#Stevenage November 2022

The unique digital magazine for Stevenage promoted by social media NOVEMBER 2022

Stevenage residents can now nominate a street to be crowned the town’s friendliest, with the return of the Right Up My Street Award.

The award gives recognition to a street in Stevenage that has made significant contribution to its residents. The competition allows residents to identify the streets that best exemplify community spirit and great neighbourhood relations – this could be demonstrated through actions and initiatives that have made a positive difference to people in their local area, either individually or as a group.

Any street, close or block can be nominated by a member of the Stevenage community who believes that where they live deserves to be celebrated for its commitment to community togetherness and involvement, friendship and teamwork.

Nominations are open until 5pm on Friday 20 January, and will be judged by the Mayor of Stevenage Councillor Margaret Notley, and the

Mayoress and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Myla Arceno.

Mayor of Stevenage, Councillor Margaret Notley, said: “The Right Up My Street award celebrates everything that is great about our town and the people in it: community spirit, working together, friendship and a dedication to helping others.

“If you think your street, close or block could take the title of Stevenage’s friendliest then please do make a nomination today. First, second and third places will all be chosen, and I look forward to reading through the nominations and making what I’m sure will be a hard decision choosing the winners.”

The winner of last year’s award was Baddeley Close, with Aldock Road and Hillmead as runners up.

For more information, and to nominate, visit: www.stevenage.gov.uk/town-and-community/ stevenages-friendliest-street

A £15.8m project to build a new state-of-the-art school for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is taking shape within the grounds of the existing Valley School in Stevenage.

Selected pupils from The Valley School in Broadhall Way joined county councillors and project officers to get up close to the construction of their new school, which is due to be completed in October next year.

This substantial development forms part of Hertfordshire County Council’s planned investment in SEND, which equates to more than £50m over the next three years.

Councillor Terry Douris, the council’s executive member for education, skills and lifelong learning, said: “The new building and facilities for this school reflect our commitment to making sure that every child and young person continues to have access to a good school, where they can be supported to achieve their full potential.

“We have used the opportunity of the new build to increase the number of places available, helping us to meet the increasing need for special education in Hertfordshire and make sure that children and young people are receiving the right support, at the right time, in the right place.

“It’s a fantastic investment for the young people of Hertfordshire and I pay my thanks to everyone who has been involved.”

David Pearce, headteacher at The Valley School, which specialises in catering for children with additional learning needs, has told how the building project has become a source of excitement and inspiration for the children.

He said: “The children are watching time-lapse cameras and looking through viewing panels, seeing their new school being built. They’re looking forward to November when they’ll be able to see the frame going up and the school taking shape – they’re already talking about where their classrooms will be, and their chance to visit the site and the project team.

“It’s really exciting for the students and the whole of the school community. As the headteacher, it is amazing that we will be able to complement our high-quality teaching with a learning environment that our young people can really enjoy. It is very special. This is giving the students, teachers and support staff the best of the best and they absolutely deserve it.”

The Valley School buildings had originally been designed to be used by a mainstream secondary school, which then became a SEND school in 1991.

“The current building is coming to the end of its serviceable life, with maintenance costs increasing,” explained Councillor Bob Deering, Hertfordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for resources. “This is why we took this opportunity to invest in a new purpose-built school suitable for children with SEND which, through its enhanced environmental credentials, will be much more sustainable and efficient to run and maintain in the future.”

Once built, the new school will be net zero carbon in operation, will generate its own electricity onsite and will only use electricity. It will also help to enhance local biodiversity through the installation of bat and bird boxes and green roofs, the county council said.

It also said the new, single-storey building will be more in keeping with the local environment than the existing school, with its green roofs and sunken location in the shallow valley allowing the building to blend into its natural surroundings.

The new purpose-built school has been designed through ongoing consultation with teaching staff, to meet the needs of the current Valley School pupils.

A dominant design feature includes year group pods situated around two central courtyards – each with their own toilets and areas for group work. There is also a high-ceilinged multi-use space the school can use for sports, dining and drama.

Planning permission has been granted for a tower block of flats up to 15 storeys high to be built in Stevenage town centre.

