Come along and enjoy good company, festive entertainment and a 3 course Christmas lunch for just £8.00 per person on Tuesday 6th December at The Marlene Centre.

Transport from the local area including Coalville, Ellistown, Hugglescote, Whitwick, Thringstone, Whitwick, Ravenstone, New Swannington & Swannington can be arranged from £2.50 per person return.

Hurry and book your space soon as spaces are limited!

Call 01530 510515

From November MRC Community Transport will be providing a door to door service taking people on social events at The Century Theatre at Snibston Discovery Park.

The Community buses can pick up from Coalville, including Hugglescote and Ellistown as well as Ibstock*, Thringstone*, Whitwick and Ravenstone & Swannington*

(Villages marked with a *incur an extra £1.00 added to the cost of the ticket & transport)

Enjoy a 50's Rock & Roll night on the 26th November, a pantomime on the 7th & 8th December, Some Like It Hotter on 15th March 2012 and a 1940's Big Band on 12th May 2012.

Plus watch a movie on one of the Cinema Nights on 3rd February & 6th April 2012.

Call Nikki Warrilow in Community Transport on 01530 512457 for more details!

If you’re getting ready for Christmas and are looking to treat yourself or a loved one to a new appliance please give The Marlene Reid Centre a thought if your old domestic electrical appliances such as cookers and washing machines are still in good working order.

The REACT project based behind the main building, is based around furniture re-use and is currently in short supply of domestic appliances. All goods are tested and repaired by a qualified engineer and then passed onto local people on low income for a nominal charge. Collection of the items can be arranged.

Any funds raised from selling the electrical appliances is returned to the project to fund training for the long term unemployed. Lorrraine Harrison, Head of Enterprise, Training & Initiatives explained “White goods are desperately needed by those just setting up home who cannot afford to buy new, we recycle people’s unwanted items to help others and it saves people having to arrange having the items collected and taken to the tip” Lorraine continued “Last year, through the REACT project, we were able to save 100 tons of furniture and white goods from land fill, with the continued support of the general public we can improve on this amount at the same time as helping local people”.

So, if you are having a clear out and have any electrical appliances, furniture, bedding or anything you think may be of use to us please call The Marlene Reid Centre on 01530 510515.

For those wishing to come along and browse the current stock of brand new and reused furniture the REACT furniture warehouse is open six days a week, Mondays to Fridays from 9.00am to 4.00pm and on a Saturday from 9.00am til 1.00pm.

To find out more about the REACT project and MRC Community Action visit www.mrc.uk.net

We have been running our hugely successful Christmas Toy Appeal for more than 25 years.

Each year we rely on the generosity of local organisations and families who donate cash and brand new toys which are then given to children in and around North West Leicestershire.

The families who outside agencies refer the families to MRC Community Action are, for whatever reason, unable to buy presents for their children at Christmas-time and without the Christmas Toy Appeal these children would not receive any gifts at all.

Last year over 100 children benefited from the Toy Appeal and as the current climate has forced more families into a desperate situation, we envisage that there will be more families who will need our help this year.

As well as the Toy Appeal MRC Community Action food parcels to the homeless in North West Leicestershire and so far this year we have provided food to more than 75 local people who would have gone without food if we had not had offered help when they needed it most.

Can you help? If you can, please bring your donated toys to the Reception at The Marlene Reid Centre as soon as possible.

Please ensure that the toys you donate are suitable for 0-10 year old children. Last year we struggled to get many toys for 0-1 year olds so please help us provide local children with two or three toys, books, games or jigsaws.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Come along to The Marlene Reid Centre during October and November and learn more about understanding your finances and making ends meet.

There are 4 sessions, each lasting 2 hours each:

Where are we now and financial language.
Direct debits, standing orders, current and savings accounts. Debit and credit. Personal budgets. Banks or Post Office. ATM’s and their uses. APR.

SESSION 1: Weds 19th October 10am til 12 Noon & SESSION 2: Thurs 20th October 10am til 12 Noon

2. Making ends meet using a Bank or Post Office.
Overdrafts, loans, Credit Cards, Cheques. Types of bank Accounts. Writing cheques and paying bills. Checking your account balance. Dealing with Debit.

