MORE changes at mp33! Recent weeks have seen Gill Maclennan and Cheryl Heggie leave. Now it is Ivor Souter who is off to pastures new.

Mr Souter, who has run the Social Inclusion Programme in Merkinch since it started two and a half years ago is leaving to do evaluation work in various Highland areas on provision for youth shelters.
He will be working with Community Safety groups and young people in Fort William, Caithness, and Strathspey & Badenoch.

As from Monday 22nd October, the running of mp33 came under the aegis of the Community Education department.
No-one has yet been found to fill the gap left by Mr Souter and Gill Maclennan at mp33, but in the meantime regular sessions will be covered by youth workers Scott Porter and Kath Finlay.

Mr Souter remains in his usual place at Merkinch Community Centre and will still be involved in various other activities in the area such as the Young Tenants project, the scheme to develop and formalise the local interest in motor bikes, the football team, and a new garage training project.

• MOTOR-CYCLE enthusiasts recently went stubble racing at Darnaway. Funding is being sought for protective clothing for the lads.
• IT is hoped to start a computer group at mp33 to help young people brush up on their computer skills as well as running the mp33 website. Anyone interested in joining or in helping out should contact Nicky on 717639.
• IT is also hoped to start a Duke of Edinburgh Award group - young people interested and adults who can help please ring Nicky.
• DON’T forget - Highland Brook is still open on Monday afternoons from 2-4pm. This service is for all those wanting advice on sexual health, not just under 25-year-olds.

LYNDA Lockwood (right) Young Tenants’ Support Officer in Merkinch, meets two-month-old Amy with her mum Selena (left) andTyler (five months) with his mum Sheila. Selena and Sheila are pals and neighbours in Kessock Avenue.

Lynda, who is based at Craigton Avenue, visits anything from 70 to 100 young tenants in the area as well as holding Tuesday afternoon drop-in sessions at mp33 from 2-4pm for 16 to 25-year-old tenants.
The Young Tenants programme has been running in Merkinch for around 18 months.
Originally a pilot programme, it has proved so popular and successful in supporting young tenants that it has been made permanent.

• Lynda hopes to run a budgeting session for young tenants in November. Anyone interested can contact her at the Community House in Craigton Avenue or at mp33.

WANTED! - A manager for the Merkinch football team. The Thursday night players have met with considerable success in their first year and hope to go into the Winter League. But they need a hand. Anyone interested should contact Peter Corbett, Community Beat Officer Alisdair Stewart, drop in to mp33 or turn up on a Thursday evening at Merkinch Community Centre at 8pm.

THE possibility of running a training garage for young unemployed people in Merkinch is being looked into again.

A site in Thornbush Road, formerly used by a haulage firm, has been identified as a potential base for the project.

Among the aims of the project, apart from the training, would be the removal of cars abandoned in the area as well as the personal development of the young people - male and female - taking part.

It is hoped that in due course training in JCB and fork lift driving could also be included.
A report, written earlier this year by Ivor Souter, points out that the idea has been around for some time and that a number of local people have researched the idea.
A management group with links to a wide range of authorities would need to be set up and seek charitable status for the project.

Overall costs of the scheme, Mr Souter estimates, would run at around £60,000 a year, including salaries of two training mechanics.
His report also points to the high levels of unemployment among young people as well as adults in parts of Merkinch. “There could be the possibility of other training opportunities from this location,” said Mr Souter.