at: @ www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk edlife 3 East Dunbartonshire licensees first to offer smaller wine glasses Over 90 licensees in East Dunbartonshire are the first in Scotland to trial an important new consumer campaign offering a smaller 125ml wine measure alongside the more traditional sizes of 175ml and 250ml. Speaking at the launch in the new boutique Boclair House Hotel, Bearsden, Paul Waterson, Chief Executive of The Scottish Licensed Trade Association said, “It’s becoming increasingly clear that what consumers expect is more choice. The 125ml wine glass campaign is responding to that trend. “It’s very encouraging that every possible venue in the area that could get on board with the 125ml wine glass campaign did just that. We hope there’s some learning and best practice to bring to other areas in Scotland.” Evonne Bauer, the Council’s Community Protection Manager added, “The Council is blazing a trail with this four week pilot consumer campaign and is proud to be at the forefront of something so important for the nation’s health and wellbeing.” L-R: Paul Waterson (Chief Executive of SLTN), Olivia McPike (Mariana, Kirkintilloch), Mark Baird (Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership), Amie McCormick (Mariana, Kirkintilloch), Mark Currie (General Manager, Boclair House Hotel), and Neil Miller (Licensing Advisor, East Dunbartonshire Council). Ronz Meikle as Rhino from Rustworthy Cosplay First ever East Dunbartonshire Comic Con 2016 Superhero fans in East Dunbartonshire sprang into action to help make the area's first ever comic book convention go off with a bang. More than 1,200 people flocked to the Woodhill Evangelical Church in Bishopbriggs for the Comic Con event, which was organised by the East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership and the Big Glasgow Comic Page as an innovative way of raising awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many took their hobby to heart by dressing for Comic Con's cosplay costume competition, while Still Game actors Sanjeev Kohli and Jane McCarry were the guests of honour. An eclectic choice of stalls crammed with collectibles and crafts based on comics and pop culture was available for visitors to browse through and add to their collections. Photograph, including the front cover image, courtesy of Anthony Macleod - Hairy Monster Digital Arts & Big Glasgow Comic Page You can read the Council’s Autism Strategy and find out more at www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk 4 edlife www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk Big in Japan Over 1000 people, including the Vice-Consul General of the Japanese Consulate, joined in the fun at the ‘Big in Japan’ event at the Auld Kirk Museum in May The event, which celebrated East Dunbartonshire’s unique links to the Japanese town of Yoichi, was part of the national Festival of Museums weekend. The weekend began with a ‘Night at the Museum’ event which saw guests enjoy Japanese whisky tasting while Reza Wood from Milngavie gave wood turning demonstrations. This was followed by a successful family fun day which had martial arts demonstrations as well as origami workshops and face painting. Sunday saw Yoshie Campbell performing Japanese dance, the ‘Sirens of Titan’ choir sang beautiful Japanese songs, and the event finished with the wonderful Mio Shapley and her assistants performing the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Irene McCafferty, Team Leader at the Auld Kirk Museum, said, “The weekend was a tremendous success and we were honoured to be visited by the Vice-Consul General of the Japanese Consulate, Yoko Murata. “East Dunbartonshire has been twinned with Yoichi Town in Hokkaido since 1988. Masataka Taketsuru came to Scotland in 1918 to study at Glasgow University and trained at various distilleries in the Highlands. “Rita Cowan met Masataka while he was teaching her younger brother jujitsu at the family home in Kirkintilloch. Rita and Masataka were married in 1920, and returned to Japan in 1921. “Rita is known as the ‘Muse of Japanese Whisky’ and I thought her story would be a good theme for the festival. “Japanese visitors come regularly to the Auld Kirk Museum to see her display and we have all of our information for Rita’s story translated into Japanese.” Safety first for Bearsden’s new Junior Wardens Pupils from Castlehill Primary and St. Andrew’s Primary in Bearsden are the latest to take part in the Council’s Junior Warden Scheme - designed to help children be responsible citizens and avoid antisocial behaviour. P6/7 pupils took part in classroom lessons and external activities to learn about community safety and what it means to them and their families. As part of the scheme, officers from Milngavie Fire Station brought an appliance along to the school and discussed fire safety. Pupils also enjoyed talks from local Community Police Officers and the Council’s Young Persons’ Education and Prevention Officer on drugs and alcohol awareness as well as an input from the Mugdock Rangers. Thomas Glen, the Council’s Depute Chief Executive - Place, Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets said, “We’ve run this scheme in a number of schools over the years and it is a great way of helping children understand the impact that antisocial behaviour can have on communities. “It’s a chance for them to meet representatives of agencies like the Council, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and is important in building positive relationships.” During the scheme, pupils