REVIEWS

The month started with a trip down to Wolsingham Youth Consultation Event in County Durham – about a hundred young people expected. A pleasant drive through the beautiful countryside of Southern Scotland and Northern England and a day with new people exploring the strange world of TRASH

Then on the 4th BANG we broke our record for the largest scale workshop we have ever done on a single day. Girl-guiding Roxburghshire held an extravaganza at Springwood Park , Kelso, for Guides and Brownies. TRASH was invited to put on a series of workshops at the event. With 317 Brownies and 106 Guides booked into the event plus all their leaders the final total of players was about 500. Coping with groups of up to 45 at a time meant two training teams, Alan Govan, Finlay McDermid, Katie Forbes and James Knowles; and a large van from Cooks, the hire firm, to carry all the giant drums. The weather was good and the whole day was spent outside. The day went well including the drumming. To quote Lucy Smith, Guides representative, “ we are very grateful to TRASH for their contribution towards the success of Sunday's Extravaganza. Even the weather seemed to enjoy it” No reports have been received from the inhabitants of Kelso – nothing about artillery barrages or distant thunder coming from the west.

On the 5th the performance group, TRASH'd, put on a series of performances for IKEA Edinburgh 's Environmental day. IKEA have involved all their UK stores in environmental events. Again the weather was great. Liz Stanton, Environmental Specialist at IKEA, reported that the day had really gone well, with the group putting on inspirational performances and working well, with great patience, with anyone wanting to try their hand. One staff member of IKEA, with Downe's Syndrome, worked with the group all day. IKEA are looking at further events with TRASH involving staff and the local community.

From big groups and out of area trips to the local Tweedbank Beaver Group and 14 youngsters on the 6th was a bit of a contrast. At the invite of leader Yvonne Edwards, Finlay and Katie spent an energetic hour with the group. They were shattered after it; Finlay and Katie, I mean. It's all part of the life that is TRASH.

With support from the Education Department and The Youth Music Initiative of the Scottish Executive, we completed a very successful Primary school tour, sometimes working with the senior groups, sometimes involving the whole school. The last June visit, to Langlee Primary School in Galashiels, finished with us doing a storm piece, to drive the rain away from our outside workshop – and it worked – Kudos to TRASH the rain-stoppers. In total over 400 children took part in the project with the returned questionnaires, from children and teachers, showing a very positive view of the value and fun to be had from TRASH.

July trips included one to a youth group at Chirnside in the Borders, another group at the Oasis Youth Project in Dumfries; and the traditional trip to West Lothian , going on since 1996, to work with their play-scheme groups at their annual fun day.

August again saw a mix of old and new; starting with us one of our regulars, Eyemouth Summer school; then a trip up the Ettrick valley to be part of their summer programme. Two local MP's, Jeremy Purvis and Michael Moore, turned up and were co-opted into the group (and we have the photo to prove it). Then on to work with a local Apex group; down to Tyneside to do a special needs Fun Day; then over to the Maltings Arts Centre in Berwick; then a solo effort by Bill at the Innerleithen Folk Festival; then another Bill solo at a fun day run by ELCAP (An East Lothian special needs support agency): And finally three days with Peebles Arts Festival – running from 31 st August to the 3 rd of September. Again we have worked with this festival since 1996. This year it had grown to take in two schools, a performance by one of them on the Saturday and a performance by TRASH'd. And we have immediately been booked for next year WOW! Peebles wasn't the only trip by TRASH'd since Ikea since you ask. In July they played in Darlington 's main square as part of the town's summer extravaganza – the advantages of a loud unplugged band please note all organisers!! In August they played in the local Wooplaw woods as part of a rock and pop festival – see versatile as well. Then at a special sculpture trail opening in a wood near Peebles (what's with the wood theme – Editor). The day after the Peebles Festival they were in Kelso for the St James Fair. Then, after a rest, a final bash took placeat the Langlee Carnival. For the winter the group will be working with new members, rehearsing, making up new pieces, and getting ready for 2007. On the staff front, Katie has gone off into Social Services, Knowli is taking time out, and Finlay is working on post-graduate studies and working on his music. Everyone is still in touch.

Bill is keeping the pot ticking by coming back in to do workshops, he has just been back down to Dumfries , where there is some interest in reviving the group we set up some years ago. Over the next two months we will be working with groups as diverse in scale and activities as the local Kelso Brownies, and national groups such as Crossreach the social care organisation attached to the Church of Scotland, and Who Cares? Scotland – working with children and parents.

This update ends with a big thanks – to all the diverse groups that ask us in to work and play with them; to the staff and volunteers who make everything happen; the organisations and companies who help us; and the members of the public who back what we do. Thank you all