The Tool Club in Craigton Avenue, which was launched in May, is now a thriving community initiative, looking to move on into other areas of Merkinch. The Tool Club, which is part of the South Kessock Safety Karers Project, is presently open to people living in the South Kessock area and is available through 6 monthly or annual membership. Although the club has a number of regular volunteers it is still on the look out for more, particularly people who would be interested in becoming PAT volunteers (Portable Appliance Testers). A vital and important role in the Club, the PAT people are responsible for the safety checking of all the equipment that goes in and out of the Tool Club. Suitable volunteers will be trained through Inverness College, and, if successful in their training will qualify with a Portable Appliance Test certificate. The Club, due to its initial success, is now hoping to open up to the broader community beginning with MacLennan Crescent and MacLennan Road, the Safety Karers are waiting confirmation on this from the council, and then it will be full strim ahead!

And did you know that if you sign up to the Tool Club the Karers will give your lawn a cut free of charge for you, courtesy of Alistair, the Estate worker. So if that’s not an incentive to get yourself along there now, I don’t know what is!!

The Roller Hockey Team, funded by the South Kessock Safety Project, is doing pretty brisk business since it’s creation a couple of months ago. With a grant from the Sports Council of just over £400 the project was able to purchase equipment for the team including hats, skates and elbow pads. The team now has over thirty names on the list, and as a result of the success of the project are hoping that Inverness and Nairn Enterprise will help towards the cost of the flood lighting of their pitch. Keith Bootle, Project Manager of the South Kessock Safety Karers says: "We already have floodlighting on one of the pitches at Westfield, however, Inverness and Nairn Enterprise has informed us that if the Roller Hockey was successful, which I know it will be, we are welcome to go back to them and apply for further funding for flood lighting for that. This in a way is a great incentive to the kids to use the Roller Hockey and not abuse it."

The club is open to youngsters between the ages of 11 and 15 and coaching is provided as well as all the necessary gear. A great way to stay fit and have some fun. For more information, contact the Project Office on Craigton Avenue.

Keith also (is there no stopping this man!) runs a hill walking group along with Alistair Currie. The group currently organises and runs outdoor activities for youngsters in the Merkinch area and has started up again for the summer in July and their next expedition is a trek up the huge Ben Nevis, and at over 4,400 feet and the highest mountain in Britain, it will take a lot of stamina from the youngsters, and the not so young, to complete. The walk is a sponsored climb to raise funds for the Merkinch Outdoor Club. We here at the News and Views wish them all the best.