Stevenage Borough Council’s Planning and Development Committee has given the green light for the former Office Outlet building in Fairlands Way to be demolished and a building ranging from nine to 15 storeys in height to be constructed on the site, providing 226 flats - all for rent only.

The scheme also includes 161sqm of commercial floorspace and “a significant public realm offering”, the plans say, as well as “a series of landscaped areas, including visual improvements to the existing underpass, along with the associated car and cycle parking”.

The site has been vacant since 2019, when Office Outlet fell into administration.

The developer, Stevenage Property Ltd, said: “We consider that the development will bring a number of key public benefits”, including “the redevelopment and optimisation of the site to deliver much-needed Build to Rent housing, including a range of one, two and three bedroom properties, which will assist the council in achieving its housing targets”.

The developer also said it will be “a scheme of good quality design which will enhance the surrounding townscape”, a ‘green’ and sustainable scheme which achieves 39.3% CO2 reduction through energy efficiency measures, and potential Community Infrastructure Levy contributions totalling around £715,000.

The scheme also includes refurbishment of the existing underpass under Fairlands Way.

Stevenage Property Ltd said it will provide “good quality residential amenity, including a well designed large central courtyard area, as well as a scheme which has carefully considered its relationship with existing surrounding properties”.

Stevenage Borough Council said it had received just four objections to the plans from members of the public, and granted planning permission for the development on October 25.

To view the plans in full, visit the planning portal at stevenage.gov.uk and search for planning reference 21/01002/FPM.

“We consider that the development will bring a number of key public benefits, including the redevelopment and optimisation of the site to deliver much-needed Build to Rent housing”

“There are still many patients who have waited too long for care,” the chief executive of the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, which runs Stevenage’s Lister Hospital, has admitted, but said “we have many reasons to be optimistic”.

Speaking at the NHS trust’s annual general meeting, chief executive Adam Sewell-Jones warned that “the last 900 days have been the toughest our staff, patients, community and partners have faced, but we know that the next 900 days will likely be even tougher”.

He said: “While we have made huge progress in working through our waiting list following the pandemic, there are still many patients who have waited too long for care, and we acknowledge that, and we will focus on treating as many as we can.

“We are facing a cost-of-living crisis which will affect the entire

country, and there are workforce challenges in some areas, where nationally it is hard to recruit. “And, of course, we are already preparing for winter and potentially surges of Covid, flu and other seasonal illnesses, but we have many reasons to be optimistic.”

Mr Sewell-Jones pointed to “a number of exciting developments” happening around the NHS trust which he says will have “a huge impact on patients and staff”, including, in October, the opening of a new children’s emergency department at Lister, and new procedure rooms which will allow more treatments to be carried out without using operating theatres.

Mr Sewell-Jones continued: “A newly-refurbished mortuary has also opened, which will ensure dignity for those who sadly die in our care, and some exciting digital developments will help improve safety and reduce

the time of our processes. “The way we work with our partners is improving every day, with lots of future opportunities to deliver care closer to people’s homes, and to pool resources.

“Most of all, we have the very best people working in this trust who show up each and every day and do their very best to provide outstanding care and exemplary service.”

The new children’s emergency department at Lister opened on October 19 after refurbishment and extension works.

It includes increased bed and waiting room capacity and a new parents’ room to support family wellbeing and breast-feeding.

To access the new children’s emergency department, enter through the main emergency department entrance by Gate 4 and follow the red footprints on the floor.

With an unprecedented demand for affordable housing in Stevenage that is still rising, Stevenage Borough Council is considering major changes to its Housing Allocations Scheme, which it says will make the policy fairer.

Proposed changes to the scheme include only allowing people with a housing need to join the housing register, and disqualifying people with sufficient savings or income.

The council is also considering introducing a New Generation Scheme for single people and couples without children to be given a one-bedroom or studio home through the allocation of a yearly quota.

“We propose to introduce a scheme so that single people and couples living with their parents in Stevenage would have access to a proportion of studio and one-bedroom homes which would be set aside especially for them each year,” a council spokesperson explained.

“They would not need to have any other need, beyond being an adult, sharing with family. “We recognise this group of people in Stevenage have limited choices for being able to live independently.”