SESSION 1: Weds 26th October 10am til 12 Noon & SESSION 2: Thurs 27th October 10am til 12 Noon *** FULLY BOOKED ***

3. Keeping track of your finances.
Reading and understanding statements. Internet banking. Keeping receipts. Balancing and budgets. Arrears, CCJ’s, Court Summons, Debt collections, Bailiffs. How to querying your statement details, Store Cards, Credit Unions.

SESSION 1: Weds 2nd November 10am til 12 Noon & SESSION 2: Thurs 3rd November 10am til 12 Noon *** FULLY BOOKED ***

4. Planning ahead for the future.
Revisit budgets. Coping with unexpected expenses. Opening a bank account. Savings. Shopping habits. Getting the best deal, Holidays, Savings Stamps.

SESSION 1: Tuesday 8th November 10am til 12 Noon & SESSION 2: Thurs 10th November 10am til 12 Noon

Spaces are limited so to book your space call 01530 510515 and speak to Peter Higgs.

Down the Enrolment Form below and return it to Peter Higgs at The Marlene Reid Centre as soon as possible.

If you have any queries please call him on 01530 510515

Book a party at The Little Dragon's Den before 30th September 2011 and receive FREE PARTY INVITATIONS & FREE COFFEE/TEA for the grown ups on the day! (Applicable for parties before 31/03/2012).

The large hall at The Marlene Reid Centre in Coalville has room for up to 30 children to have fun on a large bouncy castle, soft play equipment plus toys can be borrowed from our well stocked Toy Library!.

Parties start from just £70 for 2 hours and we have a kitchen for you to use to prepare your own food too!

Call Ann Cave on 01530 510515 or email acave@mrc.uk.net. Alternatively, book online at mrc.uk.net.

At MRC REACT Furniture, behind The MArlene Reid Centre in Coalville, you can purchase second hand good condition furniture at fantasically low prices. MRC REACT also stock BRNAD NEW EX-CATALOGUE furniture at low prices too - beds, mattresses, sofas, suites, wardrobes and lots more. The showroom is open to the public 6 days a week. Call 01530 512454 for more details!

The timetable and booking form for our 2011 Summer playschemes is now available to download.

Keep children aged 4-11 years entertained during the summer school holdiays at one of the playschemes where they can meet new friends, have lots of fun, enjoy sports, art & crafts and keep active!

Call Lesley Massey on 01530 510515 or email lmassey@mrc.uk.net for more details

MRC Community Action is setting up a ‘Friends of MRC’ community group to help support and develop new projects.

We are asking people in the community to help protect the charitable side of the organisation and aren't asking for any money, just a little bit of time. There are various ways in which you can help on projects including:
- Easter Egg collection & redistribution to community groups
- The Harvest Festival collection & redistribution of food parcels
- The Christmas Toy Appeal - collection & redistribution of parcels to families in
desperate need at Christmas
- Older persons lunch clubs
- Dragon's Den soft play sessions
- Fundraising opportunities
- Volunteering opportunities

For more information, please contact Charlotte or Chantal on 01530 512452.

MRC Community Action, based at The Marlene Reid Centre, is setting up shop in Coalville’s Belvoir Shopping Centre for one week only. From Monday 22nd to Saturday 27th November, residents of North West Leicestershire will be able to visit the shop to find out more about the services that are offered to the community.

The community ‘shop’ will be open all day and will be serving free hot chocolate and mince pies to visitors – perfect when it’s cold outside. Younger visitors can write their letters to Santa in plenty of time for Christmas and why not try biscuit decorating and arts and crafts, which will be available each day (except Wednesday) from 9.30-11.30.
A host of volunteering opportunities will be on display for those who wish to explore how they can make a difference in the community.

Staff from the Stronger Communities team will be on hand every day to offer information, advice and a friendly chat about all of MRC Community Action’s services and each day from Monday to Friday, staff from different service areas will be based at the shop to offer further support. Monday – carers support; Tuesday – community transport; Wednesday – money advice and the toy library; Thursday – the REACT scheme and woodwork; Friday – children’s parties.

Dave Ahlquist, Chief Executive, says, “This is a fantastic opportunity for the residents of North West Leicestershire to find out what we do at MRC Community Action. There is something for everyone and the shop is a great way to talk to local people who can benefit from our services.”

On Saturday 27th November, the shop activities coincide with Coalville’s Christmas Lights Switch-On, so go and take a look to see what MRC Community Action has to offer you.