In&Around Jan 2021

Issue 186 - January 2021

WHAT’S INSIDE

Your favourite PRICELESS community magazine

Featured Articles 18 David Bowie’s 74th birthday

HAPPY

COVID-19 charity gets funding boost

42

46 Film review: The Prom

NEW YEAR

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ISSUE 186 January 2021

READ ONLINE AT: www.inandaroundmag.co.uk

Welcome to the January issue of IN&AROUND! A new year means a blank slate – and many of us could certainly feel grateful for that, given how unexpectedly difficult 2020 turned out to be. Fortunately, our first issue of 2021 is packed with fun content – like our copywriter Georgia Paskell’s review of Netflix musical The Prom (page 46).

Contents 6, 42, 50

Local News Places To Go

16

What’s on

48

You could also feast on some slow cooker beef stew with dumplings – our recipe is on page 38 – or read the feel-good news stories in this issue, including about Consett businessman Rob Rendle’s potentially lifesaving gift to the town, as page 6 reveals.

Why Advertise?

That’s our January issue – here’s hoping your 2021 gets off to a thoroughly exciting start.

When it comes to growing your business, promotion is everything. At IN&AROUND Magazine, we offer a range of advertising packages that put your brand in front of thousands of potential customers.

In&Around magazine is proudly sponsored by Care Connect provides an essential lifeline to vulnerable people across County Durham.

Care Connect is a friendly, local service that supports people of all ages across our region.

We provide a monitoring and response service to people’s homes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If you’ve had a fall or feel unwell, at the press of a button you will be connected to our Control Room response staff. To find out more please call 0300 026 2195, email care.connect@durham.gov.uk or visit www.durham.gov.uk/careconnect.

Our free magazine is delivered to over 20,000 homes and businesses across Chester-le-Street, Derwentside and Durham every month – and our readership continues to grow. With solutions to suit all budgets and requirements, from quarter pages to front page ads, we can help you make an impact. What’s more, with every order, we offer a complimentary design service to ensure that your messages are delivered in the most attractive and eye-catching manner possible.

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Consett businessman gifts community defibrillator to the town Businessman Rob Rendle, who has sold furniture from his retail store in Consett for decades, recently had a defibrillator fitted in the County Durham town as a thank you to local people who have supported his business since it started operating there.

Mr Rendle started selling furniture and carpets back in 1973, when he was part of Callers, a well-regarded North East company that ran until its owners opted to retire in 1984. That’s when Mr Rendle acquired premises in Consett and set up his own, eponymous company, Rendles.

In the time since, the business has grown rapidly – leading it to eventually relocate in 1990 to larger premises on Front Street in the same town. Mr Rendle’s store remains on the same site to this day, but regular Rendles customers might notice something a little different when they next visit.

The defibrillator was subsequently installed on the Rendles shopfront located at 56 Front Street in Consett. The machine, which can be used to treat the life-threatening cardiac condition of ventricular fibrillation (VF), was fitted free of charge by the electrician Graham Walton of G A Walton & Son Electrical Services, a family-run company itself based in Consett.

Rendles store manager Mark Emmerson said of the newly-fitted defibrillator: “It’s in a good place, a busy street with a lot of shops and pubs – so, if it’s going to get used, it would be there.”

The nearby pubs include the Company Row, the Black Horse Inn and the Freemasons Arms, while the Rendles store and the new defibrillator are also situated close to Argos, Iceland Foods and Heron Foods retail stores.

Mr Rendle was first inspired to have a defibrillator installed in Consett’s town centre after learning, through a Facebook group he runs, that a defib was not already available for public use in this part of the town.

Rendles itself is a family business that is nonetheless part of the Minerva furniture group.

Rendles has served a wide range of customers over the years, having provided furniture for government buildings, churches, hotels, pubs, clubs and many homes, too.

Mr Rendle explained: “The people of Consett have been very good to me over the years, so this is my gift to them. I hope it is used to save a life one day.”

The Rendles website is located at www.rendles. co.uk, and Rendles store staff can be contacted by phone on 01207 590250 or email via rendlesfurniture@gmail.com.

6 | IN&AROUND

We know you may have increased worry about having people visit your home and we want to reassure you that your safety as always, is our priority. All staff will wear PPE when visiting homes, help is always on-hand. If you or anyone you know feels isolated, worried or unwell, Care Connect can help.

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Summer Staycation 2021 Staycations are where it’s at right now and there are many reasons why you should consider this option as a way to holiday.

The best thing about a Staycation Vacation here in the UK is the element of choice and flexibility. You can choose everything from trip duration and party size to type of accommodation — with a wide range of luxurious spas, cosy countryside cottages, glorious lakeside lodges, and quirky glamping abodes with private hot-tubs on

offer across the country — along with your preferred method of transportation. And all this is available without having to break the bank (although there’s no shame in splashing out!). You’ll have even more to spend without having to take into consideration long-haul flights and luggage fees.

No matter what type of holiday you’re looking for, there’s something for you right here in the UK.

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POP TOP LEISURE VEHICLES With the recent demand for leisure products in the UK and the need to have multi-purpose camper window vans that can be used as every day vehicles and for leisure trips, the PopTop Leisure Company presents a choice of new and used campervans for sale which are competitively priced to suit most people’s pockets. All our campervans are available to view at out North East showroom based in Birtley, County Durham.

As well as providing a range of converted campervans for sale, it is also possible to choose a van from stock which we can then convert for you based on our flexible range of conversion options.

We also offer a roof fitting service at our workshop in Washington, Tyne and Wear. You can visit our workshop in Washington, to discuss the supply and fitting of elevating PopTops and to see vehicles in mid conversion. You can also discuss a conversion of your own with our very own motor caravan converters.

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Your alternative online weekly payment store!

Choose from a range of stylish furniture, white goods, electrical items and homeware.

Then purchase the products in an affordable way that works for you!

