We had another cracking fundraising get-together yesterday, with a bunch of enthusiastic new people lending their energy and ideas to the campaign. It’s always exciting to meet new folk: there are dozens of people working on this campaign on all sorts of different levels. Minutes of that meeting are available on request, with important messages below: an opportunity to help out with our amazing Tentracks month of music fundraisers, a callout for people eager to volunteer at community events, and notices of coming meetings.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
25 MARCH 2011

The Forest, 3 Bristo Place, Edinburgh
http://www.theforest.org.uk

FOREST CAFE LEASE TERMINATED BUT THE CAFE VOWS TO STAY OPEN

The Forest Cafe, Edinburgh’s independent arts and community centre, has been told it must leave its current premises at 3 Bristo Place by 31 August, in a letter received this week from the Trustees of Edinburgh University Settlement (EUS). But the campaign to Save the Forest has vowed to continue its fight to stay at the current location in the old town.

A live interview on Leith FM’s Talk Show with Harry from the Save the Forest campaign, chatting about what’s happened so far and how you can get involved.

Amazing news of events in London, a thrilling splash of press coverage, and a special announcement about the total raised so far — and what you can do to help hit the target of £50,000 by June 1st.

Huge thanks are due to everyone involved in making the Thursday 3rd’s Spring Fling a glorious party and a massive fundraising success — and to everyone who came and made it the fun celebration that it was. We raked in over £1100, which has put the campaign pot over the £17,000 mark — well on the way to our target of £50,000 by June 1st, though we’re still going to have to work very hard.

Saturday 5th also saw a diverse and widely-attended public meeting as part of the whole campaign relaunch. Over 30 Forest people — enthusiasts and new faces — gathered to hear the latest updates, offer their skills, and come up with new ideas for the campaign. We’re bubbling with energy and drive, and you can be part of that too. See below for the latest on how to get and stay involved, and in the mean time stay tuned for news of an exciting art auction in May, and spectacular plans for the Festivals, as well as a host of other Forest goodness.

Be Part of The Campaign

• Forest believes in people being empowered to do things autonomously. If you have a campaign idea you’d like to pursue, go for it! But if you want a hand making something happen, email fundraising@theforest.org.uk. We particularly would like to hear from people with media experience, or who are willing to help with being a street flyering team in the future.

• We’re also stronger when we’re organised together, so we’re having regular fortnightly Forest Campaign Team meetings. The next will be on Tuesday 15th March, 5-7pm, upstairs at Forest, and everyone who’s involved in the campaign is welcome.

PRESS RELEASE and NOTES FOR JOURNALISTS:

The Forest arts and community centre is stepping up the campaign to save its home of 7 years amid the news that a buyer for its building has been found…

Dear Forest volunteers, friends and community,

Late last week we were informed by the estate agents of 3 Bristo Place that a buyer for the building has been found and that a sale is being finalised over the next few weeks. We thought you should hear this important news, and also an important message about it: DON’T PANIC. This is not an end for the campaign, nor an end for Forest; in fact, far from it. There is still a great deal we can do…