WHAT'S ON: Around Rotherham

KIVETON PARK INDEPENDENT ADVICE CENTRE: A drop-in session, with no appointment necessary, will be held on Thursday 9-11.30am at The Arnold Centre in Rotherham (telephone for details). To contact (office hours) 01909 773966. The advice centre believes there is a demand for appointments on a Saturday for clients who are unable to attend weekday appointments due to employment, child care or transport issues so there will be a number of case-work type appointments on a Saturday.

ROTHERHAM CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU: Rotherham CAB has employed more debt advisers. The CAB won extra funding from the Money Advice Service which it is using to improve its debt provision. The CAB has two more debt workers and more support staff at the Rain Building next to the indoor market on Eastwood Lane, Rotherham. If people can’t get there they can see an adviser at one of 14 debt outreaches across the community. People can see a debt adviser on Saturday 10am-noon at a debt drop-in at the Rain Building. The advisers can see people face-to-face or give advice by telephone. Contact 03444 111 444 or visit the office in the Rain Building.

ROTHERHAM SOCIETY OF ARTISTS: Meet at Unity Centre, St Leonard’s Road on Fridays 7-9pm. Membership £30 per year, visitors £5 per session. Contact [email protected], www.rotherhamsocietyofartists.org.uk. February 5 – Janet Greenwood will tutor a still life session looking at the use of tone, negative painting, layering colour and use of a shadow box. February 19 – workshop follow-up to still life. March 4 – come and try Bill’s technique with cling film and paint. March 18 – Terry Chipp will give a demonstration Textures with Acrylics. April 1 – follow-up workshop on textures, D-V-D and practical. April 15 – life drawing (may be with tutor). April 29 – life drawing. May 13 – AGM plus art experience if time.

ROTHERHAM SAFE HAVEN: The Rotherham Safe Haven at Talbot Lane Methodist Church operates on Fridays from 10pm until, if necessary, about 4am on Saturday. A small team of volunteers provides this temporary refuge for vulnerable people in the town centre, working alongside Street Pastors. The team could benefit from more volunteers, especially women. Contact town centre chaplain Barrie Thomas 01709 532203.

ROTHERHAM METRO RAMBLERS: February 3 – short walk in Thorpe Hesley area, leaders Tom and Rita Doncaster 0114 2463437, meet 9.30am inside Holy Trinity Church, Thorpe Hesley, parking at church or use 66 bus to Chapeltown from stand B6 at Rotherham Bus Station. February 6 – a leisurely eight mile walk around Anston, Todwick, Chesterfield Canal, Lindrick and Anston Stones, leader Sue Cresswell 01909 568675, meet 10am village hall car park, Ryton Road off B6060. www.ramblers.org.uk/rotherham-metro.

ROTHERHAM FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY: The January meeting was held in the Liberty Church, Station Road, Masborough, when speaker Myco Clelland of Find My Past introduced members to the 1939 Register which listed the civilian population of England and Wales. The meeting concluded with a discussion and members’ workshop. The next meeting in the Liberty Church will be a workshop on Thursday 7pm.

FRIENDS IN HARMONY CHOIR: The choir wants new members. It meets at Badsley Primary School under the direction of Graham Cowley and accompanist Ray Gallagher on Tuesdays 6.15-7.45pm. www.friendsinharmony.co.uk.

TALBOT LANE CHURCH: The January 17 morning service was led by Mrs Morag Walder. The death was announced of Talbot Lane’s oldest member, Mrs Vera Wilson, aged 99. On January 18 the Young Families Group met. Rev Karen Beecham asked the children to draw a picture and write down what their hopes and dreams were for 2016 and their favourite memories of 2015. It is hoped they will be able to make a mural of their favourite memories of 2015. On Tuesday evening the Ladies Group had a quiz. The January 21 lunchtime service was led by Rev Karen Beecham. On January 22 afternoon Bible study and prayer was led by Barrie Thomas. The Friday evening Safe Haven project, which deals with young people in the town centre, continued. 

ROTHERHAM RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION: Gwen Smith welcomed 37 members to the January meeting. Margaret Armitage read the minutes of the October meeting. There had been no formal meetings since because November was taken up with the silent auction, which raised £246.70, and December with the outing to Doddington Hall and the Christmas lunch at Carlton Park. Early in January members visited the Crucible to see Showboat. Doreen Baker urged members to put forward suggestions of charities the Association could support. The current charity, Alzheimer’s, will benefit by a predicted £300-plus. Margaret Johnson drew attention to the work of Healthwatch, outlining the benefits on offer. In addition, she spoke about meetings held by the Society of Artists at the Unity Centre on Fridays. The raffle prizes were won by Glenda Keetley, Liz Bridges, Joan Hadwin, Margaret Outwin and Gwen Smith. Speaker Joan Jones spoke about the history of Izal. The next meeting is at Broom Methodist Church on February 17 10am-noon when speaker Sylvia Grayson will talk about patchwork and needlework.

ROTHERHAM RAMBLING CLUB: Contact Sylvia Duncan 01709 374841, www.rotherhamramblingclub.co.uk.

ROTHERHAM VOLUNTEER CENTRE: Co-ordinates and facilitates a free bi-monthly Volunteer Coordinator Network which brings together volunteer managers whether in a paid or unpaid capacity to network, share good practice and troubleshoot. The next meeting is on March 22 9-11am at Voluntary Action Rotherham S60 2HX. For details or to confirm your attendance, email [email protected] or telephone 01709 834462. RVC can also support groups to recruit new volunteers or make the most of existing volunteers.