Visit www.smarterbuys.org now to get shopping!

The Smarterbuys Store Limited is a company registered in England and Wales under the number 07526461 and with the Charities Commission under number 1144676, whose registered office is Greengates House, Amos Drive, Greencroft Industrial Park, Co Durham, DH9 7YE. Smarterbuys store is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference number 713746.

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able to feel their ribs without too much of a fat covering.

Their waist should be easily seen and their abdomen should be tucked up towards their pelvis.

in association with

The January Diet

Overweight pets are a growing concern in the UK. Like humans, pets become overweight when they eat more calories than their body can use and sadly the food and treats we provide often exceed the number of calories they can burn off through the day, causing weight gain.

How can I tell if my pet is overweight or underweight?

Many pets we see today are overweight so it is sometimes difficult to recognise what our pet’s ideal bodyweight should look like.

Pets come in all shapes and sizes so weight alone is not an accurate measurement. By looking at your pet’s shape you can get a much better idea of your pet’s body condition. For cats and dogs you should be

Why is weight so important?

Being overweight can make it more likely that your pet could suffer from serious health problems such as: • Heart disease • Diabetes • Breathing difficulties • Pressure sores • Fly Strike – This usually occurs when rabbits cannot reach their bottoms and clean themselves

If you would like to check that your pet is a healthy weight, or need advice on how to help your pet lose or gain weight, why not book an appointment on 0191 410 9674 for a weight check with one of our Veterinary Nurses?

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(C) Chapter of St. Paul's Photo: Graham Lacdao

Places to go...

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City of London In

this time of restricted travel for many, one of the most accessible places to visit is the City of London (Tier 2 at the time of writing), the financial capital of the UK. It is just over one square mile, west of Tower Bridge and ending between Blackfriars and Temple, all on the north side of the River Thames. The map, produced by the City Corporation, shows the area. Some of the attractions are expensive e.g. £25 for the Tower of London.

But there are ways around this: book in advance for the Ceremony of the Keys inside the Tower at 2130 every night. The fascinating St Pauls is £17, but no charge is payable to attend a service. St Paul’s was rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666, but a church has been on this site since its foundation in 604. The Whispering Gallery, inside the dome, is world famous.

Some attractions are genuinely free, though.

Just walking round the streets, spotting blue plaques about interesting people. The Museum of London at the Barbican is free, and even has a Docklands equivalent which is also free. Cheaper than the sight-seeing boats to get there is the river bus, which has been rebranded this year from the MBNA Thames Clipper to the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, which run from Woolwich

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Arsenal to Putney, and most regularly between North Greenwich (the O2) and the London Eye. You can pay to go up the Shard, but the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street, known as the “Walkie Talkie” is free to access as long as you book in advance.

It’s on the right of the photograph of St. Paul’s.

The Bank of England has an interesting museum which is normally free but closed at the moment. A few weeks ago, I tried to get to the cashier’s desk to exchange an out-of-date £5 banknote in good condition, which they will exchange, Security staff told me that the desk was closed and gave me a form to complete and send in my note. A fortnight later the £5 appeared in my bank account but it was not quite the same as walking out on to Threadneedle Street carrying a crisp new fiver.

Many City churches have lunchtime concerts and recitals for City workers and visitors are welcome too. Another place to book is the Bloomfield London Mithraeum which is free, a Roman place of worship at Walbrook, close to Cannon Street station and the Mansion House. The Guildhall Art Gallery is presently open only Friday to Sunday but is also free, and there is no

Stpauls.co.uk

Skygarden.london

charge to wander round the brutalist Barbican Centre, or Leadenhall Market, entry to Diagon Alley in the first Harry Potter film.

At the moment it is always wise to check opening times on the appropriate websites, and plan your travel carefully. I saw no point in booking a rail trip to London during the 23-27 December period, when the vast majority of people would want to travel on the first and the last day, especially when King’s Cross was closed for major engineering works over the days between Christmas and New Year. Best to pick a time, as government restrictions allow, to travel in the off peak periods of January and February, which are the best times for the cheapest fares all year. LNER and Grand Central run direct from the north east into King’s Cross. You can find the best combinations of fares at nationalrail.com making use of the entire reservations database. Happier travelling in 2021!

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Hallo birthday boy: David Bowie was born 74 years ago this month To quote from David Bowie’s big comeback song released in 2013, “where are we now?” We have reached the month of what would have been the legendary rocker’s 74th birthday. The man known off-stage as David Robert Jones was born in South London’s Brixton district on 8th January 1947 and went on to become one of the 20th century’s most influential musicians.

Bowie’s interest in music emerged during his childhood years, leading him to become a professional musician in 1963. He first entered the top five of the UK single charts with the 1969 release of the psychedelic folk favourite “Space Oddity”. Now established as one of Bowie’s signature songs, it was heavily inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s seminal film 2001: A Space Odyssey released the previous year.

Today, Bowie is especially hailed by fans and critics for his innovative 1970s work, where he adopted the flamboyant and androgynous persona of Ziggy Stardust and made his name in the US with “Fame”, the 1975 funk rock song he co-wrote with John Lennon and included on Bowie’s ninth studio album Young Americans. He wrapped up his long run of 1970s hits with his electronically-tinged “Berlin Trilogy” of albums: 1977’s Low and “Heroes” and 1979’s Lodger.

Amazingly, though, his commercial peak on both sides of the Atlantic was yet to come at this point.

That peak arrived with his 1983 album Let’s Dance.

Now Bowie’s bestselling album, it produced three of his most popular singles: “Modern Love”, “China Girl” 18 | IN&AROUND

and the title track, which reached the summit of both the UK and US singles charts. Bowie himself once dubbed the album “a rediscovery of white-English-exart-school-student-meets-black-American-funk”.