Other changes proposed include reducing the bands applicants can be placed into from six to either three or four, to make the system easier for applicants to understand, the council said, and to remove applicants who haven’t placed a bid in 12 months from the housing register.

The council spokesperson explained: “Those who have not bid within the last 12 months, without good reason, such as size of home being available or medical adaptations needed, would have their application removed from the housing register and they would not be allowed to bid for homes, unless they applied again.

“We would make allowances where applicants have good reason for choosing not to bid for suitable homes.”

The council is also proposing to change the bedroom standard, to allow more household members to share, without requiring their own bedroom.

“They would not need to have any other need, beyond being an adult, sharing with family. We recognise this group of people in Stevenage have limited choices for being able to live independently.”

a housing stock owning local

There may be exceptions, for example when someone needs their own bedroom owing to medical conditions, the council said.

The council spokesperson said: “The demand for affordable housing in Stevenage is currently at its highest and still on the rise.

“As a housing stock owning local authority, it’s important for us to periodically review our Housing Allocations Scheme, which was last undertaken in 2018.

“The Housing Allocations Scheme ensures that we are able to prioritise those people who urgently require our services and this scheme manages the process of how homes are let to tenants through our housing register.

For instance, the current policy stipulates one bedroom for any two children of the same sex under age 16, but the council is proposing one bedroom for any two additional people of the same sex.

To give an example, in the current policy two brothers aged 16 and 17 would need a bedroom each, but under the proposed changes they could share.

“We believe the proposed changes will make the policy fairer and clearer for everyone.

“Your comments will help to shape a scheme that meets the requirements of all our residents.

“We’d love to hear from you. Your views are important and help to shape the services provided, so do let us know what you think.”

To have your say, visit https://www.stevenage.gov. uk/news-and-events/news/housing-allocationsscheme-review before December 16.

“As

authority, it’s important for us to periodically review our Housing Allocations Scheme, which was last undertaken in 2018.”

A petition has been started against plans for a housing development that would see Stevenage Sea Cadets lose their base of more than 50 years.

Stevenage Borough Council is planning to build 57 homes in Shephall View, which would see Stevenage Sea Cadets and 5th Stevenage Scout Group displaced.

The proposed development will help to subsidise the prospective 96 independent living apartments to be built at the garage site located in between Brent Court and Town Centre Gardens, the council explained.

“The new state-of-the-art independent living scheme will give our older residents within Stevenage high-quality social housing and this will in turn free up much-needed two, three and fourbed council properties for families waiting on our housing register,” the local authority said. More than 400 people have signed a petition against the development, started by resident Carys Ashby.

She said: “Stevenage Borough Council plans to build a housing development on a small area of public land. This will involve the demolition of existing houses, a nursery, scout hut, sea cadet base and garage block.

“Lake view housing will see the removal of a muchloved and well-established sea cadet base. The sea cadets have no option of relocating within the town due to a lack of funding.”

She has also raised concerns over traffic congestion and insufficient infrastructure for the new housing, and said “allowing this development will open the floodgates to future developments in [Fairlands Valley Park], which will affect the local wildlife and destroy the beauty of our much-needed recreational space”.

Stevenage Sea Cadets said the housing development plan has left the group “in a very difficult position”. The council has offered “a few places to hire, and we will look into this, but without a large sum of money they will not lease us a place of our own”, the group said.

A spokesperson for the council said: “We have been, and continue to, work closely with organisations that will be affected, with a view to assisting them in relocating to other premises, where they will be able to continue carrying out their community activities in buildings that are safe and fit for purpose. This includes having better access to the lakes at Fairlands Valley Park.

“To date, we have encouraged the groups to view available public buildings located throughout Stevenage that have availability to accommodate their activities. Some of these are close to where the groups presently operate. These buildings provide a safe environment in which the young children can carry out the activities and, further, have the benefit of being managed premises, meaning that the voluntary groups do not have to worry about building maintenance, utility bills or security of the premises.

“Previously, as part of the original lease agreement, building maintenance has been the responsibility of the groups themselves and, due to everincreasing costs and additional pressures, has been challenging for them to maintain.

“At a time when fuel bills and building maintenance costs are ever-increasing, it makes sense to work with these organisations so that they are put on a better financial and operational footing for many years to come, rather than trying to simply survive.”

