Merkinchers invited to dig deep into their memories of the area

THE River Ness and its Merkinch connections are the first focus of a local history association which is being formed in the area. A well-attended meeting was held in the Community Centre on 18th February, and those present agreed that such a group would be able to draw together all the bits and pieces of information and individuals' memories together and organise them into a body of knowledge.

An initial theme suggested was the river, whose history records boat-building at Merkinch over 700 years ago. Jane Petrie from Inverness Museum and Sheila Mackay of the Inverness Local History Forum were at the meeting offering advice and support. And although Bob Steward, the Highland Archivist, could not attend he promised to help all he could.

The next meeting is on Wednesday 10th March in the Community Centre at 3pm. If you are keen to share memories of the Riverside memories and research our rich history and the as yet unwritten history, do come along. And if you have any old photographs that might trigger reminiscences, bring them with you.

The three large panels created in a joint effort between the Friendship Club, Merkinch primary pupils and artists from art.tm have been on show in Merkinch Community Centre for the last couple of years. Next month they are to go on show in the Community Space at Inverness Museum as part of the launch of a Merkinch Festival of art, culture and local history in Merkinch.

Cooking up at the Janny's
 
WHAT are these three up to (pictured left)? Why they are making a plate of quick and nutritious pea soup at the Janny's Hoose to celebrate the official opening of the wellbeing centre by MP Charles Kennedy. (Full report later.)

Daredevil Amanda leaps to save lives

MERKINCH Enterprise administrator Amanda Young is undertaking a real challenge when she abseils for charity on 17th April. For Amanda suffers from vertigo and just can't stand heights. However, she is willing to abseil 160 feet from the chimney of Raigmore Hospital to raise funds for the Chest, Heart and Stroke Association (CHSA).

Amanda has taken part in charity fundraisers - such as cycle runs - before, but never anything that presented such a personal challenge as this. Saturday 17th April is the big day and Amanda is busy fundraising.
"I know the excellent work the charity does for people with chest, heart and stroke conditions," said Amanda. "In fact more people die due to heart and stroke conditions than from all forms of cancer combined and I hope I can raise hundreds of pounds to help."

Anyone who would like to contribute can find her at Merkinch Enterprise, 14 Grant Street. And if you have the nerve to take the abseil challenge you can get more information by ringing the CHSA fundraising helpline on 0845 450 7000 or www.acefundraising.org.uk

Birnie residents review successful year

BIRNIE Terrace Residents Association reviewed a successful year at their AGM on 12th February. The constitution was proposed and seconded by those present and anyone wishing to see them can contact Sandra Grant at 49 Birnie Terrace. Mrs Grant presented the accounts which had been audited and residents were pleased to hear how healthy the budget was.

Throughout the year the association held various events which were successful but could have been better attended. Thanks to the efforts of Theo the chef there was a barbecue, complete with bouncy castle for the youngsters. Then there was a Kids' Party held in Brewsters who gave the association a good deal on the cost, thanks to general manager D Irvine. Before Christmas the association held an adults' party and dance with buffet and a raffle, thanks to donations of prizes. All the pensioners received a tin of Roses chocolates and a selection box for the children.

Chairman T Mackenzie gave thanks to David for erecting the shed and also repairing the shed door between the blocks. Last but not least there was also a big thank-you to local Councillor Chrissie Cumming, Helen Houston the auditor, Carol Mackenzie of the housing Department, Sandra Grant and Theo for all the support they have given throughout the year.

Look out for diary dates in coming issues of News & Views - hopefully that will boost support for the interesting programme planned. The next meeting of the Residents Association will be on 18th March in Merkinch Primary School at 7pm.

Janny's Hoose officially opened by MP

THE Janny's Hoose celebrated its official opening by local MP Charles Kennedy on Monday 16th February. This £627,000 project housed in a disused and refurbished janitor's house has been funded by the New Opportunities Fund, NHS Highland and the Highland Council with project costs covering all running costs and staffing over the next five years.