Other number ones Bowie achieved on the UK singles chart during the 1980s included “Ashes to Ashes” in 1980, Queen collaboration “Under Pressure” the following year and his cover version of “Dancing in the Street”, sung as a duet with Mick Jagger, in 1985.

Though Bowie was predominantly a musician, the 1980s also saw him take on one of his best-known film roles: that of the villainous Goblin King in Jim Henson’s dark musical fantasy Labyrinth, released in 1986.

In November 2006, Bowie appeared in what would turn out to be his last musical performance on stage: a benefit event for the charity Keep a Child Alive at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom. In 2013, Bowie released his first studio album in a decade – The Next Day – and the associated single “Where Are We Now?” In January 2016, Bowie brought out his last studio album, the krautrock-influenced Blackstar, just two days before his death from liver cancer on 10th January.

Throughout the many decades of his musical career, Bowie regularly reinvented himself and enchanted fans with his eccentric stagecraft. Biographer David Buckley has hailed Bowie’s “vast body of work”, which includes such acclaimed singles as “Hallo Spaceboy” and “Life on Mars?”, and declared Bowie’s influence “unique in popular culture – he has permeated and altered more lives than any comparable figure.”

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DVCC Supporting the transition to electric cars The Derwent Valley Car Club (DVCC) has been supporting the green industrial revolution for nearly 8 years. The fully electric, car share scheme is environmentally friendly and an integral part of modern mobility for businesses and individuals.

In 2020, following changes in travel patterns due to the Covid-19 pandemic, people are looking for a cleaner, greener, cheaper alternative to car ownership; the car club may have the perfect solution. Members have all the benefits of their own electric car without the expense of ownership.

The Government announced on the 18th November, a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 under the PM’s green plan.

This is a part of what the Government is calling the green industrial revolution to tackle climate change. One of the 10-point goals is to make the transition to electric vehicles. EVs have dramatically improved over the last couple years,

with better battery range reducing the so-called range anxiety for drivers and although the cost is starting to fall, they remain expensive to buy.

Here, at the Derwent Valley car club, we are supporting the shift to electric cars by creating an affordable flexible community car hire club and working with OZEV as part of the Scaling on street charging infrastructure project (SOSCI).

The expansion of the car club into Rowlands Gill, Weardale, and Shotley Bridge is part of a larger project funded by Innovate UK, involving 11 partners including Durham County Council, the project will install 200 new electric charge points across the North of England. The Car Club development will enable access to electric vehicles for the local rural community.

DVCC is committed to supporting our community to use sustainable and environmentally friendly modes of transport.

For more information, please check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/derwentvalleycarclub For further details contact: Email: jljcommunitycic@gmail.com

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FREE BUS SERVICE TO HELP LEARNERS GET TO EAST DURHAM COLLEGE To try and make life just that little bit easier, East Durham College offers FREE bus travel to ALL their full time students.

The college partners with Arriva North East to offer free bus travel to help get students to and from college and home each day. Free travel is available on any general Arriva bus service during term-time, any time of the day on Monday to Friday. All you need to do is simply show your valid college ID badge to the Arriva driver when you get on the bus.

In addition, Arriva also run two dedicated East Durham College services from the North Durham area.

The ED1 service starts at Burnopfield’s Post Office and travels to the College’s Houghall Campus, in

Durham, which specialises in a range of landbased courses such as animal care, agriculture and equine studies. The service also picks-up at Medomsley, Consett Bus Station, Annfield Plain, Stanley Bus Station, Sacriston and North Durham Hospital.

The ED2 service starts at Blackfell and travels to the College’s Peterlee Campus and Sixth Form.

The service also picks-up at Concord Bus Station, Washington Bus Station, Shiney Row, Newbottle, Houghton-le-Spring, Hetton-le-Hole, South Hetton, Easington Lane and Murton.

For more details, please contact East Durham College on 0191 518 8222 or visit www.edc.ac.uk.

Two Campuses. One Amazing College.

Our Houghall Campus, in Durham, is the region’s leading specialist land-based college offering course in: Animal Care Arboriculture Forestry Equine Studies Floristry

Horticulture & Gardening Foundation Studies Land & Wildlife Management Veterinary Nursing

Our Peterlee campuses are home to a huge range of vocational course, from engineering and sport studies to motor vehicle maintenance and childcare. Plus our sixth form centre has had a 100% A-level pass rate for the last 5 years!*

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*2016-2020, students taking 3 or more A-levels

22 26/11/20 | IN&AROUND EDC in & Around 132 x 96 advert Houghall £30.00.indd 1

DID YOU KNOW? The college has a dedicated FREE bus service, with Arriva, that starts from Burnopfield/ Consett directly to Houghall and a service from Blackfell/ Washington that run directly to the Peterlee Campus.

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Premier

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ABOUT PREMIER COMMUNITY CARE:

Our Home Care Service, which has been successfully operating in County Durham since 1994 is currently seeking dedicated and compassionate mobile carers to join our teams in Durham and surrounding areas.

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• A full driving license and access • No experience necessary, we to a vehicle will train you

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• A desire to make a difference in • Mileage paid for travel people’s lives • Pension scheme • A kind and caring approach RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CARE BENEFITS FOR CARE ASSISTANT in the community: ASSISTANTS in the community: • To provide good quality care to • Alternate weekends and set people in their own homes week days off / 28days annual leave pro-rata

At Premier, we: • Take pride in delivering high quality care • Promote independence • Support people to remain in their own homes / communities

IF YOU FEEL THIS IS THE JOB FOR YOU… PLEASE APPLY WITH YOUR CV AND A COVERING LETTER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!

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With our help, your business can be number one in 2021

While 2020 has certainly been challenging for many businesses, 2021 looks set to be a year of recovery. For this reason, it presents your business with an ideal opportunity to rebuild its brand and attract a steady stream of new customers.

