Latest news with #CommunityHeroAward
Edinburgh Reporter
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Community award catalyst for South ground plea to MP
And Edinburgh South are hoping that a visit from Ian Murray MP, the Secretary of State for Scotland, will help build political will to deliver a much-needed home ground for a club with more than 1,000 players across all age groups. Mr Murray who is MP for Edinburgh South, visited Inch Park to deliver the Community Hero Award to volunteer coaches and helpers who keep the women's and girls' section running. Standing just yards from the site of the proposed new community-use ground, the politician watched as groups from the under-8s to the senior recreational women were put through their paces on the grass pitches currently being used for sessions. He has been supportive of South's bid to build a proper home for one of the biggest community clubs in Scotland, and was also presented with his own Edinburgh South jersey as a way of thanking him for his efforts. He heard more details of the club's full pathway from Saturday Soccer School right through to the women's first team, who have just finished runners-up in the SWFL East – a little more than three years on from the first open training session to recruit players. South remain hopeful that The City of Edinburgh Council will deliver on its previous commitment of land at the Inch Park Nursery site, with the current spread of public parks and school facilities causing boys and girls to be turned away on a weekly basis. Joe Sneddon, Edinburgh South chief executive, stressed the importance of facilities as he praised volunteers for providing existing opportunities for women and girls, saying: 'This award is a testament to the sheer determination and hard work of our volunteers, who've built a thriving girls' programme here at Edinburgh South CFC despite operating within a wider football system that still favours the boys' game. 'They've created a full pathway from first kick to senior football in one of the toughest grassroots environments – all without access to our own all-weather facility. 'Support and recognition like this from Ian Murray genuinely makes a difference. It shines a light on what's already being achieved and strengthens the case for the investment needed to secure the future of girls' and women's football in South Edinburgh.' While the UK Government unveiled a new £8.6 million war chest for grassroots sports facilities in March, South can't even apply for funding until the council greenlight the transfer of land – meaning that South, who aren't asking local taxpayers to commit to the project, remain in limbo. South have plans in place to develop a full-sized floodlit all-weather pitch meeting SFA licensing criteria, plus a pitch-side pavilion with changing facilities and essential physio/first aid spaces. This would provide not only a training base and home ground for both the men's and women's teams, but the countless youth sides currently struggling with inadequate facilities. * ESCFC currently has 75 teams and provides both competitive and recreational sporting opportunities for over 1000 number of players. * The club works closely with local schools, the SFA and external partners to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. * The club runs a free Soccer School for 5-8-year-olds, with up to 120 children attending each week. This is one of the largest free football programmes in Scotland. * Over 200 volunteers support the club's operation, from administrative staff to qualified team coaches. Joe Sneddon spoke to The Edinburgh Reporter at Peffermill about the need for movement from the council: Edinburgh Southern football club's girls and women's section volunteers received a community award Local MP Ian Murray with Agne Celik Southern's Head of Women and Girls section. Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Will council deliver new ground for Edinburgh football club? Latest update
Edinburgh South CFC Over 1000 players, East of Scotland First Division men and SWFL side wait for green light Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The largest community football club in the east of Scotland risk being left behind by their western counterparts after Giffnock cut the ribbon on a brand new £1.6 million home ground – leaving Edinburgh South to play catch-up in their bid to deliver a fresh facility for an area desperately in need of amenities. South are still waiting for the City of Edinburgh Council to green light their plans for a new low-profile community ground at Inch Park, in the south-east of Scotland's capital city. Until councillors approve the long-awaited transfer of ground, the club – who boast over 1000 players at all age groups - can't even apply for funding to build a new artificial pitch. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The new facility, in a part of the city underserved by all-weather multi-sport surfaces, would serve local schools and community organisations as well as providing a home base for South. Their senior men's team played at FIVE different home venues in the East of Scotland First Division season just finished. And the club's women's team are currently training and playing at a local high school – in contrast to many of their opponents in the SWFL pyramid. South chief executive Joe Sneddon spoke out after Giffnock officially opened two new 3G pitches at its facility in Glasgow. They will complement the four existing pitches, plus a large pavilion with a dozen changing rooms, already on site. Giffnock boast that their new HQ will be among the best in Scotland, providing a central venue for their 1400 players. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad South, honoured with a Community Hero Award by local MP – and Secretary of State for Scotland – Ian Murray in recognition of their work in girls' and women's football just last week, have plans in place to build a single 3G pitch with basic changing and storage facilities well shielded from view by mature trees already in place at Inch Park. Watch: Video of Ian Murray MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, in a penalty shoot-out with Edinburgh South CFC Sneddon, confident that funding will be available as soon as the land is secured, said: 'As the largest grassroodt club in the east, we congratulate Giffnock on this fabulous achievement. These type of facilities are necessary to ensure that our community club continues to flourish. 'Our proposals would not only guarantee the future of our teams at all levels but provide a fantastic asset for all of the local community. 'Giffnock have shown what can happen when the needs and ambitions of a community club are matched by that of their council, funders and hard working volunteers. 'We want to make sure that Edinburgh South can emulate this success.'
Scotsman
29-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Local Heroes go the extra mile for community
Ian Murray presents Nicky Pender with her award One of the things I enjoy most about being an MP is meeting hundreds of people across the south of Edinburgh each month, during visits, in shops or simply while out and about. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Something that never fails to impress me is the strength of community spirit, which I'm especially struck by when meeting people through my Community Hero Award initiative. I started the award during the pandemic to champion people who were supporting neighbours, friends and the local community in a time of need. Since then, the award has developed into a wider initiative which recognises people who go the extra mile in their contribution to a cause or community. Nominations come from the public, often from those who have been positively impacted by the person they are nominating. There's no strictly defined set of criteria and it's been great to see people of all ages and all walks of life nominated by their neighbours, colleagues and those who they've helped. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Recent recipients include the volunteer coaches and helpers from the Edinburgh South Community Football Club Girls Section, Richard Gargaro, secretary of the Gilmerton Miners Club and a true champion of Gilmerton, the team at the Prestonfield District & Neighbourhood Project and Nama' cafe in Gilmerton. Community heroes all. On a related note, earlier this year I launched the Business Hero Award to recognise the contributions of local businesses to our communities. A big part of my job as an MP is engaging with local businesses, and it's something I've always relished, having run my own businesses before entering politics. What often strikes me when I meet with local businesspeople is the additional work they are doing outside of their core business to improve their local community. Hence, I decided to launch the Business Hero initiative. After a public vote, Pilates with Nicky Pender, which is based in Liberton, was voted the Edinburgh South Business Hero 2025. Outside her weekly sessions, Nicky has been involved in a number of charitable fundraising initiatives and has built a real community among her clients. I presented Nicky with her award under a stunning May sky earlier this month, in the company of her clients and friends. It was a lovely afternoon. I was also delighted to meet with the runners-up, Specsavers Morningside, who have been involved in a number of charitable initiatives, including providing free eye examinations and glasses to Big Issue vendors and donating high visibility vests to local schools to keep children safe on their walk to and from school. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Of course, I know that no matter how many people are nominated for the awards, there will always be a far greater number of people who are deserving of them and whose work goes unrecognised. So please, if you do know someone who makes a fantastic contribution to our community, do get in touch with me to nominate them. The work that goes on in our local communities is a tremendous antidote to those politicians who seek to divide people to advance their snake oil politics. We shouldn't stand for it which is why I was so furious when Reform spent thousands on a racist advert for the Hamilton by-election. This is not what our communities are and we need to stop the political poison before it takes hold. Ian Murray MP for Edinburgh South and Secretary of State for Scotland
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Lurie Children's Hospital awards CFD paramedics, EMTs Community Hero Award
A group at Lurie Children's Hospital presented Chicago Fire Department paramedics and EMTs with a Community Hero Award Wednesday morning for saving a baby from cardiac arrest. Earlier this year, CFD ambulance No. 74 and truck No. 6 responded to a 13-month-old baby suffering from cardiac arrest. The child's parents started CPR, and the CFD teams took over when they arrived at the home. The Chicago emergency response team was able to revive the child, before rushing them to Lurie Children's Hospital for further treatment. On Wednesday, the Project ADAM team at the hospital will present the Community Hero Award to CFD paramedics Patrick Papiez and Shlomo Starck from Ambulance 74, and EMTs Casey Postilion, Zeko Durovic, Sergio Luna, and Andrew Lewandowski from Truck 6. Project ADAM, Automated Defibrillators in Adam's Memory, is a national program focused on educating and equipping schools to respond to a sudden cardiac event. "The Chicago Fire Department's quick and life-saving actions provided this child with a second chance," Lurie Children's Hospital said in a written statement.
