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. 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.

FRIENDS IN HARMONY CHOIR: The choir meets at Badsley Primary School under the direction of Graham Cowley on Tuesday 6.15-7.45pm. The choir is currently rehearsing a selection of new and current numbers for concerts later this year. www.friendsinharmony.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 attendance, email [email protected] or telephone 01709 834462. RVC can also support groups to recruit new volunteers or make the most of existing volunteers.

ROTHERHAM METRO RAMBLERS: March 5 – choice of two walks: a moderate 10 mile circular walk around Clayworth, Gringley and Drakeholes, leader Sue Creswell 01909 568675, meet 10am Clayworth, junction of Town Street and The Beck (roadside parking); an easy six mile walk around Whitwell and Markland Grips, leader Diane Watson 01909 550454, meet 10am car park next to Whitwell Health Centre. Contact www.ramblers.org.uk/rotherham-metro.

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER: March 4 – Women’s World Day of Prayer is an international ecumenical prayer movement that invites women to prepare a worship service. On this day, women across the world will gather to observe the day of prayer, using an order of service written by Christian women in Cuba. In Rotherham, services are: 2pm Talbot Lane Methodist Church, Moorgate Street, Rotherham, the Mayor and consort to attend, speaker Rev Shan Rush; 7pm St Mary’s RC Church, Herringthorpe Valley Road, Rotherham, deputy mayor and mayoress to attend, speaker Rev Joanne Archer-Siddall. www.wwdp.org.uk.

ROTHERHAM RETURED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION: Gwen Smith welcomed 32 members, a visitor, a puppy in Guide Dog training and his handler Michael to the February meeting at Broom Methodist Church. The group was alerted to proposed changes on the committee, to be ratified at the AGM next month. Diana Smith gave out letters outlining a trip to Skipton to explore the Castle, market and surroundings on April 27 and invited members to apply swiftly. Doreen Baker asked for suggestions of a worthy charity that the Association could support during the coming year. The raffle was drawn and the winners were Sue Ridgeway, Jill James, Diana Smith and Jeanette Foster. Sylvia Grayson gave a talk about quilting and patchwork. The next meeting is the AGM 10am-noon at Broom Methodist Church on March 16 which will be followed by a talk on the Magistracy Service by Liz Bridges and Ann Flack.  

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

TALBOT LANE CHURCH: The February 11 lunchtime service was led by Rev Karen Beecham. On February 12 Time for God prayer hour was followed by Bible study and led by Barrie Thomas. The Safe Haven Project continued its good works on February 12. The February 14 morning service was led by Rev Karen Beecham and included Holy Communion. On February 15 evening the young Families Group met and the theme of the evening was Choices. On February 16 evening the Ladies Group was given a talk by Lesly Wills, a volunteer worker from MacMillan Cancer Support, which is this year’s chosen charity of the ladies group.