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 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.

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: February 17 – 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 20 – choice of two walks: a moderate nine mile walk around Ravenfield and Old Denaby, leader Tony Lodge 01709 547246, meet 10am Thrybergh Country Park (fee); an easy five mile linear walk along the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Canal to Tinsley Marina, bus back to Rotherham, leader Rotherham park ranger Alan Duncan, meet 10am at Rotherham Law Courts, Forge Island car park. Contact Rosemary Boyle 01709 371266, www.ramblers.org.uk/rotherham-metro.

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

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ROTHERHAM: Lent Lunches – all lunches scheduled to start at noon and served until around 1.15pm. Each week there is also an optional short service of worship at noon. The cost of each lunch is a voluntary donation of £2 minimum. The dates and venues are: February 17 Herringthorpe URC, February 24 St James’ Clifton, March 2 St Bede’s RC, March 9 St Thomas Church Hall, Kimberworth, March 16 St Mary’s RC, March 23 Kimberworth Salvation Army. Women’s World Day of Prayer on March 4 – there will be two services on this day: 2pm Talbot Lane Methodist Church when the speaker will be Rev Shan Rush, chaplain of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice and a nurse at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, 7pm at St Mary’s RC Church in Herringthorpe Valley Road with speaker Rev Jo Siddall. Christian Aid has reserved a session at Rotherham Minster on March 5 10am. The next planned quarterly meeting of Churches Together in Rotherham is on April 13 at the Rotherham Holiday Inn, West Bawtry Road 7pm.

FLOWER ARRANGING COURSE: A five week course called Floral Designs for Spring and Easter February 19-March 18 1-3pm at Wickersley Community Centre S66 1JJ. To book a place, send a cheque for £37.50 to Barbara Coe-Colley, 165 Swinston Hill Road, Dinnington, Sheffield S25 2RY.

CHAPELTOWN AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY (CAOS): April 12-16 – The society will perform Singin’ in the Rain at Rotherham Civic Theatre, tickets 01709 823621 or www.rotherhamtheatres.co.uk. 

TALBOT LANE CHURCH: The January 28 lunchtime service was taken by Brian from United Reform Church. The January 31 Sunday morning service was taken by Tony Clark of Elim Pentecostal Church. The Ladies Group was recently given a slide show by Mavis Morgan entitled Beyond Limits. Safe Haven continued on Friday night.

FRIENDS IN HARMONY CHOIR: Friends in Harmony Choir has announced the dates of concerts. On June 25 the choir will give a concert in St Francis’ Church, Main Street, Bramley, in aid of the church’s Building for the Future Fund and on July 9 it will perform in St James’ Church, Cambridge Street, Clifton, in aid of Rotherham Hospice. Both start 7pm, tickets £5 and £3 (under 18s), contact 01226 201961 or [email protected].

MALTBY TOWN COUNCIL HORTICULTURAL SHOW: The show will take place on August 20. There are over 100 classes this year in Fruit, Vegetables, Flowers, Domestic and Children’s sections. There is also one section which will be judged solely on RHS rules. Contact Maltby Town Council on 01709 814060. The list of sections in the Horticultural Show can be found on ther council’s website.

ROTHERHAM LOCAL HISTORY: Meets at St Paul’s Church, Kimberworth Road, on February 20 10.30am. Buses 7 or 8 from Interchange. Speaker Derek Bayliss on South Yorkshire Iron. Admission £2 non-members.