The Janny's Hoose Healthy Living Centre provides a one-stop shop for local families to access information, advice and support on all aspects of child and family health. In its first year, priority has been given to oral health, nutrition, support for parents, and promoting wellbeing. In addition to building renovation costs funding is being used to cover the costs over the next five years of a part-time project co-ordinator and support staffing. Help in-kind in the form of staffing has also been provided from the Highland Council. A local Steering Group, consisting of community representatives as well as professionals working in the area, secured the New Opportunities Funding and a Project Management Group has been established.

Work is well under way on one of the Centre's first oral health projects. In conjunction with Merkinch Primary School, the Janny's Hoose staff are ensuring that all pupils brush their teeth after lunchtime.

Opening the new premises, Charles Kennedy, MP for Ross Skye and Inverness West and Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "Recent newspaper stories about many of our children being unable to run the length of a playing field has really brought home the need to get to grips with our health.
"This facility is taking exactly the right approach. It is giving local people the information and facilities they need to take responsibility for their wellbeing - it is particularly encouraging to see the good work being done to get good health messages across to the next generation."

Highland Councillor for Merkinch Peter Corbett said: "It's great to see the Janny's Hoose Healthy Living Centre now up and running. It is a great resource for the school and the community and I have no doubt it will provide a popular local facility offering many opportunities and benefits for our young people and families."

David Campbell, New Opportunities Fund Board member for Scotland, said: "We are delighted to be funding such a worthwhile project which is taking creative but practical steps towards tackling locally identified health needs.
"The Janny's Hoose is an excellent example of a Healthy Living Centre project which will improve the health, wellbeing and general quality of life of many vulnerable families."

Caroline Thomson, chairman of the Highland NHS Board said: "NHS Highland are delighted to be associated with the Janny's Hoose Healthy Living Centre this is an invaluable local resource, where local families can access advice, information, and support on all aspects and child and family health, and offers a much welcomed drop-in centre for the community. We wish it continued success."

Fight the winter blues at the Janny's Hoose

Ready, steady, go! Local MP Charles Kennedy found time out of his busy schedule as leader of the Liberal Democrat party to carry out the official opening of the Janny's Hoose at Merkinch Primary School. The centre runs a busy programme of classes and sessions to help improve the health of families in the area.

Lochiel Bar Opening

Last month we reported in our stop press that the Merkinch Arms was to reopen and return to its original name. And here's the picture to prove it (pictured right)! Recently News & Views happened to be at the corner of Lochalsh Road when the Lochiel's host Robert Laidlaw was spotted opening up for the day.

briefs.

• MANY Merkinchers will be saddened to hear of the death of Hugh Fraser, Wyvis Place, who died in the Highland Hospice on 21st February at the early age of 44. He was well-known to Safeway customers, mainly based in Rose Street. Hugh, who was a friend to many, had been unwell for some time, bearing his illness with dignity and humour. The funeral was on 27th February at Trinity Church. Condolences to his wife Fiona and his family.

 

• TOTAL raised by the splendid Christmas Concert organised by Elsie Normington of the Singing for Pleasure Group in the Community Centre raised £546 for a medical centre in Albania.

 

• THE nationwide "Big Conversation" initiative being run by the Government was due to take place at Merkinch Community Centre on Thursday 26th February, too late for a report in this issue. We hope to cover it next month.

 

• DON'T forget - Scottish Slimmers meet at the Community Centre on Tuesdays at 7pm. So if you want to get into that bikini for summer, want to lose your love handles, or just want to feel better, come along and find out what you can do for your self esteem, your health and beauty!

 

• THE March meeting of Diabetes UK will be held in the Glen Mhor Hotel, Ness Bank on Thursday 4th beginning at 6.30pm. There will be four half-hour sessions on the theme of "Carers" with a buffet at 7.30pm. Dr McRury will sum up at 9pm. Along with her will be Dr McFadden, a podiatrist, a dietician and a diabetic nurse.

Warm welcome at the Friendship Club

WHERE are all the South Kessock pensioners? The 30-strong Friendship Club, which runs a lunch plus talks, entertainment and outings every Wednesday at the Merkinch Community Centre, is well attended, but there are only a few of them who actually live in the eight streets, says Anne Jasinski, one of the organisers. The rest are either from other parts of Merkinch or former Merkinchers who live in Dalneigh or other parts of the city and like to keep up their old links, or people who simply enjoy the crack at the Community Centre!

