Dundee Festival of Volunteering 1-7 June 2013 - Including Events in Broughty Ferry

Saturday 1st June is officially the start of summer. It is also the beginning of the one week Festival of Volunteering in Dundee - 1-7 June 2013. 

This is a celebration of the sterling work undertaken by our citizens week in, week out, on behalf of our community.

In Broughty Ferry there are two specific events to join in which are identified in the programme:

On Saturday 1st June beginning at 1:30 pm, Broughty Ferry in Bloom has organised a beach litter pick up. Litter picks, gloves and waste bags will be provided. Please wear sturdy shoes. The event will last approximately 2 hours. Please meet in the car park at the bottom of Bridge Street/end of The Esplanade.

On Tuesday 4 June, there are opportunities to go on Volunteer Insight Tour at the Brae Riding Centre for the Disabled one in the morning and one in the afternoon. If you want insight into the work of Brae and are interested in volunteering with them contact Emma Bollan, their Volunteer Co-ordinator, to book a place. NB You need to pre-book participation in this event - you can't just turn up on the day.
Emma Bollan Volunteer Co-ordinator The Brae Riding for Disabled
email volunteercoordinator@brae.org.uk
telephone 01382 776880 | 07885851881

Read/download the full Festival of Volunteering Programme of Events

HOPE Project Video from Young People at Helm Training is Inspirational

Yesterday, I went to the DCA for the premiere of an inspirational film made by young people involved in the HOPE project at Helm Employment in Dundee.  

Helm Old People's  Experiences (HOPE) project aimed to break down barriers between old people and teenagers by involving them in a local history project which focused on interviewing OAPs about their jobs, and working with Dundee City Council looking at the future of Dundee through the new waterfront.

Through this the young people visibly clearly grew in confidence as they conducted their video interviews. At the same time, through meeting and interviewing residents in a sheltered housing complex, the young film makers adjusted their views of older people in our city. Likewise, older interviewees seemed to appreciate the challenges for young people today.

Helm staff who devised and secured funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to do this project are to be commended. The young and older people who took part in the interviews deserve our appreciation for sharing their thirty minute documentary with us.

Next Meeting of Ferry Local Community Planning Partnership Thursday 30 May 2013

THE FERRY LOCAL COMMUNTY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP MEETING THURSDAY 30 MAY  2013 AT 6.00 PM
BARNHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE, CAMPFIELD SQUARE BROUGHTY FERRY

The meetings are open to members of the public where issues of community concern can be raised in relation to items on the agenda through the chair of meeting.

If you would like further information about the meeting or the Community Planning Partnership, please use the contact details shown below.

A G E N D A
1.  WELCOME AND APOLOGIES
2.  PRESENTATION – ALCOHOL AND DRUGS PARTNERSHIP (Vered Hopkins)       
3.  PREVIOUS MINUTE AND MATTERS ARISING
3.1  HMIe Update (Chair LCPP and Rector Grove Academy)
3.2  Welfare Reform
3.3  Road Safety – Grove / Eastern
4.  COMMUNITY PLAN 2012-2017 UPDATE
       Monitoring Report
       Sub Groups
       - Environmental/Beach Management
       - Engaging Young People
       - Mental Wellbeing
       - Community Safety
       - 2013
       - Economic Regeneration/Tourism
       - Community Facilities
5.  DEPARTMENT/AGENCY/ORGANISATION UPDATE
6.  COMMUNITY ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBERS OF PUBLIC
7.  DATE OF NEXT MEETING       
     Thursday 15th August at 5.30 pm
     Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex, 3a Forthill Drive, Bferry.

Carole Jenkins, Communities Officer
Tel:  436929 Email: carole.jenkins@dundeecity.gov.uk

A Dundee Statistic to Celebrate - Increase in Percentage of Graduates Working in the City

Click on table to enlarge

Recently published government figures, show that the percentage of people with degree level qualifications has steadily increased. 

For example, in Dundee the proportion of folk with degree level qualifications who are in work and aged 25-64 has increased from 20.4% in 2004 to 34.1% in 2012. This is a statistic to celebrate.

It should boost the city’s self-confidence to know that on this measure in 2012 our Dundee score of 34.1% is above the average for Scotland which stands at 31.1%. It is also above the level for the neighbouring council areas, Fife 30.3%, Angus 25.7% and Perth and Kinross 31.4%.

