Community

Youth Groups

We now have two youth clubs weekly, with juniors on Tuesday and seniors on Thursday. The senior club ran a very successful psychedelic disco with a buffet. This was attended by local councillors, local police, committee members and parents - all of whom no doubt cringed at being reminded of some of the social faux pas of their youth.

We still plan our Youth Forum, but we are waiting for the post of Community Education Officer being filled by North Lanarkshire Council.

Croy Historical Society

This continues to go from strength to strength. Members now carry out talks to a wide local area to schools and local community groups. Membership is strong and another Open Week is being planned to build on the successful weeks held in the last two years. The Society has also had good local press coverage praising and highlighting its work. Croy and the surrounding area was the most northerly outpost of the Roman Empire. We have two Roman hill forts and The Antonine Wall within walking distance of the Centre. We also have a vast legacy from mining and the communites that grew to support the mining industry.

However, massive building programmes in the surrounding area for commuters to both Glasgow and Edinburgh have led to concerns over preserving the integrity of the community and the Historical Society are working to develop of living archive our heritage.

Visit their site at www.croyhistorical.org.uk.

CACE (Cumbernauld Action & Care of the Elderly) and the Pensioners' Lunch Club

Sadly, with the disintegration of the traditional, wider family model, and with more families geographically dispersed, our elderly people can be left isolated and alone, often not speaking to anyone for days at a time. CACE meet in the Centre on a Wednesday morning to provide a social outing and befriending network for isolated elderly men within the community. The gentlemen get together for a cuppa and a chat and take part in talks or demonstrations from various areas. In the past year, we have had visits from an aromatherapist on site to offer relaxation tips, the Historical Society has hosted talks on the old days and, weather permitting, walks and outings take place throughout the area. The Pensioners' Lunch Club meet on a Mondays, and it is predominantly a ladies group. They enjoy a subsidised lunch, play bingo and have a social outing. We are currently looking at getting help with transport from North Lanarkshire Council's Social Work Dept to help some of the less active members attend, and to widen our network of volunteer drivers. Our summer pensioners' outing and Christmas party are fixtures on the village's social calendar, and the Society would like to thank our funders, including Help the Aged, whose support makes these events happen.

Food Co-Op

This vital resource is manned on a Wednesday mornings, providing basic, affordable groceries and fruit and vegetables to a wide clientele. On Wednesday afternoons, a volunteer driver delivers shopping to the housebound in the village.

BeamBack Club

This club has approximately 200 members who each pay a small cover charge to view football and other sporting events on the big screen. The club then distributes profits from these viewings to other charitable organisations. The club have also hosted several charity events in the Centre for local, national and international charities.

Coal Industry Social Work Organisation

A representative from CISWO is in the Centre on Monday mornings, offering advice to miners and miners' families. She also helps fill out forms and applies for grants that may be available. She also carries out home visits around the village.

C.H.R.I.S. Project

This project is a "Signpost" office, funded by North Lanarkshire Council. It is staff four days a week and offers advice on benefits, debt management and returning to education. As Croy is an area of high unemployment, this facility is very well utilised and has proven a lifeline for many in the village.

More information on C.H.R.I.S. is available on its page

JHP Training

This organisation has been selected by JobCentre Plus to offer a local service to help people access job opportunities. Their representative meets with clients on Monday mornings.

Local Councillor Surgeries

Our three elected local councillors hold regular surgeries within the Centre. One councillor holds a weekly surgery, one has a fortnightly surgery and a third holds a monthly surgery. Our Member of the Scottish Parliament also holds a monthly surgery.

The Bereavement Group

Volunteers staff this group and they offer catering to bereaved families at a low cost. The group use the Centre kitchen and main function hall for funeral breakfasts, usually soup, sandwiches, cakes, teas and coffees. As the village has a high level of low-income families, this group is sometimes all they can afford in times of personal sadness.

Croy Silver Band

The Silver Band was founded in 1856 and meet twice weekly. They are respected throughout the district and perform at a national level. One village institution is the Silver Band's playing of carols as they walk around the village on Christmas Eve.

Croy Youth Band

An advertisement in 2007 resulted in over 50 youngsters applying to join a new Youth Band. The Youth Band now meet twice weekly for practise and tuition. A shortage of instruments has been a problem, however, a grant application has been made to Children in Need to address this and to fund expenses for their volunteer bandmaster.

Slim Weigh Functions

Meet weekly in bid to beat the battle of the bulge. A wide variety of functions are booked into the Centre, which has two main halls, three meeting rooms, a main bar and lounge bar. In 2006-07, income from these lets was £5150. At present, our 07-08, accounts are with our accountants. Profit from these lets is then covenanted to the Charitable Society.