involving young people in Merkinch

33 Grant StreetInvernessIV3 8BN

Tel: 01463 717639 Fax: 01463 717723As most people know by now, there have been some significant cutbacks, of personnel and resources, within the council recently. This is, of course, most disappointing and discouraging for everyone involved, especially at a time when Youth Development was experiencing something of a positive surge forward in service provision. Sadly, there will be redundancies, though, fortunately, our own provision would appear secure for the moment. Much of this has to with reduced levels of revenue and rising costs of resources. The current ‘Credit Crunch’, according to serious analysts, is going to have a profound effect on vulnerable communities, and facilities like mp33 will therefore be of pivotal importance in offering our young people opportunities for personal development. Our focus in the months ahead will be on raising achievement and employability.

March 2009

The Girls’ Group are limbering up for their proposed residential at Badaguish in the Spring. They have been arranging a few fundraising events recently, including a car boot sale. Naomi is also introducing the girls to some of the work they will be involved in to gain their John Muir Trust Awards. The girls are, however, more than up to the challenge.

The Bike Shed is back up and running again, thankfully, after a few roofing problems, some of which we believe were either caused by stormy weather and/or the exploits of local Parkourists - just look it up if you don’t know the term! We are looking into getting some musical instruments into the shed, so that local young people could form a ‘garage style’ band. Any help or resources from the community would be much appreciated.

The mp33 Film Factory will be participating in a small film project with the Pupil Council at Inverness High School. They are planning to shoot and edit an informative video documentary on the school, containing interviews and commentary, interspersed with footage of the building’s interior and its various departments, which can then be transferred to DVD for future pupils who are currently attending the surrounding Primary schools. This project is part of the Pupil Council’s initiative to bridge the transitional gap between Primary and Secondary. Lizzie Cox, REAL Project Youth Worker is helping to co-ordinate some of the planning, although the video’s content will all be the work of the Pupil Council.

The proposed production is in the form of an accelerated guided tour of the building, about 15 minutes long, with some nice touches and effects.

Girls’ GroupGirls’ Group

the F LMFACTORY

Coming activities and events... Winter-Spring Programme 2009

Choirs are all the rage at the moment, though they’ve probably existed in one form or another since time began. Singing in a choir can be a powerful and uplifting experience, besides being an enjoyable way to socialise and make new friends.

We already have a number of young people interested in joining an Inverness Youth Choir but are looking for more members, male and female. If you are aged 12-25 years and fancy having a go at exercising your vocal chords, please get in touch.

Contact Gus or Andy at mp33 01463 717639.

Being a member of a choir requires a commitment to attending choir practice over years even to learn a handful of songs to a competent level. If we can recruit enough new members, we will convene a meeting to decide on a programme of practice, and also what songs we should learn, which will be up to the young people themselves.

Come On And Sing With Us!

INVERNESS HIGH SCHOOLPupil Council

interested in learning guitar? We can help!

Are you

Join our guitar cluband try out our

12 week foundation course.

FREEFREEto allYOUNG PEOPLE

12-25 years oldfrom Inverness

Free for young people aged 12-25 years, living in the Inverness High School ILC area. The course comprises weekly afternoon sessions from 4-6pm, over 12 weeks at mp33. Course material will be provided for participants, and is divided into 12 basic easily understood lessons.

Although instruments are not provided, a basic nylon-stringed classical guitar retails at approximately £30-50, and a basic steel-stringed acoustic guitat at approximately £60-90. You may be able to pick one up second-hand even cheaper.

This course is designed to equip the learner with some of the fundamental skills to play acoustic guitar and understand basic theory of music as it relates to guitar, but also to other instruments. These dual elements of practice and theory will enable the learner to contemplate progressing further towards possible grading on the RGT Registry scale, a professional qualification for prospective tutors and teachers.

Interested? Contact us at mp33 on 01463 717639.