When News & Views went along to one session recently members were enjoying a nice plate of mince and tatties. However, it was the good company that people were there to enjoy as much as anything else. They did admit that the varied programme (with bingo once a month!) as well as the outings were also an attraction. Those who would like to attend the Friendship Club but feel they are too frail to make their way to the Community Centre can be picked up and taken home again afterwards. More details by ringing the Community Centre on 239563.

There is also a shopping service every Friday morning (leaving 10am, back around 1pm) for those who haven't got transport and can't manage the buses. The minibus takes shoppers to one of the big supermarkets and home again with all their purchases.

THE Friendship Club's proposed March meetings are as follows: 3rd - Reg McInally; 10th - Bingo; 11th-Fish & Chip Evening; 17th - Mystery Bus Run; 24th - Bill Logan from Guide Dogs for the Blind; 31st Talk on the Chest, Heart & Stroke Association.

Pictured are some of the helpers at the Friendship Club who always have a warm welcome - and a cuppa - for those who come along every Wednesday. From left, Georgie Newlands, Isabel MacGregor, and Marge MacLeod.

Active Adults spring dates

MARCH dates for the Active Adults group, which meets on Tuesdays, are: 2nd - The Waterside (formerly the Haughdale) for afternoon tea; 9th - Rollerbowl; 16th Painting Session; 23rd - Slides of Old Inverness with Sheila Mackay; 30th - Day trip to Elgin.

Aiming to celebrate the arts, heritage and life in Merkinch

AN ambitious new arts project is being launched in Merkinch in April. Arts in Merkinch (AIM) is an umbrella organisation which aims to pull together, represent and promote the range of artistic, cultural and heritage groups and organisations in the area - and help new ones to set up. Driving force at the back of the Arts in Merkinch campaign is Community Project Officer Brian Macleod who is based at Merkinch Enterprise. He said: "There is a lot of creative activity in our area - much of it drawing strength from the lively community spirit. This Spring Festival is an opportunity for all to celebrate that local identity and take part in the activities and enjoy the exhibition."

AIM will mark its inauguration with "Images of Merkinch", a month-long exhibition of painting and drawing, photography and craft to be held in the empty Grant Street building at No4, formerly Merkinch Enterprise offices. For the length of the event it will be renamed "The Black Bridge Gallery". The Inverness Courier is supporting the event with cash awards in the Photography category. And the Arts Society of Inverness is giving cash and book voucher awards in the Drawing/Painting categories. There will be vouchers from Artmedia of Church Street for outstanding efforts in the Crafts category.
"The aim of the show is to encourage local people to look at what is around them and express what they feel about Merkinch," said exhibition organiser, Bette McArdle, an artist who lives in the Merkinch area.
"We are also inviting people from other parts of the city and beyond to come and look at the rich history and wildlife, great landscapes and interesting buildings in the area and enter the Open category. In the Photographic category the topic is more specifically to do with Merkinch people, at work and at play. Local entries will be judged by well-known Highland artists Evelyn Pottie and Clare Blois. The Craft section will be judged by sculptor John Slorach, who lives in Merkinch and is known for his contribution to the interior of mp33, while the Open categories will be judged by the public who will have the chance to register their vote when they visit the show."

Pupils from Merkinch Primary are to create a display of their work, artists from the Corbett Centre are to participate and it is hoped to run a video made by local young mothers who took part in the Ossian project.
Simultaneously, Merkinch Community Centre is lending its famous Memories Triptych to the Community Space at Inverness Museum during the month of April. The prints will be on show at the Museum from April 13th to the 27th along with information about other events.
April will also see a range of other events, such as a ceilidh/concert - featuring the highly successful Singing for Pleasure Group - story-telling and local history sessions.

It is hoped there will also be readings by the author himself from a book by Sandy Mabon which is being published this summer recalling teenagers' life in the Ferry in the middle of last century. The Dolphin and Heritage Centre at the former ferry ticket office also hopes to open early this season to take part in the mini-festival.