kept notebooks detailing what they learned. Mirren and Lana above from St. Andrew’s Primary were presented with £10 gift vouchers as their notebooks were judged to be the best. www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk edlife 5 Can we be tobacco-free? The East Dunbartonshire Tobacco Alliance (the Alliance) has signed up to support a national bid to make Scotland ‘tobacco free’. The Alliance recently signed up to ASH Scotland’s Charter for a Tobacco-Free Generation, which aims for fewer than 5% of Scots to be lighting up by 2034. Half of smokers in East Dunbartonshire want to quit for good, while a third of deaths amongst those aged 35 to 69 in Greater Glasgow and Clyde are said to be caused by smoking. The Alliance’s Tobacco Control Strategy, which sets out local targets and priorities, was also launched at the charter signing. Karen Murray, Chief Officer of the East Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said, “Awareness that smoking is responsible for a vast range of health problems has increased in the decade since the smoking ban came into effect, but too many people are still lighting up. The aim of the Alliance is to create a climate where less people are smoking, and this initiative will certainly help us to achieve this.” See page 12 for more on the work of the Alliance to create smoke-free play parks. Top businesses The Business Awards winners 2016 The stars were shining as a stellar line-up of East Dunbartonshire businesses and enterprises were honoured with prestigious awards. Dozens of contenders were in the running for the 2016 awards - organised by East Dunbartonshire Council to shine a light on local success stories. The winners - chosen by a judging panel involving representatives of the Council, local businesses and Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce - were announced at a fundraising awards night in The Eagle Lodge, Bishopbriggs, on Friday 20 May. The winner of the 2016 East Dunbartonshire Business of the Year was Training Initiatives Ltd T/A TIGERS, based at Huntershill Village, Bishopbriggs. crowned at Awards The 2016 winners are: Business of the Year - Training Initiatives Ltd T/A TIGERS Social Enterprise of the Year - Freedom Bakery Community Champion - Kirkintilloch Baptist Church Start-up Business of the Year - Alessio's Cafe & Bistro Independent Retailer of the Year - Elba Artisan Gallery Tourism, Leisure & Hospitality Business of the Year - Billington’s of Lenzie Service Business of the Year - Ouzman IP Ltd Growth Business of the Year - Training Initiatives Ltd T/A TIGERS Best Use of E-Commerce by a Business - 121 HR Solutions The event involved a fundraising raffle and auction to support a range of good causes locally, raising £8,000 for 10 causes. Thanks go to all the companies, enterprises and organisations which partnered with the Council to very kindly sponsor the 2016 East Dunbartonshire Business Awards. 6 edlife www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk School News At the start of the new school term in August, pupils from Lenzie Primary and Lenzie Moss Primary will come together for the first time in their brand new £11.5m school – Lenzie Meadow Primary. The new school and nursery class is the second success story from the Council’s Primary School Improvement Programme (PSIP). The first was the award-winning Lairdsland Primary in Kirkintilloch (see page 14). Pupils will benefit from flexible, open, learning spaces that support class teaching, project work and individual learning. Some of the school’s features include classrooms with LCD touchscreens, Wi-Fi throughout, multi-use games area and covered outdoor learning areas. Work is also continuing elsewhere: l In Bishopbriggs, construction of the new building to replace Auchinairn and Woodhill Primaries and Cleddens Learning & Childcare Centre is progressing well. l Morgan Sindall was named as the contractor to build a new school in Kirkintilloch to replace St. Agatha’s and St. Flannan’s Primaries. Early groundworks got underway this Spring. l A series of consultation events was held with pupils, staff, parents and the wider community in June to look at the propsed design for the new school to be built on the site of St. Andrew’s PS in Bearsden to replace it and St. Joseph’s in Milngavie. Head Teacher Greg Bremner and pupils Lay the first bricks at Lenzie Meadow Primary School Gordon Currie, Director of Education & Children’s Services, said, “Good progress is being made to deliver new schools across East Dunbartonshire. By continuing to invest in buildings we are investing in our young people, giving them the best possible Check out the Schools & start to their educational lives.” Learning section of our website Town Hall Rejuvenation Breathing new life into one of East Dunbartonshire's most iconic buildings. Kirkintilloch Town Hall will be transformed into a modern centre for heritage, arts, culture, weddings and community use. Approximately £5.5m will be invested in the project. Times have changed since the building’s heyday, so to be able to accommodate a variety of uses, the interior will be radically different and have a seating capacity of up to 300. The Council has been working with development partner hub West Scotland, contractors and East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture (EDLC) Trust to develop the new design which includes: l ground-floor event space l new entrance, reception and vestibule l first-floor heritage display l office and community space l kitchen, store room, toilets and locker