horizons widening
July 2011
to It’s time ur enjoy o ning in award-w es! beach
Also inside...
Summer what’s on
Focus on your area
Dome plans unveiled News round-up
www.northtyneside.gov.uk twitter.com/NTCouncilTeam
horizons widening
July 2011
The council produces Widening Horizons four times a year for the residents of North Tyneside.
Our aim is to keep you informed about what the council and its partners are doing to improve life for people in the borough.
The magazine is delivered to more than 90,000 households across the borough. Copies are also available at council facilities, including libraries, leisure centres and community centres.
Every effort is made to ensure that all information is correct at the time of publication.
If you would like to contact the council, the general enquiries number is 0345 2000 101 (between 7.30am and 8pm, Monday to Friday).You can also email contact.us@northtyneside.go.uk or visit the council website – www.northtyneside.gov.uk
For more ways of getting in touch with the council, including in person or by letter, please see page 4.
The next issue of Widening Horizons will be distributed from Monday, September 5.
North Tyneside Council wants to make it easier for you to obtain the information you need. We can provide Widening Horizons in Braille, audiotape, large print and other languages. For information on other formats, please call (0191) 643 5080. Please recycle this magazine when you have finished with it. This magazine has been distributed by Leaflet Distribution N.E. on behalf of North Tyneside Council. If you have any queries or problems regarding distribution, please contact the company on (0191) 438 5444 or email sales@leafletdistributionne.co.uk Front cover: Bobby Beaton, aged two, plays on the beach at Tynemouth.To find out which of our beaches have been awarded coveted Blue Flags, see page 23.
Inside this issue Mayor’s message
5
New era for the Dome
6
Summer fun
8
Area Forum update
28
Business Forum round-up
32
New service launched
36
A day in the life . . .
42
Starry nights
46
It’s back – with some great offers!
58
Keep it local
61
Elected mayor Linda Arkley talks about the key issues facing the borough. Developers unveil their plans for the famous Spanish City site. The Mouth of the Tyne Festival launches a 14-page section of what’s on – and where. Find out what’s happening in your area.
Spotlight on the award-winning firm putting North Tyneside on the map. The Disabilities and Additional Needs Service will provide more support to parents. Victim support officer Kirsty Sproat talks about a typical day. Who’s on at the PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay during July and August. A preview of this Autumn’s Age Takes Centre Stage Festival. Three pages of classified adverts featuring local businesses.
NTC GRAPHICS 05/11 3926JWI
3
How to get in touch with the council
We want to make it easy for you to contact the council – and that includes in person, by phone, by letter, online or by email. In person
You can call in at one of our customer service centres, located throughout the borough. Staff can provide advice and information on a range of council services, including housing and benefits. Our centres are based at:
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White Swan Centre, Killingworth Unicorn House, Suez Street, North Shields Park Road,Wallsend
Victoria Terrace,Whitley Bay
By phone If you have a general enquiry, you can phone the council’s contact centre on 0345 2000 101 between 7.30am and 8pm, Monday to Friday. (Please note: the centre takes a high volume of calls each day and can be very busy at peak times.) Other main numbers are:
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Housing and Kier repairs 0345 2000 102
Environmental matters 0345 2000 103
Council tax and benefits 0345 2000 104
Racial incidents 0345 2000 105
Payments 0345 2000 107
widening horizons • July 2011
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Families Information Service 0345 2000 108 Emergencies (24hrs) (0191) 200 6800
Social care (out-of-hours) 0300 123 0812
By letter You can write to:
North Tyneside Council, Quadrant, The Silverlink North, Cobalt Business Park, North Tyneside NE27 0BY.
Online The council website – www.northtyneside.gov.uk – contains plenty of information on a wide range of subjects.
You can apply for planning permission, pay your council tax or report an incident of flytipping. Page after page is available at the click of a mouse.
Email You can also contact the council via: contact.us@northtyneside.gov.uk
For environmental issues: envirolink@northtyneside.gov.uk
For housing repairs: nt.repairs@kier.co.uk
For the Families Information Service: fis@northtyneside.gov.uk
How to contact your councillor
North Tyneside Council is made up of 20 geographic areas called wards. Each ward has three elected councillors who represent you and your views.
If you would like to meet your local ward councillor, their contact details, and the dates and times of their ward surgeries, are available on the council website. (Click on ‘council and democracy’ then ‘councillors’).
You can also phone the Customer and Member Liaison Office on (0191) 643 2280.
How to report a hate crime
The ARCH network allows people living or working in North Tyneside – or just visiting the borough – to report incidents of hate crime.
You can report an incident if you are the victim; reporting on behalf of the victim; a witness or an agency worker who feels the incident needs to be reported.
The victim decides what happens next – they may want advice from Victim Support but not want the police involved.
ARCH allows supporting agencies to work together to ensure the right support is offered as quickly as possible.
The 24-hour freephone number is 08000 32 32 88.
You can also report an incident at any North Tyneside customer service centre (see list opposite), the Refugee Integration Service (Town Hall,Wallsend), Victim Support (Albion House, North Shields), Wallsend People’s Centre (Frank Street, Wallsend), UniversalYouth and Connexions Services (Wooley Street,Wallsend and Russell Street, North Shields) and Amanda Nicole School of Dance (Bewicke Road, Willington Quay).
Mayor’s message On a larger scale, we are getting whole
I will be able to feed into the process the
regeneration projects.
residents.
For example, we are working with our
Similarly, I am working hard in a number of
communities involved in our major
preferred developers Robertson and local
personal experiences of many of our
areas to support our businesses, which are
Dear resident,
people to shape the future of the Spanish
City site in Whitley Bay.
key to providing jobs for local people and
This edition of Widening Horizons is
It’s a scheme where residents and local
You can read about one of our thriving
published as the authority begins work in a
businesses are being asked to get actively
our Strategic Plan priorities and have an
and delivering a scheme we can all be
new council year.We are working towards associated budget in place for this financial
year.
These priorities and spending plans are
very much focused on delivering results for
North Tyneside and local people.
I am committed to ensuring that we work with local people on projects that affect
their communities.There are some
excellent examples in this magazine of
involved in taking the exciting plans forward
proud of.
We are taking a similar approach in
driving the borough’s economic success.
companies, Entek – which is not only
proving successful on the international
stage but is also committed to helping other businesses through the newly-
created North Tyneside Business Forum.
Wallsend to improve the Forum and the
However, I know from my travels around
we will be able to come forward with
of a business, or an organisation, to make a
wider town centre. In the coming months,
the borough that you don’t have to be part
more detailed plans.
difference.
In my view, it is only by working together –
This edition highlights some of the
sharing ideas and views, even where there
may be differences – that we can make a
individuals who are working to change their
environment – such as the hundreds who
real difference for North Tyneside.
have supported the Big Spring Clean or
It is also about us, as a council, using our
Healthy Community Awards.
bring about the changes we need to deliver.
I fully appreciate everyone’s contribution,
officers and members come together
For example, I am now the council’s
together that we can achieve the best
identifying how we spend money on road
Authority and I’m confident this will help
how that approach is already working. For example, you can read what is
happening in your area forum.These are
regular meetings where the public, council to make a difference – whether that’s and environmental improvements or
supporting local people to take action
themselves.
opportunities to work with our partners to
representative on the Northumbria Police
those honoured in the recent All New
however small or large. It’s only by working
results and turn challenges into solutions.
North Tyneside shape future policies that
deliver improvements, such as helping to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Linda Arkley 5
Scheme ‘will put the heart back into Whitley Bay’
Ambitious plans to redevelop the Spanish City site in Whitley Bay have been unveiled by construction group Robertson, the council’s preferred bidder. The redevelopment, which will cost more than £20m, will see the Dome
transformed into a family entertainment
and leisure complex attracting more than
150,000 visitors a year.
The proposals for the site also include a
50-bedroom hotel, apartments and new assisted and independent living accommodation.
Significant improvements will be made to the surrounding landscape, including a
piazza and a performance space in front of
the Dome.
Elected Mayor Linda Arkley said:“I am
confident that, in Robertson, we have a company committed to making their
proposals a reality and delivering a scheme that will benefit not just Whitley Bay but the borough as a whole.”
In recent months, Robertson has been
working closely with the YMCA to develop a range of facilities and services that will be
delivered in the Dome and the adjoining Empress Ballroom.
The YMCA is looking to provide a true
community facility that will be attractive to
everyone – those living and working in North Tyneside and those visiting the borough.
A range of options are being considered,
including performing arts facilities, a music
6
widening horizons • July 2011
room/recording studio, craft rooms, a
cinema, and a conference or training area. Other possibilities include a state-of-the-art
wellness centre, a youth arcade, an indoor
the public the chance to view the plans
and provide an opportunity to become involved in the final outcome.”
Another public meeting will be held at
skate area or BMX space, and a climbing
the Dome on Thursday, July 7, between
The development will be subject to the
Whitley Bay Library and people
will be able to comment on the proposals.
www.spanish-city.co.uk
wall.
statutory planning process, when people Two public meetings have already been
held to let people hear the details.
Andy McLeod, the managing director of
Robertson, said he was keen to hear what
local residents think.
“As a business, we pride ourselves in
engaging with the communities where we
operate,” he added.“These meetings give New era: An artist’s impression of how the Dome will look.
4 and 8pm. Plans are also on display at can keep up to date online by visiting
“I was born and brought up in Whitley
Bay and I remember the Spanish City in its heyday,” said Mr McLeod.
“I’m still a local resident and I’m thrilled
to be playing my part in the next chapter of this iconic North East landmark.
We’re ready to put the heart back into Whitley Bay.”
The plans include taking out the first floor of the Dome – returning it to its original
layout – and demolishing two ‘add-on’ extensions.
The council began to acquire the wider
Spanish City site in the late 1990s with the aim of regenerating the entire area,
and developing the waterfront and
promenade.
The brief included a mixed development
Work is due to start early next
year and be completed by 2014.
that could include a three star plus hotel,
More than 500 construction jobs
retail options.
of the work being carried out by
leisure and cultural uses, and residential and
will be created with 90 per cent
local firms.
The scheme will create around
100 permanent jobs and boost
the town’s economy by more
than £2m a year.
The Dome and the Empress
Ballroom are both listed buildings.
When the Dome opened in 1910,
it was the largest dome in the UK
after St Paul’s Cathedral.