If you enjoy exercising your artistic skills and want to take part in "Images of Merkinch" you can get further details and an entry form at Merkinch Enterprise or mp33 or by ringing the exhibition organiser on 221027. Entry forms have to be handed in to Merkinch Enterprise at 14 Grant Street by 29th March and actual entries have to be handed in on the 31st. Exhibition space is limited, so try to keep all 2D works to a maximum of 60cm x 60cm (2 ft).
There is an entry fee of £1 per person/group. Twenty percent of any sales will go to AIM for handling and administration costs of the exhibition. If you don't want to part with your creation it can be marked NFS (Not For Sale).
Each person/group may enter up to three works - if necessary there may have to be some selection or space-sharing.
Entries, which must be the original work of the artist, or artists in the case of group entries, should be framed and strung ready to hang; photographs should be mounted and preferably under cellophane.

Stuck for ideas?

For those interested in painting or drawing landscape, what about the glorious panoramas from Carnarc Point or the old ferry ticket office. Or what about the Muirtown Basin, the canal outlet (we've stretched the boundary - it's called artistic licence!) or the river from Anderson Street.

If you are more into buildings, there is the architectural gem St Michael's and All Angels in Abban Street (ring Canon Black on 233797 beforehand if you want to go inside), the Trinity Church and adjacent terrace, interesting shop fronts in Grant Street, the primary school and the contrast of old and new in Telford Road where the old Militia Barracks Gate leads into the modern Skinner Court, to name but a few. Perhaps you prefer painting people. whatever the subject, it should refer to Merkinch in some way.

The Photography category is more specific: the images should be of Merkinch people at work or play or just leaning on lamp posts, if you like. Copyright remains with the photographer, but award winners and possibly other entries may be reproduced in the Inverness Courier.

Further housing developments in Merkinch

The development on the site beside the Trinity Church (pictured left) is going ahead fast with this view of the building in progress, taken from Dunabban Road, being revealed recently. The church buildings and the older building almost destroyed by fire a couple of years ago, can be seen in the background. A house on the corner is gradually being demolished. Newly built flats across Dunabban Road are now filling up, as are the flats at the former Farmers Dairy site in Lochalsh Road, all adding to the population on an almost daily basis.

The little boy who longs to swim with dolphins

SEVEN-year-old Callum Lewis Moir has always wanted to swim with dolphins - and it is his mum Dorothy's dearest wish that his dream should come true. So friends are rallying round to help her raise the funds to take Callum to Florida.

Callum, who has lived in Old School Place all his life, is disabled, suffering from microcephaly, hypotonia, severe learning difficulties and problems with sleep, speech, feeding, behaviour, and he has low immunity to infections. At times his muscles get so floppy that he has to use a wheelchair.
Mum Dorothy, who has lived in Merkinch for over 10 years, told News & Views: "They say he has the development of a one-year-old."

However Callum, who will be eight in September, is very lively and keen to communicate which he does with a mixture of speech, sign language and when all else fails leading you by the hand to show you. He attends Drummond School full-time and attends the Beaver group one evening a week-otherwise it is up to Dorothy., who admits he can be quite a handful at times. "It's a 24/7 job," she says. She is very grateful to friends and the Health & Happiness charity for all their support.

Four years ago Dorothy and her friends started to raise funds for the Florida trip, but the death of her mother hit her very badly, and it meant that the trip had to be deferred. The funds already raised went towards a computer for Callum. However, the little boy's desire to swim with dolphins never faded and the family's friends have rallied round to support their efforts.

A Prize Bingo evening is to be held in the Clach Club on 28th April, and there are plans to run coffee mornings, sales of work and raffles. Dorothy has a large collection of Dennis the Menace memorabilia-eight boxes of it, in fact-and she aims to sell that. Anyone who wants to help in the way of donating prizes etc can contact Dorothy on 241971. Pictured above is Callum with mum Dorothy.

Beware of get rich quick schemes

As cash it short at this time of year some consumers may be tempted to take up offers of employment or business opportunities which appear to good to be true. Trading Standards is issuing a warning that most of these offers are a waste of time and money and "consumer beware" of entering into any contract or parting with any money.

Highland Council Trading Standards Officers are warning innocent members of the public to beware of being enticed into money making trading schemes when surfing the internet. Recent investigations have shown that at least one such scheme is being advertised on the internet from the Inverness area.
The schemes are available via internet search engines and auction rooms and may not necessarily disclose the true identity of the persons behind them.