room. (www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk) for more about our PSIP Kirkintilloch Town Hall Apprentices dig in at new Huntershill Sports Hub www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk edlife 7 Work is underway on a major new sports facility in Bishopbriggs, with young apprentices digging in to help make it a reality. The Council is developing a community sports hub at Huntershill, in partnership with East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture (EDLC) Trust. Plans for the development, which is due to be completed by spring 2017, include: l Full-size, all-weather sports pitch with floodlighting and fencing l Sports pavilion with 10 changing rooms, recreation hall and more l Three floodlit, all-weather tennis courts l Six-lane athletics track l Access road and associated parking. Thomas Glen, the Council’s Depute Chief Executive - Place, Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets said, “These new facilities will give local people easy access to a superb range of sport & leisure activities on their doorstep. Delivering this sports hub has been a long standing aspiration for the Council and it will contribute to regeneration in the Huntershill area. “To see it get off the ground is a very welcome milestone.” Contractor Robertson Group is working with Training Initiatives Ltd T/A TIGERS*, based at Huntershill Village, to offer apprenticeships to local young people. As well as funding from the Council and the Trust, financial support for the £7.8m project has been secured from sportscotland. *See p5 for more news on TIGERS House Proud Work has officially started to transform Bearsden’s Kilmardinny House into a new venue for conferences, weddings, arts and other events. The £2.73m project is being delivered by the Council in conjunction with East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture (EDLC) Trust, development partner hub West Scotland and contractor Clark Contracts. The main construction works are expected to be completed in late December 2016, with the facility due to open to the public in spring 2017. The existing house will be partially refurbished, inside and out and a new garden pavilion extension will be created, providing a modern, flexible space ideal for local arts, performance and community groups. David Cooper, Director of Clark Contracts said, "It’s fantastic to be working on such a historic project, so important to the local community. The refurbishment works will enhance the Category A-listed building’s features and, along with the extension, will provide attractive, modern new facilities fit for purpose for many years to come.” Artist’s impression 8 edlife www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk Ground broken as work starts on brand new Bearsden Community Hub Work to transform Bearsden Burgh Hall in to a new Community Hub for the town is well underway. Construction of the £3m community facility began in April and it is set to run for completion in early 2017. The new Community Hub, which is based on a reconfiguration of the Burgh Hall site on Drymen Road, will include the re-provisioning of the library and community archives from Brookwood as well as enhancing the current hall facilities through a full refurbishment. The fantastic new facility, which will bring together Council, library, leisure and cultural services in a single building, will also contain new public meeting rooms and social work facilities, new public toilets as well as an entire upgrade of the current accommodation. The on-site customer services team will make it easier for residents to access and get information about a variety of different Council services and make payments for them in just one visit. Ann Davie, Depute Chief Executive of East Dunbartonshire Council, said, "The new Community Hub will provide everyone in Bearsden with a state-of-the-art facility and will bring a number of benefits to the town. "Community Hubs, like the one just opened in Lennoxtown, are an important element of the Council’s long term vision for effective, efficient, customer focussed services delivered locally throughout East Dunbartonshire. "Bringing together a wide range of council services under one roof in an exciting and innovative way will help us deliver services more efficiently to our residents and improve their experience of dealing with the Council.” Forging ahead with relief road Work is forging ahead on the next section of Bishopbriggs Relief Road, which aims to cut congestion, support new investment, improve air quality and encourage active travel. Phase four - an investment of £6.5m - will replace the existing Westerhill Road and tie into the third section at the roundabout on Wester Cleddens Road. It involves the creation of: l A two-lane 50mph road stretching 600 metres between Wester Cleddens Roundabout and a new roundabout, with another 100 metres of road on the north side of the railway l A new bridge over the main Edinburgh-Glasgow railway line l A new access road into Cadder Yard l Two Sustainable Urban Drainage ponds. Following completion of phase four, the existing Westerhill Road and bridge will become an active travel corridor for pedestrians and cyclists. The road will be upgraded and crossings installed, and the possibility of further links to Lenzie and Bishopbriggs town centre are also being explored. The aim is to have phase four completed by summer 2017. Westerhill Road will be closed from 24 June 2016 to 17 April 2017 to accommodate the works, with diversions in place. The road is part of the Council's 10-year capital programme and