Bidders were told the ‘sympathetic
incorporation’ of the Grade Two*
listed Dome was an essential
factor in any redevelopment
plans.
Robertson – the infrastructure,
support services and construction
group – has been appointed as the preferred bidder by the council.
The firm secured the contract
following an extensive European
tender process.
It will manage the project from its
North East base in Hebburn.
7
Summer What’s On
The queen of British soul, Beverley Knight, and pop sensation Alexandra Burke are among the glittering stars appearing at this year’s Mouth of the Tyne Festival.
Event is set to be the best ever!
Throw in pop band Scouting for Girls and
punk veterans Buzzcocks and next month’s festival is on course to be the biggest and best ever.
Apart from the spectacular live music, the
Mouth of the Tyne Festival will include top
street performers entertaining the crowds
on both sides of the river during the
weekend of Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10.
Meanwhile, young people from across the
borough will be taking part in the colourful
Tyneside Tropicana pageant which will
weave its way along Tynemouth Front Street on Sunday morning.
Friday, July 8 Beverley Knight and Alexandra Burke will
be taking to the stage for what is bound to be a memorable outdoor evening concert at Tynemouth Priory.
With over a million album sales, 14 Top 40 UK hits, three MOBO awards, Brit and
Mercury award nominations and
collaborations with Take That and Prince –
not to mention an MBE – it’s no wonder
that Beverley Knight is one of the biggest
stars around.
8
widening horizons • July 2011
Star attraction: Award-winning soul queen Beverley Knight is the headline act on the Friday evening.
She will be performing tracks from her
brand new album on her eagerly-awaited return to the region.
Sunday, July 10 The entertainment at the Priory gets
underway at 1pm with Martin Stephenson
Alexandra Burke is one of the brightest
and includes Fuel Fandango (2pm), Smoove
being just 22, the winner of 2008’s The X
(4pm) before the Buzzcocks headline at 5pm.
musical talents in the UK today. Despite
Factor has gone on to sell over four million records in the UK and achieve four
number one hit singles. Alexandra will
andTurrell (3pm), Neville Staple & his Band Tickets are £2.50 for adults, £1 for
children (over 5s) and £5 for a family
ticket (two adults and up to two children).
perform an acoustic set, bringing her
Available from local libraries and North
Tickets cost £25 (plus a booking fee) and
(0191) 200 5895.
by calling 0844 847 2335.
entertaining crowds around the world for
amazing voice to the fore.
are available at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or
Shields Tourist Information Centre –
Punk/pop band Buzzcocks have been
more than 30 years and boast eight studio
albums, over twenty singles and EPs and
Saturday, July 9
various compilations.
British pop band Scouting for Girls are the
Best known for his song writing and
headliners at Saturday’s outdoor evening concert at the Priory.
The Brit award nominees have enjoyed
chart-topping success since their rise to
fame in 2007 when Roy Stride (lead vocals, guitar and keyboards), Greg Churchouse
composing, ex-Specials lead singer Neville
Staple will be performing with his band.
A born performer, his captivating show will include a mix of old favourites as well as
his new original solo material.
Smoove and Turrell are a funk and soul
duo from Newcastle who combine live
music with the latest technology to create a timeless set.
One of Spain’s hottest acts, Fuel Fandango
will be playing a mix of funk, rock and
electro from their recently released debut
album.
Front man of the Daintees, Martin
Stephenson has devoted his life to
developing his craft as a singer, songwriter
and guitarist, incorporating his love for an
eclectic range of musical styles from pop
and folk through to bluegrass and punk.
The Mouth of the Tyne Festival is supported by Kier, Port of Tyne and Tyne Met College.
Punk veterans: Buzzcocks headline on Sunday at the Priory.
(bass and vocals) and Pete Ellard (drums, vocals and percussion) formed the band. Their first single,‘It's Not About You’,
became the highest-charting limited
edition in pop history.Their debut triple
platinum, number one album featured a host of hit singles including ‘She’s So
Lovely’,‘Heartbeat’ and ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’. Tickets cost £20 (plus a booking fee) and
are available at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or by calling 0844 847 2335.
➜ 9
Summer What’s On Pageant
– Sunday, July 10
Children and young people from across the borough have worked extremely hard to create a fabulously colourful Tyneside Tropicana pageant. It starts from Priory Primary School and
continues along Front Street. (11.15am to noon).
Colourful parade: Young people taking part in last year’s pageant, which was inspired by India.
Playhouse gigs Frank Turner – Thursday, July 7 Frank Turner's meteoric rise to success
continues this year with news of award
nominations, special intimate shows, festival appearances and details of a fourth studio
album, scheduled for release this summer.
Street entertainment Among this year’s entertainers are Aliens (metallic blue giants), Sauruses (massive and prehistoric), Dodgy Clutch Theatre Company (performing Wonderland), Trabuk (street magician), Zahir Circus (Spanish acrobats) and Lucid Productions (tap dancers).
Tickets: £16 – available from
www.ticketmaster.co.uk / 0844 277 2771
Kathryn Williams – Friday, July 8 Phenomenally talented musician and
songwriter, Kathryn Williams will perform a
cocktail of hits from her string of fantastic albums. Kathryn continues to produce
astounding pieces of music and has many more surprises in the pipeline.
Tickets: £12.50 – available from
www.ticketmaster.co.uk / 0844 277 2771
10
widening horizons • July 2011
For more details on the festival, visit www.mouthofthetynefestival.com call the events team on (0191) 643 7409 or pick up an events programme from libraries, tourist information centres or local businesses. Please note: Details of some events may change at short notice.
Street entertainment in Tynemouth
Front Street – special performances
Saturday, July 9 Walkabouts
Noon – Dodgy Clutch:Wonderland 12.30pm Tumble Circus 1.15pm – Chutney in the Streets! 2pm – Dodgy Clutch:Wonderland 2.30pm – Sink Dancing 3pm – Tumble Circus 3.45pm – Dodgy Clutch:Wonderland 4.15pm – Chutney in the Streets! 5pm – Sink Dancing
Noon – Vegetable Nannies
12.30pm – That’s the way to do it! (Part 1) 1.15pm – Theater Pikante: Forest Ants
1.45pm – Vegetable Nannies
2.15pm – That’s the way to do it! (Part 2) 3pm – Theater Pikante: Forest Ants 3.30pm – Vegetable Nannies
4.15pm – That’s the way to do it! (Part 3)
Front Street – special performances
Front Street – street entertainment
12.15pm – Sink Dancing
1.10pm – Trabuk
Noon – Dodgy Clutch:Wonderland 12.30pm – Tumble Circus
1.15pm – Chutney in the Streets!
12.30pm– Uri
1.50pm – Torch Michael 2.30pm – Zahir Circus
2pm – Taxi!
3.20pm – Uri
2.45pm – Sink Dancing
4.40pm – Torch Michael
2.30pm - Dodgy Clutch:Wonderland 3pm – Tumble Circus
3.45pm – Chutney in the Streets!
4.30pm – Taxi!
5pm – Dodgy Clutch:Wonderland
Plea Deta se note: even ils of so me ts m at sh ay chan ort n g otice e .
4pm – Trabuk
Sunday, July 10 Walkabouts
12.30pm – Vegetable Nannies 1pm – Close Act: Aliens
1.45pm – Neighbourhood Watch: Caterpillar 2.15pm – Close Act: Sauruses 3pm – Vegetable Nannies
3.30pm – Close Act: Aliens
4.15pm – Neighbourhood Watch: Caterpillar 4.30pm – Vegetable Nannies 5pm – Close Act: Sauruses
Front Street – street entertainment
12.30pm – Uri 1.10pm – Trabuk 1.50pm – Torch Michael 2.30pm – Zahir Circus 3.20pm – Uri 4pm – Trabuk 4.40pm – Torch Michael
The jazz stage features a range of bands from noon onwards on both Saturday and Sunday.
There will also be a full programme of events on Sunday in South Shields, including an evening parade and fireworks display, starting at Gypsies Green at 9.30pm.
11
Summer What’s On
Have a great time this summer! Wallsend Festival July 2
Highlights include live music and performances, fairground rides, a vintage car display and much more. For more information, contact John Fleet on 643 6419.
July 3 Book Fair at Tynemouth Station
Browse through hundreds of books on all genres and subject matters.
For further information, contact Ylana First on 257 2180.
July 3 Fire Station Open Day – Preston North Road, North Shields
Drills, demonstrations, children’s rides, face painting, stalls. Free admission. 11am to 3pm. Please note: limited parking.
July 3 Classic cars in Corbridge
MG Northumbria – the Backworth-based classic car club – will be among those appearing at the show at Tynedale Park, Corbridge. Classic vehicles, live music, displays and other attractions. 11am to 4pm. £3 per adult, accompanied under-16s free. For more details, visit www.mgnorthumbria.org
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widening horizons • July 2011
July 3 Jazz Fringe at the Trojan Rooms, Whitley Bay
Featuring the very best of classic and contemporary jazz. For further information, call 251 0080, visit www.thetrojanrooms.co.uk or email mick@thetrojanrooms.co.uk
July 9/10 Beach Volleyball Tournament, Tynemouth Longsands
This is your chance to take part in this year’s tournament.
For further information, visit www.tynemouthbeachvolleyball.co.uk or email askk@sky.com for an application form.
July 17 RNLI Day – North Shields Fish Quay A family fun day with activities for everyone.
For further information, call 257 0913.
July 17 Vintage Bus Rally – Whitley Bay
Visitors and vintage bus enthusiasts can take a trip back in time with free bus rides along the seafront.
For more details, contact John Fleet on 643 6419.
July 17 Festival of Wheels – Whitley Bay
Car, bike and scooter clubs will be exhibiting along South Parade between noon and 5pm. Chat to the owners and enjoy live music outside the Trojan Rooms.
For more details, call 251 0080, email mick@thetrojanrooms.co.uk or visit www.thetrojanrooms.co.uk
July 24 Whitley Bay Sandcastle Competition
Hundreds are expected to take part and test their sandcastle-building skills.
A fun event all the family can enjoy.
For further information, call 643 7409 or email events@northtyneside.gov.uk
July 28 to 30 North Tyneside Youth Football Tournament
The finest young footballers in the region and beyond will be taking part in this year’s tournament at Churchill Playing Fields, Whitley Bay.
