Hi there!

Things are settling down at mp33 after the fashion show and there are no longer piles of clothes taking up space all over the place! Lots of photos were taken on the night, but unfortunately the newsletter had to go to press before these could be developed - we’ll have some pictures next month. Meanwhile we are starting to look forward to summer and drawing up a programme of holiday activities.

Mp33 is to feature in the next issue of “Communities Scotland for Social Justice”. There is an article about mp33 and colour pictures of Roni and of Violet with Declan and Holly.
By the way the computers at mp33 are now on broadband and operate much faster and more efficiently. New computer man is Bruce. As always, if you want to know more about what we have to offer, just drop in.
See you soon.

All at mp33, April 2003

THE charity fashion show put on by the young people of various mp33 groups, plus their friends, on 22nd March was a great success, measured in terms of enjoyment and sense of achievement. And if the audience was smaller than might have been expected, it was thoroughly entertained and very generous, and a total of over £300 was raised. Live bands at the Community Centre the same weekend were a undoubtedly a considerable counter-attraction!

The event was organised by a committee of four - Roni Smith and Beki Chisholm from mp33, Claire Crowle the outreach worker from Eden Court, and Bette McArdle representing the charity researching the health of women and babies, which is headed by Prof. Robert Winston.
Among the city companies who very kindly sponsored the event were Marks & Spencer, Ben Wyvis Kilts, Boarstone Tartans, Country Casuals, Hot Rock, Park Davidson and Nicol’s Killer Prices.

Highlights of the show included a wedding parade that was the height of elegance with all the lads splendid in their kilts. Then there were the Poi teams who put on highly skilful displays. There was great drama and spectacle in the gothic sequence, and some great dancing in the Clubbing section.

The choreography, sound and staging of the whole show was excellent throughout and everything ran pretty well smoothly. All those involved felt a great sense of personal achievement, and the audience were appreciative and gave every appearance of thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Thanks go to all who helped, including the many backstage assistants too numerous to mention. The organisers are also grateful to the Trinity Church and the very helpful Hall Convenor Mr William Fraser.

Every pound raised for the research charity is matched by a wealthy American institution, so the money raised by the event will make a considerable contribution to this work.

PEOPLE here are very friendly, says Cecilia Ramsay, the new admin anchorwoman at mp33. She joined the team at the beginning of March and is thoroughly enjoying herself. “It’s a fun job,” she says.

Originally from Edinburgh, Cecilia came to Inverness following her second marriage two years ago. Her husband comes originally from Lochinver.
After living in city flats in the capital for some years, she says she is delighted to have a “real house” with a garden and somewhere to hang out the washing!

Cecilia has had a range of interesting jobs including working at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh and, last simmer, at the Dolphin Centre at North Kessock. She has also worked at Inverness College and in a number of social work related posts.

She has two grown children from her first marriage and counts gardening, swimming, and reading among her hobbies. She also likes playing tennis and going camping.

FOLLOWING on from the success of trips to Landmark and Rosemarkie last summer, there is to be a trip for young mums to Abriachan forest walk on 15th April, leaving Merkinch Community Centre at 10am and back for 3pm. There’s lots to see and do there, such as the Stone Age shelter, Birdwatching, and a picnic. The cost is £1 for adults and 50p for children. Anyone got any preferences about where to go on another trip this summer?

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A SERIES of workshops for young mums is planned to start after Easter. For eight weeks on Wednesdays from 7th May, finishing with a trip on 25th June, the workshops (with free creche) will cover such topics as aromatherapy, belly dancing, Crafty Mandy, iridology (looking into the irises of your eyes), body language and the feel-good factor. More details next month, or pop into mp33.

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Calling all teenage mums in Merkinch. We’re hoping to set up a group specifically to look into issues concerning teenage mums and their particular needs, as well as offering mutual friendship and support - great if you feel stuck in the house and too much on your own. These will be held in the NCH premises in Quayside Court on Tuesday afternoons. More info from mp33.

HI! We are members of the Merkinch After School Club. Our club mascot is little Kevin. We picked Little Kevin because he looks like Big Kevin!

On Wednesday 12th March we did a sponsored walk. The money we get will go towards a trip to Rollerbowl on 1st May. We get to go to Rollerbowl on the minibus and when we arrive we will have a game and then something to eat before we come home.
The kind of things we do at the After School Club are play pool, play snap, play on the playstation, go in the gym on Mondays with Kevin and dot and play football, tig and lots of other games. We also have a new football table and lots of board games.

When we come to the club at 3pm we get some toast and milkshake and we sit at the table to eat it and then we go and play games.
Before we go home every day we get some fruit. On a Thursday we get to do cheer-leading and it’s great fun.

Lauren and Debbie