The future of Edinburgh

Rubble Archaeology on the North Edinburgh Shoreline: Creative Research in the Time of COVID-19

“…Despite this, it is possible to ascertain from the brick stamp that it pre-dates the Coal Board nationalisation of 1947 as bricks made after this point were stamped 'NCB WHITEHILL' (and later, 'SCB WHITEHILL' [Scottish Coal Board]) which is lacking on my brick (Cranston n.d.). Given that the dumping on Royston Beach took place between the 1950s and 1990s, the WHITEHILL brick likely came from a nineteenth or early twentieth century brick-built residential or industrial construction that was demolished in the extensive programs of 'slum' and factory clearance that took place in the second half of the twentieth century (Abercrombie & Plumstead 1949;Edinburgh Corporation 1966;Johnston-Smith 2019;Peacock 1976;Robb 2017;Stevenson 1944).…”

‘I’ve taken confidence away from this’: The experiences and impact of moving image education with young people who require more choices, more chances

“…family, social and economic circumstances), including intensive approaches deploying appropriately skilled teachers, lecturers or trainers. Bynner and Parsons (2002) and Blake Stevenson (2011) identify common factors among this group that can increase the risk of young people requiring additional support or more choices and more chances. McGregor and Mills (2012) believe that these lie in two areas: socio-economic factors (socio-economic status, family relationships, gender, language, cultural, ethnicity, poor achievement and desire to earn a wage) and school-related issues (school policies, pedagogies and relationships within the school).…”

“…In addition to those with low socio-economic status and those having low educational attainment, certain groups identified as being particularly at risk also include those whose life circumstances entail certain barriers to accessing opportunities, for example, care leavers, young carers, teenage parents, offenders, those with physical and mental health problems and those with complex lifestyles, such as drug and alcohol abusers. Therefore, while these young people grouped together are requiring more choices and more chances, the form and nature of their needs are by no means homogeneous (Blake Stevenson, 2011;Bynner and Parsons, 2002;Furlong, 2006;). Indeed, in order to address and support these sometimes difficult and multifarious needs, there is a requirement for co-ordinating support, time and innovative provision particularly suited to addressing and overcoming these difficulties.…”

“…A proportion of these would have been able to access opportunities and positive destinations such as employment, training or further education without a great deal of support. However, Skills Development Scotland statistics indicate that around 10,000 of these young people required additional support to access and sustain opportunities in the labour market and play a positive role in society through joining the Get Ready for Work programme (Blake Stevenson, 2011). Moreover, Scottish Government (2015) statistics indicate that at the 2013-2014 school-leaving point, around 8% of school leavers did not move to a positive destination; 6.5% were unemployed and seeking work, but 1.5% were unemployed and not seeking work.…”

Inspiring Capital? Deconstructing myths and reconstructing urban environments, Edinburgh, 1860–2010

“…49 A further restriction on land use was the entrenched power of 'historical associations' in Edinburgh and, as Stevenson noted, 'to make the most of these in an adequate manner would probably be more worthwhile than the introduction of a dozen small industries'. 50 It was precisely these 'historical associations' that underpinned the council's approach to urban renewal based on 'conservative surgery' in the city centre. 51 Thus, for almost a century the myth of the non-industrial persisted until challenged by changing priorities associated with the post-1945 planning framework.…”