August 13/14 Whitley Bay Kite Festival
A stunning display of kite flying with enthusiasts around the world presenting kites of all shapes and sizes. For more details, call 643 7409 or email events@northtyneside.gov.uk
For more details, contact North Tyneside’s allotment service on 643 7449.
August 27 Cullercoats Harbour Day August 13/14 Skate Park Competition – Whitley Bay For young skaters and BMXers.
For further information, call 643 7409 or email events@northtyneside.gov.uk
July 30/31 Medieval Courtly Combat – Tynemouth Priory
For further information, contact 252 1820.
August 27/28 Model Railway Show – Parks Sports Centre, North Shields
For further information, call 258 3628 or email bdmrs@sky.com
For further information, contact 257 1090.
August 28 Great North Bike Ride
August 7 Newcastle Falcons Touch Rugby Tournament
For further information, contact Melanie Magee on 300 1847 or email: melanie.magee@falconsfoundation.co.uk
A family fun day organised by the RNLI, with activities in the harbour, on the beach and in the water.
Featuring numerous layouts and demonstrations, trade stands, refreshments and tombola.
Take in the action at the medieval ‘Tournament of Foote’ or be a bit more hands on and try out the noble art of archery.
A fun touch rugby tournament on Tynemouth Longsands with Newcastle Falcons stars in attendance.
For further information, visit www.whitleybayfilmfestival.co.uk
The annual show is back – featuring the best of the region’s fruit and vegetable growers.The Parks Sports Centre, North Shields.
July 30 VW Rally – Priors Haven, Tynemouth
For more details, or to register a vehicle, visit: www.tynemouthclassicvwrally.co.uk
Celebrating great cinema, in some great locations.
August 20/21 Health and Horticulture Show
For further information, call 643 7409 or email events@northtyneside.gov.uk
Check out Volkswagens of all ages, sizes and colours and see some of the finest surf buses and Beetles in the region.Vote for your favourite vehicle, watch the street theatre and treat yourself from the BBQ. Free admission.
August 19 to 28 Whitley Bay Film Festival
August 14 Book Fair – Tynemouth Station
Your chance to browse through hundreds of books on all genres and subject matters. For further information, contact Ylana First on 257 2180.
From Seahouses to Tynemouth Priory – covering more than 50 miles of stunning coastline. More than 2,500 cyclists took part last year, raising money for the Chris Lucas Trust. £15 entry fee. For more details, to register or to book transport on the day, visit www.greatnorthbikeride.com
Please note: Details may change at short notice.
13
Summer What’s On
Town centre events
There’s plenty happening in Whitley Bay, North Shields and Wallsend during the next few weeks. Come along and be entertained! Saturday, July 2 Whitley Bay and North Shields –
& beauty, art & design, travel & tourism,
North Shields – Come along and see birds
uniformed services, A-levels and more.
turkey vulture, in a stunning falconry display
photography, sport, health & social care,
Wallsend – The annual Wallsend Festival is
taking place throughout the day with live
music, fairground rides and much more.
TyneMet College and Queen Alexandra
Sixth Form College will be offering
top tips on everything you need to
know about enhancing your career
prospects or taking the next steps after school.
There will be a range of exciting
demonstrations, activities and careers
advice across a broad range of subjects, including engineering, business & IT, hair
of prey, including a steppe eagle and a
along Bedford Street between 10am and
noon.
Wallsend – The birds of prey display moves
to the bandstand just outside the Forum
Shopping Centre, between 1pm and 3pm.
Saturday, July 9 Whitley Bay – Courtesy of Day 8
Productions, the cast of Buddy Holly will
Saturday, July 16
giving away free pairs of Buddy Holly
– The Gillian Quinn School of Theatre
be entertaining shoppers in 50s dress,
Whitley Bay, North Shields and Wallsend
glasses and talking to shoppers about their
Dance will be keeping shoppers
View Shopping Centre between 11am
show.The performance includes children
forthcoming show at the Playhouse. Park
and noon.
entertained with their ‘Dance Kaleidoscope’
of all ages performing different elements of
dance. Along Bedford Street between
11am and noon; just outside the Forum
Shopping Centre from 1pm to 2pm and along Whitley Road between 3pm and
4pm.
Saturday, July 23 Whitley Bay – ‘Mind Sports World’ will be
educating shoppers about mind sports activities and demonstrating Oseca – a
brand new innovative strategy card game
developed by a group of local people
Classic cars: US gas-guzzlers will be on show in Wallsend on Saturday, July 23.
14
widening horizons • July 2011
who regularly participate in mind sports
games. Come along and find out more –
Park View Shopping Centre between 11am and 2pm.
North Shields – Shoppers will be kept
entertained by modern jive dance group,
Dancing for Charity, which will be performing
a range of different routines along Bedford Street between noon and 2pm.
Wallsend – American classic cars will be
on display just outside the Forum Shopping Centre from 11am until 2pm. If you want
Saturday,August 13 Whitley Bay, North Shields and Wallsend
Take a break from shopping and learn how
will be around to ask.
advice across a broad range of subjects
(see page 14).
to make a kite! Park View Shopping Centre
between 11am and 2pm. Beacon Shopping
Centre from 11am to 2pm. Forum Shopping
Centre between 11am and 2pm.
Please note: All events are subject to change or cancellation. For more
information about forthcoming town centre events, or to be added to the
to know how many miles they do to the
gallon or the cost of insurance, the owners
Demonstrations, activities and careers
Saturday,August 20 and Saturday,August 27
mailing list, call (0191) 643 7409 or
email events@northtyneside.gov.uk
Whitley Bay, North Shields and Wallsend TyneMet College and Queen Alexandra
Sixth Form College are back – offering tips
on enhancing your career prospects or taking your next steps after school.
Dance Kaleidoscope: Performances will take place in all three town centres on Saturday, July 16.
Saturday, July 30 and Saturday,August 6 Whitley Bay, North Shields and Wallsend
TyneMet College and Queen Alexandra
Sixth Form College will be out and about
in the town centres, offering tips on
enhancing your career prospects
or taking your next steps after school.
Demonstrations, activities and careers
advice across a broad range of subjects (see page 14).
15
Summer What’s On
Are your kids wondering Brand new Urban Sport and Play Camps (8 – 13 years)
KidZone and Multi Sports Activities (8 – 13 years)
In partnership with Play and Urban Games, the Sport and Leisure Service is staging four sport and play camps this summer.
KidZone offers all sorts of sporting and fun activities to keep children entertained and active during the holiday period.
The camps offer a full day of activities, from 8.30am to 5.30pm, in a safe and fun environment – which is great news for working parents and guardians.
Activities include ultimate dodge ball, team games, dance mats, arts and crafts, badge-making, cookery,Wii marathon, table-top and parachute games, face-painting, jewellery-making, clay modelling, glass-painting, giant Jenga and giant Connect 4. If all that leaves you exhausted, there will be a chill out zone to take a break! The cost is £18 per full day. Children must bring a packed lunch. Refreshments will be provided early morning and late afternoon. The camps will be held at the following sites – Marden Bridge Sports Centre (August 1 to 5),The Parks Sports Centre (August 8 to 12),The Lakeside Centre (August 15 to 19) and Hadrian Leisure Centre (August 22 to 26).
Places are limited so call now to book your place. Please note: All camps are dependent on a minimum number of bookings.
There’s a variety of sports, including dodgeball, badminton, football, basketball, rounders, cricket, trampolining and much more.
Kidzone runs between 9.30 and 3.30pm and includes a supervised lunch. The programme runs through the summer at Hadrian Leisure Centre,The Lakeside Centre, Marden Bridge andThe Parks Sports Centre. Give us a call to book your space.
Activities for 4 – 7 year-olds
As part of the Kidzone programme, there are activities for the under-8s at Hadrian Leisure Centre (Burnsey Bears Club),The Lakeside Centre (The Lakey Lions Club), Marden Bridge (The Marden Mouse Club) and The Parks Sports Centre (The Cheeky Monkeys Club).
Parents can leave their children to take part in supervised sport and play activities. (10am to noon and 1pm to 3pm) Contact your preferred centre for programme details.
Visited your local pool lately? Our pools have loads of different water activities for youngsters to enjoy this summer.
WaterWalkerz – Hadrian Leisure Centre,Tynemouth Pool and The Lakeside Centre. If you haven’t had the chance to try the giant hamster balls that run on the water, get along to these centres and give this crazy new sport a spin!
Mega Boards fun sessions – Tynemouth Pool. Full use of the one, three and five-metre boards. Challenge your mam, dad, auntie, uncle or just your pal to dive off the top. Have they got the bottle?
Vertical Limit – Tynemouth Pool. Dare to throw yourself off the five-metre board and ride the exhilarating vertical limit inflatable ride. Only one other pool in the country has the Vertical Limit.
RIZONS O H G IN WIDEN Tyneside h t r o N t Spor 16
widening horizons • July 2011
what to do this summer? And don’t forget about Waves in Whitley Bay – you can have loads of fun on the slides, in the pirate ship and enjoy the wave machine!
Widening Horizons 4 Sport in the community The sports development team is running a range of exciting activities including SHOKK dance mats, arts and crafts, dodgeball and dance mania in community venues between July 25 and August 19 at locations including East Palmersville Pavilion,West Moor Community Centre, Burradon Recreation Centre, Richardson Dees Park and the Rising Sun Country Park.
FREE family fun days There’s something for all the family at Richardson Dees Park on August 1 and 15 (11am to 2pm).
Activities include treasure trails and zumba. All ages welcome (children must be supervised at all times). No need to book, just turn up on the day to register.
For further details on any of the community activities listed, call the sports development team on (0191) 643 7447 or check out the Sport North Tyneside website at www.sportnorthtyneside.org.uk
For your peace of mind – all sessions are led by trained coaches with enhanced criminal record bureau checks.
Urban Platform Skate/BMX & Scooter events Widening Horizons 4 Sport is launching a series of brand new Urban Platform Skate events. Get down to your local skatepark with your skateboard, BMX or scooter. There will be a DJ, music, street dance and spot prizes for stunts and tricks. No need to register, just turn up on the day.