is being part-funded through developers' contributions from the Bishopbriggs East housing development. www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk edlife 9 What’s on this summer 2016 During the school summer holidays, the EDLC Trust has a host of varied children’s activities on offer to suit every taste. From reading challenges to gaming tournaments - mask making to 3D scanning and printing - the programme is so diverse and exciting there will be something for every boy and girl to enjoy. This year’s summer reading challenge is celebrating 100 years of the world’s favourite storyteller, Roald Dahl, and is entitled the Big Friendly Read (BFR). It’s running from Saturday 25 June to Saturday 20 August and kids of all ages can register at their local libraries to collect their BFR membership wallets and collect limited edition Quentin Blake collectors’ cards every time they read a book (there are six to collect). Some of the other activities this summer include: Big Friendly Read on the Barge (5 - 8 years) Join author-illustrator John Fardell for a fun interactive session enjoying some of his picture books aboard the Gypsy Princess barge. No landlubbers allowed. Venue: Townhead Bridge, Kirkintilloch (meeting) Date: Wednesday 27 July Time: 11.30am-12.30pm Cost: £7.00 per child (includes one adult per family) Book by calling 0141 777 3143 or online at www.booking.edlc.co.uk /horizons/culture Gaelic Storytelling An Gruffalo (2 - 6 years) Bilingual Gaelic / English interactive storytelling in the great outdoors! (In inclement weather, please meet at Brookwood Library, Bearsden instead). Venue: Gruffalo carving at Kilmardinny Loch entrance from Kilmardinny Avenue Date: Wednesday 10 August Time: 10.30am - 11.30am Cost: Free Book by contacting the Children & Families Team on 0141 777 3036 Venue: William Patrick Library, Kirkintilloch Date: Wednesday 3 August Time: 11am - 1pm Cost: £8.00 Book by calling 0141 777 3143 or online at www.booking.edlc.co.uk /horizons/culture Dying to Design (8 - 11 years) This fun workshop will teach young designers how to tie dye a t-shirt, looking at the importance of colour and pattern to make a striking modern design. Please remember to bring a plain white t-shirt. Venue: The Barony Chambers (Auld Kirk Museum), Kirkintilloch Date: Tuesday 26 July Time: 11am - 4pm Cost: £16.00 Book by calling 0141 777 3143 or online at www.booking.edlc.co.uk /horizons/culture Mini Me 3D Scanning / Printing (12 Years +) 3D scanning and printing using mind bending technology. Learn how to scan, scale and then print yourself out as a mini me! No experience is necessary Venue: Lillie Art Gallery, Milngavie Date: Thursday 21 July Time: 11am - 1pm Cost: £8.00 There is plenty going on in East Dunbartonshire for adults too this summer - with a packed programme of activities at this year’s adult summer school. Running from Monday 27 June to Friday 8 July - why not book yourself on a course and explore your creative side? Some of the activities on offer include: Freeing Yourself Up – Expressive Mark Making & Mixed Media A wonderful opportunity to be inspired and free yourself up, while discussing and experimenting with expressive mark making and mixed media. A fun and engaging workshop focussing on how to tackle scale, texture and mark making through artists methods. Venue: Lillie Art Gallery, Milngavie Date: Friday 1 July Time: 9.30am - 1pm Cost: Half day: £15 Oil Painting: Beginners and Beyond This course is for students with some painting experience who want to develop their skills and techniques in oil and will begin with still life and structured exercises with a focus on tone, form, composition and colour. There will be step by step demonstration of different approaches to painting with oils. Venue: The Barony Chambers (Auld Kirk Museum), Kirkintilloch Date: Wed 6 - Fri 8 July Time: 10am - 4pm Cost: 3 days: £90.00 To book call 0141 777 3143 or visit www.booking.edlc.co.uk/ horizons/culture MORE INFORMATION visit www.edlc.co.uk 10 edlife www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk Naut A History of East Dunbartonshire in 110 Objects There’s still time to enjoy a fascinating look at the rich and colourful past of East Dunbartonshire’s 11 settlements through an eclectic selection of objects spanning the years. A free exhibition is running in Kirkintilloch’s award-winning Auld Kirk Museum until 16 July. It marks the culmination of a two year programme run by the Leisure & Culture Trust to involve local people in chronicling life in the area’s towns and villages through the ages. It will feature a curated time line of objects from the Trust’s Museum and Archive Collections, from a Neolithic carved stone ball to a rather more modern Garvie’s lemonade water jug. As well as objects from the collection, the exhibition will display photographs of people and artists who took part in the popular ‘Trails and Tales programme’ which caught the imagination of hundreds of people at dozens of events and workshop activities over the past two years. There will also be access to the full online time line of objects and an opportunity for visitors to contribute their own ideas and objects to a ‘community’ time line of local archives and treasures. Please note the museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-1pm and 2-5pm (closed Sunday and Monday). For more information on Trails and Tales see www.trailsandtales.org Walk a way to help out Volunteers are needed to put their best foot forward to help lead health walks across East Dunbartonshire. Health walks are an ideal way to