JOHN COLEMAN IS COMING BACK TO INVERNESS!!!

A Night of Songs and Stories with John Coleman & Friends

A singer/songwriter in the acoustic folk tradition and a member of L’Arche Tasmania for almost 20 Years, John will be joined by
L’Arche Inverness to share songs and stories that
celebrate the life-transforming gift of relationships.

Many of John’s original songs are inspired by his experience of community life and the spirituality of L’Arche, have received awards - including the Australian Folk Federation Song-writing award. They have been sung and are loved throughout the world
From the Pacific Swell to the Heart of the Highlands, and beyond.

Venue: Culduthel Christian Centre, Culduthel Ave, Inverness
When: Wednesday 14th May, 7:30pm (Doors open at 7:00pm)
Tickets: £5, £4 Concessions, £1.50 under 12s
Contact inverness@larche.org.uk , T. 01463 239615Find out more @ http://larcheinvernessnews.blogspot.com/

BACK AGAIN TO SLOVAKIA!

At the end of November, several members of our community journeyed to Slovakia to share about L'Arche Inverness. Community Director Robin Sykes travelled with long-time community member Syd Fraser to Slovakia, where they were welcomed by Houses' Co-ordinator and genuine Slovak Peter Drozd.

The main purpose of the visit by the Inverness delegation was to share stories and wisdom about living and working alongside adults with learning disabilities with the students at the Catholic University in Ruzomberok, Slovakia. Robin, Syd and Peter made their presentation to three large groups of young people, most of them students of social work.
The highlights of the presentations included Robin reminiscing about his adventures as a first year assistant, Syd sharing about how his life changed when he came to L'Arche Inverness 25 years ago, and Peter's colourful translations.

While in Ruzomberok, the L'Arche Invernessians also embraced opportunities to strenghten ties with the administration and professors at the Catholic University.

Five of our former assistants were originally recruited from this university, and they are all now back in Ruzomberok continuing their studies. It was a wonderful reunion of L'Ache Invernessians past and present, and everyone enjoyed catching up with Miska Pavlusova, Anka Bodnarova, Vlado Pallo, Petyo Brodnan and Renata Janigova.

The Scottish visitors took the opportunity to sight-see and try traditional Slovak food. All in all, it was a delightful and productive trip; the relationships established and deepened between members of the University and L'Arche Inverness will undoubtedly bear fruit well into the

future.

Running for L'Arche - transforming the Highlands mile by mile

Loch Ness Marathon 2007

Loch Ness Marathon 2007

CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO BE TAKEN TO AN ALBUM OF RACE IMAGES

Can you imagine how it must feel to have achieved a personal best, to have risen to a challenge and overcome any doubts, even fears that you might not make it? Pretty wonderful, acording to the fabulous, fleet-footed friends and members of L'Arche Inverness Community who put their best feet forward and ran the course of the 5K, 10K and Marathon races on Sunday 7th October in the Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running.

So many of us are in awe of the magnificent gestures of personal commitment, dedication and sheer hard training that brought in 12 runners, smiling (often through the pain) from the sheer joy of having completed what started out several months ago as an idea that by getting a bit fitter they might each raise some money towards the Working Together ~ Transforming Lives appeal that is helping us to pay for the building and development of our new Workshop Resource Centre.

Perhaps the lure of running through what must be one of the most scenic race courses in the whole of the world (ok, we're a little biased!), or the anticipation of the fantastic race day atmosphere as an international family of runners descends on the loch side was enough to attract Alison, David, Donna, Dorota, Findlay, Holly, Janet, Martha, Peter, Rachel, Simon and Thomas to take part, but only their personal determination and promise to run for L'Arche, whatever it takes can finally have brought them triumphant to the finish line on the day!

Race times

Alison Hendry - 5K 36 minutes
Janet, Findlay, Martha and Rachel Spence - 5K well done all
Donna McCracken and Dorota Pazdzior - 10K 1hr 12 minutes
Simon spence - 10K 53 minutes
Peter Drozd - Marathon 4hrs 56 minutes
Holly Hiles and David Holdsworth - Marathon 5hrs 10 minutes
Thomas Lacroix - Marathon 4hrs 3 minutes

WELL DONE EVERYONE! We are all so proud of you and your commitment means so much to us all.