Saturday, July 23 – Panama Skatepark (1 to 4pm), Saturday, July 30 – Burradon Recreation Centre (1 to 4pm), Saturday, August 6 – The Parks Sports Centre Skatepark (1 to 4pm), Saturday, August 13 – Panama Skatepark (Urban & Hip Hop games, 12.30 to 5pm), Sunday, August 14 – Panama Skatepark (Urban & Hip Hop Games, 12.30 to 5pm) and Saturday, August 20 – Dudley Skatepark (1 to 4pm).
How to contact your local leisure centre The Lakeside Centre, Southgate,
Killingworth (643 4177)
Marden Bridge Sports Centre, Hillheads Road,Whitley Bay (643 2929)
Waves,The Links,Whitley Bay (643 2600)
Tynemouth Pool, Beach Road, North Shields (643 2900)
Hadrian Leisure Centre, St Peters
Road,Wallsend (643 2025)
The Parks Sports Centre, Howdon Road, North Shields (643 2700)
For more details on any of the above activities, contact Sport North Tyneside on (0191) 643 7447, email sport@northtyneside.gov.uk or check out our website www.sportnorthtyneside.org.uk
17
Summer What’s On
It’s time to join the circus!
This year’s summer reading challenge, called Circus Stars, gets underway in the borough’s libraries on Saturday, July 2.
Children are being asked to read six books over the summer holidays and will receive a medal when they complete the challenge. To track their progress, they will receive a membership card, pencil, wristband, poster and set of stickers.
Libraries across North Tyneside will be hosting circus-themed events and activities throughout the school holidays. Bookable events are listed below. For more details, contact your local library. Circurama Circus Skills and Storytelling Learn some new skills that will make the king smile.
Forest Hall Library (August 8); Longbenton (August 10);Wallsend (August 11); Wideopen (August 12); North Shields (August 15); Killingworth (August 17); Shiremoor (August 25) and Whitley Bay (August 26). All 11am. Crafty Creatures Roll up, we’re off to the circus! Make a big top picture, a clown hat or a lion puppet.
Coast Road Library (August 1, 10am); Cullercoats (August 2, 10am); Shiremoor (August 11, 2.30pm);Whitley Bay (August 12, 10am); Monkseaton (August 18, 10am) and Wallsend (August 22, 10am). Discovery Zoo Watch as the stick insect walks the tightrope.
Battle Hill Library (July 25); Dudley (August 1); Shiremoor (August 8);Wideopen
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widening horizons • July 2011
(August 15) and Howdon (August 22). All 11am. Early Twirlers
Dance and movement sessions for the under-5s.
Killingworth Library (July 25, 11am); Longbenton (July 25, 2.30pm); Howdon (August 5, 11am);Wallsend (August 5, 2.30pm);Whitley Bay (August 8, 2.30pm); Dudley (August 19, 11am) and Shiremoor (August 19, 2.30pm). Alyta’s Shrinkies Create your own picture then shrink it into a necklace or key ring.
Monkseaton Library (August 2, 2.30pm); Wideopen (August 11, 10am); Battle Hill, (August 22, 2.30pm) and Forest Hall (August 26, 10.30am). Circus Stars Puppet Show Howdon Library (July 26, 10am); Dudley (July 28, 2pm); Shiremoor (August 23,
10am) and Longbenton (August 23, 2pm). Clay Modelling North Shields Library (August 11, 10am) and Killingworth (August 11, 2pm). Charlie the Magician North Shields Library (August 4, 11am); Killingworth (August 4, 2.30pm);Wallsend (August 16, 11am) and Whitley Bay (August 16, 2.30pm). Big Top Trail Follow the circus from Battle Hill Library to the Rising Sun Country Park for an afternoon of circus skills, crafts and perhaps a spot of hook a duck! (see page 20 for other park events).
Battle Hill Library (August 4, 1pm)
Finally, to bring this summer’s challenge to a close – Professor Brainstorm’s Medal Ceremony at North Shields Library on Thursday, September 1 (2.30 to 3.30pm). To book a place, ring 643 5270.
Fancy a good day out? If you’re interested in finding out about the borough’s proud heritage, or just looking for a good day out, there are some great events taking place at Segedunum, St Mary’s Lighthouse and the Stephenson Railway Museum this summer. Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths & Museum,Wallsend For more details on the following events, call (0191) 236 9347 or visit www.twmuseums.org.uk/segedunum
Strong Place Gallery – a major display telling the unique story of the landscape at the end of Hadrian’s Wall, from Roman times to the present day. The gallery reveals how the site around Segedunum has been shaped over 2,000 years, not just by the Romans but by significant periods of coal-mining and ship-building. A Deadly Game Exhibition (until September 11)
An exhibition of portraits of Charles I, on loan from the National Portrait Gallery, London.The portraits range in date from the 1600s to the 1800s and reflect Charles’s dual roles as a king and, following his execution, a martyr.
Big Days Out at the Fort (Tuesday, July 26;Wednesday, August 3;Tuesday, August 9;Wednesday, August 17; Tuesday, August 23 and Wednesday, August 31)
See the new Strong Place Gallery, enjoy family tours, children’s activities and work with artists and craftspeople during these special holiday events for all the family. St Mary’s Lighthouse,Whitley Bay For more details on the following events, call (0191) 200 8650 or email stmaryslighthouse@northtyneside.gov.uk
The Great British Seaside Event – Sunday, July 24 (noon to 5pm)
Take in a Punch and Judy show, build a giant sandcastle with the wardens, play some traditional games or simply relax in a deckchair and enjoy the views! Booking is not required. Pirate School – Monday, July 25 (1.30 to 3.30pm)
Calling all budding pirates! This is your chance to become the scourge of the seas. Suitable for five to 12 year-olds, £3 per child. Booking essential.
Land Art – Monday, August 1 (10.30am to 12.30pm)
Join the wardens and help create a gigantic piece of art, using only objects found lying on the beach. Suitable for all ages, £1.50 per child. Booking essential.
Fossil Frolics – Wednesday, August 17 (10.30am to 12.30pm)
Hunt for fossils and learn more about the island’s pre-historic past. Suitable for five to 12 year-olds, £3 per child. Booking essential.
International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend – Saturday, August 20 (10.30am to 5.30pm) and Sunday August 21 (11am to 5.30pm) Guided tours, exhibitions, crafts and activities. Booking is not required.
Junior Lighthouse Keeper Day – Sunday, August 21 (1.30 to 3.30pm)
Come along and learn the many skills used to keep the lighthouse operating. Suitable for five to 12 year-olds, £3 per child. Booking essential.
Kite Making – Thursday, September 1
(10am to 3pm)
For five to 12 year-olds, £2 per child. Booking not required.
Stephenson Railway Museum, North Shields For more details on the following events, call (0191) 200 7146.
Junk Day – Thursday, July 28 (11am to 3pm)
Bring along your junk and transform it into a musical instrument or create a unique junk model engine.
A Grand Day Out – Sunday, August 7 (11am to 3pm)
A day of traditional fun – making kites with artist Lip Lee. Backworth Colliery Band provides the music.
Waggonway Wildlife – Friday, August 12 (11am to 3pm)
Come along for a day of wildlife crafts and join Animal Antics to meet and hold some furry friends. Back to the Forties – Sunday, August 21 (11am to 3pm)
Travel back to wartime Britain – vintage vehicles, live music, crafts and the Victory in Europe Re-enactment Association.
Magic Day – Monday, August 29 (11am to 3pm)
Bank holiday fun for all the family with drop-in crafts and magic shows (12.15pm, 1.15pm and 2.15pm.)
19
Summer What’s On
It’s time for some outdoor fun!
Drama activities
The Rising Sun is staging drama sessions for young people during the week
starting Monday,August 8. For eight to
12 year-olds, the sessions run daily from
9.30am to 12.30pm (registration – 9am, Monday) and for 13 to 17 year-olds, the sessions are from 1 to 4pm
(registration – 12.45pm, Monday). The cost for each age group is £35 and places are limited, so please book early. For more details or to book, please ring (0191) 643 2241 or email
risingsun@northtyneside.gov.uk All staff taking part in the sessions
are appropriately trained and CRB checked.
Your local park is the place to be this summer – with a range of events and activities for youngsters of all ages. From picnics to pirates and from den building to Dog Oscars, there really is something for everyone and many of the events are free.
To mark this year’s Wallsend Festival on Saturday, July 2, there are some great activities taking place at Richardson Dees Park, including a bird of prey display, orienteering and nature walks.
You can also scale the climbing wall, try out the skate ramp or work up a sweat at the outdoor gym. On Wednesday, July 27 and Saturday, August 13 you can picnic on the grass at Wallsend Civic Hall – with entertainment provided throughout the day. Meanwhile,‘Pirates of North Tyneside’ events will be taking place at Killingworth
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Widening horizons • July 2011
Lake on Wednesday, July 27, and Northumberland Park on Wednesday, August 17.
In addition to the pirate fancy dress competition and treasure hunt, there will be funfair rides, pony rides, bouncy castle and much more.
And the Rising Sun is the venue on Wednesday,August 24 for the Mad Hatter’s tea party at the Teddy Bears’ Picnic.This event is for children under five. Entry is by ticket only, cost £2 per person (under-threes free). Tickets are on sale at the Rising Sun Country Park reception – Monday to Friday, between 9am and 4pm. Finally, the ever-popular Dog Oscars are taking place at Richardson Dees Park on Saturday, September 3 and Northumberland Park on Saturday, September 10. If you think you’ve got the perfect pooch, applications are available from park staff after August 1.
Disability sports club
Mondays, July 25 to August 22 (9.30am to noon) at the Rising Sun Country Park. £3.20.
The council’s sports disability team has joined forces with the Rising Sun to
provide fun activity sessions. Open to any child, aged five to 19 with a
disability, and their brothers or sisters. For more details or to book a place,
contact RachelToland on (0191) 643 7440 or 07974 768 130.
For more details of what’s on at our parks during July and August, pick up a leaflet at your local library or phone 643 2241.
Playschemes offer some great activities
The borough’s summer playschemes, which run during August, offer a wide range of activities to keep your child occupied.
This year, the fun includes sports and team games, arts and crafts, face-painting, swimming and outings to local attractions. The programme starts on August 1 and runs until August 26 (10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, with a supervised lunch break between noon and 1pm).
The cost is £1 per child per day. Lunch is not provided but children can bring a packed lunch.
Although the playschemes are aimed at 8 to 13 year-olds, children under the age of eight are welcome if accompanied by a responsible adult (16 or over).