Now more than ever, your company’s marketing needs a strong digital component. Though the COVID-19 vaccination programme has thankfully started in recent weeks, the fact remains that, according to medical experts, “back to normal” remains many months away.

Hence, we can expect the in-person aspect of marketing to stay somewhat diluted well into 2021. In a world where large events, conferences and other gatherings in the usual physical venues aren’t even on the table, your marketing strategy could need a rethink.

We are here to help you navigate the many perplexing challenges that 2021 could fling into your path. The digital marketing team here at the County Durham-based creative agency Jak HQ includes web designers, graphic designers, SEO experts and copywriters.

So, while wearing face masks might stay common practice for a while yet, we can help your brand to show its face more appealingly than ever before with a new logo and branding colours – as well as a whole new website resplendent in them.

The recent news about COVID-19 vaccines means that, at long last, we can start to see an endpoint to the pandemic. However, your customers must remain reliably informed – especially online, where misinformation can spread like wildfire.

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24 | IN&AROUND

That’s where our copywriters can help – producing useful, informative and reliable text for your website, its blog and even blog articles posted in your other company’s name to other sites. With this content, we can educate your customers on how they can get through the pandemic’s home stretch – and how your company could help them to do it.

We would be delighted to give you a hand – a thoroughly sanitised one, of course – with your digital marketing efforts in 2021.

Just phone 0191 388 2698 or email hello@jakhq.com to learn more about how we can assist you in priming your company’s digital marketing strategy for 2021.

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Venture P R O P E R T I E S

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We are an award winning training provider bringing life changing expert support to individuals and businesses Finchale is an organisation with 80 successful years of supporting local communities to make positive changes to their lives.

The charity is a specialist in providing education, training, employment and welfare support services to businesses and their employees, veterans, those in military service and their families and individuals with multiple barriers to social inclusion.

Our training schemes and apprenticeships respond to the needs of the people and businesses we work helping them to realise their full potential.

For Individuals: At Finchale Group we help you to be the best you can be and prepare for the jobs of tomorrow. We deliver high-quality employability and vocational training programmes for students, veterans and job seekers.

Whether you’re a young person looking for an alternative to mainstream education, a more mature learner or connected to the Military Community Finchale are here to help you reach your full potential.

Our expert Wellbeing Coaches and Tutors will help you to identify your goals and support you to fulfil them. We offer a range of online and face to face courses in a variety of subjects.

Whether you’re looking to grow new skills or advance existing ones, are looking for work or considering self employment Finchale are able to support you every step of the way.

Current offer: • Online learning – from Customer Service to Workplace Wellbeing!

• Mindful Crafting, Community Gardening and Family activities • Aged 16-19 Construction and Warehousing employment routeways in partnership with Durhamworks • Budding Entrepreneur? Training and support to consider self employment Courses are FREE *subject to eligibility criteria

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For Businesses: As your training partner, Finchale Group will help you maximise your employee talent and look after all your businesses training needs. Together we will maximise your productivity and performance.

Finchale Group is your training partner and will work with you to plan, coordinate and support all of your business training needs. With a whole range of training courses available and apprenticeships we can help you and your employees grow their talent further.

With our team of experienced Consultants we offer a wide range of high quality accredited and nonaccredited courses and workshops, which can be tailored to meet your business needs. We also offer mentoring, coaching and i3 Profiling.

Our current offers: • Apprenticeships – able to support with new recruits and/or training your existing workforce within the following areas: Administration, Construction and Built Environment, Customer Service, Business Management, Employability, Education and Training.

• Leadership and Management – providing recognised qualifications to support the development of existing and future managers with a range of Chartered Management Institute qualifications • Online Learning – over 300 courses to support your workforce development Website – www.finchalegroup.co.uk Telephone – 0191 386 2634

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People + Learning = Success

Award winning training provider bringing life changing expert support to individuals and businesses

Finchale is an organisation with 80 successful years of supporting local communities to make positive changes to their lives.

Our expert team of specialists provide: • Vocational provision

• Pastoral care

• Health and wellbeing support

• Apprenticeships

• Tailor-made programmes

• Professional training courses

• Mentoring • Management programmes

• Employee and workforce training

Finchale + You = Life Changing Results Find out more T: 0191 386 2634 E: enquiries@finchalegroup.co.uk www.finchalegroup.co.uk

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Professional Stove Installers and Chimney Sweep Stoves Fitted Brush & Vac Sweep Fully Insured Certificates Issued Family run business Derwentside sweeps

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Our brewery is open to the public Mon to Sat 12.00pm - 4.30pm

We are Durham's newest and smallest brewing company. Producing small batch flavour forward American style pale ales, ipa's and bold decadent stouts alongside other unique beer styles. Brewed, packaged and labelled by hand.

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Whether you are a complete novice or have a lot of experience in keeping fit (and looking to take your fitness to the next level), we have the perfect PT4YOU. The team at PT4You say that even in the midst of a global pandemic, you should still strive to improve your health and wellbeing. If that’s not enough, we have made finding an experienced and local personal trainer a simple and easy process. Distanced, online training sessions are also available.

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Accountants raise money and food for Durham Food Bank Staff at Chester le Street-based accountants and business advisors Robson Laidler have donated £100 and collected 14.5kg of food items for the Durham Christian Partnership, County Durham Food Bank.

Robson Laidler staff along with their family and

Image: Pam Allon, Robson Laidler office manager.

friends donated the goods and raised money via asking clients which charity they would like the firm to donate money to as part of its annual Christmas giving campaign, where instead of sending cards, money is given to charity instead.

Pam Allon office manager at Robson Laidler Durham said: “Well done to our staff and clients who have helped us to raise such a wonderful amount of money to a great local cause right on our doorstep. Our purpose is to make a positive difference to people’s lives and supporting our local community is therefore one of our reasons for being and makes us all proud.”

