Welcome to East Lothian

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A Positive Frame of Mind 2009

The 'see me' campaign has launched 'A Positive Frame of Mind 2009', our national photography competition. The competition will help 'see me' and our local partners to challenge the stigma and discrimination of mental ill-health by inspiring creativity through photography.

The competition is being run in partnership with local 'hosts'. Each will hold local area competitions, with winners going forward to the national final, hosted online by 'see me'. If you are interested in being a host or would like to help us promote the competition, please get in touch via info@seemescotland.org to order some promotional posters, or to receive some prepared text for use in newsletters, websites etc.

This year's category for entry is 'Be there. Be Yourself'.

If you would like to take part in the competition please submit your photo to your nearest host before 18th September 2009. Hosts will hold exhibitions of all the entries they have received in October.

Log on to www.seemescotland.org/photography for a list of local area hosts and examples of the 2008 winners.

Young People and Communities on Local Government Channel

With half of all adults in Britain fundamentally prejudiced against the current generation of children (according to a report issued on Monday by the charity Barnado's) LGC looks at young people and how they fit into their communities.

ROCK STOP 2008

Youth Vision East Lothian

See all the winners of the Youth Vision survey and lots of photos from the gigs at

www.youthvisionel.net

WOW - What's On Where

WOW is Young Scot's brand new youth opportunity search engine.

Designed and built for young people in Scotland. The site helps you to find out what's happening in their local area - we're talking sport, music, youth clubs, cinemas and drama groups.

Check out Young Scot WOW - www.youngscotwow.org

Do YOU care about the environment and want to do something about it?

Kygyo -"Know Yourself, Grow Your Own' is an environmental training project based in East Lothian for young volunteers aged 16-25.

The project offers access to volunteering opportunities learning practical conservation skills, community placements, environmental activities, outdoor adventure, working with groups and the John Muir Award.

It gives you the chance to gain qualifications as a step to further education and future employment or just the chance to give something back....

If you sign up through Project Scotland and volunteer for 30 hours per week you can receive £55 pw living allowance plus travel & training expenses.

For more information contact:
Lorraine Johnston - Development Worker
Mobex East Lothian - Kygyo project
Tel: 01620 829904
Email: kygyo@vdel.co.uk

Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC)

Good news for 16-18-year-olds living in East Lothian

You can now receive a discount on bus and rail travel throughout the whole of Scotland through your National Entitlement Card.

The Scottish Government has launched the National Entitlement Card (NEC) scheme, which means that young people in the qualifying age group will be able to claim a third off single bus fares across the country and a third off rail travel throughout Scotland.

The scheme is being co-ordinated in East Lothian by Dialogue Youth. Representatives are currently visiting all secondary schools in the area to make sure all entitled pupils receive their card. Full-time volunteers up to the age of 25 who are actively contributing to their community will also be included in the scheme. Those who do not have their card yet can go along to their local library and register there for their National Entitlement Cards.

Anyone aged 16 or over will receive their card in 3- 4 weeks of being registered. Anyone not yet 16 will receive their card on their 16th birthday.

Any students from East Lothian studying at university or college in another local authority area should look out for information on how they can access the National Entitlement Card.

If you have any problems using your card on a bus or train or were refused a Young Scot discount when you tried to use the card then let us know email: cdavis@eastlothian.gov.uk

A Surf Education

Coast to Coast Surf School is teaming up with the Active Schools East Lothian.

Coast to Coast based in Dunbar, East Lothian, is Scotland's only full time surf school and has developed an excellent reputation teaching school children and community groups from all backgrounds at the beautiful beach of Belhaven. This year Coast to Coast is working with Active Schools to provide all the local primary schools in the area with a learn to surf programme.

Children and organisers are all supervised by the three Coast to Coast instructors, who are fully qualified NARS beach lifeguards and British Surf Association instructors.

"There is great enthusiasm for the activity from staff and parents for the opportunity to try something new - and now we are counting down the days until the school surfing courses."

Coast to Coast Surf School website

For more information please contact Sam at Coast to Coast Surf School
Office: 01368 869734
Beach: 07971 990361
Email: sam@c2csurfschool.com

The Brunton

Brunton Theatre offers a wide range of professional and community productions including music, drama, children's theatre, dance and film.

East Lothian Council Arts Service
East Lothian Youth Dance Classes
For ages 3 - 16 years
Classes take place all year round
Cost £2 per week
Our dance development programme presents a wide variety of creative dance classes and courses for young people throughout East Lothian. For a booking form contact the Arts Service on 0131 665 9900.

East Lothian Council Arts Service
East Lothian Youth Dance Company
East Lothian Youth Dance Company perform at dance events throughout Scotland. Previous dance experience is preferable but not essential. Entry to the Company, for young people who live in East Lothian, is by audition.
Boys are particularly encouraged to apply.
For further details contact the Arts Service on 0131 665 9900.

Brunton Youth Theatre
Brunton Youth Theatre meet weekly to take part in workshops and productions. They perform regularly at Brunton Theatre as well as attending professional theatre productions.
BYT is divided into three age groups, 8-12, 12-15 and 15-18 and membership is by audition.
For more information contact the Arts Service on 0131 665 9900.

East Lothian Youth Theatre Network
East Lothian Youth Theatre Network is open to all young people interested in theatre. Weekly drama workshops take place across the region during school term time. Groups for those aged 8-12 and 12-15 take place in Dunbar, Haddington, Musselburgh, North Berwick, Prestonpans and Tranent.
To find out if there are places available please contact the Arts Service on 0131 665 9900.

East Lothian's Volunteering Website

Volunteer Centre East Lothian (VCEL) celebrated the launch of its new volunteering website.

Developed by award winning web designer, Mark Steven, the website is a fantastic new online resource providing information for anyone thinking about volunteering, and with around 200 local volunteering opportunities to choose from they will be spoilt for choice.

Young Scot InfoLine

If you want help or information on anything from arts, health, housing, benefits, money (and everything else in between!) then why not call Young Scot InfoLine.

It's confidential, and free from landlines and most mobile networks. They can give you useful information on these topics to set you on your way.

Phone: 0808 801 0338 (open Mon to Fri 10am - 6pm)

Take a look at the website where you can download some Info Sheets.