DISTRICT NEWS: RAWMARSH & PARKGATE

DROP-IN CENTRE: Is celebrating this week after being awarded £7,000 in funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK. The Drop-in Centre will use their funding to renovate the gardens at the Harding Avenue premises to make them more accessible to all users of the centre. They will be levelled to make them wheelchair friendly with sensory beds included for the visually impaired and shaded seating areas. This new National Lottery funding will enable clients of Social Eyes, [an adult centre for learning difficulties and autism and the main user of the building] to access the garden and once it has been made safe will allow clients who enjoy gardening to tend and maintain the gardens. We are hoping to organise a volunteer weekend at the beginning of July when we will invite local residents to volunteer and assist with the construction and planting of the area. Margaret Gregory, grants secretary said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this grant means that we can purchase the necessary equipment which will allow staff and local volunteers to build the Platinum Jubilee Garden. Many local residents know this building from having gone to school there or attended the many functions which were held there when it was known as the Monkwood, Manor Farm and Thorogate Community Centre. The new committee took over the building shortly before the onset of covid and during and since covid have installed new kitchen areas and refurbished the toilets, so the renovation of the garden area will complete the total upgrading of the building. Since Covid many local groups have been using the building which when it was built as originally a small charity school founded in the early 1600s by Thomas Wilson and Edward Goodwin, was designated to be used only for education or the community. Now under lease from RMBC it is hoped to keep it as a community asset. Over its existence it has had many small extensions added which means there is now zumba, burlesque keep fit, flower arranging, coffee mornings, Slimming World, baby bloom sensory classes, mens’ mental health group and women empowering women group. All which are running alongside the Social Eyes group. This will make a big difference to people’s lives.”

DROWNING PREVENTION DAY: On Saturday June 25, Manvers Life Saving is hosting several events in support of the National RLSS Drowning Prevention Week at Manvers Lake, Wath upon Dearne. The following sessions are available at various times throughout the day for anyone to book. You don't need to be a Manvers member: Save A Baby’s Life — Learn Baby and Child CPR, Children's water safety session — includes certificate and badge on completion, Platinum Jubilee Medallion — for experienced swimmers and life savers and Children's SUP rescue session — more info to be released soon. As well as the events, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, Newfoundland's Dog Rescue and other local groups will be in attendance demonstrating their water and land-based lifesaving techniques between noon and 4pm. It promises to be a great afternoon for the children — having fun whilst learning how to be safe around water. Drowning Prevention Week (DPW) is one of the largest summer water safety campaigns across the UK and Ireland. The campaign is designed to raise awareness of water safety ahead of a summer outdoors. For further information please visit our website at www.mwbc.org.uk

RAWMARSH COMMUNITY SCHOOL: During Art and Photography lessons, students celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by creating their own stamps. Some chose to illustrate their own ideas and others created digital stamps using paper cut outs by placing over computer screens. Friday, July 1, is an Inset Day for school.

LOCAL ROADWORKS: There are multi way traffic control signals on Kilnhurst Road at the moment which are scheduled until July 4. These are in place for Rotherham Council to carry out works. An overnight diversion will be in place between July 4 and July 22 on Taylors Lane in Parkgate whilst the council resurface the roundabout there. The diversion will be between 10pm and 5am, the route will be signposted. Yorkshire Water are working on Greasbrough Road from this Monday, June 20 until June 28 — there will be two-way traffic control in place during this time. Virgin Media are working on Spalton Road in Parkgate between June 23 and 27, there will be 'give and take' traffic control in place.

S62 COMMUNITY TOGETHER: Held their new weekly walking group on Tuesday around Greasbrough Dam, which was enjoyed by everyone involved. The group meets every Tuesday from 12-2pm at the Church Street entrance of Greasbrough Dam and anyone is welcome to come along and join in. Volunteers will also be attending the up and coming Volunteer Walk on June 30. This is an event to celebrate and say thank you to all Rotherham Volunteers and will start at the Rotherham Minster from 12-2.30pm. Anyone interested in taking part can book a place by contacting Karen Minors at [email protected]. The Women Supporting Women group was held on Thursday; this is held every Thursday from 7.30pm and welcomes all women to come along and have a chat and a cuppa whilst trying out different crafts. The monthly coffee morning was held on Saturday and gave everyone who attended the opportunity to meet up for a drink and a chat; there was also crafting for the kids. The Men's Mental Health Group is held every Monday from 7.30-9pm and gives men the opportunity to meet up for a drink and a chat.

RAWMARSH CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRE: The centre has started running a new monthly coffee morning on a Monday from 10.30am-noon; the first one was held on June 13. The coffee morning is open to family members or friends, from age 18 years, of neurodiverse adults — autistic and/or ADHD (diagnosed, awaiting assessment or self-identifying) who have a Rotherham GP. The aim of the coffee morning is to provide the opportunity to meet other family and friends of neurodiverse adults, and to chat to some of the RANSS peer support team. The next coffee morning will be held on Monday, August 8, and anyone interested in attending can book a place online at ranss.co.uk.

RAWMARSH COMMUNITY SCHOOL:  Y11 pupils are encouraged to apply for a number of apprentice vacancies that are available at Liberty Steel; the closing date is June 30 and more information can be found at https://bit.ly/396jCAg.