What's New?

	Bishopmill Litter Elgin Academy have agreed to promote the funding they have received (£600.00) from the Anti-Social Behaviour Fund after the school summer holidays.  THis will include a press release and photo call which Michelle, Support Worker, will help to coordinate.  Elgin North Area Forum are looking to set up a specific community action group which would look and resolve the issues of vandalism and litter in and around school grounds.
	Lesmurdie Woods It is still planned to officially open the new recreational area for young people, families and the local community this year.
	Action Group Parking As reported in the press the car parking charges at Dr Gray's Hospital have been dropped.  The significance of this change of policy will be discussed at the next Action Group Parking meeting. The Action Group is still waiting dates to meet the Volunteer Centre Moray and/or Grow Moravia to discuss the proposed community garden project at Braco Place.
	Victoria Crescent Medical Centre Elgin North Area Forum invited the Practice Manger at Victoria Crescent Medical Centre to discuss the moving of the centre to the new Springfield Retail Park to New Elgin at the August Area Forum meeting on Tuesday 12th August.  Members of Elgin South Area Forum attended the meeting.  Mr Alex Bruce, Practice Manager and his colleague Elaine Brown gave a very informative presentation explaining hte reasons for the move.  The area forum welcomed this although there were still reservations on the availability of car parking spaces.
	Community Allotments The Elgin Allotment Projects Steering Group had a very successful trip to Nairn to visit allotmetns which was also attended by representatives from the Keith and Forres groups who are also looking for allotment sites in their area.  They also plan to visit the allotments in Banchory and Edinburgh over the next few months.  THe Elgin group was also invited to the National Food Standard Agency in Aberdeen to give a presentation on the work they have done to date.  Their presentation was well received.
	Pilot Newsletter The Neighbourhood News editorial group has not met, as there is no secure administration budget to fund future editions.  Both Elgin Area Forums has reserved a budget towards the next edition and corresponding with the Youth Team to see if young people would be interested in doing the distribution as a fundraiser.
	Elgin Entranceway Beautification Scheme The group taking forward this scheme is still finding it challenging to find someone to take on the coordination role.  Also some of the sites highlighted for possible flowerbeds may be part of the proposed Elgin by-pass.  A meeting will be arranged soon once a coordinator is identified.

What's New?

Rapture Tour of Moray 2008 The Elgin Youth Forum has started the Rapture (DJ event), Tour of Moray 2008 and had a highly successful start to their tour in January at the Elgin City Football Club.  Over 200 young people attended from all over Moray, including some travelling in from Speyside.  All the young people enjoyed the music on a Saturday night, without depending on alcohol or drugs.  Partnership working was also achieved with Community Police on the evening to increase the awareness of the risks associated with alcohol use.

The next event is planned to take place in Forres and the Forum members are working on a visual presentation to be projected on a screen on the evening and display graphics associated with alcohol/drug use and other important health/safety issues.  The Rapture tour aims to promote the Elgin Youth Forum and the DJ workshop and to allow young people from all of Moray to have an enjoyable evening listening to music and to pass on vital educational messages.  Furthermore, the Forum hopes that these events will inspire other young people from other areas of Moray to consider starting their own youth forum to provide a voice in their locality.

Gardening Project Approach The Forum has been approached by Anderson’s Care Home to help them develop a gardening project, linking this in with the heritage and culture attached to the building.