“Allowing this development will open the floodgates to future developments in [Fairlands Valley Park], which will affect the local wildlife and destroy the beauty of our much-needed recreational space”

Stevenage is set to be illuminated this November, with Christmas lights switch-on events taking place in both the Old Town High Street, and new town centre at Event Island.

The town centre lights switch-on will take place on Thursday 24 November, between 3.30-7pm. The event will be packed with entertainment for the whole family, including: live music, face painting, a polar bear and snow globe, ice rink and Christmas market. There’s also the chance to meet Santa Claus and receive a free gift.

The lights will be illuminated at 6.30pm by Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Immi Davies and Luke Norris & Boro Bear of Stevenage Football Club. This year’s event is sponsored by Nexus Fostering, who have been making a difference to the lives of vulnerable children and young people in foster care since 2002.

The Old Town event will be held on Saturday 26 November, between 5.30-6.30pm. There will be performances before the lights are switched on by Mayor Councillor Margaret Notley at 6.30pm, and refreshments will be available throughout the evening outside Springfield House Community Centre.

Councillor Richard Henry, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure, Children and Young People, said: “It’s approaching the most wonderful time of the year, and what better way to mark the start of the festive season than with one of our Christmas lights switch-on events. “Both events promise to be fun-filled afternoons with entertainment for the whole family to enjoy, so come along and see our town centre and Old Town lit up.”

Both events are free to attend.

Views are being sought on the proposed introduction of two 20mph zones - one in Stevenage and one in Great Ashby - to help reduce “the likely potential of injury accidents” and encourage more walking and cycling. The proposed 20mph zones include 24 roads in Stevenage and 34 in Great Ashby, including Great Ashby Way, Mendip Way, Cleveland Way and Bray Drive.

Hertfordshire County Council’s consultation documents say the proposed speed limit reduction - from 30mph to 20mph - aims “to improve the quality of life and road safety for motorists and other road users”.

Launched on October 21 and running until November 11, the two separate consultations both say: “The creation of a lower speed limit area will lead to a peaceful and less intimidating environment, especially for vulnerable road users. This will allow people to be more confident when walking and cycling in the area.”

Councillor Phil Bibby, executive member for highways and transport, “considers [these schemes] a priority”, the county council says, adding that it proposes “to introduce a lower speed limit, thereby reducing the likely potential of injury accidents,” and “to create an environment to encourage more walking and cycling”.

If the schemes are approved, it will require the introduction of 20mph signs, but no traffic calming measures, the council said.

To give your views on the proposed schemes, you can complete a short survey at www.hertfordshire. gov.uk/Stevenage20mph and www.hertfordshire. gov.uk/Greatashby20mph. For the schemes to move forward, a 25 per cent response rate to the initial consultations is required, with the majority in support of the proposals.

A council spokesperson explained: “This consultation exercise is the first part of a two-stage process. The comments received from residents

and businesses will help us finalise our proposal prior to the next stage.

“The second public consultation stage is open to anyone. An advertisement will be placed in the local

newspaper. A site notice and plan will be posted out as part of a letter drop or erected on site; the law allows for either option. It is intended that this will take place during January 2023.”

Stevenage Borough Council

Mayor Cllr Margaret Notley, local dignitaries, business leaders and residents gathered on Saturday 29th October at the Gordon Craig Theatre for the annual Pride of Stevenage Awards ceremony to see a number of local heroes honoured.

The winners were revealed by Leader of the Council, Sharon Taylor, at an event hosted by the Mayor and compered by Stevenage FC match day announcer, Jay Drackford. Prizes were handed out across eight categories - Dedication, Green, Team, Caring, Sporting, Enterprise, Young Star and the Judges’ Special award.

Austin Funeral Directors were this year’s main awards sponsor and the winners were:

• Dedication Award – Errol John, who regularly volunteers to help the people of Stevenage and members of our ethnically diverse communities.

Errol John

Lauren Cooper

Green Award – Camps Hill Primary School, an eco-friendly school with numerous green initiatives including recycling, battery and crisp packet collection points and an EcoCouncil made up of students.