This should make Dundee very attractive to prospective inward investors. It also demonstrates the potential of education to play a major role in promoting the city’s economic fortunes.

Forthill Residents Want Ugly Container to be Removed From Their Open Space

On Saturday morning, two residents from dispersed sheltered housing in Anton Drive and Nursery Road asked me to request the removal of a steel container. This had apparently been left by the Council contractor that had been working on the kitchen and bathroom replacements in their houses.

Now that the upgrading work has been completed, the residents want to know why they should have to put up with this ugly steel container cluttering the open plan grassed area close to their homes. They also point out that the container has become a target for graffiti.

I have joined the residents in calling 'times up' on the container. I have passed on their request to the Housing Department and informed the Community Wardens about the graffiti.

New Dementia Café in Broughty Ferry at the Refurbished St Aidan’s Centre - Last Tuesday Morning of the Month

Click on image to enlarge

Alzheimer Scotland has teamed up with Dundee Carers' Centre to establish an Information and Support Dementia Café in the refurbished St Aidan’s Centre at 408 Brook Street in Broughty Ferry. 

This Cafe is to support people with dementia, their carers and families and to provide a local point of contact for people who are worried about their memory or that of a relative or friend. 

The Café will run on the last Tuesday of every month and will be from 11am – 1pm.

Next drop in Cafe Tues 28 May 2013

For more information please contact:
Nadia Sutherland, Dementia Adviser
Telephone 01382 210200
Email nsutherland@alzscot.org

Abertay Rotary Club Annual Plant Sale Today Queen Street Car Park Saturday 25 May 2013

Abertay Rotary Club are holding their annual Plant Sale today.

Plant Sale TODAY
10:00 - 16:00
Queen Street Car Park
Saturday 25 May 2013 

Bag some bargain plants for your garden and at the same time support our local Rotary Club's funding raising for good causes.

Official Opening of the Upgraded Coastal Pathway in Broughty Ferry - Good Job!

On Wednesday I attended the official opening of the upgraded section of the coastal pathway that runs between Grassy Beach and Douglas Terrace. This marks the final stage of a ten year project to refurbish and improve the coastal pathway between the Stannergate and Douglas Terrace in Broughty Ferry. This has local and wider significance.

For local people, this pathway is valued for walking, cycling and dog walking while folk enjoy the pleasures of river views and segregation from motor traffic. It is also a part of the Dundee green circular and a route into the city centre for those commuting by bike. Additionally, the extra width of this latest section of the pathway will make it easier for the sailors to manoeuvre their sailing craft on their trailers between the roadway at Douglas Terrace and their boat sheds and slipways at Grassy Beach.

Our coastal pathway is also an integral part of the National Cycling Route One between Dover in Kent and Shetland. These onward connections mean that cyclists can for example ride most of the way to Arbroath off road and on quiet back roads.

Interestingly, in this centenary year of Broughty Ferry becoming part of Dundee, one of the promised benefits from this merger was an improvement in roads and paths between Broughty Ferry and Dundee which led to the original raised pathway being built along the shore. That this was a possibility was also testament to the foresight of the former Broughty Ferry Town Council that in 1901 secured the foreshore at the Grassy Beach in West Ferry for an annual feu of £25.

Hopefully the public investment in the upgrading work from one end to the other, will have secured this important community asset for many years to come.

Thanks are deserved to Sustrans the national sustainable transport charity that were major funders and the Council's Transportation staff. The work force of Kilmac, the contractors, also deserve praise for ingeniously keeping the pathway open while they undertook the upgrading work apart from a few days when a period of temporary closure could not be avoided.

Good job!

Broughty Beach Litter Pick Sat 1st June 2013 1:30-3:30pm

Beach Litter Pick Up
Saturday, June 01, 2013
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Broughty Ferry Beach, Esplanade

As part of Dundee's festival of Volunteering, Broughty Ferry in Bloom has organised a beach litter pick up.

Litter picks, gloves and waste bags will be provided. Please wear sturdy shoes. The event will last approximately 2 hours. Please meet in the car park at the bottom of Bridge Street.

Jobshop Open Fridays 9:30-11:30 Broughty Ferry Library

A new weekly job shop has been launched in Broughty Ferry by Dundee employment project, DEAP. 

The job club runs on Friday mornings between 9:30 and 11:30. DEAP will have a member of staff on hand at our Community Library in Queen Street.

