News will be shown here. You may need Adobe Acrobat reader to view some of the links.  For more detail of campaigns see our Campaigns page which was last updated in June 2008.

June 2008 We are delighted that our art tutor, Graham Young, has had his report on our computer art selected for publication in this month's International Journal of Art and Design Education.  Well deserved international recognition for the work of the team involved in Ecas' compter art.

See our chief executive's thoughts on blue badge cheats - http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/opinion/Tighter-controls-needed-to-put.4136275.jp

May 2008 Our  Art Show was a huge success.

We are recruiting for Volunteer Befrienders

March 2008 Ray McVeigh is awarded the Happy to Help Award.  See Happy to Help Award

February 2008  Ecas has launched the "Happy to Help" Award and are delighted to have the support of the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland, Joan Aitken.  See

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Traffic-chief-on-board-for.3795251.jp

January 2008  Our Chief Executive, David Griffiths, was delighted to be asked to write a "Mouthpiece" article for the Edinburgh Evening News - http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/opinion/-Moves-must-be-made.3645583.jp

December  Following our very full digital photography class this term, our computer tutor will be running a website design course starting in January.  The course will include the creation of a live website for the Ecas classes.

See also our newsletter

November  We have recruited a Research and Campaigning Officer and look forward to him joining in January.

October We have completed the selection process for a Befriending Project Manager and Claire Lawrie has joined us.  More details will follow soon.

September Our craft show was a huge success.  See Craft Show

June 2007 - new computer classes - see Short Courses

June 2007 - see Try a Bus Day report.

May 2007  Politicians come and talk to Ecas.  We very much enjoyed recent visits by local politicians - see visit by politicians .

May 2007  We are backing the Scottish Cerebral Palsy, Stroke and Acquired Brain Injury Football Team in their World Cup Campaign.  See http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/features.cfm?id=730752007&format=print Amongst the team's latest successes was 12 May when they beat the Republic of Ireland 7-0 and Finland 8-0.  We wish them well as they prepare for the World Championships in Brazil in November.

April 2007 Come to Try a Bus Day on 19 June at Ocean Terminal - see Arrangements for Try a Bus Day for details of free transport to Ocean Terminal

March 2007  Our computer art trial was a tremendous success and we are running another class next term.  For more details see Computer Art Press Release and for details of the next course see computer art

February 2007  We are pleased that the Evening News have reported fully on the issue of concessionary fares for the new Edinburgh trams, and that they invited us to comment in their story published on 2 Feb 07.  This is an issue we will need to monitor.

As reported in several papers we are seeking more volunteers to help with swimming classes - call Janice on 0131 475 2344 or email info@ecas-edinburgh.org for more details.

We were delighted that the Council are dropping the link between the taxicard and the National Concessionary Scheme.  See http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=169072007

January 2007  The seven applicants who secured a place on out computer-art trial are now enjoying the course and we are all learning from the experience.  The new equipment and software is proving very effective and we are adapting as necessary to the different needs and skills of those involved.

Our campaign to change the class 170 trains continues http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=93552007 and we have heard from the Department for transport that they are discussing some new modifications that should aid both cyclists and wheelchair users.

December 2006  We are all ready to launch our computer art project in January.  Selecting just 7 people for the project was very hard as so many responded to the articles in the papers - we are confident that this phase 1 will lead to more work, so we will keep in touch with those who have expressed an interest.

Our Christmas cards sold well again - many thanks to the artists and to those who bought the cards.

Meanwhile, work on our transport campaigns continues.

November 2006   As featured in the Evening News and Herald & Post!  We are looking for volunteers for a research project for computer art.  The trial is to see how the use of computers with special adaptations and specialist software can help those with physical disabilities.  The trial will start in January and involve 10 sessions each of 2 hours on Monday afternoons - see computer art

See campaigns for news of our successful deputation to the City of Edinburgh Council

September/October 2006  The trial of having 2 swimming classes - one at the Thistle Foundation and one at Leith Waterworld - is a success but the additional class means there are some spaces.  Our main news items concern the taxi-card scheme, social care direct and the Local Transport Strategy - see campaigns

August 2006  Ecas "hits out at 'pointless' bus travel scheme" see the Evening News article http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1121142006 More details at our campaign page

July 2006  We are delighted that a trial swim at Leith Waterworld was successful and that we will now be able to have an evening swimming class there on Wednesdays, hopefully starting in August.  This will be in addition to our Thursday afternoon swimming at the Thistle Foundation.  For more details see swimming

June 2006 

We had an excellent turn out of 14 walkers in the Great Scottish Walk, some of whom are seen here at Meadowbank before the start of the 12-mile walk. Many thanks to all those who took part for Ecas!

Ecas has been awarded the Gold Quality Mark Award for Payroll Giving - see Gold Award for Ecas

May 2006  Our Art show was very well received - see http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=689642006

We have launched our internet cafe - and bookings are coming in quick.  It includes specialist software to help you find potential grant givers, as well as internet access, scanners, printers and specialist hardware - see Ecas Internet Cafe

Success in our campaign for improved wheelchair access to Class 170 trains see more of our views at Press Release Wheelchair access on trains May06 and campaigns Also see the Evening News story at http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=751252006

April 2006.  We have now transferred our very successful aromatherapy trial to the NHS - see the Evening News article at http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=581042006 and further debate linked from campaigns

On 16 February 2006 the Daily Record had an article highlighting the importance of volunteers to Ecas and the fulfilment that volunteers can get from helping.  If you would like to help us as a volunteer we would love to hear from you - please use the Volunteer application form or call 0131 475 2344.

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