Team Award (Sponsored by Co-Space) – Diamond Silver Service support local autistic, disabled and challenged children and helps elderly and disabled residents of Stevenage too. Their travel service offers buses with rear lifts and accommodates wheelchairs.

Caring Award (Sponsored by Fosters Legal Solicitors) –Su Harvey set up The Red Shed Project to help Alzheimer’s sufferers and their carers.

Paul Laidlaw

Su Harvey & The Red Shed Project

Sporting Award – Lauren Cooper, a teacher who organises sport fundraisers for charities. She ensures every student has learned how to restart a heart.

Enterprise Award (Sponsored by biz4Biz) – Izabela Stuchlik owner of Leavened Bakery in Stevenage Indoor Market in the town centre.

Young Star Award (Sponsored by: Tollers Solicitors - The cheerleaders from Camps Hill Primary School. The squad, who are aged 7 -11 years old, enjoy raising money for charity.

Judge’s Special Award – Paul Laidlaw who played the Panto Dame in Stevenage for 27 years bring joy and laughter to

Stevenage residents. Councillor Sharon Taylor, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council and chair of the judges, enthused:

“These special awards allow us to pay tribute, once a year, to a few of our local heroes – people and organisations that enhance the lives of hundreds of people all

Diamond Silver Service

Camps Hill Primary School

over Stevenage every day. “Ours is a great town and there are fantastic things going on here. Some pretty amazing people are making things happen, making things better, and making a real difference to Stevenage life.

“I’d like to thank this year’s sponsors, Austin’s Family Funeral Directors, headline sponsor of this year’s Pride Awards, Fosters

Legal Solicitors the sponsor of the Caring award, biz4Biz the sponsor of the Enterprise award, Co-Space the sponsor of the Team award and Tollers Solicitors the sponsor of the Young Star award. Thanks also go to Craig Maret, director of Rewind who made the Pride of Stevenage Awards 2022 films and the Gordon Craig Theatre venue team for their help to host this year’s awards event.

“I would like to also thank the judges for giving up their time to choose our winners; Paige Abrey - Stevenage Youth Mayor, Claire Austin from Austin’s Family Funeral Directors, Elaine Connolly from Irish Network, Sandra Foster from Fosters Legal Solicitor, Dan Gaze, a former Pride award winner, Ian Taylor from biz4Biz, Darren Isted from Stevenage magazine and William Stokes from Co-Space.”

The cheerleaders from Camps Hill Primary School

Pride Awards 2022 winners

Planning permission has been granted for a new secondary school to be built in Stevenage.

The Michaela Community School, with capacity for 1,260 pupils aged 11 to 19, will be built on the site of the former Collenswood School and Barnwell campus in Collenswood Road, after Stevenage Borough Council’s Planning and Development Committee gave the plans the green light on November 1.

The new school building will extend to four storeys, split over three interlinked blocks.

The existing Stevenage Education Support Centre (SESC) on site, which remains in use, will be upgraded with a new single-storey building to replace the dated buildings, which will be demolished. One existing accommodation block will be retained. The SESC provision is for 36 students at Key Stages 3 and 4.

More than 30 people formally objected to the plans for the new school, with concerns including noise pollution, crime and anti-social behaviour, the impact of a proposed footpath on nearby residents’ privacy, and the impact of pick-up and drop-off activity.

Just a handful of people wrote in support of the proposal, highlighting the need for more secondary school places in the growing town.

The council’s Planning and Development Committee deferred a decision on the application in July, to allow the applicant to provide further information on three key areas of concernpedestrian access, the impact of traffic on Redwing Close - which will host the main entrance to the school, and the impact of the proposed acoustic fencing on residents of Marlborough Road.

The applicant - developer Bowmer + Kirkland, on behalf of the Department for Education - has since offered to sponsor a Traffic Regulation Order on Redwing Close, agreed to provide two additional

pedestrian access points - one from Barham Road and one from Dene Lane - and agreed to site the acoustic fencing away from the boundaries of the properties on Marlborough Road and closer to the school’s multi-use games area.

In his report to the committee, the council’s planning officer acknowledged that the development “would attract a significant amount of traffic to the site, resulting in noise disturbance, impacts on air quality, and inconvenience for local residents in finding on-street car parking spaces”, notwithstanding any mitigation measures.

