This autumn young people in Penicuik will have the opportunity to take part in a six week course of cooking classes at Penicuik YMCA-YWCA. Thanks to funding from NHS Lothian, free healthy cookery classes will be offered by Spanish chef Luis of Letelier Catering. Originally from Madrid, Luis is passionate about giving young people the skills and confidence to cook healthy food on a budget.

 

The cookery classes will be relaxed and informal and peppered with humour! Chef Luis will show the budding young cooks how to easily prepare the ingredients, have them copy him and next follow the stages in the recipe, with opportunities for questions and answers throughout. In addition, general kitchen, hygiene and common sense safety will also be discussed so participants to feel relaxed in a kitchen environment.

 

Young people can look forward to creating simple and easy dishes, like easy-peasy pizzas and wraps using fresh ingredients and – where possible – using vegetables grown in the Y’s own community garden. Instead of just pasta, they’ll learn to make tomato sauce for pasta meatballs and the same sauce for pizza. They’ll learn to use three ingredients - like onions, eggs and potatoes - and make different dishes with these, such as tortillas. And look out - there will also be a Healthy Eating MasterChef competition!

 

“It won’t be like cooking with Gordon!” Luis said. “It’s really about having a willingness to learn, to listen, to follow my instructions and above all, have an interest in food. The emphasis at my cookery classes is for people to have fun, fun, fun! It will be very relaxed.”

 

Morag McDonald, Youth Development Worker at Penicuik Y added “We are thrilled to have a professional chef of Luis’ calibre working with us to deliver our aim of encouraging young people to learn how to cook affordable healthy dishes. We hope to offer further healthy cookery courses to other sections of the community in the near future.”

Last week, Michelle – one of our fantastic childcare team - cut 14 inches from her hair to donate to children who have lost theirs through cancer treatment or illness. As well as cutting off her beautiful locks, Michelle raised an amazing £350 for the Little Princess Trust to cover the cost of the wig creation. If you can help top up her sponsorship, please donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/Michelle-Gillies2/?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_content=Michelle-Gillies2&utm_campaign=pfp-email

Well done Michelle! 

On Thursday 28th of August we celebrated our amazing volunteer Louise. Louise has been travelling through from Edinburgh to volunteer with us once a week at Penicuik YMCA-YWCA for 23 years – nearly quarter of a century!

What started out as a Duke of Edinburgh volunteering requirement soon became an important part of Louise’s life, as she became an important part of The Y team here in Penicuik. Her hard work doesn’t go unnoticed by those around the building, and staff and board members were thrilled to gather to celebrate her efforts. 



When asked why she has volunteered for so many years Louise commented: "I just love doing what I do. I do have spina bifida but it doesn't stop me - I do voluntary work where I can and I love doing crafts and cooking - and watching the Great British Bake Off.”

Louise’s story was featured in STV! Read it here: http://edinburgh.stv.tv/articles/1327573-ymca-volunteer-louise-harkness-thanked-for-decades-of-service-in-penicuik/

One of the first young people referred to Plusone completed the mentoring programme on 18 August 2015.  Lucy, aged 10, from the Woodburn area, was referred by her family’s social worker last year and was introduced to her mentor Nicola for the first time last August.  Nicola, who was studying Law at Edinburgh University at the time, met with Lucy once a week for a year-long period. 

Nicola has been a positive role model for Lucy, helping to promote her engagement with school and supporting her to build positive relationships with her siblings.  Nicola has enabled Lucy to access community resources, and to undertake positive activities in and out-with her community. 

Supported by the Plusone budget and additional funding received from the Edinburgh Holiday Fund, Nicola and Lucy visited many attractions including the Butterfly Farm, Time Capsule, Camera Obscura, Craigmillar Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Winter Wonderland, Ryze, Musselburgh Beach, Arcades at Portobello and Edinburgh Zoo.

Nicola encouraged Lucy’s interest in swimming and ice skating and her love of baking and cooking, they visited Y2K and the YMCA-YWCA to make pizza’s, cakes and have art and craft sessions.  They also visited local parks for nature walks. 

Nicola has been a consistent adult in Lucy’s life helping her to problem solve and giving her the time and space to practice new ways of doing things.  Lucy’s dad and his partner are incredibly grateful for the time that Nicola has dedicated to mentoring Lucy.  They feel that Lucy has benefited immensely from Plusone and they have noticed marked improvements in her behaviour and an increase in her confidence.  They appreciate all the guidance, support and encouragement that Nicola put into the mentoring which has had such a positive effect.

“Mentoring has been good for me, having fun, knowing that my mentor has been coming for me every week, getting away from my brother and sister for a bit, going to new places like Craigmillar Castle, Edinburgh Castle, the Camera Obscura was fun.  It has been good to have someone to talk to, someone to help me” (Lucy, aged 10)

 Lucy’s dad has appreciated Lucy’s involvement with Plusone:

“Mentoring has helped my daughter a lot.  The mentor was superb, a great help to my daughter.  Lucy has liked the 1:1 contact.  She has looked forward to seeing her mentor every week.  Lately her behaviour has been great which is down to the support of her mentor.  She made a great scrap book with her mentor to help her remember their year together.  (Lucy’s dad)

Mentor Nicola commented:

"The biggest benefit of mentoring is that it's extremely rewarding. I know that I am giving my mentee some much needed support and encouragement. One of the main reasons I know that the support is working is that I have seen the positive change in my mentee throughout the year and I have helped her achieve her goals. Also seeing how grateful my mentee was when we were doing activities."

Sunday 2nd August saw the official opening of our newly refurbished Sports Courts! Despite the weather forecast predicting nothing but heavy downpours and thunder with a chance of total misery, the rain held off and our precautionary umbrellas remained untouched.

The renovating and opening of the derelict Sports Courts on the Melville Estate has been a long awaited occasion for us here at The Y. Over the past few years 'The Y' has battled through various difficulties, including serious funding cuts and shortages, which made the cutting of the ribbon an even prouder moment.

The grand opening was well attended by Penicuik locals and dignitaries alike with renowned former international tennis umpire, John Frame; the Lord Lieutenant of Midlothian Sir Robert Clerk and Lady Clerk; Scotland women’s rugby international Sarah Law and her sister Rachel who is a sportscotland Sports Panel Ambassador; Keith Wright, Football Development Officer with Midlothian Council and former Hibernian and Scotland footballer; and John McCrossan, Youth Development Convener, Midlothian Hockey Development Group in attendance as well as members of the community. 

Guests were treated to demonstrations of hockey, football and tennis by our talented locals, including Yves and Oliver Lemarchand, Penicuik Athletic YFC and Eskvale Hockey Club, who showed off their skills as they became the first official users of The Y’s Sports Courts.

Here are some of our favourite photos from the day- huge thanks to those who have supported and funded this exciting project and to those who made it along to celebrate with us!

For any enquiries or bookings regarding our brand new facility, please call 01968 674 851.

All images © Michael Anderson.