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“She was definitely a believer in social housing, and she worked hard for her residents in Shephall and councillorbecauseLongmeadow,shewasaforthoseareasatdifferenttimes.”
Ann, the borough council’s portfolio holder for housing for many years, was also a member of Hertfordshire County Council and a magistrate, and had been made an alderman by Stevenage Borough Council - next in status to the mayor. She died in her sleep on June 27 and her funeral took place at St Hilda’s Church in Stevenage on July Paying19.
tribute to Ann at the full council meeting on July 20, Stevenage Borough Council’s leader, Sharon Taylor, said she had devoted “many years of loyal service to the council” and was “passionate about housing”. Cllr Taylor said: “She was passionate about the casework and genuinely cared about the families and individuals whose casework she took on. “She also held a very strong role on the county council many years ago, when she chaired the social services committee. That was a role she was particularly proud of because she felt they were able to do some good things.
Tributes have been paid to former councillor Ann Webb and her “many years of loyal service” to Stevenage Borough Council, after she died aged 83.
Councillor Robin Parker, a member of both the borough and county councils, added: “She was definitely a believer in social housing, and she worked hard for her residents in Shephall and Longmeadow, because she was a councillor for those areas at different times.”
“I think we should recognise the work Ann did for Stevenage - for this council - but also for the county council and the judges’ bench, and celebrate the life she had. I’m very pleased we had the opportunity to make Ann an alderman before she passed away.”
Stevenage borough councillor Joan Lloyd, who had been friends with Ann for more than 45 years, said Ann moved to Stevenage in the early 1960s and joined the Labour Party in the 1980s. “I think I might have had something to do with that,” she said, adding that Ann had also been a magistrate for 20 years.
Cllr Lloyd said: “There was always a cup of tea and a biscuit if you went round to Ann’s, and you were always invited in. “She’s done a lot for the town and I will miss her.”
He said Ann also had a “pivotal role” on the county “Thankcouncil.you for all you did for Stevenage, Ann,” he said. “Please rest in peace.”
One said: “I didn’t think about being a police officer before, but I think I would like to do this, and maybe work my way to becoming a firearms officer.”
Inspector Ashleigh Hair said: “It’s the first time that we have organised a week-long work placement for a group of young people considering a career with the police and it has been a huge success. “We showcased a range of roles to give them a week of immersive learning, focused on a diamond heist scenario, to show how police investigations “Theevolve.young people have told me how much they’ve loved their week of work experience with Herts police, especially meeting the police dogs, a ride along in a police car, sitting in the helicopter and their scenes of crime forensics work.”
Afterpolice.meeting at Hertfordshire Constabulary’s headquarters in Welwyn Garden City for an induction, they went all over the county during the course of a week, getting a taste of some of the opportunities a policing career can offer.
The group enjoyed a barbecue to end their week and all agreed they had loved the whole experience.
A third added: “The best part of the week was seeing how all the different departments work together.”
The 16 young people, aged 14 and 15, came from schools in Stevenage, Hatfield, Waltham Cross and Watford and are all considering a career in the
A second said: “I really want to be a dispatcher. I think that I would be really good at it.”
Teenagers from Stevenage were among youngsters who joined Hertfordshire police for a week of work experience, when they had the chance to carry out crime scene forensics, ride in a police car and meet the police dogs.
Hertfordshire police’s next careers fair will be held on Saturday, July 30, from 1pm to 9pm at the police training centre based at the Gosling Sports Centre in Welwyn Garden City, where you will be able to try the bleep test, join a self-defence training session and learn about police careers with Hertfordshire
“The young people have told me how much they’ve loved their week of work experience with Herts police, especially meeting the police dogs, a ride along in a police car, sitting in the helicopter and their scenes of crime forensics work.”
“We’veConstabulary.gotthe whole team coming along to give you a taste of life as a police officer,” said a spokesman for Herts police, “plus the team at Anglia Ruskin University will explain apprenticeship degrees and how training works for post-graduates.
“Bring your CV and talk to our team about your skills and they will help find a role to suit you.”