He said: “These impacts would be felt particularly acutely by the residents of Redwing Close, which would host the new main entrance to the Michaela Community School. It is recognised that there is an existing access to the site on this road, but it was historically only used in limited circumstances. Accordingly, these harms carry significant weight against the proposal.”

However, he also said: “The benefits of providing additional secondary school places, including providing more choice in school places for residents of the borough, are considerable and carry great weight in favour of the proposal.

“The development would also see the provision of new and enhanced facilities for SESC, which is a specialist educational institution concerned with providing support to pupils excluded or at risk of exclusion from full-time education.

“The new secondary school will enhance the education offer within the borough by providing high quality specialist education”

“In replacing the existing development on the site, which is in poor condition, with bright and modern facilities, the proposed development would have a positive impact on the character and appearance of the area.

“The benefits of granting permission are considered to significantly outweigh the adverse impacts.”

The applicant says the new secondary school “will enhance the education offer within the borough by providing high quality specialist education”.

Planning permission for the new school has been granted with a raft of conditions, including the need for a Construction Management Plan detailing specific health and safety action to protect pedestrians.

The proposed development will create 141 direct

jobs and 212 indirect jobs during the proposed 1.8year demolition/construction period.

Opened in 1962, Collenswood School closed in 2006 and the site was then used by the Barnwell School as its ‘middle campus’ until 2014. The one and twostorey school buildings are currently largely disused and will be demolished to make way for the new school.

The Michaela Community School will open with an intake of 180 Year 7 students, growing with the same intake each year.

Traditional subjects will be given additional lesson time within a longer school day.

The original Michaela Community School, founded in London by headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh in 2014, is known for its strict discipline.

As part of the wider regeneration plans for Stevenage, The Oval is earmarked for redevelopment in the future, and ideas are being sought that could be incorporated into the plans.

Stevenage Borough Council has launched a public consultation survey and said it “would love to know what you think works and doesn’t work at the moment and what would improve the public space”.

The council says The Oval was highlighted in the Local Plan as “an opportunity to make muchneeded improvements to the local area”, and architect practice Rock Townsend has been appointed for the scheme.

A spokesperson for Stevenage Borough Council said: “The Oval regeneration offers an opportunity to improve the living, shopping and social experience for the community. This would include new public space, shops, housing, community space and church.

“We’ve been proactively communicating with businesses and residents in the local vicinity who will be affected. However, it’s a great opportunity for all the residents of Stevenage to get involved from the outset, with ideas that we can look to incorporate into the development of any future plans.

“So far, we’ve directly been in touch with over 3,000 properties in and around The Oval and, although you may not be directly impacted, we’d also love to hear your feedback with any thoughts, ideas and views that you’d love to see incorporated into the plans.

“It’s important to realise at this early stage, there are currently no plans, but this is a great opportunity to have your input at a crucial time, before they’ve been designed, to help shape the future scheme.

“Whatever your connection with Stevenage, whether you’re a resident, tenant, stakeholder, local organisation or a business, you’re welcome to submit your views.

“It’s important that together we get this right. Therefore, this will be the first of several rounds of consultation to ensure the views of residents are incorporated into the designs as they progress.” This is the first consultation survey, which is open until November 9. A second consultation survey, followed by analysis of the results, is scheduled to take place this winter.

Alternatively, you can email your views to housing. development@stevenage.gov.uk, or call 01438 242242 and ask to speak to a member of the Housing Development team.

“It’s important to realise at this early stage, there are currently no plans, but this is a great opportunity to have your input at a crucial time, before they’ve been designed, to help shape the future scheme.”

In response to an increase in patients attending A&E at Stevenage’s Lister Hospital with acute mental health illness, the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust is working to create a ‘therapeutic environment’ in the emergency department.

Theresa Murphy, the NHS trust’s chief nurse, said: “Undoubtedly, we are seeing more patients present at the emergency department with acute mental health illness issues. “Fundamentally, there is a very good process of joint working with our community partner, the Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and we can see that through timely assessments of these patients.”

