Hi there!
A new programme for Merkinch Senior Youth Club is due to come out soon. Some of things planned are swimming, a bungee run, cookery, and the creation of a mural at the Community Cenbtre with Caroline and Jacques. Of special interest to the girls - Body Shop are coming to do a Make-Up Night on 6 March, and at Easter there will be a Treasure Hunt and Quiz. All sounds like a lot of fun! So if you’d like to know about any of these things, or the things we do at mp33, please call in at 33 Grant Street and ask for Roni, Russell, Cath or Nicky - or ring us at mp33 on 717639. Or you can e.mail us on info@mp33.org.uk See you soon...
All at mp33, March '02
“CHANGING Rooms”, “Can’t Cook Won’t Cook” and “Change That” were all events planned for the Fun Day on Saturday 23 February at Merkinch Community Centre - until the morning dawned to the heaviest snowfall of the winter.
Organised by Roni Smith, the Youth Development Worker with Community Education at mp33 along with Shirley Stephenson from Inverness College, the free day out - the first of what was hoped would be a series of such events - had to be cancelled when Shirley and some of those who were going to take the workshops got stuck in snow and unable to make it to Merkinch.
There were to have been a choice of craft and skill workshops, just like the famous TV programmes, such as making a wall-hanging, healthy cookery, mosaics and stencilling. However, despite attempts to phone round to cancel the event, quite a few intrepid souls turned up. So they held a brain-storming session with Roni and Linda Lockwood, the young tenant officer and planned the next fun day. A free lunch, ordered for participants, turned up and that was thoroughly enjoyed.
Said Roni Smith afterwards, “It was such a pity we had to cancel, because there was a lot of real enthusiasm. But now we’ll be able to make the next one even better.
“So watch this space!”
OPERATING from mp33 on a weekly basis are the following:
A DRAMA and Story Group had the first of six meetings on 16th February at Merkinch Community Centre.
The group, which is run by Hamish (a professional actor) and John (a youth worker with Community Education who has a special interest in the performing arts) is aimed at Primary 4 to Secondary 1 youngsters. There are lots of fun activities - games, music, story-telling and acting out stories.
There are still places available if anyone would like to give it a try.
The group runs from 10.30am to 12 noon on Saturday mornings and costs just 25p a session.
AN ever-increasing number of young people are getting help and advice from mp33. A case in point is A….* who says:
“I called into mp33 during the week to see if they could help me to organise my gas account as I have been having a few problems (with the gas authorities) and they had been over-charging me for the amount of gas I had been using.
I got this sorted out with the help mp33 gave me and I was really grateful. I would recommend mp33 to anyone who is needs help of any kind as they have a lot of ways to assist. They also have links and opportunities for young people in the community with different business and local government facilities and projects.
They work closely with the College and with the Council - Linda, the young tenants adviser, comes in every Tuesday afternoon to deal with any housing problems. And also there is an Employment Action team from the JobCentre in most days.
Not only do they do all this, they also have young people from the area coming in after school. They can use the TV, the computer and internet facilities, and they sit and chat. It is a good way for them to meet people and make friends as there isn’t very much in the area for them other than hanging about outside.
Altogether, mp33 is the perfect place for young people and for those who generally need help and advice.
* Confidentiality is guaranteed, but this person was happy to be quoted to let others know what mp33 had been able to do for her.
SEVEN boys have formed a group to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. The youngsters, who meet at Merkinch Community Centre at the Senior Youth Club on Wednesday evenings, have started planning their expeditions for their Bronze Awards - expeditions are a vital ingredient of the challenging achievement programme. They hope to go camping along the shores of Loch Ness. By way of practice, they are to walk, every month for four months starting March, parts of the Great Glen Way, a cross-country walk which is only opening this year. The boys also have to carry out three months’ public service, and for this aspect of the Awards they aim to work with Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team.
Those interested in taking part in the Award scheme can contact mp33.
I WANT to tell you about when Merkinch school went to see Harry Potter. The whole school went. There were about nine buses. It was at Warner Village. We left at half past nine. When we got there we got popcorn, sweets and juice. I sat near the front. I liked the part when Harry Potter jumped through the wall. It was about two and a half hours long. The most exciting bit was when the three-headed dog was trying to guard the stone. I thought it was really good.
by Ann Marie Stewart