Community Action In Mile End | News and Press Releases

It's from 10am to 12:30pm at Highwoods Sports Centre - with a bouncy castle, circus skills, parachute games, soft play for under 5's, free smoothies, fruit & healthy snacks!!!! Come along and find out what's really good for your family! For more details or to book, call 01206 841463, or turn up on the day. Parents & Carers are expected to stay with their children for the whole session.

2 new 10 week courses for beginners and improvers start week beginning 22^nd September. Monday evenings 6 to 7pm or Tuesdays 10 to 11am. £5 per class payable half termly in advance. Book with CAM.

The work should take place during the school holidays after the young children’s playground is finished - look our for progress!

If your organisation can offer a group of volunteers for a couple of hours or more this autumn for the 1^st phase of tree planting of the Stadium Green Way please contact Richard Parmee Richard.parmee@colchester.gov.uk

Family Learning Programme

For these new, FREE courses, call Sue or Michelle to book or get further details:

Understanding Children - 8 weeks starts 19^th September 9.30am -11.30 at Mill Rd Therapy Centre

K’nex Workshop - for all the family Saturday 20^th September 10am to 12 at Myland Parish Halls, Mile End Rd

New YOUTH CLUB in Mile End

A new Youth Club started on Friday 13^th June 7.30pm at Myland Parish Halls, Mile End Road. Drop and and see what's happening! Sessions will run every other week, continuing during the school holidays. For more info, and to find out about volunteering opportunities, contact Karen on 01206 853439

Work is scheduled to start on the new under 12 playground on Mill Rd Rec from around the 7^th July. Works will continue for about 4 weeks - then we'll see quite a change! It's possible that the new youth shelter and basketball area will be built at the same time - we'll keep you informed! We'll also be distributing a letter to local residents soon, to tell everyone about the new facilities.

STREET! An exciting new dance course!

This exciting new course, open to all aged 11+, starts on Friday May 9th from 6pm to 7pm, at the Lorraine George Dance Studios, 305 Mile End Road. Tutor: Sean Carter. Booking is essential - call Community Action in Mile End on the above numbers.

Mile End's new Youth Workers

We now have three Youth Workers in Mile End: Karen Johnson's the new Youth Project Team Leader, and is based in the Parish Office; Gary Jamieson and Jo Hutchings are sessional officers. Messages can be left for them at the YMCA on 508012 or at CAM on 853439. This is a one-year pilot project with employment by YMCA and with funding from CAM, CDRP, CBC, ECC and Myland Parish Council. Our three workers will be involved in running the Youth Club, doing outreach work and working with the Parish Council to set up a Youth Forum/Council.

Community Action in Mile End is working in partnership with Adult Community Education in Colchester to bring a range of courses to this area. The Family Learning Programme is funded by the Learning Skills Council which means the courses are free and priority is given to participants with fewer than 5 GCSEs grades A to C. Upcoming courses include:

Raising Girls Workshop on Friday 11th July and Raising Boys Workshop on the 18^th, from 9.30am to 1.30pm. Each session includes a half hour for a light lunch which is provided. Venue for these will be the Mill Rd Therapy Centre. These courses enable parents to explore ways of maintaining good parent relationships and identify easy ways of meetings their sons’/daughters’ needs through the developmental stages.

Sessions planned for the autumn include an 8 week course, Understanding Children starting Friday 19^th September from 9.30am to 11.30pm at the above venue and a Saturday morning K’nex Workshop on 20^thSeptember for all the family which should be great fun and challenging too!

To book or for more information call Jo on 01206 853439 07793 415725, Sue or Michelle on 01206 244289

Grand Summer Fair on 26th July

Myland Parish Halls Modernisation Project are holding a Grand Summer Fair on 26th July. Please give this crucil fundraising event your support - their application to the Big Lottery Fund enters its closing stages soon, so let's help them with the "final push"! The Fair coincides with the Art Exhibition and Flower Festival in the Halls and Church - they're from 25th to 27th July - so there will be something for everyone.

Green Days - Summer activities for 2s to 12s, 5-6 August

Myland Community Association invite you to ‘Green Days’, summer activities suited for ages 2 to around 12 year olds - together with their mums, dads, grandparents or carers - on Tuesday 5^th and Wednesday 6^th August 2008 from 10am to 12.30pm at St Michael’s Halls, Mile End Rd. Similar to last year, but this year has an ‘environmental and healthy living’ theme. Activities will include a junk modelling and collage prize competition, recycled arts and crafts including clay, dancercise and outdoor games, making fruit and vegetable kebabs, fun with sprouting seeds, toddler corner toys and play dough, and lots more! Cost: £2 per child payable on the door. Places are limited so booking is essential, deadline 17^th July. To book please call Community Action in Mile End on 01206 853439 or email jo@colnehousing.co.uk

FREE baby massage

Free baby massage for parents and babies (under 1 year) together at the Lorraine George School of Dance.

6 week course starting Wednesday 16^th April 2008 10am to 12noon.

The course is available to learners who have less than L2 qualifications (5 GCSEs A-C grades).

Contact Jo at CAM 01206 853439 to check your eligibility and book places.

Funded by the Learning Skills Council and CAM.

A new 10-week course starts 22^nd April from 10 to 11am at the Lorraine George School of Dance, 305 Mile End Rd. Classes are £5 payable half termly in advance. Last class 1^st July (no class 27^th May).

Colchester YMCA have successfully recruited to fill the 3 Youth Worker posts for the area (covering both Mile End and Myland) – one part time 12 hour p/week post and two 8 hour p/month sessional workers!!