keep physically active as well as being fun, free and sociable. They are low level and suitable for everyone who wants to become active, but also perfect for anyone recovering from a health issue or injury. A number of walks are already established across the area which last between 30 minutes and an hour but volunteers are needed to take on the role of walk leader or assistant leader. Walk Development Officer Andy Lynch explained, "With summer here it would be great to get lots of people involved and exploring the many great walks we have in East Dunbartonshire. To do this we need more volunteers to come forward and take part in training to become walk leaders. "The role of walk leader is ideal for someone who has a willingness to help others and enjoys being physically active and spending time outdoors. Once volunteer walk leaders are trained they will be able to risk assess and plan their own routes while still being offered support from me and other walk leaders." If you want to participate, volunteer or are interested in starting up a health walk, contact Andy on 07919624722 or email Andy.Lynch@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk. www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk edlife 11 Photographs, courtesy of Alan Duncan - Kirkintilloch & District Classic Vehicle Club tical and nice Set sail for a splashing feast of family fun as the amazing Kirkintilloch Canal Festival returns this August. ear's "Last y val esti Canal F ing ip-roar r a s a w n s. Roll o succes 016!" 2 August A range of improvement works are currently underway in the town centre, but that won't dampen any of the enthusiasm or entertainment at this year's nautical-based bonanza. The 2016 Kirkintilloch Canal Festival will run from Monday 15 August to Sunday 21 August, with a range of boat trips during the week - combining canal, culinary delights and culture. Excitement will reach a crescendo over the festival weekend - with Get Active Saturday (featuring live concert and firework spectacular) and the Gala Sunday around the Marina, Barleybank, the grassed area at Sainsbury’s and New College Lanarkshire Kirkintilloch Campus. Saturday's festivities will culminate in a live concert at the Marina starting at 7pm, followed at 9.30pm by a fireworks spectacular set to music. The festival is organised by East Dunbartonshire Council and partners such as the Leisure and Culture (EDLC) Trust, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, Kirkintilloch Baptist Church, the Regent Centre, New College Lanarkshire - Kirkintilloch, Seagull Trust, Scottish Canals and the Forth and Clyde Canal Society. The Gala Sunday - on 21 August - includes: l l l l l l l l l Pirates street theatre and stilt walkers Funfair and carousel Walk on Water, canoe sessions and boat trips Kirkintilloch Male Voice Choir Coppers on the Canal Tours of Lairdsland Primary Market Stalls and Classic Cars Glasgow Barnstormers - remote-controlled airplanes Trails and Tails - Stone Carving Taster Sessions (with EDLC) More information is available at www.kirkintillochcanalfestival.org and www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/canalfestival. The Council is working with East Dunbartonshire Tobacco Alliance to promote the canal festival as a Clean Air Event - with tobacco-free areas. 12 edlife www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk Smoke-free parks Fun at Langmuir Park Our first smoke-free playgrounds were launched this year with the help of local pupils. The first was Baljaffray playpark in Bearsden, closely followed by Langmuir park in Harestanes, Kirkintilloch. Children from Baljaffray Primary and Harestanes Primary got on board with the project, learning about the effects of smoking following visits from the NHSGGC Health Improvement Team and the Council’s Community Wardens. They designed the new signs for the parks. The concept was developed by East Dunbartonshire Tobacco Alliance, a partnership bringing together local organisations with an interest in reducing and regulating tobacco use. The project got the ultimate seal of approval from Ali, a P7 pupil at Baljaffray PS who said, “I enjoyed taking part in designing a sign for the improved park. I have a lot of fun playing in the park, especially on the roundabout which is my favourite. It was nice to be part of the park’s opening and I am glad that the park has new, fun equipment.” Swinging in to summer Summer is set to be a lot more fun for children in East Dunbartonshire thanks to three new play areas. The play parks which have been opened recently are located in Cloan Crescent, Bishopbriggs, Langmuir in Harestanes and Rosebank in Kirkintilloch. Gillian Telfer, Team Leader of the Council's Streetscene Technical Support attended the recent launch of the new £53,000 play facility in Rosebank, together with children from nearby Oxgang Primary School. One hundred households nearby were consulted about what they wanted for their park and the Streetscene Technical Support team used their feedback to design an impressive new community facility. The children's play area, which is accessed off Merkland Drive, Gillian Telfer with pupils from Oxgang Primary incorporates a wide variety of new modern play equipment including toddler swings, Tom Thumb climbing unit, low pedestal slide, Ladybird Springer and comet roundabout while for older children there is a basket swing, Rock 'n' Bowl Roundabout and Xtreme climbing unit. An adult fitness area was also created at the northern end of Blackburn Crescent with a chest press, step box multi-gym and skier all