Image: Food collected by Robson Laidler staff

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TRIMS & ADHESIVES

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BUSINESS

ADVISORS

HOW TO WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN FOR 2021 Any good business coach will tell you, if you want to survive and thrive this year you cannot leave your success up to chance. Last year has shown us that the business environment is changing quickly, you must learn how to pivot and plan for success.

Change is inevitable and can have different levels of impact. At its simplest initiating change can be said to have three stages: Identifying where you are now, identifying where you want to be and identifying how you are going to get there.

When making a change to your business strategy for next year it can be useful to look at this tried and tested Now, Where, How approach and document this in a simple One Page Plan, which is continually reviewed and holds you and others accountable.

Don’t be afraid of making changes to your business strategy, this simplified explanation sets out how you can make a solid plan for 2021 and how to reach those goals.

NOW: Review your current business plan by running a health check on your business. We use specific diagnostic tools but if you are trying to do this without a coach, you could try do a performance analysis across the main areas of your business by grading them 1-10 for instance, marketing, sales, people, profit, innovation. Highlight your three strongest and three weakest areas, which will provide insight into what is and is not working. From there you can identify some key issues that need to be addressed.

WHERE: Once you know the key areas that need to be addressed then you can set key goals for where you want to be and use mind mapping techniques to generate ideas that will contribute to achieving those goals. Once you have some ideas you then need to pareto these. The Pareto principle states that for many outcomes roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of the causes – this is sometimes called the 80/20 rule. So, try to establish which top three ideas are going to make the biggest impact to achieving your goal.

HOW: A force field analysis tool will show you the how negative and positive forces can influence the success of reaching the goals from your pareto list and will essentially give you the ‘how’ to achieving these.

You then need to document these (we do this in a One Page Plan – template available from Robson-laidler.co.uk/accelerator) with actions and realistic targets on how you will achieve these.

With the actions – you need to say who will do these – you could allocate these to team members and set deadlines. A good business coach will review these every so often and hold you and your team accountable for the action points.

HERE AT RL WE CAN HELP YOU ADAPT AND FOCUS ON WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IN 2021 AND FIGURE OUT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO GET THERE. CONTACT US: BA@ROBSON-LAIDLER.CO.UK

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Home from home childminding Hello my name is Charlotte and I’m an Ofsted registered child minder. I’m a fun and outgoing person with 10 years’ experience in working with children. I provide a home from home environment for children to play, learn and develop. I have a designated playroom and a large 540sq/m field where children can play and explore. We also have an allotment where we have raised Hens, and grow a lot of our Fruit and Vegetables.

I have a BA (Hons) Degree in Early Childhood Studies and I’m a fully qualified Paediatric First Aider. I am up to date on my Safeguarding qualifications and have my Food and Hygiene Certificate.

I’m continuously training, to keep up to date to provide the best provisions possible. I work alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), where the children can learn through play in a safe, friendly, fun environment full of laughter.

home from home childminding Quality Childcare in Newfield, Chester-Le-Street Less than 100 metres from Roseberry Primary School for pick up and drop offs Large outdoor space to learn and play Half term and summer holiday club 0-12 Years old

Charlotte BA (Hons) Tel: 07419 838519 Email: hfhchildmindingne@gmail.com @homefromhomechildmindingne homefromhomechildmindingne

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My opening hours are from 7am till 6pm Monday to Friday everyday apart from Bank holidays. I can be flexible with times to accommodate family needs. I provide healthy food and stimulating activities. We have many places to visit in the surrounding area. There are parks, the beach, and soft play areas which are all part of broadening children’s experiences.

I aim to build a bond with the children in my care, to be approachable, friendly and professional.

I also provide wrap around care for the local schools and nurseries in Newfield, Pelton, ChesterLe-Street and the surrounding areas.

I have experience working with children with additional needs; working 1:1 supporting children to develop and grow. I conduct individual planning to encourage children to reach their full potential.

If you are have any questions or queries or you would like to register your child please contact me on 07419838519

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- Tree Surgery & Hedge Cutting - City & Guilds NPTC Qualified - Fully Insured

- All Aspects Of Tree Surgery - Logs For Sale

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Find your new start this New Year at New College Durham

learning or nervous about going to a huge, impersonal university. Maybe you don’t know how you’ll fit studying around family or work. New College Durham offers a different kind of learning experience. Flexible study options allow you to study alongside your other commitments. The compact campus is friendly and welcoming while smaller class sizes mean you get more 1-2-1 support from your tutor. There’s also the college’s dedicated team of higher education support staff who are on hand to help you every step of the way.

New skills for adults Are you looking to upskill? New College has a range of professional qualifications and short courses that will help you progress in your current role. Choose from a variety of subject areas including IT, beauty, fitness instructing, counselling and more.

I will change my career. I will get the skills I need to progress. I will ditch my dreary course and find something I love. Whatever your ambitions for the New Year, New College Durham can get you there. And you don’t have to wait until September. The college has a wide range of courses starting in January 2021, so whether you’re looking to upskill, change career or switch your current course, New College can help make your resolution a reality.

New starts for adults You’d love to do a degree, but there’s something holding you back. You may be anxious about returning to

New starts for 16-19 year olds If the course you started in September isn’t working out, the college you’re at isn’t right for you or you simply want to get back into education, check out the New Choices programme. You can choose from a range of vocational courses and apprenticeships such as Business, Childcare, Hospitality & Catering and Travel & Tourism. These hands on, practical courses can lead to further study, employment or even university.

To find out more about the exciting range of courses starting in January 2021 or to register for New Choices programme go to www.newdur.ac.uk.

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NEW YEAR NEW START NEW COLLEGE DURHAM New College Durham has a wide range of coursesstarting in January 2021, so whether you’re lookingto upskill, change career or switch your currentcourse we can help make your resolution a reality.

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COMPETITION CORNER YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN...

Simply complete one of the puzzles on this page and fill in the entry form below.