Trading schemes are often called direct selling, multi-level marketing or network marketing. Participants are self-employed and earn money by selling the scheme's goods and services - this can be done in a small way, from home. Some schemes are perfectly legal and are seen to comply with the governing legislation, namely the Fair Trading Act 1973, the Trading Schemes Act 1996 and the Trading Schemes Regulations 1997. However some schemes are not and are only there to benefit the pockets of the persons behind them.
The Highland Council depute chairman for Consumer Protection and Public Health, David Munro, says: "Get rich quick schemes which appear to be too good to be true usually are. Those which ask you to send money to people on a list then add your own name to the list and send on to others are probably illegal. The golden rule is to avoid any scheme that asks you for money before giving you information on what the scheme involves."

Highland Council Head of Trading Standards Nigel MacKenzie adds: "It is a criminal offence to persuade someone to make a payment to a scheme by promising benefits from getting other people to join. Schemes where the main motive for joining is to profit from recruiting others are illegal."

Consumers with any concerns regarding a trading scheme can contact the Highland Council Consumer Advice Line on 0845 600 4222 (local rate, mobile call costs may vary) or by e-mail to consumer.advice@highland.gov.uk or log on to our website on www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/highland.
Highland Trading Standards can be contacted at 38 Harbour Road, Inverness IV1 1UF.

Pipers say thanks

Pipe Major Tommy Cameron (pictured right) was delighted to receive, on behalf of Merkinch Pipers, a cheque for £216 from Councillor Peter Corbett. The cash, which came from the local councillor's discretionary fund, will go to pay for new drone leads and chanters for the five or six enthusiasts who make up the group. The pipers practice at Merkinch Community Centre every Thursday evening and play whenever there is an opportunity.

Changes all along Grant Street

No 2 Grant Street, which has lain empty for over three years since Merkinch Enterprise moved to No 14, is to open this month as a laundrette. It will be much welcomed by those who missed the previous laundrette which moved out some years ago - from No 14! Look out for some excellent opening offers.

As reported elsewhere No 4 is to become The Black Bridge Gallery, though only for the month of April, while there are signs of activity across the road along from Bikes of Inverness, where the shop, unused for many years, has just recently been cleared out. And we understand that a closing date was set last month on No 60, formerly Mackay's electrical appliances, though as yet there has been no word of the result. The building was refurbished last year, with a new floor and a paint job on the walls.

Sporting Nooz...

Morison is six-time winner in the Threes

Report for week ending 7 February
Portland A are four points clear of Uncle Bob's at the top of the A League with Beaufort a further point behind in third place. Drouthy Duck slip to fourth but still lead Portland B in the race for the CPL Shield.
The B League has been reduced to a three-horse race with Legion A in first place a point ahead of Shots with Dows a further two points back but with a game in hand over the other two. With only one game to go in the C League Raigmore need only one point to clinch the title.
180s were scored this week by Kevin Clark (Beaufort), Barry Maclean (Portland A), Gordon Morison (Portland A), Norman Matheson (Drouthy Duck), Kevin Manson (Drouthy Duck), Ali Mackenzie (Clach Club), Gordy Redmond (Haugh) , Jimmy Mackenzie (Fluke), Garry Briggs (Innes Bar), Joe Spence (Tarradale) and Gil Graham (Tarradale).
Top check-outs were Derek Maclean( Uncle Bobs) 100, Ally McGinely (Shots) 144, Tommy Strachan (Shots) 119, Garry Henderson (Haugh) 100, Graham Calder (Legion A) 121, Andy MacIntosh (Beaufort) 112, Dave Allen (Beaufort) 100 and Richie Devlin (Portland A) 146.

14 February
The Portland A trio of Gordon Morison, Davey Fraser and Denny Grant won the John Price Threes at the Clach Club beating the Portland B team of Shane Wharton, Shonnie Macleod and Jim Newlands.
This was Gordon's sixth win in this event and his 13th appearance in the final it was Davey's third win and Denny's second.
The losing semi-finalists were Uncle Bobs (Dougie Milne, Gregg Mackintosh, Robbie Mutch, Derek Maclean) and Fluke (Scott Mackinnon, Scott Grant, Fraser Gallagher). Beaufort beat Drouthy Duck in the final of the Smith Shield there team was Kevin Clark, Andy Macintosh, Steve Donald and Donnie Maclean.
The runners up were represented by Norman Matheson, Ronnie Sutherland and Kenny Simpson the losing semi-finalists were Haugh (John Macleod, Mike Maclean, Ian Carson) and Shots (Nick Morgan, Sam Borthwick, Dave Nelson).