It is still possible to make an online donation in appreciation of our runners' efforts and in support of our new workshop resource centre appeal. CLICK HERE to donate now.

Celebrating 25 Years of Working together at L'Arche Inverness Workshops!

L'Arche Workshop 25th Anniversary

CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO BE TAKEN TO AN ALBUM OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CELEBRATIONS

On Friday October 5th we raised our glasses and celebrated 25 years of woodworking, gardening, craft creating, tea-breaking and working together in our workshops here at Drummond Crescent, with speeches by Syd and Cait taking us down memory lane, some singing and a slap up meal followed by a HUGE cake made by the Recreation & Retirement Group. Cathol's eyes lit up when he saw all the ice cream laid out in front of him! The community gathered along with all those who are connected to the workshops. It was such a mild and sunny day so we enjoyed our celebration on the deck at the back of the workshop.

L'Arche UK Regional Gathering

Last week, L'Arche UK held its first major Gathering in Durham for nearly 9 years! here are some photos with some stories to follow shortly!

Hilary is 'Walking for L'Arche!'

On Saturday 8th September 2007, Hilary Lacroix, member of L'Arche Inverness Community and walker extraordinaire will don her boots to trek 11 miles through the rugged and beautiful Glen Affric in order to raise money for L'Arche Inverness' Working Together ~ Transforming Lives Appeal.

Hilary will be dusting off her Kagoule and stepping out helping us to raise a further £151,414 towards funding the cost of building and developing our exciting and innovative new Workshop Resource Centre. Within this exciting new facility there are 4 new workshop spaces, where 25 adults with learning disabilities, from throughout the Highlands, are being welcomed into meaningful work, training and support - regardless of age or ability. Each person welcomed is offered access to lifelong learning; the wider employment opportunities available in Inverness and the dignity of doing a good day's work - at every stage in their lives.

Sponsoring Hilary online is simple, fast and totally secure. It is a really efficient way to send your contribution and to ensure that you can help her to begin transforming lives today. CLICK HERE to sponsor Hilary online now.

Hilary will be one of the many people taking part in this Glen Affric walking event: The Thistle Challenge, which is an annual fund-raising event organised jointly by Volunteering Highland and Osprey Adventures Ltd and which is open to anyone who would like to raise funds for a charity or good cause of their choosing. Why not join Hilary in undertaking this year's challenge an 11-mile walk (or 22 miles if you fancy a real challenge) around the spectacular Glen Affric. Simply visit The Thistle Challenge to find out more and contact cait.mccullagh@larche.org.uk to find out about registering to 'walk for L'Arche'!

CLICK HERE to find out about 'RUNNING Loch Ness for L'Arche'!

Mactalla, Monarchs of the Glen - the Trip to Glen Bogle!

MacTalla Summer Holidays July 2007

CLICK ON THE IMAGE OF GINA AND BARBARA ABOVE TO SEE MORE PICTURES OF THE TRIP!

It may not have been the sunniest of days in Glen Bogle, or Broomhill as the real Highland location of the famous BBC TV Series, Monarch of the Glen, is known, bu there were beaming smiles all around as the folks from MacTalla House enjoyed a holiday out on the Highland Railways Steam Train Braeriach.

Remembering his own days as a young man in the 1960s helping out on the puffers delivering coal to the Sutherland and Caithness Straths, Angus, gave out a great laugh every time our driver pulled on the train's whistle and made sure to salute our very smartly attired Guard as he swayed among us collecting tickets and delivering good cheer.

Barbara remembered the trains that used to call in at Alness, now long gone and Gina wasted no time in chatting to the 'engine boys' once we stopped to allow the engine to change tracks and make it's way up to the other end of the train, ready for the long pull back to our final destination at Aviemore.

Everyone is really enjoying the chance to holiday here at home in the heart of the Highlands, before heading off for a couple of weeks in August to a variety of different holiday venues including Kilkenny, Ireland; Cuise La Motte in France; Brecon in Mid-Wales and Bognor Regis! We're all hoping the sun makes a few more appearances before then.

Why not send us your holiday news - you can post a 'Wish You Were Here' comment and let us know just where you are staying and what fun you have been having. We'd love to hear from you!