24th March 2015

The great news is the garden’s started and they’re even here in the snow today (White in Moulin but no snow on the ground down the street here). We’re looking forward to seeing the finished article. 4 volunteers from Scottish & Southern Electricity are using their Help in the Community day to give us a hand in April and we’re applying to Dobbies in the Community as well. Liz enjoyed her Trellis conference & is now doing a risk assessment for us.

March has been a busy month residentially with groups every weekend and the Baptist Ministers Continuing Ministry during the week too. They all had successful conferences with us and seemed very impressed with our new rooms as well.

Anne went to a workshop on creative breaks last week to find out how we can help more disabled people & their carers come for a holiday here and this week we’re exhibiting in Perth at a Self Directed Support showcase. Self Directed Support is where disabled and elderly folks who need support are given control of their own Social Work budget so they can choose where they get their help from, including respite breaks.

Last month Comic Relief celebrated huge fundraising success on Red Nose Day and we’re planning a big celebration of our own to thank God for the money He has given the Atholl Centre through you and others. We’re meeting this week to plan our Open Day on the 6^th June  (John Swinney our local MSP is already booked to come) and have signed up to join the Eden Project’s Big Lunch on Sun 7^th to open the Community Garden too. Please put these dates in your diary & join us for this big celebration of what God has done & is doing through us.

Meanwhile we continue to raise funds so we can get on with phase 3 – making a new accessible conference room by extending & dividing the dining room. Please remember our Thrift shop on from the 11^th – 16^th April (11-4, except Sunday) and if anyone is interested in joining in with Etape Caledonia to raise money for the Centre, do let us know. It’s only 5 weeks away!