A parent/carer must complete a consent form on the first day a child attends a playscheme. (Council playschemes operate
an open access policy whereby children are free to leave if they choose).
Consent forms are available at all venues on the day or by ringing the Play and Urban Games team in advance on (0191) 643 8382 or 8383.
Summer playschemes
(From August 1 to 26, 10am to 3pm) ● ● ●
● ● ● ●
Oxford Centre, Longbenton (Mon)
John Willie Sams Centre, Dudley (Tues)
St. Paul’s Community Project,Willington Quay (Fri) Howdon Community Centre (Thurs)
White Swan Centre, Killingworth (Wed) Rockcliffe Primary,Whitley Bay (Mon)
Marden Bridge Sports Centre,Whitley Bay (Tues)
● ● ●
Whitehouse Primary, North Shields (Wed) Battle Hill Primary,Wallsend (Thurs) Carville Primary,Wallsend (Fri)
The free playscheme at Shiremoor Adventure Playground, Brenkley Avenue, runs from Tuesday, July 26 to Friday, September 2 (open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 3pm).
Special events
National Children’s Play Day – Thursday, August 18 (11am to 2pm) at the Rising Sun Countryside Centre. £2 per ticket.
Activities will include arts and crafts, badge-making, team games, sporting activities, parachute games, jewellerymaking, bouncy castles, waterslide and fire pit. Bring a picnic and stay for the day! For more details, contact the Play and Urban Games team on (0191) 643 8382. Blasting out of summer – Friday, September 2 (10am to 8pm) at Shiremoor Adventure Playground. 50p (pay on the door).
The day includes arts and crafts, inflatables, mobile skatepark, BBQ, live music and more. For more details, contact the team on (0191) 643 8300.
And don’t forget the urban sport and play camps for eight to 13 year-olds, taking place at various locations across the borough during August! For full details, see page 16.
21
Food hygiene ratings now online
Residents can now find out the food hygiene ratings for local restaurants, cafes and takeaways – without leaving home.
For the council has joined a national online ratings scheme, run by the Food Standards Agency.
Outlets supplying food direct to consumers
are awarded a rating – from zero to five –
that reflects the hygiene standard found by environmental health inspectors.
The results are published on the FSA
website and businesses are issued with a certificate that can be displayed at their premises.
More than 600 of the 1,600 food outlets in
North Tyneside have already been rated, including schools, supermarkets and residential care homes.
“The ratings system is a fantastic way to
standards of hygiene, as well as
encouraging others to improve,” said
Elected Mayor Linda Arkley.
These included:
●
more informed decisions with regard to
where they buy and eat their food.” The inspectors check how food is
prepared, cooked and stored and the cleanliness of facilities.
●
A mark of five is awarded to businesses
that are operating clean and well-run
premises while zero is given to outlets
with poor hygiene standards that are not
●
complying with food safety laws.
The inspectors will explain what
improvements are needed and a follow-up visit will check these have been carried out. The ratings can be viewed by going to: http://ratings.food.gov.uk
●
Five-star success: Local traders show off their certificates.
widening horizons • July 2011
Earlier this month, National Food Safety Week highlighted some popular myths surrounding food safety.
“Customers will now be able to make
reward businesses that meet the highest
22
True or false?
You need to wash chicken or poultry before you cook it – 65 per cent of people questioned thought this was true. In fact, washing chicken could splash germs around the kitchen. Cooking it thoroughly will be enough to kill any bacteria.
Chopping boards – 60 per cent thought plastic boards were more hygienic than wooden ones. In fact, both can harbour germs if they aren’t cleaned properly.
‘Use by’ dates – 37 per cent thought they were included on food packaging to encourage shoppers to throw it out and buy more. In fact,‘use by’ dates are required by law and are an important indicator of how long food will remain safe to eat. Other dates – such as ‘best before’ and ‘sell by’ – relate to the food’s quality rather than its safety.
Findings show more than half (57 per cent) believe we can tell if food is safe to eat just by its smell or appearance.This is wrong – potentially dangerous food bugs like E.coli and salmonella don’t always make food smell ‘off ’ and do not affect the appearance.
Blue flags fly at our beaches
North Tyneside has once again scooped more awards for its beaches than any other area of the North East.
beaches while the council’s seafront
maintenance team cleans proms and collects
litter. The RNLI operates a lifeguard service
for the council over the summer.
The council has been awarded Blue Flag
This year, Cullercoats Bay narrowly missed
(south),Tynemouth Longsands (south) and
status in 2010 for the first time in five years.
status for its beaches at Whitley Bay King Edward’s Bay.
out on a Blue Flag after it was awarded the
Its final water quality test revealed that,
The Blue Flag is an international award and
although the water met the European
recognises clean water, litter-free sands and
the Blue Flag standard.
the definitive measure of a good beach. It top-notch facilities.
The three beaches, as well as Cullercoats Bay, also earned Quality Coast Awards,
which commend beaches that are clean and where visitors can enjoy a range of activities. Keep Britain Tidy administers both awards.
A beach-raking tractor is used to remove items of rubbish from the borough’s
Blue Flag status: Elected Mayor Linda Arkley with some of the team that keeps our beaches clean.
Union quality standard, it narrowly missed
Special award for Tynemouth Longsands Tynemouth Longsands was recognised as ‘outstanding’ at a prestigious European sustainable tourism awards ceremony.
The beach is a centre for watersports and is used all year round for anything from surf contests to filming Hollywood movies. Keep Britain Tidy entered the beach into the Coastal Destination category of the Vision on European Sustainable Tourism Awards (VESTAs).
Code of conduct
A culvert above the bay is believed to
●
Northumbrian Water is investigating.
●
be the source of the problem and
Taylor’s Seafront Services is operating the
boat launch scheme and deckchair hire
service at Cullercoats Harbour.To buy a
harbour permit, contact Warren Taylor on
07581 099 506 or email
Seafrontservices16@yahoo.co.uk
●
●
●
Don’t take glass bottles onto the beach.
Take heed of dog bans. Dogs are only allowed on a section of Whitley Bay beach (north of Panama Gardens) and at the northern end of Tynemouth Longsands. Keep dogs on a lead on the promenades. Put nappies and plastic containers in the bin. Don’t take cars or motorcycles onto the beach.
Surf’s app and running
The council’s ‘Surfing in Tynemouth’ iPhone application provides surf conditions and forecasts, as well as webcams for surfers to check out the waves. It can be downloaded free of charge from the iTunes App Store.
23
Borough gets a spring clean
Thank you to everyone who got involved in this year’s Big Spring Clean environment campaign and helped make North Tyneside cleaner and greener.
The council invited schools, community groups, residents and businesses to either get involved in one of the councilorganised litter picks or organise one of their own.
There were a variety of events right across the borough, from Benton to Brierdene. Among the more unusual clean-ups was a clifftop litter pick by council staff at Cullercoats Bay and cattle grazing on the Silverlink Biodiversity Park.
And Waldo the Wonderdog, the council’s environmental mascot, was joined by a variety of local role models, ranging from a radio DJ to a Whitley Warriors player, when he helped out at school litter picks.
24
widening horizons • July 2011
Some of the photos from this year’s campaign can be seen here.To see more images, visit the Environment,Waste and Recycling section of the council website at www.northtyneside.gov.uk
B G SPRIIN G C LEAN
Dreariness kicked into touch!
A local rugby club has joined forces with a nearby community group to help brighten up their village. Gordon Duff and Ian Hook, of North Shields Rugby Club, helped Preston
Residents’ Association to plant shrubs and flowers.
and everyone has pulled together to turn it
into something we will all be proud of.”
The area forum supported the project by
setting aside £1,700 – allowing the council’s
environmental services team to order an array of plants and flowers.
Betty Moat, a member of the Preston
Former colliery site reopens
for financial support.
the long-term goal being success in Britain
in Bloom.
A once smouldering pit heap has been turned into a new recreational area for the public to enjoy.
Gordon Duff said:“As a club, we feel it’s
“We can’t thank the workers enough for
near Backworth, was out of bounds
The association had earmarked two areas
they wanted to improve and applied to the
council’s area forum environment budget
important that we all work together as a community. It’s about putting something
back into the village, and we’ve loved being able to come along and help out.
“The spot brings back a lot of memories as
it used to be the site of our old club house
Residents’ Association, said:“This is the start
of something special in the area.We’ll be
building on this project in the future, with
their help.They have all been stars and we
certainly couldn’t have done it without
them.”
Helping hand: Gordon and Ian do their bit.
For years, the Fenwick Eccles site, due to searing temperatures.
Gradually, work has taken place to
tackle the uncontrolled combustion
of colliery waste, clean up the
contaminated land, demolish old buildings and cap the former mineshafts.
The land has since been landscaped,
replanted and a network of footpaths
– including the former waggonway –
established.
The reclaimed site was finally opened
to the public just before Easter.
Did you know? We can provide flowers free of charge for you or your group to plant in your community. Phone 0345 2000 103.
25
Support for bereaved relatives
Drop-in sessions
The Families Information Service provides advice and information on a range of services for parents, carers, children and young people.
You can find out about childcare services, family support, education, and health and well-being.
Information is also available on the new Disabilities and Additional Needs Service (see feature on pages 36 & 37).
During July and August, FIS is holding a series of drop-in sessions (all between 3.30 and 4.30pm) at venues across the borough, including: ● ● ● ● ● ●
The council is introducing a new service that aims to make things easier for residents during a time of bereavement. When someone has died, their death
needs to be registered with the Registrar. Once that’s done, several other
organisations may have to be contacted
and given the same information.
The ‘Tell Us Once’ service enables
residents to inform government departments
and local authority services of a death
with one appointment or telephone call.
The scheme, which goes live in North
Tyneside on June 21, is a cross-government programme hosted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
There are two ways of using the service: ●
26
In person at North Tyneside Register
widening horizons • July 2011
Office, Howard Street, North Shields,
after the death has been registered.
To make an appointment,TEL:
(0191) 200 6117. ●
With a telephone call by contacting the
July 1 – Wallsend Library
July 12 – Killingworth Library July 26 – Whitley Bay Library
August 5 – Wallsend Library
August 9 – Killingworth Library
August 23 – Whitley Bay Library
For details of holiday activities for all ages and abilities during the summer, please call 0345 2000 108, email fis@northtyneside.gov.uk or visit the website – www.northtyneside.gov.uk
DWP on 0800 085 7308 after you have registered the death.The lines are open
Monday to Friday between 8am and
8pm.The number is free to call from a BT landline but other providers,
including mobile phone providers, may charge you.