21 February
Raigmore are the C League Champions: their win over the Clach Club kept them two points clear of Clachnaharry who finished second. Macallums finished in third and Caley Inn were fourth with Clach Club and Chieftain sharing bottom spot.
The only change in the A League is Drouthy Duck leap frog Beaufort into third place. In the B League 2nd team Shots drew with 3rd placed Dows but the leaders Legion A failed to take advantage as they were held to a draw by Innes Bar .
180s were scored this week by Barrie Mackay ( Haugh ) , Steve Falconer (Portland A) , John Mackenzie (Portland A) , Jim Hunter (Portland A) x 2, Nigel McEwan (Beaufort), Paul Lewis (Portland E) , Alex Fraser (Portland E), Scott Grant (Fluke) and Trevor Bell (Uncle Bob's).
Top check-outs came from Jim Hunter ( Portland A ) 134 , Gordon Morrison ( Portland A ) 116 , Denny Grant ( Portland A ) 115 , Nigel McEwan ( Beaufort ) 120 , Alan McKinnon ( Beaufort ) 130 and Gordy Redmond ( Haugh ) 108.
Steve Falconer ( Portland A ) had a 13-dart leg and K J Stephen ( Portland A ) 14-darter.

Latest results (w/e 21 February)

A LEAGUE: Portland A 7, Beaufort 5; Drouthy Duck 7, Haugh 5; Fluke 3, Uncle Bobs 9.
B LEAGUE: Shots 6, Dows 6; Innes Bar 6, Legion B 6; Portland E 8; Portland X 4.
C LEAGUE: Macallums 5, Caley Inn 7; Clach Club 3, Raigmore 9; Chieftain 5, Clachnaharry 7.

Out of School

• DO YOU have any scraps of fabric or oddments of wool that you won't ever use? Pupils at Merkinch Primary School are looking for materials for their arts and crafts projects and would be grateful for any contributions. Just pop them into the school office.

 

• There are growing safety concerns about traffic round MPS. In particular is the growing tendency for parents using the staff car park to drop off children. Kids and cars don't mix and parents are requested to drop their offspring at the proper places, outside the gates.

 

• Easter holidays at both MPS and Inverness High sees the school close on Friday 26th March and reopen on Wednesday 14th April. Teachers have an in-service training day on Tuesday 13th.

 

• Pupils and staff at IHS have been discussing how they can make the school more of a focus for the whole community, and not only a school. Headteacher Mr Ritchie Cunningham said: "We are working with other agencies-notably the Scottish Council for Voluntary Agencies (SCVO) and Community Action Network (CAN) to provide opportunities for our pupils and the local community. "Pupils and staff have already started on a number of small-scale projects within the school to deal with things we want to improve. For example a group has already decorated the parents' waiting room and a group is investigating the possibility of developing a school website.

 

• Last month has seen a number of discussions, between staff and pupils and staff and parents, about the possibility of adopting the 30-period week, as opposed to the current 40-period week. That is to say, six periods per day of 50/55 minutes instead of the present eight.
  On the plus side, more time would be spent in actual classes rather than moving between classes. On the other hand the six-period day is less flexible and more difficult to timetable.

 

• Towards the end of last year a number of S2 pupils from IHS acquainted themselves with some of the skills that could be learned at Inverness College - building and painting/decorating. All of them thoroughly enjoyed this insight into Further Education-and they were reported to have behaved themselves very well and been a credit to the school.

New surface for Fliperz garden

David from Merkinch Enterprise (pictured left) and one of the Fliperz dads, Steve, had a lovely day to shift loads and loads of new bark into the Nursery and Daycare Centre garden, in preparation for summer. The bark makes a safe surface for youngsters; previously there were some bark areas, but now the whole surface is covered. Now all we need is lots of long lovely summer days to go and enjoy the outdoor activities.

Got any old specs?