A public inquiry took place in July 2021, after Hill appealed Stevenage Borough Council’s decision, and the Secretary of State upheld the appeal and granted planning permission.
Themonth.Secretary of State has now upheld the appeal and approved the Thedevelopment.planninginspector said: “It is undisputed between the main parties that there is no demand for the existing building for employment use. This appears to result from the attenuated layout and associated inefficiency of its office spaces, but also from its very “Whilequality.”theloss of the existing building would be unfortunate, in the absence of any realistic commercial and practical interest
Stevenage Borough Council then submitted a claim to the High Court for judicial review of this decision. The Secretary of State conceded that there were grounds the decision was flawed, and quashed it. This led to a new public inquiry, for a new planning inspector to consider the appeal against the council’s original refusal of the application, which took place last
Planning permission has been granted for the Icon office site in Stevenage’s Lytton Way to be demolished to make way for 576 flats, to be built in seven blocks up to 16 storeys high.
In March 2020, Stevenage Borough Council’s Planning and Development Committee rejected the application from housebuilder Hill, citing concerns around overdevelopment of the site and demand on the Theinfrastructure.committee also said: “The proposed development by virtue of its height, design and appearance would result in an incongruous form of development which would be harmful to the visual amenities of the area.”
Cllr Simon Speller, Stevenage Borough Council’s portfolio holder for environment and climate change, said: “I am disappointed on behalf of the people in our town that the government’s planning inspector has approved the redevelopment of the historic Icon building.”
“The proposal to redevelop the unique building was overwhelmingly rejected in March 2020 by Stevenage Borough Council’s Planning and Development Committee. The committee raised concerns that the proposed development would be out of character for the area and could impact on local infrastructure. We have worked hard to defend this decision, including through a successful legal challenge in 2021 that led to this new planning inquiry. “I firmly believe that planning decisions should always sit with the elected members of local councils, who are guided by national and local policies, and are accountable to local communities. We will review the planning inspector’s decision in detail and consider what steps to take next.”
“The Icon building is in the heart of our town, a well-known landmark with a proud history and vibrant design. There is a great deal of affection for the Icon and I will continue to make the case to the owners of the building that there is great need for a bright, iconic future for the site that we can all be proud of in our town.”
in the existing building’s re-use, it appears inescapable.” She acknowledged that “the proposed development would have a negative effect on the character and appearance of the area,” but said “the level of harm would be no greater than moderate in terms of character and appearance”. She said: “The adverse impacts would be insufficient to outweigh the benefits, even if the council can demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.”
A key element of the design proposals is that rooms will have views of nature, with gardens that will aim to encourage activity through the creation of growing beds, a flexible open space for fitness and sport, and “wandering routes of discovery”.
The new unit, provided by the Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, will provide acute care in a setting which will include courtyards, social spaces, quiet zones and a therapy zone.
It also points to the economic benefits arising from the proposed development, which will include employment opportunities during the building and site development phase, and the creation of full and part-time jobs across a number of operational areas once the unit is open.
Council’s Planning and Development Committee has approved the planning application for the specialist unit, which will be built close to Lister Hosptial, on land east of the A602 and south of Graveley Road. Planning permission has been granted on the condition that the applicant agrees to secure or provide financial contributions towards local employment and apprenticeships.
It says “the NHS has identified an acute need for the facility” and the proposed development will “increase bed provision to address ongoing bed pressures and reduce need for out-of-Trust beds”.
The new unit will “provide a balanced provision of adult mental health beds between the east and west of the county,” the application says.
Planning permission has been granted for a 54bed adult inpatient secure mental health unit in Stevenage, after the NHS “identified an acute need for the Stevenagefacility”.Borough
The proposed development aims to “support meaningful activites and provide a high-quality environment,” the applications says, while ensuring “appropriate levels of psychological and environmental safety and security”.
“The design and location of the proposed development will provide a comfortable and therapeutic environment for people at a time of acute mental distress and vulnerability,” it continues.
Here are safety suggestions for anyone planning to play and have fun in the Summer Sand:
The project is sponsored by the council as part of its SG1 regeneration plans to transform the town centre. The beach will remain in the town centre until September 2022.