You will need to provide the following
information about the person who has died – their National Insurance number and/or
date of birth; details of any benefits or
services they were receiving; their death
certificate; their passport and driving licence numbers if you want the Tell Us Once
service to deal with them.
Did you know? Don’t miss any key events, meetings or activities across the borough – you can follow our official tweets by going to twitter.com/NTCouncilTeam
Big Society fund launched The deadline is approaching for groups to apply for grants from a new fund set up to help people improve their community.
The Big Society Community Investment Fund aims to help people to be more involved, have a real influence on what happens in their local areas, and to take responsibility to bring about change in their neighbourhood. New and existing groups can bid for grants from £50 to £10,000 for activities to support building a Big Society in the borough. This could include: ●
●
Encouraging more people to get involved through giving time, effort or money. Supporting residents to take responsibility for their own neighbourhoods.
●
Strengthening civil society and improving the infrastructure of
voluntary organisations. ●
Developing social enterprises.
●
Helping people to get involved with shaping and delivering local services.
It may involve starting a new residents group or getting people to give their time to support local causes. Or you may want to bring a piece of open space back into community use or have a new idea about supporting vulnerable people in your neighbourhood. These are just a few ideas – this fund is about developing yours. If you are a new group and want some advice on developing your bid or completing the application form, you can contact the council’s External Funding Team on (0191) 643 6413 or email funding.matters@northtyneside.gov.uk
Application forms and guidance can be found at www.northtyneside.gov.uk or by
calling the above number.
Deadline for applications is 5pm on Tuesday, July 5. (Successful applicants will be informed by July 31.)
Area forums As a resident of North Tyneside, you can have your say in council decision-making.We hold regular public meetings, called area forums.
Each forum has its own budget to support area-based projects, including improvements to roads and pavements. You can find out more about your area forum over the next four pages.
More details are available on the council website – www.northtyneside.gov.uk To get in touch with the area forums team, phone (0191) 643 2828 or email areaforums@northtyneside.gov.uk
You can also write to: Freepost RRSSUJSB-UGKZ, North Tyneside Council, Quadrant,The Silverlink North, Cobalt Business Park, North Tyneside, NE27 0BY.
Did you know? Big Society: Valerie Elder and her granddaughter Sophie help to brighten up Preston Village.
You can request special or bulky waste collections at www.northtyneside.gov.uk – a quick link is available under the ‘Request or apply for it’ tab.
27
Area forums
Benton • Longbenton • S West Allotment • Backworth • Mon Willington Quay • Holy Cross • B Chirton • Riverside • Cullercoats •
North West Area Forum
Including Benton, Dudley, Forest Hall, Hazlerigg, Holystone, Killingworth, Longbenton and Seaton Burn. Chair – Cllr Jim Allan, deputy chair – Cllr Muriel Green
It’s blooming marvellous! The borough has received an extra splash of colour following suggestions from local residents. Over the Easter Holidays, the council invited people to help revamp the borders
at Springfield Park. Funding for the community planting day was provided by the North West Area Forum.
Pixie Beattie, parks development officer, said: "The event supported the council's Big Spring Clean initiative, which aims to make the borough a cleaner and greener place to live.
Forthcoming meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 6 Time: 6 to 8pm (refreshments from 5.30pm) Venue: TBC
“The idea behind the session was to create well designed borders for passers by to enjoy, and hopefully this will encourage people to visit the parks and explore them further.”
Park warden Alan Thurgood, who hosted the event, was delighted with the support from the community.
“Many hands certainly make light work! I would like to thank everyone who gave their time,” he said.
Residents say how money should be spent Residents have had their say on how £100,000 should be spent on improving Forest Hall’s main shopping area.
And their recommendations included traffic-calming measures, parking improvements and better street furniture.
Local people were originally asked for their views at a special meeting last November.The council then looked at costs associated with the proposals and made £100,000 available towards improvements.
Around 70 people attended a follow-up event in May at St Andrew’s Church, Benton and were asked to prioritise how the money should be spent. .
What’s on Here’s a flavour of the events and activities taking place in your area this summer (see the what’s on section for a complete guide): ●
●
●
28
widening horizons • July 2011
Family nature hunt – Saturday, July 9 (11am to 12.30pm; 2 to 3.30pm). Benton Quarry Park car park. £1.50 entry fee.
Pirates festival – Wednesday, July 27 (noon to 3pm). Killingworth Lake, field next to the play area. Free.
Bee survey walks – Tuesday, August 2 and Tuesday, August 30 (both 10.30am). Meet warden at Springfield Park play area. Free.
Your m Your oney choic e!
eaton Burn • Forest Hall • Killingworth nkseaton • Shiremoor • Whitley Bay attle Hill • Howdon • Wallsend Tynemouth • North Shields
Cenotaph improvements
War memorials across the borough are benefiting from a programme of maintenance and repairs, including the cenotaph in Whitley Bay.
A new memorial is planned next to the cenotaph, which will honour local residents who lost their lives in more recent conflicts.Views are being sought through the area forum.
The council will work with residents and the Royal British Legion to ensure the memorial is accessible, appropriate and in keeping with the surrounding area.
Events will mark disaster anniversary Preparations are underway for a programme of events to mark the 150th anniversary of the Hartley Pit disaster.
A memorial to the 204 miners and boys who lost their lives in the 1862 tragedy is located in Earsdon cemetery, in the grounds of St Alban’s Church, and the site of the disaster is marked by a memorial garden in New Hartley.
Whitley Bay Area Forum
Including Backworth, Earsdon, Monkseaton, Shiremoor, Wellfield and West Allotment, Chair – Cllr George Partis, deputy chair – Cllr Joan Bell
Big Society in action
Residents of Cambridge Avenue in Whitley Bay now have renewed pride in their street after they joined together to improve its appearance.
The avenue, which has an increasing number of rented properties involving short-term tenancies, was affected by litter, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.
Determined to take action, resident Louise Buzzeo knocked on every door in the street – a move that led to the development of the Cambridge Avenue Community Action Group.
What began with some garden tidy-ups has now grown into a sustained community effort, including a pool of shared gardening equipment, discounts
from local tradespeople and a Royal Wedding street party.
“We want the street to be somewhere people want to live and, importantly, stay,” said Louise (below, second left).
“Since the group began, we have far more residents out regularly making sure their properties and gardens look neat and tidy. Seeing neighbours doing this encourages others to do the same, so it snowballs and everyone benefits.”
The council has provided new planters and litter bins on the avenue, which is a major pedestrian thoroughfare to the town centre from the park, library and Spanish City.
The group are planning further events and environmental improvements and bidding for money from the area forum.
Ideas include new stained glass for St Alban’s Church, improved access at the memorial garden, a concert at the Playhouse, community theatre and a specially commissioned piece of music. A bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund is being prepared to support the projects, which will run from the anniversary in January through to summer 2012.
Forthcoming meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 13 Time: 6 to 8pm (refreshments from 5.30pm) Venue: Shiremoor Centre
29
Area forums
Benton • Longbenton • S West Allotment • Backworth • Mon Willington Quay • Holy Cross • B Chirton • Riverside • Cullercoats •
Wallsend Area Forum
Including Battle Hill, Bewick Park, Hadrian Park, High Farm, Holy Cross, Howdon, Northumberland,Westmorland and Willington Quay.
Chair – Cllr Maureeen Madden, deputy chair – Cllr Norma Redfearn
Roads and pavements Every year, residents and councillors prioritise where the forum’s £250,000 roads and pavements improvement budget should be spent.
In January, they identified their top priority in each of the area’s five wards (this includes the part of Riverside ward to the east of the A19) and the work has been programmed as follows: ●
●
●
Battle Hill ward – Blackhill Avenue (patching and part resurfacing). Start date to be confirmed.
Howdon ward – Mitford Gardens (full resurfacing, possibly over two or three years). Start date to be confirmed.
Northumberland ward – Wiltshire Gardens (localised deep reconstruction and resurfacing). Starting August 15.
●
●
Riverside ward – Ravensworth Street (Full resurfacing from Tynemouth Road to Rosehill Road). Start date to be confirmed. Wallsend ward – Boyd Road (Resurfacing from no 58 to High Street East). Starting August 29.
Once these have been completed, work will begin on some of the other roads suggested by the forum until the budget is spent. Further updates will be available at the area forum and on the council’s website.
If you want to suggest a road or pavement improvement for funding from the forum’s 2012/13 budget, please contact the forum (see p27 for details).
Environmental projects In 2010, the area forum agreed to use some of its £44,000 environmental budget to fund repairs to a wall on Crowe Bank, in The Green conservation area. The repairs have been completed and the forum has received a request to fund the repair of the wall opposite, which has also been damaged by a falling tree.
If you want to suggest a project that would help to improve the local environment, please contact the forum.
What’s on in Wallsend Here’s a flavour of the events and activities taking place in the Wallsend area this summer (see the what’s on section for a complete guide): ●
●
●
Wallsend Festival – Saturday, July 2, 11am to 3pm in the town centre and Wallsend Parks.
Picnic in the Park – Wednesday, July 27 and Saturday, August 13, 11am to 3pm in the Civic Hall Grounds. National Play Day Family Fun (suitable for children aged 5 to 13 years, accompanied by an adult) – Thursday, August 18, 11am to 2pm at the Rising Sun Country Park. Entry £2.
Forthcoming meeting
Date: Wednesday, September 7 Time: 6 to 8pm (refreshments from 5.30pm) Venue: Howdon Community Centre
30
widening horizons • July 2011
Your m Your oney choic e!
eaton Burn • Forest Hall • Killingworth nkseaton • Shiremoor • Whitley Bay attle Hill • Howdon • Wallsend Tynemouth • North Shields
Community activities Council staff have worked alongside members of Preston Residents Association in Preston Village to plant flowers around Tynemouth Pool and the Jackson Street area.You can read more about this community activity on pages 24 and 25.
