Local projects in Barnsley

Here you can read more about the latest local projects we've run at JCI Barnsley. Contact us if you'd like to learn more about and get involved with the future business, community and social projects we're planning.

JCI Barnsley: Motoring the Female Way

JCI Barnsley, have this year, organised a series of training sessions in association with Barnsley College. The first of these events involved an introduction to motor mechanics. A successful turnout of mainly women and a token male, lucky to be surrounded by a group of wonderful ladies, were taught essential car maintenance.

The session consisted of information on how simple tasks carried out every week can help maintain your car and prevent damage and breakdowns, which could cost hundreds of pounds to repair. I must say that our teacher was not hopeful when the first question to be asked was "how do you open the bonnet?" and most of us looked at each other in a confused manner! Through the session we became more competent and learned some valuable skills that will help us in our fight to show men that we are capable of changing the oil just as well as they can. I must say however, I am not convinced by the dirt associated with such tasks, when offered plastic gloves I was truly tempted!

Debbie Tills demonstrated incredible strength when attempting to take off wheel nuts putting any man to shame, I know if I ever need a tyre changing she is the first person I am going to call! All in all the event taught us many important car maintenance related skills, although I am not sure I am ready to trade in my AA membership card just yet!

The Big Supper- JCI Yorkshire

The Big Supper is an excellent opportunity for members from across the Yorkshire region to get together to learn and share, and this year was no exception.

JCI Barnsley were this year's excellent hosts and made sure the evenings training was aimed at current members needs by asking them to vote on the topics for the sessions - the outcome being team building and ideas generation.
 
The evening started with informal networking, a chance for regional members to catch up over a jacket potato and the most wonderful spread of salad dishes (top nosh!!). 
 

The group was then split in two for the training. First up (for me!) making her Big Supper debut was Emma Eastwood, who delivered an excellent team building session around the work of Belbin and how a team needs a range of people with different skills to work together effectively.
 


There was also a really enjoyable second session run by our National Training Director, Dan Lally, which explored some hints and tips on how to generate ideas. I discovered some interested approaches that I will use in my own chamber and the girls' team (who won!!) also came up with an idea for a new regional event 'Come Dine with my Chamber...' so watch this space!


Overall a really fantastic event, well done JCI Barnsley for being super hosts!

Bowlathon

Charity fundraising can be an arduous business. Bathing in baked beans and jumping from planes are among the depths many poor schleps will plumb in the name of a good cause. So it was with some trepidation that the brave souls of Barnsley devoted one Monday evening to a gruelling three-hour session of, erm, tenpin bowling for their chosen charity, Barnsley Riding for the Disabled Association!

Quite what the ever-so serious, professional league bowlers made of our 41-strong throng of rank amateurs taking over their patch remains unclear. 8 teams competed for the coveted title of JCI Barnsley Bowlathon Champion, but only 1 could be victorious. Members and non-members alike put in strong performances, but the Software Strikers came out on top, miles ahead of the rest.

The evening was a great success and raised £318, one of the biggest totals raised for a community event in JCI Barnsley history!