• The public must respect this community facility
• Daily inspection of the sand area will take place and the area will can be closed for cleaning and/or safety reasons.
Cllr Sharon Taylor, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council said; “We may be a bit of a way from the seaside here in Stevenage, but that doesn’t get in the way of summer! Come along and enjoy the fun we are providing in the town centre for all age groups.”
• Children should never be left unaccompanied • Not to use the sand in extreme weather conditions • Not to take liquids on the sand and to clear away after themselves
• Pets are not allowed by the sand area
The Mayor of Stevenage - Cllr Margaret Notley and Cllr Sharon Taylor, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council officially opened Summer Sand for everyone to enjoy. The sand pit is near the clocktower in the town square and accessible every day, seven days a week. Summer Sand is designed to offer people a bit of fun in the town centre whilst enjoying all it has to offer – summer, sand, sunshine, and a bit of shopping. The following safety measures have been put in place to help everyone have a wonderful experience.
While charity fundraising is always vital to their survival, the last few years have been particularly tough for everyone and highlights the impact something like the Austin’s Charitable Fund can Justmake.some of the charities represented by the Fund over the years include: Riding for the Disabled (2005), Hertfordshire Young Homeless Group (2007), Cancer Hair Care (2014), North Herts Samaritans (2015) and Resolve (2018), as well as local hospices, hospital charities and bereavement They’vecharities.all received donations between around £5,000 and £7,000, and some even more. Alongside the Charitable Fund, there are other avenues of fundraising that Austin’s finds to raise more essential funds.
funded purely by charitable giving,” said Claire. A blog published last year by the Charity Commission stated that over 90% of charities had experienced some negative impact from Covid-19, “whether on their service delivery, finances, staff, or indeed on staff morale, resulting from the months of frustration and uncertainty”. Furthermore, 60% saw a loss of income, and 32% said they experienced a shortage of volunteers.
The metal that is left over after a cremation (hip joints etc.) is collected and sent over to Holland who then send some money back.
Around every 4-6 months, Austin’s submit an application to the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management with a suggestion of who this money should be donated to. We will shortly be donating £15,000 to the Rennie Grove Hospice.
In fact, Home-Start Stevenage (as it was called back then) was Austin’s first ever Charity of the Year back in Another2002.
This year’s chosen Charity of the Year is the Anne Robson Austin’sTrust.lookforward to raising funds for this wonderful charity and another 20 years of fundraising, because, in the words of Helen Keller, “alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
avenue is the recycling scheme at the crematorium at Harwood Park.
Claire herself has had her fair share of challenges, visiting India in 2010, Vietnam in 2015 and, most recently, the Arctic Circle just before Covid hit, to raise funds for Home Start Hertfordshire.
First up was the Mitie Unsung Heroes Award, won by Chris Boseley and the Carlisle Support Services security team for “working tirelessly to keep staff, patients and visitors safe – all amid heightened emotional interactions due to Covid-19,” the NHS trust said. The second winner on the night was response volunteer Michelle Salisbury, who was named the Here to Help Award winner for always going above and beyond for patients since becoming a volunteer in December 2021.
Follet Trust Local AwardHero Dr McGuinnessOonagh
The ‘Time to Shine’ ceremony at Tewin Bury Farm in Welwyn Garden City was attended by more than 300 people and saw 11 winners.
The East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust has held its annual staff awards, providing “a snapshot of the incredible work our amazing staff do each and every day,” said the organisation’s chief exectuive, Adam Sewell-Jones. Staff from across the NHS trust’s sites – including Stevenage’s Lister Hospital and Welwyn Garden City’s New QEII – were invited to put forward nominations before the East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity-funded event, with a panel of judges scoring each nomination to determine the 33 finalists.
Specialist radiographer Matt Treherne was then crowned Charity Champion, after cycling more than 1,000 miles from John O’ Groats to Land’s End last summer – despite his own health issues. He suffers from cyclical vomiting syndrome - a rare condition which leaves him bedbound and vomiting for up to 24 hours every five to seven days. Matt raised almost £6,000, split equally between three causes – a new radiology recovery area at Lister Hospital, Cancer Research UK and mental health charity
NextMind.up was the PSTG Bright Sparks Award, won by senior respiratory clinical nurse specialist Sarah Lewis, who developed a QR code poster for 15 different inhaler device videos for asthma patients, which is being used across the region and has received national interest, the NHS trust said.