installed. Gillian said, "I'm sure these fantastic new community facilities are going to be much-welcomed amenities for local children and families for many years to come. “These parks have been transformed and I hope these improvements will encourage more children and adults to get out in the fresh air and stay active." www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk edlife 13 Respecting The rights of children across the world A group of pupils in Castlehill Primary School have been learning about the rights of children both at home and abroad and have been raising funds to support their cause. Day for change at Castlehill Primary The Triple C Group (Children Can Choose) is the Rights Respecting Group at the school and they have been working tirelessly to help improve the lives of people less fortunate than themselves. In the last year the group has: l Organised food bank collections for families living in East Dunbartonshire which were donated to the Trussell Trust in Kirkintilloch. l Donated sensory items to make toys for babies and young children in Tajikistan to make sure they can access their right to education. l Campaigned to raise £150 to continue their work with Tajikstan in the coming year. l Hosted ‘Money Monday’ where children from the school and nursery bring in some pennies or small amounts of money to place on a large map of Syria. So far £315.02 has been raised for UNICEF which could help 52 children receive life-saving treatment for pneumonia, malaria or diarrhoea. l Been fundraising for UNICEF to support children affected by humanitarian emergencies throughout the world culminating in UNICEF Day for Change on Friday 13 May. The children boosted their fundraising by hosting a ‘Wear blue for UNICEF’ day and taking part in lessons which highlighted the difficulties faced by children globally due to war, famine and natural disasters. Rights Respecting lead teacher at Castlehill Primary School, Karen Cuthbert, is really proud of what the group has achieved so far. She told edlife, “The pupils are really passionate about helping children in other countries and they contacted edlife themselves as they are keen to promote their work and raise more money for the UNICEF humanitarian emergencies fund. encouragement and great ideas have been a real boost to the group. Both Ms Bell and I are extremely proud of the outstanding contribution the young people involved in the Triple C Group are making to children’s rights within their own community and further afield.” If you would like to donate to the UNICEF fund go to www.unicef.org.uk/donate “The children have been supported in their work by parent volunteer Ms Bell who has been giving up her time to help the Triple C Group over the last two years. Ms Bell’s Get your skates on in Kirkintilloch Novice skateboarders can now catch some air and perfect their ollies at a new £35,000 state-of-the-art beginners skate park in Kirkintilloch. The skate park, located within Luggie Park, is a new resource to enable people of all ages to develop their skating, scooter and biking abilities before moving on to the adjacent larger facility which had previously been delivered by the Kirkintilloch Skate Park Initiative. The Council's Streetscene Technical Support team worked with the contractor, Concreate Skateparks, to develop the new facility. It incorporates quarter pipes at various heights which in turn creates two different mini-ramps for training and progression. The facility also includes flatbanks of differing steepness, a mini-jump box, small driveway, rail and ledge and manual pad. The project benefitted from £15,000 funding from sportscot- land, as part of their Legacy 2014 Active Places Fund. The Fund supports the Scottish Government’s legacy ambitions to encourage more people to be active and take part in sport by providing funding for capital projects which create or improve places in local communities where people can go to get active. Chief Executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, said, "At sportscotland, our key objective is to build a world-class sporting system at every level where people have the opportunity to develop and progress in their chosen sport. By building a new beginners park to complement the existing skate park, East Dunbartonshire Council and its partners have made that possible for local skaters and bikers. "We were delighted to invest £15,000 from the Active Places Fund in this exciting project which will be a fantastic addition to the community." 14 edlife www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk A grand design Top marks for Lairdsland Primary School in Kirkintilloch which has scooped two prestigious awards since opening its doors to pupils just over a year ago. To date the building has won at the Scottish Property Awards 2016 in the Development of the Year (category for public buildings), the Drum Scottish Design Awards 2016 in the Education Building category and the RIAS (Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland Awards 2016). The school has also been shortlisted for a SPACES award - we will find out whether or not it has been successful later on this year. Gordon Currie, the Council’s Director of Education & Children’s Services is not surprised. He said, “Lairdsland is a truly fantastic building which is beautifully situated at the Southbank Marina alongside the Forth and Clyde Canal in Kirkintilloch. It boasts excellent outdoor space as well as airy, multi-functioning indoor learning areas and is a big hit with pupils and teachers alike. “Feedback from visitors and