Doncaster Echo - December/January 2023

Celebrating everything good in doncaster and surrounding areas INTRODUCTION

Hello and welcome to your December/ January edition of Doncaster Echo! Here at Doncaster Echo, we are well and truly in the festive spirit, and as we enter the new year, we are super busy thanks to all the great businesses in our community wanting some coverage to help promote what they do.

We understand this winter will be a difficult one for many businesses and households with the current cost-of-living crisis, however, we are here to not only help with some fantastic offers but to also bring some positivity with the great local stories that have been happening this past month. In this issue, we showcase the brilliant sculpture launched at Doncaster Archive

Centre on Chequer Road to honour those who worked tirelessly during the Covid-19 pandemic, and also those loved ones we have lost to the virus. With the new year upon us, you may be looking to change your lifestyle and get a little fitter. And now Doncaster Council and FCC Environment have saddled up with the Yorkshire Bike Shack, this might be the great initiative to get you out and about cycling.

As always if you would like more information about how you can be featured in the magazine, get in touch with a member of our friendly team who will be happy to help. We will see you again in February!

the staff

kim dowson sales executive

LISA WARRENER EDITOR

RACHAEL LIDDLE DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Daniella dennis sales Manager

ellie atack FEATURES/COPYWRITER

Hearts for Doncaster sculpture honours loved ones and health workers

In early 2021, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals’ Charity launched the Hearts for Doncaster appeal

honour of those who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, as well as remembering those we have lost, by creating a special and lasting monument in the city

The last two years have been a time we’ll never forget. As a country, we’ve suffered heartbreak like never before, we’ve lost loved ones well before their time, remained indoors and put many aspects of our life on hold. In response, we have adapted to a new way of living, mastering different skills and learning how to enjoy a ‘new normal’, and although it’s been a challenge, each one of us, in our own way, has helped in the fight against Covid-19.

Team Doncaster wanted to create a special and lasting monument to those key and essential workers who have supported our communities throughout the pandemic, as well as being a tribute to those we have lost to this horrid illness.

Named Hearts for Doncaster, standing at almost 9ft tall and 18ft wide, the memorial will take pride of place within the Doncaster Archive Centre on Chequer Road. Shaped like a rainbow, the statue will be adorned with appropriately coloured hearts, each bearing a brief dedication to friends, family and loved ones, either in recognition of their efforts throughout the 12-month period, or instead in loving memory of someone sadly taken before their time.

Working with the British Ironworks Centre, the completed structure will feature 5,000 individually donated hearts, with all proceeds raised from the project going towards Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals’ Charity to

be directly reinvested in patient care and treatment.

To date, the charity has sold around 800 hearts. Once complete, the rainbow sculpture will hold 5,000 hearts each bearing a special message to the person or people it is dedicated to.

The majority of the hearts on

in

the sculpture are dedicated in memory of a loved one, therefore the team felt that the sculpture needed to be in a location where supporters could sit and reflect, in a peaceful environment. The gardens of the Archive Centre are filled with benches where supporters can sit for as long as they would like, enjoying the

new space surrounding them.

This is your opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to those who went above and beyond for you, whether it’s your friend, family, neighbour, colleagues, NHS and social care professionals, postman, waste collectors or supermarket worker – alternatively, you can

dedicate a heart as an act of remembrance to those taken before their time.

To dedicate a Heart for Doncaster, fill out the form at dbthcharity.co.uk/hearts-fordoncaster. It costs just £20 per heart and each heart will be individually engraved with your chosen message.

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These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in.

These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in.

The company, based locally, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding and a light all fully fitted in less than a day from just £277 + VAT. But it’s not just the affordability of the package the company offers that makes Yorkshire Loft Ladders stand out as manager Warren Ingleson explains:

The company, based locally, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding and a light all fully fitted in less than a day from just £277 + VAT. But it’s not just the affordability of the package the company offers that makes Yorkshire Loft Ladders stand out as manager Warren Ingleson explains:

‘Our watchwords are Quality,

‘Our watchwords are Quality,

Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and Value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford. Our business relies on referrals and we got a huge amount of our calls from people who have been referred to us by our existing customers - that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles.

Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and Value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford. Our business relies on referrals and we got a huge amount of our calls from people who have been referred to us by our existing customers - that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles.

lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’

So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however big or

lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’ So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however big or

small, call Warren on 0800 612 8359 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

small, call Warren on 0800 612 8359 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers

FROM A POLICE

Working together for

This month, Doncaster District Commander, Chief Supt Ian Proffitt, reflects on the past year and talks about the policing teams priorities as we enter the new year

‘As we move into the new year, the Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) will be restructured to create a fourth team - Doncaster North. We hope that aligning our teams with the council wards will allow for even greater partnership working and a better service for our communities.’

POLICE PERSPECTIVE:

for a better Doncaster

The start of a new year offers all of us the opportunity to both reflect on the challenges and successes of the previous year, while also looking forward to the year ahead.

I took on the role of Doncaster District Commander in November 2021, and although we have made some great strides in the right direction, there is always more work to be done.

In the city centre, we have seen partnership work between the police, council, the Frenchgate Centre and EPIC, making a real positive impact on tackling antisocial behaviour.

Throughout the autumn, we saw a period of intensification to combat those involved in organised crime, and the drug production and violent crime that often goes in hand in hand with it.

We have also seen significant jail sentences handed to individuals convicted of incidents of serious violent crime.

And as we move into the new year, the Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) will be restructured to create a fourth team - Doncaster North. We hope that aligning our teams with the council wards will allow for even greater partnership working and a better service for our communities.

Engaging with our communities is a huge part of what we do. Our teams have enjoyed a return to in person at PACT meetings and events, after a long

period of having to do this online. I want to reiterate that it is by working together that we can make Doncaster a safer place to live, work and visit. My teams across the district work hard day in, day out to protect and serve our communities. But they can’t do it without your support.

We need our communities to work with us as we tackle crime across our city. If you have information that could help us, please get in touch. Every piece of intelligence, no matter how small, can play a part in us being able to take decisive action against those involved in criminality.

Every story you see about policing operations and warrants is the culmination of weeks, sometimes months, of work and preparation. And information from people living and working in our communities is a vital part of that.

There are so many ways to contact us – from speaking with your neighbourhood officers at PACT meetings and pop-up police stations, to using our online reporting and chat facilities.

You can also keep up to date with our teams and the work they are doing on Facebook, Twitter and by signing up to SYP Alerts.

For those people who don’t feel comfortable speaking to the police directly, you can also share information with independent charity Crimestoppers, completely anonymously.

Doncaster Council and FCC Environment saddle up with Yorkshire Bike Shack

FCC Environment has agreed to donate eight bikes a week from the stock they receive into the HWRCs, in addition to the bicycles already recycled and reused at the Refurnish shop located at Sheffield Road, Conisbrough.

The Yorkshire Bike Shack already has a small team in place who train people how to look after their bike but this new addition to the scheme will allow the Shack team to give the individual the bike they have been trained on free of charge. There will also be some recycled bikes for sale at the Shack to help fund the project, but it is hoped with the supply of bikes from the HWRCs that this small-scale trial can grow.

Principal Director Julian Pike, said: “Yorkshire Bike Shack CIC are focused on helping people in the community become more healthy both physically and mentally through promoting the use of bicycles. We want to see people and families benefit from being in the great outdoors and replacing some of the journeys made by car in addition to providing low-cost servicing and repairs to the local community. “We have a number of future plans, one of

which will be to work with local businesses to improve the environment and people’s health by encouraging workers to cycle to work and exercise more.”

Councillor Mark Houlbrook, Doncaster Councils Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and Waste, added: “This initiative is a fantastic opportunity to recycle bicycles for use by residents and groups. Great for the environment and will help people to become more active and healthier whilst at the same time being cost effective with family finances.”