Mae Cometa, deputy infection prevention and control lead, was announced as the Inspiring Manager Award winner for “her tenacity in keeping patients safe and educating colleagues on how to manage Covid and other infectious diseases – while always being there to support her team,” the NHS trust said. Mae then returned to the stage to pick up the Safety First Award on behalf of PPE co-ordinator Ryan Sutton, who was unable to attend. Ryan has overseen PPE and fit testing – both the buying of and training for – throughout the pandemic, handling queries amid high levels of anxiety.
Charity Champion Award Matt Treherne
Nervecentre Clinical Team Award Covid Medicines Delivery Unit 1 Mitie Unsung Heroes Award Chris Boseley and the Carlisle Support Services security team InPhase Patient First Award Covid Medicines Delivery Unit
The Linet Compassionate Care Award winners were the critical care team, who have been at the front of the pandemic providing care to critically ill patients and their families.
The team behind the Covid Medicines Delivery Unit were then crowned the InPhase Patients First Award winners after setting up the unit at short notice to treat the most at risk patients, delivering potentially life-saving antibodies.
The team, made up from different departments across the NHS trust, have been giving potentially life-saving Covid treatments and had triaged over 2,200 patients and treated more than 750 at the time of the nomination.
The NHS Professionals Experience Counts Award went to the maternity and obstetrics and gynaecology teams, who have “worked tirelessly alongside the Lister Maternity Voices Partnership to deliver high quality, responsive care to women and their loved ones in extraordinary times,” the NHS trust said.
Linet Compassionate Care Award Critical Care Team
The NHS trust’s chief executive, Adam SewellJones, who hosted the awards, said: “These awards were an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of many of our colleagues, as we reflect on some of the most challenging times the NHS has ever faced. “It was fantastic to be able to come together and hear so many inspiring stories during the night – a snapshot of the incredible work our amazing staff do each and every day.”
The final award was for the Nervecentre Clinical Team Award – with the Covid Medicines Delivery Unit team picking up their second trophy.
The penultimate award of the night saw nominations from the public – with the New QEII’s Dr Oonagh McGuinness named the Follett Trust Local Hero Award winner. Oonagh was nominated by a grateful patient after she uncovered a very rare condition, despite a negative scan result, with the patient concluding: “Dr McGuinness literally saved my life.”
The offer of Wenta’s Zero Gold subscription forms part of the council’s measures to help businesses adapt to cut their emissions to get the town to net zero by 2030. Action Zero aims to support every type of small business owner and is packed with sustainable, social and commercial benefits. To claim a free Zero Gold subscription kindly contact Wenta’s Net Zero business advice team on: 01438 310020 or info@wenta.co.ukemailquoting the code: ForSTEVENAGEGOLD.moreinformation on Action Zero, visit www.wenta.co.uk/actionzero
Stevenage Borough Council has recently partnered with social enterprise firm Wenta to support 100 local businesses in reducing their carbon footprint through Wenta’s new affordable net zero emissions service for small businesses. Small and medium sized businesses in Stevenage now have the chance to receive a free, Zero Gold subscription (worth over £143 per year) to the new Net Zero service that will position them at the forefront of tackling climate change and producing greener products and services. The first 100 businesses to subscribe will get access to Wenta’s top level subscription, Zero Gold, which is aimed at helping business owners to reduce their carbon footprint in a simple and practical way. The Zero Gold subscription normally costs £9.99 per month plus VAT. It includes exclusive climate change and net zero webinars to explain what it’s all about and how to reduce your carbon footprint, access to Wenta’s experienced net zero and business advice team to coach you through each step of your journey, access to Wenta’s exclusive carbon foot-printing tool, a personalised report focused on reducing your emissions as well as coaching to create and publish your net zero plan, plus much more. Action Zero forms part of Stevenage Borough Council’s work to get the town to net zero emissions by 2030 to defeat the climate emergency at a local level. It also forms part of Wenta’s wider social enterprise support provided at the Business & Technology Centre on Bessemer Drive where free business advice, skills training and affordable workspace is available. Action Zero is led by former Visiting Professor of Environmental Economics at UCL and Wenta’s Head of Net Zero, Martyn Poessinouw.
