LEFT: Beat out that rhythm on the drum… youngsters enjoy a holiday music session at Merkinch Community Centre.	BELOW: Same location, members of the Friendship Club enjoy a bit of a musical rattle and a clap. For more about the club see page nine.

THE Summer Playscheme at Merkinch Community, renewed this year after a gap, went extremely well with up to 28 children attending at any one time. Feedback from parents indicates that youngsters who took part really looked forward to coming, and were more content at home when they got back.
The second last day of the scheme saw the youngsters have a glorious whole day out at Lossiemouth beach.

A total of 24 volunteers helped the scheme go so well, including a number of senior pupils from Inverness High. Four volunteers also came from the Reformed Baptist Church, including the only man to take part. Said Elsie Normington of Merkinch Community Centre, “We held a couple of training nights which set the scene.
This year we also received some money from the Childcare Partnership, which allowed us to employ a couple of people to do the planning and organisation.”

Emma Murieston particularly specialised in the arts and crafts side, while chef Robin Maclean showed the youngsters how to bake cakes and make milkshakes with which they stocked a little tuck shop.

To mark the end of the highly successful Playscheme a disco was held on Friday 18th August for all the participants.