Funds for the planting day were agreed as part of last year’s environmental budget. If you have a similar project that you think could benefit your local community, please email areaforums@northtyneside.gov.uk The council’s community engagement team are looking to work closely with residents in the North Shields area. If you would like to become more involved in community projects, please email areaforums@northtyneside.gov.uk
North Shields Area Forum
Including Chirton, Collingwood, Cullercoats, Preston, Riverside and Tynemouth. Chair – Cllr Shirley Mortimer, deputy chair – Cllr Steve Cox
Forum updates A special area forum was held on March 21 to discuss the future of North Shields town centre.
The residents who attended the meeting at the Saville Exchange heard about the plans, including potential changes to the library. Residents also raised issues on shopping, car parking and public transport.
Items on the agenda for the regular area forum on March 30 included a number of Big Society projects. Residents heard how Tynemouth Cricket Club has worked
with the local community to improve the services it offers to residents.
A number of local schools have benefited from working with the club, which has trained and mentored teachers in cricket to provide future leadership. It has also provided free equipment bags worth £500 for six local schools.
The forum also heard how the club supports the community in other ways, such as a community bonfire night that was organised by volunteers and attended by 7,000 people.
Best wishes, Lawrence Members of the forum have passed on their best wishes to long-serving councillor Lawrence Goveas MBE, who has retired from the council after serving local residents for more than 50 years. (For more details, see page 54.)
Forthcoming meeting
Date: Wednesday, September 21 Time: 6 to 8pm (marketplace event from 5.30pm) Venue: Saville Exchange
Howzat!: Tynemouth Cricket Club is supporting the local community through a number of different schemes.
31
Investment helps firm move into top gear North Tyneside Business Forum
UPDATE
Thriving businesses play an important role in the prosperity of North Tyneside. In the coming months, Widening Horizons will be carrying regular features on the companies that are doing their bit for the borough. Here we profile the award-winning ENTEK International, which is based in Killingworth. ENTEK International recently picked up its third Queen’s Award for Enterprise – not bad for a company involved in the highly competitive car industry.
The firm, which is located on the
share of 48 per cent and is the world’s leading supplier of automotive battery separators.
Although ENTEK had a tough period two
years ago at the height of the recession, a
“2009 was a tough year,” he said.“You could say the market ‘went south’ but
things have certainly picked up for us now. “We invested in the production lines and
multi-million pound investment in the
ancillary equipment just before the
to boost sales from £31m in 2009 to
time to invest, it’s currently paying
Camperdown Industrial Estate, is the only
factory made it possible for the company
polyethylene-based separators used in
£47m in 2010.
dividends.
Eric Donjon, ENTEK's sales and marketing
"Because of the nature of our business,
factory in the country to produce
lead-acid car and truck batteries.
Along with its United States-based sister
company, the company has a global market
manager, is delighted with how well the
company is performing.
recession, and although this wasn't an ideal
there are numerous external factors that
impact on the organisation but I would say
the future is looking bright.”
Eric, who is also chairman of the North Tyneside Business Forum, said winning
another Queen’s Award – in the
International Trade category – was down
to each and every one of the firm’s 135
employees.
“Thriving companies create jobs and make
a positive impact on the economic
wellbeing of the local area, so our success is not just positive for ENTEK, it benefits
the whole borough.”
Top team: Eric Donjon (left) and some of the workforce at ENTEK International.
32
widening horizons • July 2011
Working from home? You’re not alone!
Do you run a business out of your home? If so, perhaps you would like to get in touch with the North Tyneside Business Forum to link up with like-minded professionals. Current economic conditions, as well
as advances in broadband and mobile technologies, are making home-based business an increasingly attractive
alternative to corporate or office-based
You can link in to existing groups and
networks and meet other businesses
providing complementary products.
You may decide to team up with your
new contacts to offer an enhanced
package of services or even refer
business to each other to create a
mutually beneficial partnership.
Whatever your needs, the forum is
here to help you do better business.
So, if you’re looking for advice and
working as people seek more flexibility
support please get in touch.
However, while there are many benefits
your home-based business, or if you
and control in their working lives.
to running a business from your home,
To find out how the forum can help
have a business-related problem and
such as deciding your own hours, being
need a hand, please contact us on
commute, there can also be significant
businessforum@northtyneside.gov.uk
your own boss, no interruptions or daily drawbacks – with many homeworkers
reporting a real sense of isolation and
disconnection.
(0191) 643 6000 or email:
If you want to be on the circulation list
for more information about Business
Forum services and network events, go
The North Tyneside Business Forum can
to www.northtynesidebusinessforum.gov.uk
offering the opportunity to interact with
homepage.
help you to avoid the isolation trap by
other businesses.
and register your details on the
The Business Forum was established by
By taking part in forum events (and,
North Tyneside Council following
platform) you can speak to others in a
employment sectors. It links the
coming soon, the online discussion
similar position and seek advice and
support from the local business community.
These activities allow you to meet other professionals in your field who share your problems and challenges.
extensive consultation with different borough’s business community and is
particularly aimed at medium, small and
micro enterprises.
‘Meet the Buyer’ proves a success A special event for local businesses has proved so popular that the organisers are planning to stage it every year.
Around 150 companies attended the first ‘Meet the Buyer’ event, staged by North Tyneside Business Forum at Cobalt Business Exchange. The event gave companies a chance to meet representatives from some of the region’s biggest organisations and discuss public and private sector tendering opportunities. Peter Hedley, of the business forum’s management group, said:“The feedback we have had from the event has been phenomenal. “We had delegates from across North Tyneside and I know there have been people who have walked away with specific leads and opportunities.” The event was also a chance for local businesses to find out more about the newly-formed Cobalt & Silverlink Business Association, which includes occupiers of the Cobalt Business Park and the Silverlink Business Association. If you have a business-related problem, you can call the business forum’s helpline on (0191) 643 6000. Staff can help you access a wide range of support and advice.
33
Strategy will benefit borough’s older people ●
●
Developing a range of support services, including a Dementia Advisor Service.
Supporting older people to create new enterprises or businesses.
If you would like to be involved, either in the monitoring of the strategy or the work included in the implementation plan, please contact:
Tel: (0191) 643 5991
Email: ntsp@northtyneside.gov.uk
Post: NTSP, Policy & Performance Unit, North Tyneside Council,The Silverlink North, Cobalt Business Park, North Tyneside, NE27 0BY.
North Tyneside Strategic Partnership has produced an Older People’s Strategy, designed to improve the quality of life for older residents. NTSP, which includes the council, primary care trust, community groups and the private sector, developed the five-year strategy after working with residents and older people’s groups.
In North Tyneside, the 65 to 69 age group is predicted to become the largest section of society – increasing by 27 per cent over the next five years. With such a growing older population, the partnership recognised that innovative ways to care for our more vulnerable residents would have to be developed.
But it accepts that maintaining good health and well-being in later life also relies on other factors, such as good social, cultural and employment networks, and quality health and social care.
34
widening horizons • July 2011
The strategy, entitled Nothing About Us,
Without Us, sets out how NTSP can make that happen and enable older people to
play a full part in all aspects of community life.
A detailed implementation plan will be
monitored by partners and older people.
The work taking place during the next year includes: ●
Providing specialist welfare rights
advice and personal development / employment-related guidance.
●
Ensuring older people are able to deal more easily with the council by phone
and online. ●
Developing a programme of
●
Training older people to take
volunteering and activity opportunities.
ownership and lead sport and leisure
sessions, especially through intergenerational activities.
Plea for volunteers Volunteers are needed for the WRVS Books on Wheels service, which provides housebound people with books and other library materials. Many clients of the service, which is
run in partnership with North Tyneside Libraries, have only limited contact with the outside world and look forward to the WRVS visit.
Sometimes, volunteers can also be asked to help out with small tasks, such as posting a letter or opening a tight jar. Volunteers need to be able to spare a few hours every week or month and have access to a car. All expenses will be paid. For more information, call the WRVS on 0845 601 4670 and ask for the North Tyneside Home Library Service.
Groups honoured for healthy approach
A knitting group, a craft club and a parent and toddler/baby group were among the winners in this year’s All New Healthy Community Awards.
The trio, along with 13 other organisations, were honoured for helping to make North Tyneside a healthier borough. Knit ‘n’ Knatter, based at the White Swan Centre in Killingworth, was awarded first place and a prize of £250 in vouchers. The members meet every week to knit items for charities at home and abroad, including children’s centres, baby units and orphanages. The group all share a love of knitting but they also share their worries and discuss how problems can be overcome. Members mix socially and go away on trips together.
The Friday Craft Club, which is based at the Oxford Centre, Longbenton and has
been going for more than 15 years, was awarded second place and £150 in vouchers.
As most of the members are older people who live alone, the twice-weekly ‘get togethers’ help to tackle loneliness and isolation. Members are encouraged to talk about any health problems, on the basis that ‘a problem shared is a problem halved.’
St John’s Parent and Toddler/Baby Group, which meets every week at St John’s Church Hall in Killingworth, was awarded third place and £100 in vouchers.
Members are encouraged to talk about issues and concerns on all aspects of children’s health and well-being, in a friendly and informal setting.
The annual Healthy Community Awards are hosted by the Community and Health Care Forum and supported by the council and the local primary care trust – both members of the Health and Well-Being Partnership.
This year’s ceremony took place at the Oxford Centre and the awards were presented by Elected Mayor Linda Arkley and Mary Coyle, Chair of the PCT, who congratulated the winners on their efforts to make the borough a healthier place to live.
Local groups, who have no support from paid workers, were invited to complete an application pack and then judged by a multi-agency panel. The other winners were:
★Outstanding ● ● ● ●
Walking With In North Tyneside North Tyneside African Group Stroke North
Linskill Healthy Walks
★Highly Commended ●
● ●
● ● ●
Balkwell Community Welfare Association Jelly Tots
Buzzy Bees Stay and Play Parents and Toddlers Group Spread Your Wings Women’s Group People’s Photography Project Women Matter
★Commended ● ● ●
Healthy approach: Elected Mayor Linda Arkley presents the certificate to members of the Knit ‘n’ Knatter group.
Basic Healthy Cooking For Men The Good Life Tiny Terrors
For more information on the Healthy Community Awards, or any of the groups mentioned above, please contact Paula Peart, Community and Health Care Forum, 205 Park Road,Wallsend, NE28 7NL or phone (0191) 295 4233.
35
Better support for children with disabilities A new service is providing better
Instead, DANS will make it simpler for
families who have children with
their child, when they need it.
families.