DEAP was formed in 1996 and has strong partnerships with employers in Dundee.
DEAP operates a number of jobshops which provide indivduals with in-depth employment and training assistance in order for them to return to employment. 

Any person seeking employment is free to drop into  their jobshop and have a friendly chat with one of DEAP's recruitment consultants.

For more information contact Jamie at DEAP on (01382) 457575
DEAP website http://www.deap.co.uk/

Broughty Ferry Community Library

Queen Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, DD5 2HN

Library website www.dundeecity.gov.uk/communities/

Unwelcome Fly Posting on BT Street Cabinets?

BT Street Cabinet in Brook Street close to the
junction with Fort Street

A constituent has complained to me about the outbreak of advertising on BT's Street Cabinets. It would appear that at several locations in The Ferry, there are advertising posters stuck to BT's green Street Cabinets. 

At first glance, this does not appear to be the work of bill stickers, because the poster material displayed is advertising BT's Fibre broadband. I presume that it is BT itself that is responsible? 

My constuent finds this unwelcome and visually intrusive. I have written to BT to seek clarification about this. I have also contacted the planning department to check whether BT's planning consent includes permission to put up advertising material on their Street Cabinets.

Rail Fares Down by 20% Won by Scottish Labour

This week many rail fares from Dundee and Broughty Ferry will be reduced by as much as 20%. This is the result of the Tay Train Tax campaign which was led by Jenny Marra, Labour's North East MSP based in Dundee.

For example, an Anytime Return from Broughty Ferry to Glasgow is reduced from £50:40 to £40:40.

These lower fares should put an end to passengers having to buy a confusing series of split tickets to secure the cheapest fare to Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen.

I am sure that regular and occasional rail travellers will appreciate the end of these unjustifiably high fares to and from Dundee and Broughty Ferry stations. These lower fares should also help make the rail fares more attractive.

Link to list of cheaper rail fares from Brought Ferry

Care Inspectorate Report on Eastern Primary School Nursery

I was concerned to read the latest inspection report from the Care Inspectorate about the Nursery at Eastern Primary School. 


Link - Care Inspectorate Report - Eastern Primary School 14 February 2013

It found that on seven out of eight measures the nursery was graded 'adequate' and was awarded just one 'good' grade. 

I don't think 'adequate' is acceptable.

The report identifies a number of areas for improvement to ensure that the Nursery provides the best possible experience for children and families.

'In particular, it should make sure that:

• children and parents have more opportunities to participate in assessing and improving the quality of the service;
• the systems for assessment, planning and recording children's progress are properly implemented;
• communication and team working amongst the staff team is improved;
• an action plan is put in place to address key priorities for improvement in the nursery.'

To restore confidence in the quality of the nursery education, I think it is crucial that parents and carers are reassured that the action plan referred to in the report is in place and that the issues identified in the report are being addressed. As the report is based on an inspection which took place in February, I trust that the Education Department, The Head Teacher of Eastern Primary School and the Nursery staff have already been tackling this agenda, especially that 'communication and team working amongst the staff team is improved;'

Postscript
A follow up inspection was conducted in November 2013 and reported in early February 2014. This is a much more positive report indicating that the shortcomings reported in May 2013 had been well addressed in the interim and the Nursery was performing at a "Good" level on all measures.

DJCAD Degree Show 2013

Last night I enjoyed attending the Preview of the Degree Show at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD). This year, the exhibition of the art works created by its talented 290 final-year students coincides with the celebration of The college's 125th anniversary. I think this year's show is exceptional and I recommend that you catch it while you can over the next week.

The exhibition is be open to the public from Saturday, 18th May until Sunday, May 26th. Admission is free and the exhibition is open from 10am until 8pm (Monday – Friday) and 10am to 4pm (Saturday – Sunday).

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design has been rated as the top art school in Scotland and in the top four in the UK according to the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design

University of Dundee 13 Perth Road Dundee DD1 4HT

www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/degreeshow/

Coffee Morning at Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex 10-12 Saturday 25 May 2013

Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex will opening their doors for a Coffee morning on Saturday 25 May 2013 between 10am and 12 noon.

In addition to coffee, there will Bric a Brac, a raffle, tombola and a cake and candy stall.

Admission £1:50 includes coffee and cakes.

Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex

Forthill Drive

Broughty Ferry DD5 3DY