Silksworth and Ryhope - Down Your Way

Silksworth IM Church (behind Blind Lane) will be holding its Christmas Market this Saturday from 10am to 2pm. This is always very popular with Santa’s Grotto, many different stalls and refreshments. Go along and enjoy some festive spirit.

There will be no Knitting Group in North Street Methodist Church this Saturday. The next meeting will be on Saturday, December 10. All are welcome.

The next Sunderland Disabled Association coffee morning will take place this Friday from 9.30am in Silksworth Community Centre. All are welcome.

The next meeting of the Church View Patient Group will take place at Church View Medical Centre at 5.30pm on Wednesday, December 14, this will take the form of a Christmas party and include a raffle to raise funds enabling the ‘group’ to continue to subsidise the alternative therapy sessions provided at the centre. This is a friendly group and would welcome more patients to the group.

Blue Watch Youth Centre, Ryhope, has continued supporting young people aged 16 to 24 in gaining further qualifications and works experience in order to equip them with confidence and skills to be able to progress into further education, training or employment. There are currently a number of programmes on offer to suit specific needs of young adults and further NEET provision will be coming for those aged 24-plus. The study programme (European Social Funded) is in partnership with Springboard Trust. Any young people aged 16 to 18, who are currently not in education, employment or training may apply to join the programme. It will consist of completion of the AQA Personal Social Education Certificate, and the British Heart Foundation Heart Start Certificate. In addition, anyone who does not have a GCSE Grade C or above in English or maths will be offered help in working towards achieving these grades. Subject to eligibility, daily meal vouchers and bursary payments are available during the period of the programme, which runs each week from Monday to Thursday, 10am to 3pm. Funding from Virgin Money, means the Steps to Success programme is available to those who do not wish to undertake new or further long-term courses and just wish to gain employment or an apprenticeship. Blue Watch also offers short courses including: Employability Skills, Food Safety and Nutrition, First Aid, in addition to work experience placements, tailored to the needs of the individual to assist them in gaining employment. Drop in sessions are also available to do job search, complete paper or online application forms and construct CVs. The centre has also been awarded funding from Comic Relief for those who require a support provision to assist them in progressing into education, training or employment but have physical, mental health or learning disabilities. If you are currently, claiming Social Security Benefits or working with Sunderland Connexions ask your adviser for further details to be referred to the provision or contact it directly to find out more about the various programmes on offer. Denis Crompton, Senior Worker at Blue Watch Youth Centre, Burdon Lane, Ryhope, Sunderland SR2 0HR. Ring 0191 5214060 or email: [email protected]

Silksworth Heritage Group will meet in Beckwith Mews on Monday, November 21, at 2pm. Guest speaker will be Brian Ibbinson giving a talk and film show about Sunderland. The December meeting will be the Christmas party. All are welcome.