Hi there!

At last with the arrival of a full-time replacement for Gill, and a part-time assistant, things are settling down at mp33 and there’s plenty going on. Christmas and New Year seem a long time ago now, St Valentine’s Day is just a couple of weeks away and spring is just around the corner. We’ve got lots of ideas for the longer days, but we’d like to have some input from you as well. So come and see us when you can…

We are hoping to hold an Open Fun Day sometime soon with food, décor and practical crafts- so watch out, it will be advertised.
Meanwhile drop in anytime and see what’s happening. See you soon!

All at mp33 , Jan / Feb 02

OPERATING from mp33 on a weekly basis are the following:

• The Employment Action Team, Tuesday to Friday 10am -12.30pm.
• Highland Brook on Monday afternoon from 2-4pm offers confidential sexual health advice, free condoms and the morning-after pill.
• Young Tenants can meet Linda Lockwood on Tuesday afternoons from 2-4pm.
• Shirley from Inverness College is also here on Tuesday afternoons, same time, for those who could be interested in the Pathways to Inclusion programme of further education at the College.
• Ring mp33 on 717639 for details.

A NEW full-time Youth Development Worker has been appointed to mp33. She is Roni Smith, who started in the post on 7th January.
Roni, who comes from Edinburgh and worked with young people there, has lived in Inverness for the last three years with her partner Ian and their two young children. She enjoys outdoor hobbies, such as skiing and team games. “We hope to carry on the work that Gill started and create some new opportunities for young people in the area,” said Roni.

With Merkinch Community Centre coming under the aegis of Community Education, Roni expects there will be closer links between the Centre and mp33.

“We hope to get a drama group going at the Centre on Saturdays for kids of Junior Youth Club age. The Juniors meet on a Monday evening and the older ones on Wednesdays.”

Roni particularly wants to develop opportunities for young mums and encourage them to make more use of mp33.

Another new face at mp33 is Russell Deacon, who is based at Grant Street in the afternoons from Monday to Thursday.
Originally from Glasgow, Russell has lived in Inverness for the last 14 years and also works with young people at Crown Youth Café and Dalneigh Primary.

His hobbies include Capoeira, a form of Brazilian martial arts/dance, drumming, dance and Tai Chi.

Together Roni and Russell are looking at the programme of activities for this summer, which could well include such pursuits as wall-climbing and kick-boxing.