The Pride of Stevenage Awards returns this October at The Gordon Craig Theatre, to honour those in our community going above and beyond. The Awards, which celebrates the achievements of people in Stevenage, is now open for nominations and the search is on for this year’s inspiring winners. If you have a friend, neighbour, colleague or group that you feel is worthy of recognition, you can nominate them for a Pride of Stevenage Award in one of the following seven categories: Caring Award Celebrates individual acts of kindness, volunteer, charity and community work Dedication Award For longstanding dedication to volunteer work in Stevenage Enterprise Award Rewards an individual or organisation that makes a real contribution to business life in Stevenage Green Award For helping to help keep Stevenage clean and green Sporting Award Recognises an outstanding contribution to sport and healthy activities in the town Team Award Salutes those who work together to improve the local area, enhance people’s lives or provide support and opportunities to community members Young Star Award For a group or individual that has made significant achievements at school, college or in their local Incommunityaddition, the Judges’ Special Award will be given to an individual or group that has made an outstanding contribution to the town and its residents. To nominate, simply go online at awardswww.stevenage.gov.uk/pride-choosethecategoryyou wish to nominate in and fill in the requested details. The deadline for nominations is 1 September. Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges chaired by Leader of the Council Sharon Taylor OBE, and also including awards partners and the Youth Mayor.
Finalists will be informed after the judging. All those who receive a nomination are invited to a Mayoral afternoon tea at the Council’s Civic Suite later in the year.Chair of Judges, Councillor Sharon Taylor OBE said, “It is always such an honour to meet the Pride of Stevenage nominees. They demonstrate the best of our “Itown.ampleased the Pride of Stevenage Awards exists because it is important to recognise and reward those who have made a positive impact within our community. If you know an individual or group that really stands out in your neighbourhood, show your appreciation for all they do by nominating them for a Pride of
Stevenage Award.” The host for the evening will be SG1 Sports Scene radio presenter and Stevenage FC match day announcer Jay Drackford, @ drackers www.jaydrackford. Localco.uk
The winners of the 2021 awards were: Dedication Award – Bill Shackell, for his work with the Scouts since 1980. Green Award – Leonie Clarke, for being a local Climate Hero. Team Award – Stevenage Family Support Service, for their hard work to support our most vulnerable families.
Judge’s Special Award –Professor Jim McManus, Director of Public Health and the Hertfordshire Public Health Team who have spent the last eighteen months focused on advising on the Covid pandemic.
Young Star Award – Noirit Arnon and Layla-Mai Gorton, two young people who are working on local community projects.
businesses and organisations can become a Pride Awards partner and maximise the exposure provided by one of the town’s most high profile events. Bespoke packages are available. Email Tel:gov.ukprideawards@stevenage.formoreinformation.02037273600
Caring Award – (Holy Trinity Stevenage & Christ the King Symonds Green, sponsor of the prize for the Caring Award)
- Dan Gaze, who works with young people who are at risk of exploitation. Sporting Award – Chris Bull who founded Fitkidz works with anyone and everyone, showing them that fitness is something that can be achieved, no matter, size, disability or ability.
Enterprise Award – (sponsored by the Hertfordshire Chambers of Commerce) - Feed-Up, Warm-Up, on Mondays, this service can be found at Stevenage Football Club offering food, help and advice to the homeless.
• Work with the retail sector in Stevenage to reduce food waste, donate surpluses to food banks and ensure that affordable food is available to all.
The motion said a cost-of-living taskforce has been set up in Stevenage, which will work with the Stevenage Together Partnership to identify the support needed in the community and ensure action to address the needs identified.
• Call upon our MP to lobby his Chancellor of the Exchequer to take urgent measures to support individuals, communities and families through this crisis.