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2 Course Meal for 2* Courtesy of

Fabios 191 Front Street, Chester le Street T: 0191 597 7039 *Takeaways Only Celebrate

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The winner will receive a letter from Jak HQ within 14 days of the competition closing date.

Send all entries to: Competition Department, Unit 4, Station Road, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3DY 36 | IN&AROUND

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Winter Offer

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Slow cooker beef stew with dumplings This slow cooker beef stew recipe doesn't require you to brown the beef, which makes it a perfect time saving dinner.

Prep: 25 mins

Cook: 5 hours

6 Servings

Ingredients

Directions

• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil

1/ Put the oil, vegetables and tomato purée into the bowl of your slow cooker. Dry the beef pieces with kitchen paper and dust with the plain flour (tapping off excess). Add to the slow cooker together with the wine, stock, rosemary and some seasoning. Stir to combine.

• 1 onion, roughly chopped • 2 medium parsnips, cut into 2.5cm pieces

• 2 medium carrots, cut into 2.5cm pieces

• 1 large leek, cut into 1cm slices • 3 tbsp. tomato purée • 1 .2kg braising steak, cut into 4cm chunks

• Plain flour, to dust • 200 ml red wine • 600 ml beef stock • 3 fresh rosemary sprigs For the dumplings

• 1 tbsp. dried parsley • 60 g suet • 125 g self-raising flour

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2/ Cover and cook on high for 5 hour or until the beef is tender.

3/ After 5hrs of cooking, make the dumplings. Sift the flour into a large bowl and stir in the suet, parsley and lots of seasoning. Add 100ml cold water and stir to make a soft (and slightly sticky) dough.

4/ Remove the lid and discard the rosemary sprigs. Pinch off walnut-sized pieces of dough, gently roll into a ball and place on top of the stew, spacing apart. Recover and cook for 1hr more. Check the seasoning and serve with mashed potatoes.

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AMAANI AT TH E P U M PH O U SE

SPICE UP YOUR NEW YEAR DEVELOPED BY ACCOMPLISHED CHEFS, OUR MENU OFFERS AN ARRAY OF DISHES TO INDULGE ANY PALATE. Each meal is exquisitely crafted to strike a perfect balance of authentic and contemporary.

Situated beside the River Wear in Durham City Centre, Amaani offers the finest Indian cuisine.

For reservations call us on 0191 384 0832 NOW OFFERING TAKEAWAY COLLECTION SERVICE, ORDER THROUGH OUR MOBILE APP! Amaani, The Pumphouse, Farm Road, Durham, DH1 3PJ

www.amaanidurham.co.uk www.inandaroundmag.co.uk | 39

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Think Careers in Care

Adult social care includes a wide range of services to support adults and older people and therefore offers a wide variety of job roles.

County Durham Care Academy can help you start your new career in care, even if you have no previous experience. We can help you match your existing skills and experience to your ideal role - just like we helped Hazel Hill to find her perfect job as an Activities Coordinator at Redworth House Care Home, where she is responsible for organising a variety of daily activities for residents.

Like us on

• Flexible hours that suit you!

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“My previous working background was in retail management and in early years childcare provision,” explains Hazel. “Working with children was rewarding but l was never able to shift the feeling of wanting to make a bigger difference. I helped to care for my Grandad who was in the early stages of dementia. It was heart breaking to watch his decline, but I always felt that the care and support I gave him made a real difference to his quality of life. Over the years I thought about a role in the care sector many times, but worried about making such a big career change.

“When I was furloughed during the first Covid-19 national lockdown, I saw a post on Facebook about free training with the County Durham Care Academy. Each course was clear and informative and there was lots of support available. The Care Academy worked with me to identify my transferrable skills from my previous positions to help with finding a job. Through this work it was identified that a vacancy for an Activities Coordinator role would be ideal for me, so I went for an interview and was successful. I am now Head of Activities at Redworth House Care Home, working full time and I love it!”

If you are interested in starting your career journey into adult social care, apply to the Care Academy today by visiting www.durham.gov.uk/ careacademyrecruitment you can also keep up to date on training and opportunities through Care Academy Facebook page: facebook.com/CareAcademyDurham.

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Think Careers in Care

Hazel Hill found her perfect job as an Activities Co-ordinator in a Care Home through the Care Academy, organising a range of activities for residents on a daily basis.

If you are interested in starting your career journey into adult social care apply to the Care Academy today by visiting www.durham.gov.uk/careacademyrecruitment you can also keep up to date on training and opportunities through Care Academy Facebook page: facebook.com/CareAcademyDurham.

“

I was hoping to move into a role like this once I gained experience and qualifications, but thanks to the Care Academy I have been able to start on my career path now.

The ability to speak to people and explain what I needed along with the help given to me with my application made all the difference.

“

There’s a broad range of roles available in adult social care with great opportunities for progression.

Care Academy offers a range of remote training and development programmes to suit people at every stage in their career.

www.durham.gov.uk/careacademyrecruitment 03000 260 222

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100K COV-AID for County Durham ‘Supportive’ Charity

The Barclays 100x100 UK Covid-19 Community Relief Programme money will be used by Supportive to: • Enhance welfare services which were established at the start of the pandemic to support customers, volunteers and staff. The additional contact is already having positive results; • Offer additional support to homecare customers to minimise social isolation. Carers will be able to spend additional time to chat, support with appointments, give additional care, support with shopping and, when permitted, take trips out in the community; • Continue to support volunteer drivers, who have been provided with Covid safety screens that fit between front and rear seats and safety boxes containing PPE supplies.

Volunteers provide a service supporting vital journeys and the charity aims to welcome more fully equipped volunteers to the service; • Use technology to increase service effectiveness and reduce Covid risk, and • Enable patient transport teams to provide additional support where wheelchair transport is needed.

