Partnership Power

Professionals involved in supporting children and young people across Middlesbrough came together at a special event.

The Middlesbrough Children Matter conference saw council staff and those from partner organisations hear from guest speakers and celebrate the improvements being made in children’s social care.

A focus of the event was how the power of partnership working is helping to improve children’s lives for the better.

The conference at Middlesbrough Town Hall was sponsored by Digiwise, Durata and Teesside University.

The audience was inspired by special guests Lisa Cherry, former Britain’s Got Talent winner ‘Lost Voice Guy’ Lee Ridley, and Richard McCann.

Bespoke topical workshops were facilitated by North East Young Dads & Lads project, Antser and Cleveland Police.

The council was hugely grateful to the sponsors for their support.

Digiwise is the council’s Nominet-funded project to help young people protect themselves in the digital world.

The programme worked with care experienced young people to develop materials around staying safe online.

Ralph Jordinson, the council’s risk and resilience coordinator, said: “The ethos of Middlesbrough Children Matter is that we should always listen to young people, build relationships with them and be focused on what they tell us they want services to look like.

“The conference was the perfect fit for Digiwise.”

Rugby club’s big year

Middlesbrough Rugby Union Football Club is celebrating its 150th season with a series of events across the town and beyond.

The community-based club played its first game in November 1872 against Northumberland RFC.

Celebrations for the anniversary year got under way with a family event in September, and visits to schools across the town are lined up over the coming months.

The club became the first English rugby union club to be successful in obtaining a grant for their sport from the National Heritage Lottery Fund.

The grant has allowed club members to visit local schools, producing pop-up boards on the club’s heritage and development of the sport.

The Lottery Fund also supported an anniversary brochure and the making of a film – a project managed by club stalwart Andy Murray.

For more information visit www. bororugby.co.uk