parents is always excellent and the building has been established as a reference design for primary schools in Scotland.” The £7.7m school was designed to support Curriculum for Excellence and the open indoor learning spaces, covered outdoor areas, multi-use games pitch and other bespoke facilities have been of great benefit to pupils and staff. Mr Currie continued, “Since the official opening in May 2015 Lairdsland has received accolade after accolade for its inspirational design and functionality. I am delighted that we have opened a school in East Dunbartonshire that has been recognised at these prestigious awards ceremonies.” Lairdsland is the first of the five new build schools being delivered by the Council as part of the £48m Primary School Improvement Programme (PSIP) and Lenzie Meadow Primary School and Early Years Centre will be the next to open in August 2016. On the road to success The Council is streets ahead when it comes to pioneering road improvements having been shortlisted for FIVE 2016 Scottish Transport Awards and winning the Achievements in Cycling Award. It is national recognition for the Council's work to improve active travel and the public realm in Bearsden and Milngavie - focusing on the A81 and the innovative Bears Way - which provides protected space for children and families to cycle. Out of more than 100 entries the Council was shortlisted in the following categories: l Most Effective Road Safety, Traffic Management and Enforcement Project - Bears Way l Integrated Transport Project of the Year - A81 sustainable transport corridor scheme l Excellence in Walking & Public Realm - A81 sustainable transport corridor scheme l Achievements in Cycling Bears Way l Most Innovative Transport Project of the Year - Bears Way The Council went on to scoop the Achievements in Cycling Award at the ceremony in Glasgow in June. Depute Chief Executive - Place, Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets, Thomas Glen, said, “We are absolutley delighted to have won this prestigious award and to have been shortlisted in five categories.” “This award shows that we are moving in the right direction to improve active travel and the public realm for local people, businesses and visitors in East Dunbartonshire.” www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk edlife 15 St. Ninian’s makes the grade St Ninian’s High School in Kirkintilloch has beaten off stiff competition to be selected as a finalist at both this year’s Scottish Education Awards and TES awards. The school was shortlisted for two Scottish Education Awards - the learning through technology award and the raising attainment in numeracy award but was pipped at the post at the recent awards ceremony. However there is still a chance that the school will be receiving an award this summer as it has been selected from schools throughout the United Kingdom for two prestigious TES Awards. The school is in the running for the ‘secondary school of the year’ award and the ‘community and collaboration’ award. Director of Education and Children Services, Gordon Currie, is hopeful the school will scoop a TES Award. He told edlife, “St Ninian’s has a fantastic track record - this is the third year in a row that that the school has been recognised at the Scottish Education Awards and to have been selected for the ‘secondary school of the year’ TES Award is really quite an achievement.” He continued, “St Ninian’s High School is going from strength to strength and this is testament to the hard work of Headteacher Paul McLaughlin, all the teaching staff and of course the pupils themselves who are a credit to the school.” 16 edlife www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk Introducing our STARs 2016 The judging panel for the Council's Special Thanks and Recognition Scheme, or STARS Awards, recognising employee commitment and achievement across the organisation, has found its 2016 winners. Five awards were given out at a ceremony in June to the following people and teams: l Employee Award (Internally nominated) Bill Reside, Youth Development Worker (Education) l Employee Award (Externally nominated) Jane Ferguson, Instrumental Music Team Leader (Education) l Young Employee Award Charlotte Malcolm, Lennoxtown Nursery (Early Years) l Team Award (Internally nominated) Business Awards Team (multiple services) l Team Award (Externally nominated) Holy Family Primary School (whole school team) Chief Executive Gerry Cornes congratulated the winners and thanked them all for their contribution to the Council: “These awards recognise colleagues who go the extra mile and it is right that we reward that level of commitment. Well done to all our latest STARs award winners!” Employees enjoy the STARs event New travel card on the way If you are over 60 and have a National Entitlement Card for concessionary travel then you should soon receive a new card from Transport Scotland. When you get your new card: l start using it immediately and destroy any old ones. l check that the photo and personal details are correct. If any are not, or if the card is for someone who is no longer at the address, please ring the number on the back of the card to report it. The new card has the mygovscot logo and no longer has a ‘valid to’ date. www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk edlife 17 your local councillor For details of Councillors’ surgeries or if you would like to speak to your Councillor, please call the number above his/her photograph. To find out who your Councillor is, please check the website at