A CHARITY delivering independence and support throughout the North-east is delighted to have secured a £100,000 Covid-19 helping hand from a major community aid programme launched by Barclays.

Supportive, based in Ferryhill, County Durham, has been chosen as one of Barclays’ UK charity partners to receive cash aimed at those working to support vulnerable people impacted by Covid-19, and to alleviate the associated social and economic hardship caused by the crisis.

Part of the North-east community for 26 years, Supportive has been working on the frontline in the fight against Covid since March and will use the cash to enhance welfare services across its three main areas of operation: homecare, volunteer drivers and patient transport ambulances.

CEO John Davison said: “We are delighted to receive £100k from Barclays and we will use the donation to make a positive contribution to people’s lives during the Covid pandemic.”

The money is being distributed as part of Barclays’ £100m Community Aid Package announced in April, to support charities helping people and communities most impacted by the pandemic. Alongside a colleague-matched fundraising initiative and £10m pledged through their 100x100 Programme, Barclays is donating funds to charity partners across the UK, Americas, Asia and Europe to ensure help reaches those who need it most. In the UK, where the bank has made 100 donations of £100,000, these partners include those who are meeting the immediate needs of low-income families, those facing financial hardship, isolated elderly people, NHS staff and key workers.

Supportive has been chosen for its work across County Durham and the wider North-east, where its services include: • Homecare, with 12,000 visits a year delivered by 120 care staff, including end of life support; • Volunteer drivers, with 100,000 journeys covered each year supporting NHS visits and local authority services, and • Patient transport ambulances, providing more than 17,000 hours of support in the last year.

42 | IN&AROUND

Paul Howell MP for Sedgefield said: “Funding like this is so critical for organisations like Supportive that are embedded within and hold our local communities together. Their efforts are largely unseen to many within the community but for those that know them they are a critical lifeline. I am so pleased that Barclays have chosen to support them.”

Andrew Thompson, Barclays business manager, said: “This crisis has had an unprecedented impact across the UK and we know this is an incredibly challenging time for many in the North-east. By reaching those most in need of support, local charities such as Supportive have played a vital role in this crisis to date, and no doubt they will do going forward. As a proud member of our community, we are doing everything we can for our customers, clients and colleagues, and we hope that our partnership with Supportive will allow many others to access the help they need as this crisis develops.”

About Supportive SRC Ltd At Supportive we care. We place people at the heart of everything we do, delivering independence and support to those who need us, those who invest in us and those around us. Our quality services, including patient transport, domiciliary homecare, volunteer transport and training and support, are managed from our base in Ferryhill. We offer premium care and reliability to people of all ages in cities, towns and villages in the North-east area. As a charity, we support initiatives to bring comfort, companionship and happiness to the vulnerable and isolated within our communities and we welcome support and donations in whatever form they come.

About Barclays 100x100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Programme Barclays is committed to helping its customers, clients, colleagues, and the wider community deal with the unprecedented social and economic crisis caused by COVID-19. Barclays £100m COVID-19 Community Aid Package is designed to deliver support where it is needed most through corporate donations and matched colleague fundraising. An initial investment of £10m from the £100m Community Aid Package has been made through Barclays’ 100x100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Programme, which has seen the bank make 100 donations of £100,000 to charities across the UK.

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Reaching Out Across Durham Since launching on 31st October 2016, Reaching Out Across Durham (ROAD) has supported over 1150 individuals to find their potential. Our free, voluntary service is hosted by Groundwork NE & Cumbria, funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund, and is a Partnership 7 specialist organisations. ROAD is designed to help residents of County Durham who are out of work and aged 25 plus to overcome barriers to entering into, or towards employment. We help by enabling Participants to move into education, training or work. We do this by working closely with individuals to improve confidence, develop skills and promote knowledge, health and well-being.

Jaroslav was referred to ROAD from Consett Job Centre in October 2019. Having been in work during his 14 years of living in the UK, he was made redundant in 2019.

Sadly, after failing his habitual residency test, this meant he wasn’t entitled to benefits and had no income at all on which to live on.

Working with Groundwork Navigator, Sarah, ROAD worked with both Jaroslav and his landlord, and used funding from ROAD to provide key support. This helped to cover some emergency fuel payments, as well as purchasing a basic mobile phone to allow Jaroslav

to respond to and make calls relating to job opportunities as well as maintaining contact with ROAD. Sarah worked on updating and improving Jaroslav’s CV, which along with having his own means of contact, meant that he was soon offered not just one, but three job opportunities!

From February 2020, Jaroslav started a job working full-time at a food production factory, and has been successfully able to pay his own rent, clear arrears, and importantly, pay for food and household utility necessities.

Call 01207 524 833 or email road@groundwork.org.uk for more information.

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FILM REVIEW:

THE

The Prom is the newest Ryan Murphy and Netflix collaboration to hit the big screen. Adapted from a 2018 Broadway production of the same name, this musical comedy boasts a talented cast of ‘old hats’ doing what they do best and ‘newbies’ making their debuts. Unfortunately, though, in several respects, The Prom ends up rather falling short.

The musical follows the story of a small-town teen named Emma (Jo Ellen Pellman). The teenager wants to go to prom with her girlfriend, which causes upset due to the school’s rule of students having to attend with a date of the opposite sex.

Down-on-their-luck Broadway giants Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep) and Barry Glickman (James Corden) rally behind the teens and we’re promised a cheesy and heart-warming storyline, just like a good musical should be…. right?

The Prom has all of the elements: the razzmatazz, the catchy anthems, the corny dialogue. It even has a beautiful storyline about being LGBTQIA+. However, it really does drop the ball. The Prom’s downfall is that it just goes on, and on, and on… and on.