ALL over the Third World there are people who cannot afford spectacles but whose existence would be enormously improved if they could see better - perhaps you can help to bring a little light into their lives?
If you have an old pair of glasses around the house, don't throw them away. There could be others who could make good use of them.
The Rotary Club of Loch Ness is collecting unused spectacles so they would like to hear from you - hand them in at Merkinch Community Centre, or at Inverness High School office.

Mp33

Hi there!

We are starting up a Girls' Group soon, so if you are interested in becoming involved in this, please contact Roni or Caroline.
And skateboarders-we want your input. It is hoped to purchase some mobile ramps soon, so come and give us your ideas on this. There is to be a skateboarders' trip sometime soon, Caroline says, so skaters interested please come and see her as soon as possible so transport can be organised.

Caroline also wants to hear from those in S2 who want to do trampolining. These sessions will be at the High School on Tuesdays from 3.30pm to 4.30pm, up until 23rd March. Names and consent forms can be picked up from Miss Erskine at the PE block or from Caroline. There are only eight places and it's first come, first served. Remember-S2 only!

Regarding the Arts in Merkinch campaign, a couple of groups are working towards taking part in this. On Wednesday mornings there are some working towards a group glass painting effort, while the Senior Youth Club are encouraging budding photographers to get snapping.
Roni has acquired some disposable cameras and it could be you could see your work on the wall at the Black Bridge Gallery next month.

Last but not least-the Junior Youth Club has a busy programme running up to Easter. This ranges from art and craft sessions to games and quizzes. All P4 to S1 pupils are welcome.
And if you have any bright ideas of your own for activities that you would like to see us organise, do drop in and share them.

See you soon.

All at mp33,
March '04

• You've seen the young girls doing Poi with the sticks and ribbons and balls and lights. They starred at the Gala last year and at the Fashion Show, and at Christmas they performed at the Harrod's show at Loch Shin. Now the Escape Group is going to have a go at Poi, Devil Sticks and other circus skills, under the guidance of Claire Crowle from Eden Court Outreach. Interested? Contact Roni.
  Also summer trips are in the planning, so if you have any bright ideas, share them.

 

• The sessions for teenage parents at the Methodist Church Hall on Huntly Street on Tuesday mornings 11am to 1pm are fairly informal, but there are one or two things planned for this month. Parents are making videos of the kids on a regular basis to chart their development. Also Bodyshop is going to be visiting to do some facials and manicures, and Music Box are to visit with songs and music for toddlers.

 

• An Inter-Youth football event was played at Merkinch Community Centre on Wednesday 18th February. Among those taking part, besides Merkinch, were Smithton/Culloden and The Hub.

 

It's your duty to be beautiful!

Youth Club Seniors on the beauty campaign at Inverness College

College gives tips to YC girls

FIVE members of Merkinch Senior Youth Club recently visited Inverness College and had a make-over to their hair, make-up and nails. Bethany, Candy, Laura, Karen and Reo were taken in hand by tutor Avril Stewart and her students and came out feeling like a million dollars. This month the Seniors are having a fitness competition, while Blast and Brook are coming to talk about drugs and sexual health respectively. Members are also taking part in the ongoing HAYC competitions.

Look into something that affects your life

BY POPULAR demand Kathy Kershaw is returning this month to talk personal development. Then on 24th March a WEA course called "Local Investigations" and those who complete the course are awarded an SQA qualification.

The idea is to create one's own project (after discussion with the tutor) and look into a subject that has local interest. Topics can include any of the following, or you can come up with your own: local history, facilities for children in your area, homeopathy on the NHS, working with animals, complementary therapies, community facilities, what's going on in your area for older folk, childcare in your area, the changing community.

The topic must have local interest, but there are no other restrictions. It's fine for more than one person to work on a topic-you can have joint projects-but it has to be clear who has worked on each aspect of the project.

Creating you own project-You would do this by means of contacting the right people to speak to, making phone calls, writing letters, drawing up questionnaires, carrying out interviews, doing some research in the library or museum.

The finished report-This can consist of a written report, photographs, audio and video recordings, maps and diagrams.
This programme is open to all. For more details on how to get involved contact Roni at mp33. Come on and join in-it promises to be a lot of fun!