note revised start of 6:15pm - Important date for your diary: 14 Jan 2013 MSCC/ local traders social evening

At their November meeting MSCC agreed to hold an event in January to which we would invite as many local retailers as possible to meet with us and, hopefully, develop closer relations.  That event has now been fixed for 

JANUARY 14TH AT 6.15PM*  at the GERMAN SPEAKING CHURCH, CHALMERS CRESCENT 

There will be drinks and light refreshments.  

We need as many Community Councillors, City Councillors and MSPs  as possible to make this event a success. So please put it in your diary and join the party.  

RSVP please to Sarah Sandow or telephone 229 9950

* note revised start time of 6:15pm

The New Leaf Co-op member vacancy

The New Leaf Co-op (TNLC) is currently hiring for a new Co-operative Member. The closing date for applications is 5pm on November 27th. The successful candidate will join the co-op and take on their share of the wide variety of tasks that work at TNLC entails. Like other members, they will work on the shop floor and pack-down bulk foods as well as be responsible for managerial and business development roles. Training will be provided for the new member on all shop admin systems. 

The position is for 15-25 shop floor hours per week (plus 2 out of every 5 Saturdays), and additional hours for business development and administration. You must also be available Monday mornings for our weekly co-op meeting. The start date will be January, but this could be negotiated. 

For more information go to: http://newleafcoop.co.uk/work-with-us/current-vacancies/

Update from The New Leaf Co-op

The New Leaf in Marchmont has been running as a wholefood business for 20 years, and has a loyal following in the local community. After 14 years of hard work, Linda and Derek who currently own and manage the shop are looking to move on. 


As members of the Edinburgh Wholefood Co-operative, Neus, Will, Sophie, Karen and Dee are working collaboratively with Linda and Derek to take over the business which they will soon be running collectively as a co-operative.

They plan to re-open the doors of The New Leaf at the beginning of September 2012. The New Leaf Co-op will sell good quality, considerately sourced and affordable staple foods. They're going to open up a currently unused back room and pack it full of tasty, unpackaged, loose wholefoods that you'll be able to scoop into your own containers. Pulses, nuts, fruits, grains, cereals... This will reduce waste and packaging and will also make things cheaper for you!

They have worked out that we need £40,000 to cover the costs of business purchase, refitting the shop, opening up the back room, and packing in a wider range of delicious wholefoods (oh and a cargo bike for delivery too, They hope). They have already secured £35,000 from supporters. They are hoping to draw on community support to raise another £10,000 through a larger number of smaller loans. Even though they only need £5,000, they’re aiming for £10,000 as it will help achieve more sooner. They have developed two routes for making loans:  Buzzbnk & Loanstock.

In short, Buzzbnk (http://buzzbnk.org/newleafcoop) is for making loans up to £500 in a quick easy way, and there are different rewards and discounts depending on the amount you lend. Loanstock is best suited for people wanting to lend more than £500, so that they can offer you more flexibility.

Please get in touch if you would like more information about either of these. They also have a Business Prospectus which outlines our plans for the business and our financial predictions. 

They are still working on a new website, but in the meantime you can visit their facebook page.