www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk or call 0141 578 8086. n n n n n Conservative (Con) Independent (Ind) Labour (Lab) Liberal Democrat (LD) Scottish National Party (SNP) Maureen Henry (Lab) Ward 1 - Milngavie Tel: 0141 578 8163 Email: maureen.henry@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Jim Gibbons (SNP) Ward 1 - Milngavie Tel: 0141 578 8163 Email: jim.gibbons@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Eric Gotts (LD) Ward 1 - Milngavie Tel: 0141 578 8163 Email: eric.gotts@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Duncan Cumming (Ind) Ward 2 - Bearsden North Tel: 0141 578 8016 Email: duncan.cumming@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Ian Mackay (SNP) Ward 2 - Bearsden North Tel: 0141 578 8016 Email: ian.mackay@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Ashay Ghai (LD) Ward 2 - Bearsden North Tel: 0141 578 8o16 Email: ashay.ghai@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Keith Small (SNP) Ward 3 - Bearsden South Tel: 0141 578 8163 Email: keith.small@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Manjinder Shergill (Lab) Ward 3 - Bearsden South Tel: 0141 578 8163 Email: manjinder.shergill@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Vaughan Moody (LD) Ward 3 - Bearsden South Tel: 0141 578 8163 Email: vaughan.moody@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk John Dempsey (Lab) Ward 4 - Campsie & Kirkintilloch North Tel: 0141 578 8072 Email: john.dempsey@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Gemma Welsh (Lab) Ward 4 - Campsie & Kirkintilloch North Tel: 0141 578 8072 Email: gemma.welsh@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk David Ritchie (SNP) Ward 4 - Campsie & Kirkintilloch North Tel: 0141 578 8072 Email: david.ritchie@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Billy Hendry (Con) Ward 5 - Bishopbriggs North & Torrance Tel: 0141 578 8016 Email: billy.hendry@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Anne McNair (SNP) Ward 5 - Bishopbriggs North & Torrance Tel: 0141 578 8016 Email: anne.mcnair@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Provost Walker (Lab) Ward 5 - Bishopbriggs North & Torrance Tel: 0141 578 8086 Email: una.walker@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Alan Moir (Lab) Ward 6 - Bishopbriggs South Tel: 0141 578 8072 Email: alan.moir@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Gordan Low (SNP) Ward 6 - Bishopbriggs South Tel: 0141 578 8072 Email: gordan.low@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Michael O’Donnell (Lab) Ward 6 - Bishopbriggs South Tel: 0141 578 8072 Email: michael.o’donnell@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Rhondda Geekie (Lab) Ward 7 - Lenzie & Kirkintilloch South Tel: 0141 578 8038 Email: rhondda.geekie@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Anne Jarvis (Con) Ward 7 - Lenzie & Kirkintilloch South Tel: 0141 578 8038 Email: anne.jarvis@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Gillian Renwick (SNP) Ward 7 - Lenzie & Kirkintilloch South Tel: 0141 578 8038 Email: gillian.renwick@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk John Jamieson (SNP) Ward 8 - Kirkintilloch East & Twechar Tel: 0141 578 8038 Email: john.jamieson@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Stewart MacDonald (Lab) Ward 8 - Kirkintilloch East & Twechar Tel: 0141 578 8038 Email: stewart.macdonald @eastdunbarton.gov.uk Jack Young (Ind A) Ward 8 - Kirkintilloch East & Twechar Tel: 0141 578 8038 Email: jack.young@ eastdunbarton.gov.uk Did you know? Anyone can attend Council meetings. Meetings now take place at the new headquarters at Southbank Marina, Kirkintilloch. The next meetings are planned for Thursday 29 September and Thursday 10 November. Could you make a difference? Sandra McFadyen and Mairi Macdonald of the Care Planning and Placement Team The 'People like you Fostercare' campaign was launched in May as the Council embarks on a recruitment drive for foster carers. There has been a good response to the campaign so far, but with approximately 40 children and young people coming into care every year in East Dunbartonshire, the Council needs to attract more foster carers. Sandra McFadyen, Team Manager for the Care Planning and Placement Team, said, "It's great that there's been a positive response to the campaign so far, but we still need more people to come forward and help make a difference to some of the area’s most vulnerable children and young people. For the vast majority of children, a foster home can provide the stability and support needed to secure a better future. "It's a challenging, but highly rewarding role. The process of becoming a foster carer may seem daunting to start with, but the team are on hand to offer you support every step of the way. "Successful applicants will receive support, guidance and training from a supervising social worker to ensure that you are equipped for the role and confident in how best to respond to a child or young person’s individual needs. Both a fee and allowance will be paid to cover the cost of being a foster carer. "We welcome enquiries from individuals or couples from all cultures and backgrounds. “Almost anyone can apply, however potential foster carers must have a spare room." For further information please contact the Council on 0300 123 4510 and ask to speak to the Care Planning & Placement Team, who will be happy to discuss Foster Care in further detail with you. Alternatively email CPPT.socialwork@eastdunbarton.gov.uk or visit www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/fostercare