She continued: “There’s no doubt the investment that the trust has made into an acute mental

health matron, who is based in our emergency department and works there largely Monday to Friday, is seeing a really positive impact on these vulnerable patients.

“Notwithstanding, what we want to do is create a therapeutic environment in our emergency department for such patients, so we’re working with colleagues in estates and in the community to create such an environment.”

She said other acute organisations nationally are seeing similar increases in patients with acute mental health illness, and “it’s really vital that we make sure both physical health and mental health are assessed within a timely fashion”.

The Centre for Mental Health - a charity driving change in mental health policy and practices - has estimated that up to 10 million people in England, including 1.5 million children, are likely to need new or additional mental health support as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health watchdog the Care Quality Commission said: “The impact of the pandemic on people’s mental health is well recognised. “Over the last year, Mind and Rethink Mental Illness have reported an increase in demand for their services. For example, in the 12 months since the first national lockdown was announced, Rethink reported a 175 per cent increase in demand for advice and information on their website.”

If you are having a difficult time, or you are worried about somebody else, you can call Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

There are celebrations all round as this year marks 20 years of the Austin’s Charitable Fund.

The fund was set up back in 2002 by the Austin family to support and benefit charities and organisations in the local community, and includes a local Annual Charity selected by the family alongside some significant other financial support to local causes.

Managing Director, Claire Austin, explained that, prior to the Fund being set up, they would always have a lot of people writing to them with small charity requests, such as sponsorship for the London Marathon and other challenges; so they decided to focus their efforts and raise even more money for a few, select causes each year instead.

Each Annual Charity is promoted through their branches, website and social media.

Funds are raised through families donating to the cause after losing a loved one, a percentage of profits, annual events such as the Christmas Carol Service at Harwood Park, and donation boxes in all of the branches.

Claire said: “The original concept of the Austin’s Charitable Fund was to find a way to ‘give back’ to the community we serve. The bereaved families we look after live and very often work locally.

Jackie Lawrence and Maggie Bashforth hand over the cheque to EHAA

Many of them have been supported by local hospices and care providers. Therefore, we feel we are creating a ‘circle of giving’.”

Over the last 20 years the fund has raised an incredible £242,385.54, after the most recent donation of £5,709 was made to 2021 Charity of the Year, the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT).

A representative from Austin’s always visits the charities to hand over their cheques and this year it was Jackie Lawrence and Maggie Bashforth who were delighted to present the donation to EHAAT at their base in North Weald.

“We chose Herts Air Ambulance as our 2021 charity because they provide an amazing, but largely unseen, lifesaving service to our community and are

Austin’s raise almost £250,000 over 20 years of their Charitable Fund

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.

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 make.

Just 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 charities.

They’ve 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.

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.

In fact, Home-Start Stevenage (as it was called back then) was Austin’s first ever Charity of the Year back in 2002.

Another avenue is the recycling scheme at the crematorium at Harwood Park.

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.

This year’s chosen Charity of the Year is the Anne Robson Trust.

Austin’s look forward 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.”

In celebration of Small Business Saturday and its vast array of small businesses who make a huge contribution to their local community by providing goods, services and employment for local people, Stevenage Borough Council in partnership with SG1 Business Network is supporting “Boost Your Business to Grow and Flourish”. This in person event will take place on Thursday 1 December at the Business Technology Centre, Bessemer Drive, Stevenage SG1 2DX between 10am and 12pm.

Boost Your Business Growth will be supported by a wide array of highly knowledgeable and specialised speakers on areas to drive your business move forward. The event will provide your business with the opportunity to find out how to secure valuable public sector contacts, to further grow and expand your business. It will enable your business to be equipped with local and wider knowledge and intelligence and access the full raft of specialised business support services on offer, to help your business to grow and accelerate.

Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, noncommercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities. The day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses. Celebrating its tenth year in the UK, with the campaign growing significantly over the years, Small Business Saturday aims to promote small businesses who are invaluable to the growth and prosperity of the local economy. The council is delighted in continuing to support the campaign, to ensure its businesses are helped to become more resilient through specialist provision and strengthened through the wider opportunities that are available to them.

Boost Your Business Growth will also provide

opportunities to meet with likeminded peers to develop new connections and collaborations with. In addition, the event will also support opportunities for attendees to exhibit on a first come, first serve basis.