And don’t get me started on how Nicole Kidman’s expertise was done dirty! After barely getting any dialogue, Kidman’s Angie Dickinson bursts into a Bob Fosse-inspired number which 46 | IN&AROUND

urges us to “give it some zazz”. Anyone who likes musicals knows that, with Fosse (think Chicago and Cabaret), it’s all about the long kicking legs and the jazz hands. So, why Ryan Murphy chose to only film this number from the waist up, we will never know.

It is no surprise, really, considering that Murphy is the infamous creator of Glee, that this film would be full of cheese. The cast bring the film to a close with a catchy end number that all musicals deserve. The song is inclusive and just darn cute.

What I can say for sure is that it is by no means the worst musical film adaptation out there (that pleasure would categorically go to Cats), but it is very much not the best either. That being said, after a drink or two, it was a fairly enjoyable watch – and the sentiment of the film was well-intentioned and downright needed.

Though there could certainly be at least an hour of unnecessary plot cut from this film, the most exciting performers in this cast of who’s-who in Hollywood have to be the newcomers Jo Ellen Pellman and Ariana DeBose. Their natural chemistry is unparalleled, while their rendition of “Dance with You” is guaranteed to send chills down your spine and warmed even my cynical heart.

Georgia Paskell Copywriter

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What’s on

Livewire AC/DC

January

Sage Gateshead The Australian outfit AC/DC is often regarded as one of the greatest-ever rock bands – and you can enjoy Livewire AC/DC, the respected tribute to these rockers, for £24.50 a ticket in Gateshead on 9th January. All of the classics, including “Back in Black” and “Highway to Hell”, will be played – just head over to sagegateshead.com to book your ticket.

Ross Noble: Humournoid

Middlesbrough Town Hall Surreal Geordie comic Ross Noble returns to the North East this month, though he’s being cryptic about what exactly you can expect from him when he drops by Middlesbrough on 17th January with his new show, Humournoid. So, to find out, you will just have to buy a ticket – priced at £26 plus the booking fee – through middlesbroughtownhall .co.uk.

These Hills Are Ours

ARC, Stockton The Middlesbrough-born theatre-maker Daniel Bye has teamed up with Chumbawamba founder member Boff Whalley to create this new music-infused theatre show. It showcases some of the most personal material yet for both men, and will be staged on 20th and 21st January in Stockton.

Tickets are available from arconline.co.uk and priced on a pay-what-you-decide basis.

48 | IN&AROUND

Jen Brister: Under Privilege

Gala Theatre, Durham The Kingston-born stand-up comedian Jen Brister has much to be happy about – including a job she (sometimes) loves, her partner Chloe Martin and their kids. However, Brister can’t resist tackling the oft-controversial topic of privilege. See what she has to say about it on 21st January – each ticket costs £12.50, or £10 on a concessionary basis, from galadurham.co.uk.

An Evening with Kevin & Joanne Clifton

Forum Theatre, Billingham Kevin and Joanne Clifton – the siblings, professional dancers and former Strictly Come Dancing regulars – will be showing off their silky footwork on a Billingham stage on January 24th. This show’s pricing – for the 2pm matinee or 7pm evening performance – will be £34 per seat, with a VIP package available for £80. Visit forumtheatre billingham.co.uk to book.

An Evening with Nick Butter: The Tales of an Extraordinary World First Expedition

The Witham, Barnard Castle In November 2019, Nick Butter completed the spectacular feat of becoming the only person to run a marathon in every country in the world. It took him only 23 months in total – and he will be in Barnard Castle on 27th January to tell his jaw-dropping story. Tickets are £15 each from thewitham.org.uk.

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Overhaul of Shotley Bridge Hospital may be complete by 2024, NHS chiefs reveal Shotley Bridge Hospital has been through many different phases in its long history, having initially opened as a tuberculosis hospital in 1912 and later been transformed into a mental health facility and then an emergency hospital during the Second World War. However, the hospital located in the County Durham village of Shotley Bridge, which itself adjoins the town of Consett, is about to be redeveloped in some fashion yet again – if, by NHS bosses’ recent admission, a year later than previously anticipated.

Previously, health chiefs had suggested that the ageing facility could be overhauled in time to be reopened in newly modernised form in 2023.

However, “confusion” sparked by a government announcement about the project’s funding has seen the intended completion date shifted to 2024.

Rachel Rooney, commissioning and development manager at the NHS County Durham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), explained: “Late in October, we received government communications which suggested Shotley Bridge Hospital was part of the 40 hospitals nationwide to receive funding.

“That was great news, however, that did cause confusion about the process to take that forward.

We’re conferring with NHS England to make sure we’re using the appropriate process to take that forward.

“We’re still hopeful we can consult in summer next year (2021), with a final completion date of 2024.”

Rooney uttered these words at the November meeting of Durham Council Council’s adults, wellbeing and health overview and scrutiny committee – a meeting held by videolink and broadcast through YouTube.

50 | IN&AROUND

In September 2019, regional health bosses were told that they had been allocated about £17 million to spend on revamping services currently provided by staff at Shotley Bridge Hospital.

This announcement led Rooney to tell Durham County Council councillors in October that public consultation on the proposals would commence in November and that construction was scheduled to start in 2022 – with “late 2023” cited as the general projected time for completion.

That day, the government revealed that the Shotley Bridge work would be included in its £3.7 billion hospital building and redevelopment scheme, the Health Infrastructure Plan (HIP).

North West Durham MP Richard Holden consequently claimed that a new hospital “will be built in Consett to replace the aged facility at Shotley Bridge”. However, NHS chiefs responded by insisting that it had not yet been decided for definite exactly what form the Shotley Bridge work will take.

NHS bosses say they will follow “due process” – which, for the £20.1 million Shotley Bridge project, is expected to involve them choosing between redeveloping the existing hospital site and transferring services to a custom-built facility south of Puddlers Corner in Consett.

Though the CCG has been asked for clarification on when it anticipates the revamp to be completed, some sources have suggested that this could be within the 2023/2024 financial year.

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Weighing up your options?

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