The project runs for a year initially and we plan to get funding for it to continue if successful.

The workers will run a regular youth evening and set up activities and other events with young people’s involvement. Watch this space for more news soon!

This free taster session, for ages 12 to adult, takes place at the Lorraine George School of Dance, 305 Mile End Road, from 11am to noon on Wednesday 13th February.

Call to book your free place on 07703 043 901 or 01206 853439.

Parental consent is needed if you are under 18.

Regular chasses are on Fridays at 6pm, and are only £3 each.

Email jo.wheatley@colnehousing.co.uk for more info.

A 10-week course started on 29th January at the new Dance Studios, 305 Mile End Road,

There are just a few places left for the daytime class on Tuesdays and a growing list of people wanting an evening class, please contact CAM to add your name to this list and be alerted if we get a second class up and running.

Classes are £4 per week and a bursary is available for anyone in financial hardship

Can you spare a few hours a month? A Company Secretary is urgently needed by Myland Community Association to:

Take minutes at monthly management committee meetings - last Tuesday of the month 8pm
Distribute brief, accurate minutes with clear action points to committee members – by email
Liaise with the Chair to prepare for these meetings
Ensure compliance with Companies House reporting requirements, tax and any other legal obligations
Deal appropriately with the Association’s correspondence

You will need access to a computer & to be confident with Word, internet and email.

You will be a vital support to this important community group who are dealing with a range of issues in working for the benefit of the whole community.

The Association are a private limited company registered in England and Wales, no. 5772137

Please call 01206 853439 if you are interested.

As the Mile End Youth Project enters a very exciting phase, we are recruiting a Part Time Youth Worker and Sessional Workers. Please click here or on the link below to the YMCA website, for more information, Application Forms etc. Closing date for applications: 11th February; interviews on the evening of 22nd February

There will be an official unveiling of three large, vibrant art panels created by the community with professional artists in Mile End, Colchester.

This event at the new community garden on Mill Rd takes place at midday on Tuesday 11^th December. The garden project has involved a range of groups from the local community over the last 2 years with funding from Community Action in Mile End (CAM).

Summer workshops led by artist Jacqueline Davies attracted families and children over several days where they used a range of techniques including stencilling and painting to create colourful panels. Project coordinator from CAM, Jo Wheatley, said: ‘The results are outstanding and these gorgeous panels will really enhance the garden. Some seating has been funded by the Parish Council and we hope this will be installed in the near future to complete the garden.’

As part of the Youth Provision Project, summer activities have included street dance, sports and arts workshops. Community groups also worked together to put on some very successful activity sessions for families and children to have fun doing crafts, arts and sports together. Over 150 places were taken up over the 3 sessions during the first week of the summer hols.

Places are available on the street dance course which continues as ‘Urban Funk Hip Hop’ at the new Lorraine George dance school 305 Mile End Rd, opposite the Church Halls. Fridays from 6 to 7pm for ages 12+, call tutor Jemma Rust on 077903 043 091 or CAM for more information.

Preparation is being made to recruit a part time Youth Project Worker for Mile End with funding from the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, Borough, County and Parish Councils and CAM. Anyone interested in this job opportunity should contact CAM for more information.

Bikeability training has taken place at Myland School for 9 to 11 year olds. CAM have subsidised the cost of this and 10 places were taken up for the 3 on road training sessions. Bikeability, delivered locally by Cycle Training East (CTE) is being piloted to replace ‘cycling proficiency’ with a new more rigorous national standard. CTE can also work with adults, workplaces, organisations and individual families, contact them on 01376 346848 www.cycletrainingeast.org.uk

Funding is available to train adult residents to become cycle training instructors. This will help to sustain the efforts to enable children and adults to become confident cyclists and to reduce car journeys. Any cyclists interested in this should contact CAM.

Funding towards upgrading the facility has been awarded to Places for People Homes. CAM carried out consultation to support this application and a £35,858 Lottery grant has been secured! CAM has supported the Parish Council to apply for a further £50,000. If successful the total amount will allow a complete makeover of the site next year. Artists and Play Workers will run workshops to give local families an opportunity to help shape the design and layout of the new facility and choice of equipment.

Come and have fun with your children - make cards, unusual seasonal gifts and decorations with professional artists. It's at Myland Parish Halls (St Michael's) on Sunday 25th November from 10:30am to 3pm. Stay as long as you like! Call 853439 to be sure of a place, or just turn up! Only 50p per child: children must be accompanied. Refreshments are available. Proceeds to Myland Community Association.

This event is supported by Children's Centres and Community Action in Mile End, and funded by Child First.

You are warmly invited to Myland Community Association's first Annual General Meeting at Colchester Rugby Club, Mill Rd on Wednesday 26th September from 12.30 to 2.30pm.

After the formal business including reports on current projects - Youth, the Community Stadium and the Severalls Community Centre - there will be a guest speaker from Living Streets www.livingstreets.org.uk

Sandwiches & refreshments will be available. Children will be very welcome - the meeting room is large, there's plenty of space.

Please call to reserve you seat(s) (no obligation) - this helps us with catering arrangements too!

For more information and to book a place, call Jemma Rust on 07703 043091 or 01206 853439

To simply reserve a place at the first, FREE, session you can call Jo on 01206 853439

Residents in Mile End/Myland are invited along to some free workshops to help create more art panels for the newly opened Mill Road Community Garden. Artist Jacqui Davies will be working with participants of all ages at the free sessions at St. Michael's Hall on Mile End Road on Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th August from 10am to 3pm each day. You need to call 01206 853439 or email jowheatley@colnehousing.co.uk to find out more and book a place.