By attending Boost Your Business to Grow and Flourish you will:

• Learn how to make your products and services more accessible online

• Understand the steps required to prepare your business for the year ahead and beyond

• Acquire winning ways to drive your business forward with success

• Ensure your business has success to high quality advice, specialised support and guidance

• Gain access to contract opportunities at Stevenage Borough Council and receive top tips for bidding

• Receive support on how to develop your supply chains through a wider network

Agenda

10:00 Arrivals

10:05 Opening and Welcome - Stevenage Borough Council & Wenta

10:15 “Strengthening your Brand – ensuring your perfect client can find your business online…and buy” – Relton Associates

10:30 “Give your business a MOT - so it’s ready for 2023” – ActionCOACH

10:45 Why Business Support services are crucial for your business survival - Wenta

11:00 Boosting your supply chains through supplying local – Stevenage Borough Council

11:15 Building Strong Networks to Grow your business – SG1 Business Network

11:25 Closing – Chair of SG1 Business Network

11:30 Networking

12:00 Close

Children’s literacy charity Schoolreaders is looking for more volunteers who can help spread the joy of reading to children in Hertfordshire primary schools – especially around Stevenage.

A recent survey1 of young people by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) revealed that reading enjoyment had reached a 15 year low, rallying slightly in the pandemic before declining again by 2022, especially amongst those from disadvantaged backgrounds and amongst boys.

Furthermore, the Annual Literacy survey found that fewer than 1 in 2 children aged 8 to 18 enjoyed reading with only 28% reading daily.

Schoolreaders is looking for volunteers of all ages – from students to retirees - who can listen to children read in a local primary school, especially at those schools where children require support the most.

Worryingly, 1 in 4 children leave primary school every summer unable to read to the expected

standard2 and the Schoolreaders scheme is now more in demand than ever, particularly to help those children most disadvantaged following the education disruption caused by Covid lockdowns.

Schoolreaders volunteers act as trusted role models in the classroom alongside the class teachers, not only helping children improve their reading but also by being a positive influence.

Schoolreaders volunteers are asked to listen to children read once a week during term time and to commit to an academic year.

By applying now new volunteers will be matched as quickly as possible to a partner school and be ready to start once they have completed a mandatory DBS check and virtual safeguarding training.

Jane Whitbread, founder of Schoolreaders, adds, “Children who leave primary school unable to read well can’t access their secondary schooling fully which

will disadvantage them for life. One in seven adults have poor literacy and cannot read instructions on a medicine label or a bus timetable or fill in a job application form. Working together we can change this.

“There is no substitute for face-to-face interaction and support when it comes to reading. Our volunteers provide a crucial supplement to classroom teaching and are welcomed by schools - and the children. 95% of children in our scheme improved their reading performance and over 90% their reading enjoyment after time with a Schoolreaders volunteer which is so valuable. If more children gain pleasure from reading from an early age and their reading fluency and confidence improves too, communities and Society will reap the benefits.”

To find out more or to apply today to be a Schoolreaders volunteer in primary schools with the greatest need in Hertfordshire, visit Schoolreaders.org

Children and adults alike will be delighted to see the return of the “Spot the Error” Christmas trail featuring shop windows up and down the High Street in Stevenage Old Town.

The pandemic sadly prevented this intriguing event from being held in the last two years and there is a great deal of pent-up enthusiasm now from the shops and businesses, who are already planning their Christmas displays.

How it works is this: Christmas displays in shop windows will include an item that’s inappropriate, inaccurate (or plain silly).

We can’t give you any clues as to what these errors might be because that would spoil the competition! Competitors can pick up maps at all the participating venues, which will show them where to look out for the errors.

Then all they need to is write down what the mistakes are, alongside the name of the venue. Whoever correctly spots all the errors and gives the best answer to the tie-breaker question will receive a tempting prize.

The competition will be running from Saturday 26 November (the date of the Christmas lights switchon in the Old Town) until Christmas Eve.

As previously, this event is being organised by Stevenage Old Town Business & Community Partnership.

Further details can be obtained from Jo at Cardies in the High Street or by emailing sotbcp@gmail.com