After being established in January of 2021, Yorkshire Bike Shack has grown dramatically. With support from Expect Youth, Well Doncaster and Community Wealth Builder, the business secured some funding from Doncaster Council which enabled them to establish some ‘Learnto-Fix’ sessions to help people in the local community to maintain their own bikes. More recently they have been given substantial funding pots from The National Lottery to work with refugees in the Doncaster area and Sport England to help families in Edlington.

Yorkshire Bike Shack recently started

Doncaster Council and its waste and recycling partner FCC Environment, which operates the Household Waste Recycling Centers (HWRCs), will be saddling up with Yorkshire Bike Shack to help people in the community maintain their own bikes as well as providing access to good quality bikes for reuse that might otherwise have been destined for recycling

collaborating with Flourish Enterprises to create a permanent workshop in the grounds of Woodfield Park. This permanent workshop means they can extend their services to more disadvantaged people in the community through tuition workshops, repairs, servicing, bike hire and very popular kids’ holiday activities.

In addition to the work they do at Woodfield Park they also work with The Big Picture School

to teach disadvantage children through practical workshops and provide occasional pop-up Dr. Bike clinics at various places around Doncaster which are kindly funded by Cycling UK.

They now regularly give bikes to people in need and refugees through organisations such as Changing Lives, The Conversation Club & Family Hubs. So far, they have gifted 42 adult & 12 children’s bikes this year.

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What does a cow call an earthquake? A milkshake!

We all love a fun fact of the day, here are some you might not know:-

1. The world’s longest French fry is 34” long. 2. Ice cream was once called “cream ice”. 3. New Zealand has more sheep than people. 4. An average yawn is nearly six seconds long. 5. Did you know rubber bands last longer when refrigerated?! 6. Your skin is the largest body organ! 7. Women’s hearts beat faster than men’s.

Colour me in, cut me out, ask your guardians to submit this to @doncasterecho, and you could see your picture in print in our next edition

Photo of the month

Photo taken by the amazing Joshua McQuillan, Age 10

Check out this beautiful image taken by the very talented Joshua McQuillan, aged 10. Carry on the good work Joshua. You can submit images via our Facebook page @doncasterecho

HOROSCOPES

Dec/Jan

Aquarius

(20th Jan-18th Feb)

It’s all eyes on you this month, you are smashing work and have everything under control. Keep it up.

Pisces

(19th Feb-20th March)

Be careful with your spending, splashing your cash at the start of the month and having none left is not wise. Try and budget.

Aries

(21st March-19th April)

A huge, dramatic change is about to happen in your life in the coming weeks. You will need to not rush into a big decision.

Taurus

(20th April-20th May)

You have put up with bad energy for too long. Start to have the power to challenge this energy.

Gemini

(21st May-20th June)

You haven’t seen your family much this past month, set aside some time to visit them and spend time together.

Cancer

(21st June- 22nd July)

You aren’t in the mood for company or to listen to gossip. You have too many important things on your mind.

Libra

(23rd Sept-22nd Oct)

You are invested in work at the moment and the hard graft is not going unrecognised! A promotion maybe on its way.

Scorpio

(23rd Oct-21st Nov)

You need to think about where you are in your life and if you would be happy in five years? If not, it’s time to make changes.

Leo (23rd July-22nd Aug)

Plans may have changed recently, but you have some exciting events coming up with memories that will last forever.

Virgo

(23rd Aug-22nd Sept)

You are doing a great job at focussing on your health and well-being, keep up the good work! It’s paying off.

Sagittarius

(22nd Nov-21st Dec)

Your friendships are going to begin to change a little, not to worry, it’s just time to reflect on who the true ones are.

Capricorn

(22nd Dec-19th Jan)

You have a massive lifechanging decision to make this month. Whatever you decide will have an impact on your life forever.

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