This pandemic has called a halt to so many things in our life and has created so many difficulties for communities and individuals, but as always happens the communities rally round and help each other, by various means, mutual aid being the foundation. ACE in Edinburgh, ever active, are in their helping to brighten up the dull covid Edinburgh days. Below is some of their activities, I'm sure there is something there for you to get involved in or to start in your own community if you haven't already done so.
NEWS FROM THE AUTONOMOUS CENTRE OF EDINBURGH
We are pleased to bring you news of the new food and resources bank open to all at the ACE premises every thursday 10.30am – 2pm : details below.
Other activities in the premises are suspended in order to keep people safe during the covid pandemic – but the groups based at ACE are still active and welcome your involvement. See below plus go to http://autonomous.org.uk/groups-activities/ and information on each of the groups based at Ace can be found on the ‘Groups & Activities’ drop down menu (Plus we recommend the tenants union LIVING RENT)
See also the regularly updated ACE facebook https://www.facebook.com/AutEdinburgh
This newsletter also attached in PDF.
FOOD SOLIDARITY
Food and Resources Bank at ACE every thursday 10.30am - 2pm. Organised by Oficina Precaria / Precarity Office Scotland / PIE – non-perishable food, toiletries, hygiene products and some children’s clothes are available free.
The Oficina Precaria Resource Bank is now OPEN as an emergency service on Thursdays from 10:30am – 2pm at ACE, 17 West Montgomery Place EH7 5HA. No referral or prior booking needed. Please note Covid safety measures in place: masks, hand sanitiser, only one person per household inside the premises please, and only one person visiting the foodbank at a time.
All welcome. You do not need a referral or to provide any paperwork or ‘proof of status’. Oficina Precaria https://www.facebook.com/piescotland https://piescotland.org/en/
More info on food solidarity initiatives and coronavirus support at http://edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk/?page_id=2568
For food solidarity also contact
Mutual Aid Edinburgh https://www.facebook.com/MutualAidEdinburgh
Mutual Aid Trans Edinburgh https://www.facebook.com/matedinburghLEITH CHOOSES 2011 - VOTE FOR THE PRECARIAT OFFICE SCOTLAND PROJECT
Precariat Office Scotland write:
We have launched a campaign to encourage people to vote for us for a project called Emergency One stop shop.
Emergency ‘One Stop Shop’: COVID-19 is causing unprecedented hardship. We serve migrants (mostly from Western Europe, but we welcome everyone) who often work in hard-hit hospitality and tourism, and don’t have any family/social support network locally. Our weekly ‘shop’ will help prevent people falling below the poverty line. It will include resources bank, soup kitchen, information and legal/welfare advice in the person’s own language. Also access to free online English classes (improve job opportunities) and yoga/self-defence classes (health and wellbeing).
We are a volunteer run organisation and the grant money would be spent on resources for the bank, equipment and ingredients (for soup), sessional workers (to run classes). Outcomes will be reducing isolation and improving people’s lives during this crisis.
If you live, work, volunteer, study in Leith (and are over 8 years old) please VOTE!
From 25 Jan till 31 January, vote for PIE Scotland at bit.ly/LeithChooses2021. Help us support people like you with free meals, English lessons, legal advice and self-defence classes in Leith. #VoteAndGetIt
Please help us to spread the word to community centres, schools etc.
Thanks!!!
Precariat Office Scotland - PIE
Oficina Precaria de Escocia - PIE
http://piescotland.org
[SCIO] - SC047145
PLEASE NOTE You are eligible to vote if you are over 8 years old and live, work, study or volunteer in Leith. Voting continues till 31 January.
ECAP SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY
ECAP write:
Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty Tuesday Sessions at ACE are suspended and we are not able to hold Face to Face appointments during the current Coronavirus lockdown. But we are continuing our support for and solidarity with claimants as well as all those up against the authorities – so please do get in touch if you have a benefits, debt, housing or other poverty-related problem. We’re asking people to contact us by Phone, Email or Facebook in order to arrange an appointment via phone – or please email us with your issue.
Contact: Ring 0131 557 6242 and leave a message – please speak slowly and repeat your contact details. E mail ecapmail@gmail.com
PM Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty on Facebook
More info: http://edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk/?page_id=2193
We welcome your involvement in ECAP – read what we are about here http://edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk/?page_id=2 and get in touch if interested.