At a full council meeting on July 20, Cllr Taylor moved a Labour Group motion which said “the cost-of-living crisis is affecting every family across Stevenage, and many are facing dreadful decisions about what they can and cannot afford to do at the most basic levels - some having to choose between heating, eating or transport to work.”
• Call upon the government to scrap the National Insurance increase, continue to impose a windfall tax on oil and gas companies while it is necessary to remove a substantial sum from citizens’ energy bills and immediately restore the triple lock for pensions.
In the motion, the Labour Group details a raft of “urgent actions” it says are needed:
Themeet.local authority’s leader, Councillor Sharon Taylor, has warned that “the cost-of-living crisis will hit the poorest people in the UK the hardest,” and “Stevenage contains some of the most deprived wards in Hertfordshire, with Bedwell being the most deprived ward in the town and the second most deprived in the county.”
• Call upon Government to restore the additional Universal Credit payment made during the Covid crisis.
• Ensure that all our schools have established and responsive systems for identifying and supporting those children who are struggling through food and fuel poverty.
• Write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to point out the critical situation facing our community and the financial impact the cost-of-living crisis will have on council finances.
• Call on Hertfordshire County Council to make permanent and enduring commitment to providing holiday food to children entitled to free school meals.
• We declare this to be a cost-of-living emergency and pledge to take all the action in our powers to help our community and to mitigate its impact wherever possible.
• Work through our cost-of-living taskforce to identify actions and policies to support our community and the council through the crisis.
A cost-of-living emergency has been declared by Stevenage Borough Council, and a raft of measures pledged to help residents struggling to make ends
Moving the motion, Cllr Taylor said: “There is no doubt that this cost-of-living crisis is affecting every family across Stevenage, with many facing truly dreadful decisions about what they can and cannot afford to do. “There is plenty local councils can do to help fight poverty and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. In Stevenage, we’ve already been doing this - actively supporting food banks; supporting 16 local schools to deliver healthy snacks, shoes and clothing to children; giving out supermarket vouchers to those in need; and giving funding to charities to help vulnerable clients pay heating and fuel costs. We’ve also paid out over £172,000 in discretionary housing payments, and we’ve paid out £65,000 exceptional council tax hardship relief.”
The motion was supported by the Liberal Democrats, although the group’s leader, Robin Parker, said “Stevenage Borough Council has very few local powers on this matter,” and questioned what the taskforce “would actually do”. He said: “We can declare a cost-of-living emergency, but they’re just words. What does it actually mean?”
The Conservatives abstained from voting. The group’s leader, Phil Bibby, said: “Handing out more money, which cannot be afforded, will only increase inflation and make matters worse. Additional financial measures demanded in this motion seem to be the ‘go-to’ areas at present, but I would make the following observations: £37billion is being put into people’s pockets one way or another to help with the cost-of-living increase, and this is already over and above what the country can afford. If we are to scrap the recent NI increase, I wonder how important the administration feel a properly funded health and adult care service is - it is only the taxpayer that can pay for this, so what are the “Howalternatives?willreducing taxes overall help pay for supporting residents more? The sums don’t add Theup.” motion was carried.
She added: “We certainly need a fair financial settlement for local government. We need the powers and the funding to get on with the job of supporting our community through this cost-ofliving crisis.”
The Everyday Heritage Grants scheme was launched by Historic England earlier this year to support community-led projects and further the nation’s collective understanding of the past. Community and heritage organisations were invited to apply for grants to unlock untold local stories and hidden histories. As the first New Town built after the Second World War, Stevenage has been widely recognised for its architectural importance and innovations in town planning. For example, Stevenage was the first town in the UK to adopt a pedestrian-only shopping centre, parts of which are now listed. Recently, research by Historic England led to the publication of a book charting the significance of the town centre - but less recognised are the lived experiences of the many generations who have lived, shopped and worked in the town centre since it opened in 1959. Through engaging people of all generations, Stevenage Museum will celebrate the everyday lives of working class people who have played their part in shaping the town centre’s heritage.