Scotsman
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Edinburgh club ramp up campaign for new stadium
Volunteers in women's and girls' game honoured - so will Council green light new facility? Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The largest grassroots football club in the East of Scotland has been recognised for its vital work in providing a platform for women and girls to play the beautiful game. And Edinburgh South are hoping that being honoured by Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray will help build political will to deliver a much-needed home ground for a club with over 1000 players across all age groups. Ian Murray MP hands over a Community Hero Award to Edinburgh South CFC's women's and girls section, represented by head of section Agne Celik - and the Secretary of State is awarded a personalised South jersey. | Edinburgh South CFC Murray, the local MP, visited Inch Park to deliver the Community Hero Award to volunteer coaches and helpers who keep the women's and girls' section running. Standing just yards from the site of the proposed new community-use stadium, the veteran politician watched as groups from the under-8s to the senior recreational women were put through their paces on the grass pitches currently being used for sessions - and was then persuaded to join in with a couple of penalties against the rec goalkeeper! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Secretary of State, who has been supportive of South's bid to build a proper home for one of the biggest community clubs in Scotland, was also presented with his own Edinburgh South jersey as a way of thanking him for his efforts. He heard more details of the club's full pathway from Saturday Soccer School right through to the women's first team, who have just finished runners-up in the SWFL East – a little more than three years on from the first open training session to recruit players. South remain hopeful that the City of Edinburgh Council will deliver on its previous commitment of land at the Inch Park Nursery site, with the current spread of public parks and school facilities causing boys and girls to be turned away on a weekly basis. Edinburgh South chief executive Joe Sneddon stressed the importance of facilities as he praised volunteers for providing existing opportunities for women and girls, saying: 'This award is a testament to the sheer determination and hard work of our volunteers, who've built a thriving girls' programme here at Edinburgh South CFC despite operating within a wider football system that still favours the boys' game. Ian Murray MP poses with his Edinburgh South shirt - backed by players from the women's and girls' teams - after handing over a Community Hero Award to the club's coaches and volunteers. | Edinburgh South CFC 'They've created a full pathway from first kick to senior football in one of the toughest grassroots environments - all without access to our own all-weather facility. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Support and recognition like this from Ian Murray genuinely makes a difference. It shines a light on what's already being achieved and strengthens the case for the investment needed to secure the future of girls' and women's football in South Edinburgh.' While the UK Government unveiled a new £8.6 million war chest for grassroots sports facilities in March, South can't even apply for funding until the Council greenlight the transfer of land – meaning South, who aren't asking local taxpayers to commit a single penny to the project, remain in limbo. They have plans in place to develop a full-sized floodlit all-weather pitch meeting SFA licensing criteria, plus a pitch-side pavilion with changing facilities and essential physio/first aid spaces. This would provide not only a training base and home ground for both the men's and women's teams, but the countless youth sides currently struggling with inadequate facilities.