The museum will recruit and train volunteers comprising of local students and long-term residents to conduct research and record oral histories. The project will document the stories of the town centre for future generations. It will also work with its volunteers to co-produce creative celebrations of Stevenage’s stories through working with local artists, resulting in an exhibition, workshops and drama performances for the local community.
From council estates, pubs and clubs, to farms, factories and shipyards, these are the places where most people have lived, worked and played for hundreds of years. We want to explore these untold stories and celebrate the people and places at the heart of our history.”
Councillor Richard Henry, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure, Children and Young People at Stevenage Borough Council, said: “This is fantastic news. The funding from Historic England for Stevenage Museum will allow us to uncover even more about our town’s rich history and past experiences of working-class residents. “We will be recruiting volunteers shortly, but in the meantime if you’d like to be involved, please contact the museum.”
Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class Histories is one of many ongoing cultural projects that Historic England is delivering in order to shine a light on the diversity of the nation’s Toheritage.register your interest in volunteering for the project, contact Stevenage museum@stevenage.gov.ukMuseum:
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said: “Heritage should be for everyone. I am delighted that we are able to provide funding for this project through our Everyday Heritage Grants, which will help to bring our collective and shared history back to life. These grants will enable people to tell their own stories, in their own way, and connect with others in their communities through a shared understanding of their local heritage.”
He continued: “The histories of castles and great houses and their inhabitants are well documented, but we know far less about our everyday heritage.
Stevenage Museum has received £10,000 in funding from Historic England for a project that will help to uncover the town’s working-class history.
Winning the inaugural Cancer Research Excellence Team Award at the regional National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network Cancer Conference, the team was recognised for its efforts to ensure cancer research continued in the face of the challenges presented by the Covid pandemic, including offering significant opportunities to patients to take part.
Trust taking the top spot with 1,603 participants.
Mount Vernon Cancer Centre was one of only two hospitals in the country to take part in the trial, which began in 2017 and is ongoing.
“This type of research is crucial, and is a result of years of work in the Trust involving many teams.
Dr Paul Nathan, the consultant medical oncologist at Mount Vernon who led the trial, said: “A diagnosis of metastatic uveal melanoma can be devastating for a patient. This new treatment is the first to be proven to improve survival from this disease, which is a fantastic breakthrough, and gives some hope to our patients.
A spokesman for the NHS Trust said: “While it is rare, metastatic uveal melanoma affects hundreds of patients each year in the UK, and the nature of the disease means that treatment is difficult. Once it spreads away from the eye, it usually doesn’t respond to the usual cancer treatments of chemotherapy and standard immunotherapy.
The cancer research team at the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust has won a regional award for its outstanding contribution to cancer research.
The award was accepted by associate director of research Phillip Smith and lead research nurse Carina Cruz.
Clinical research is essential in improving outcomes for all patients with cancer, whether they have common or rare forms of the disease.”
The East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, which runs Lister Hospital in Stevenage, said some examples of the team’s outstanding contribution to cancer research included enrolling 85 patients for the Delta trial - which is concerned with early detection of oesophageal cancer - and high recruitment (>350 people) to the Lung Exo-DETECT - a method of detecting lung cancer - at Lister over the last 18 months.
“A very large number of people have worked really hard in times of exceptional difficulty to ensure that cancer research has been able to continue over the last 12 to 18 months during Covid.”
Patients suffering from a rare cancer of the eye can also now hope for increased survival rates thanks to a new treatment trialled at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood – part of the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust.
“A new, ground-breaking immunotherapy treatment – a drug called tebentafusp – activates the immune cells next to the cancer, to fight the disease. “It is the first treatment to be shown to increase survival rates for this type of cancer. It is also the first time this kind of treatment has shown improved survival rates for a solid tumour –indicating that this kind of drug may be effective in treating other types of cancer, too.”
The NHS Trust also highlighted the continuation of cancer research during Covid, and said it recorded the second highest recruitment to cancer studies (518 participants) in the East of England, with Cambridge University Hospitals’ NHS Foundation
Phillip said: “We all know that research is a team game when it comes to the set-up and delivery of studies, and that it is more of a community endeavour when you think about those who choose to participate.
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