The service is available for any family in
Cllr David Lilly, cabinet member for
level of disability or additional need – from
“When parents told us they felt isolated
support and information for
disabilities and additional needs. The North Tyneside Disabilities and
Additional Needs Service, or DANS for short, makes it easier and quicker for
parents to get information and improves
the way issues and complaints are handled.
parents to get the support that’s right for
North Tyneside who has a child with any
the undiagnosed right up to those with the
most complex medical needs.
The council, NHS North of Tyne and
Northumbria Healthcare Trust work
The new service will improve the way
those teams work together and with
Children,Young People and Learning, said: and lost within the current system, we
knew it just wouldn’t do.
“With significant input from many of the
families we already work with, we set about improving our systems and the support
The new service is designed to bring to an
together to provide a broad range of
when trying to find their way around a
disabilities or additional needs. Many
“I am confident the new service will
and social care.
support from multi-agency teams.
with the help they receive.”
end the problems faced by many families
complex system involving health, education
36
widening horizons • July 2011
services to thousands of local children with
families receive daily or round-the-clock
available.
significantly improve families’ satisfaction
Improved information
The North Tyneside Families Information Service offers up-to-date specialist information, advice and signposting, for families with children with disabilities and additional needs. This includes: ●
transition and children’s disability services. ●
Advice and signposting to services
such as GPs, health centres and
schools.
The support line is staffed by the
A wide range of family support and
Families Information Service team five
needs information – such as where
available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
children’s disability and additional to go for help, places to go and things to do.
●
Special Educational Needs (SEN),
Access to specialist disability and additional needs advice, such as
assessment, parental engagement,
days a week, with online information
It means parents can pick up the
telephone and find out anything – from where their nearest play session is, to
what their options are for specialist
schooling.
DANS ‘will really simplify things’
Conor, aged six, has complex health needs, including an autism spectrum diagnosis, a global development disorder and motor co-ordination problems.
He receives a broad range of care from a number of professionals, including a speech and language therapist, social
worker, dietician, physiotherapist and community paediatrician.
His mum, Liz, said:“We receive services
from so many different places and
different people.
“It’s great to know that, under the new
service, we’ll have a lead professional,
who will be able to pull everything
together for us, and know who’s providing what and when.”
She is also delighted there is now a
new dedicated information service for
parents with disabled children.
“Finding the right information has
always been a big problem,” she said.
“We didn’t know where to go for the
right advice, even just for basic things,
and sometimes different people would
tell you different things.
“Knowing we can now just call one
number and get the right information, or be pointed in the right direction, is brilliant.”
Simplifying the system Families who receive a number of services are now allocated a lead professional – one person who will guide them to the right services and be their single point of contact.
Their main role is to de-mystify the system and make it as easy as possible for a child to get the right help at the right time, such as ensuring assessments are carried out or co-ordinating medical appointments.
Getting to the heart of the problem
A panel of senior staff look at any persistent problems and make quick decisions to make sure every child continues to receive high levels of care and support.
DANS services are still being delivered across the borough but a number are now located at the Riverside Children’s Centre, North Shields.
This includes the Families Information Service information library, where parents can access a wealth of specialist information, and the DANS support service, for help with any disability or additional needs-related problems or questions.
Contact us
Telephone: 0345 2000 108 Online: www.northtyneside.gov.uk/dans Email: dans@northtyneside.gov.uk Drop-in: Riverside Children’s Centre, Minton Lane, North Shields
Telephone and drop-in services are available from 8.30am to 4.30pm (Monday,Tuesday,Thursday and Friday); 10.30am to 5pm (Wednesday).
You can also get information 365 days a year at www.northtyneside.gov.uk/dans
37
First World War project launched Memorial to be restored
A memorial to one of the country’s worst mine disasters is to be refurbished in time for the 150th anniversary.
A group of residents are seeking to commemorate the sacrifice made by the population of the former Borough of Tynemouth in the First World War.
who died in the conflict.
And they were encouraged by the
Mike Halsey, project group chairman, said:
The project plans to create a database that
can be used by anyone interested in the
effects of the war on Tynemouth or who
wants to research details of individuals
strong support they received when the
“The project is truly a community effort in
Commemoration Project was launched
have a connection to local people involved
Tynemouth World War One
that anyone can get involved, whether they
at a recent public meeting.
in the First World War or not.
The project has a number of themes which
“Our aim is to produce a fitting and
will examine and record the economic,
respectful commemoration of the sacrifice
the war and its effects on the communities
record of the effects of the war, which
social and, most importantly, human cost of of the former borough.
Its main aim is to enhance and expand
made by the borough’s inhabitants and a
touched virtually every family in the whole
country.”
the information contained in the Roll of
Anyone who would like to get involved
News in 1923.
should visit
Honour produced by the Shields Daily
This contains only brief details of around 1,700 men, who were residents or
connected with the town, and died during the conflict, whether as members of the armed forces, merchant navy or fishing
fleet families.
38
widening horizons • July 2011
in the project or has relevant information,
www.tynemouthworldwarone.org email
contact@tynemouthworldwarone.org or write to Tynemouth World War One
Commemoration Project, c/o Essell, 29
Howard Street, North Shields, NE30 1AR.
The Grade II-listed Hartley Pit Memorial in Earsdon honours the memory of 204 men and boys who died in the disaster at Hartley Colliery in 1862. Cllr Glynis Barrie said:“We are working closely with a range of groups and individuals to ensure the 150th anniversary is appropriately recognised. “We felt it was important the memorial was brought up to standard and we believe the improvement scheme will ensure it is once again a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives.” The proposed work will include repairs to the memorial and the erection of signs, a new footpath and a hard standing area.
Did you know? You can pay your Council Tax online at www.northtyneside.gov.uk – a quick link is available under the ‘Pay for it’ tab.
Youngsters can play in the spray A new waterpark has opened at Whitley Park,Whitley Bay, next to the award-winning playsite.
preferred developer has been appointed for the Spanish City site.”
The new facility was designed and built
The waterpark, which cost more than
on behalf of the council by Kier North
spray equipment, with channels and dams
wanted a waterpark alongside the playsite.
£200,000, includes a variety of splash and leading to a pool area with rocks and boulders.
Tyneside after local children said they
Mike Furze, regional director for Kier
North Tyneside, said:“This is a great project
It supports Elected Mayor Linda Arkley’s
that will benefit the community and its
ensure it’s a family-friendly resort.
We hope the children will have a great
priority to regenerate Whitley Bay and
“I want Whitley Bay to regain its reputation
young people for many years to come. time splashing around this summer.”
as a place for family fun and the waterpark
The waterpark is open from 10am to
Arkley.
leisure attendant at weekends and school
is another step towards that,” said Mrs “There is plenty for the town to be
positive about at the moment.We have a joint service centre on the way and a
6pm, every day, and will be staffed by a
Climbing course
A six-week climbing course for adults – using the climbing wall at Hadrian Leisure Centre,Wallsend – will start in September.
For more details, or to book a place, contact Brandy Riches on (0191) 643 7480 or 643 2025.You can also email brandy.riches@northtyneside.gov.uk It follows a similar course held earlier in the year, led by a qualified instructor. Those taking part learnt various safety techniques including how to belay, working in pairs.
holidays.
Making a splash: Quisha Graham, aged seven, enjoys the new waterpark.
Road skills events
Young people can learn how to cycle safely on the road at a series of special events this summer.
The events are on Tuesday, July 26 – Rising Sun Country Park (9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30 to 4.30pm), Tuesday,August 2 – West Moor Community Centre (9.30am to 12.30pm), Tuesday,August 9 – Whitley Bay High School (9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30 to 4.30pm) and Tuesday, August 16 – The Parks Sports Centre (9.30am to 12.30pm). Children must be eight or over, capable of riding safely and have a roadworthy bike.The cost is £2. Contact the Sports Development team on (0191) 643 7447 to book a place.
39
First children’s centre celebrates10th birthday The borough’s first Sure Start Children’s Centre has celebrated 10 years of serving local families.
Howdon Children’s Centre opened its doors in 2001 and was one of the first of its type in the country – offering childcare and early support to families with young children. A decade on, the centre has helped more than 10,000 children and their families. It was recently rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted inspectors and many of its volunteers have dedicated years of their free time to supporting its work.
One of the volunteers is Mary Dodds, 71. She said:“I can remember when it was just a blank piece of paper in the middle of a table, and we were talking about its shape and what colour to paint it.
“Since then, we’ve helped so many young families and many are still involved with us.”
The centre held a day of activities in March to celebrate the anniversary and encourage more young families to find out about the wide range of services on offer.
Howdon is one of 12 Sure Start Children’s Centres located across North Tyneside.
Their role is to support families with children under the age of five but many activities are open to older brothers and sisters. Membership is free and entitles a family to access services at any centre in the borough.
As well as good quality and affordable childcare, each centre offers a unique mix of support – including early education, health advice, activities for children with disabilities, help with bringing up babies, stop smoking sessions, family learning, training opportunities and links to Jobcentre Plus.
Activities are tailored to the needs of local families and differ from centre to centre.
Cllr David Lilly, cabinet member for Children,Young People and Learning, said:“Many of our services are actually for parents, such as healthy eating groups and help to get back to work.There are also lots of activities that parents and children can do together. “We want to make sure that those families who could benefit the most from what we offer, do so.We would love to see more families join up.” For more information about your local children’s centre, including details of what’s on, call the Families Information Service on 0345 2000 108 or visit the council website – www.northtyneside.gov.uk
Birthday treat: Lucy and Ellen Law help Newcastle Falcons star Micky Ward open the 10th anniversary celebrations.
40
widening horizons • July 2011
Healthy – and there’s plenty of choice!
In North Tyneside, we serve up some of the lowest-priced primary and middle school meals in the region.
Milk - the white stuff
Children from reception to year six can benefit from a carton of milk at morning break
For just £1.80 a day, your child can enjoy a choice of freshly cooked main courses with fresh salad or vegetables, bread and a tasty dessert.
Milk provides protein, calcium and other essential vitamins and minerals for healthy growth and strong bones and teeth.
Our new menus feature plenty of choice, even for the pickiest of eaters, and most schools offer an unlimited salad bar for no extra cost.
A drink of milk at break-time can also
Lunches packed with goodness
For example: ●
●
●
A healthy sandwich made with brown bread and a protein-based filling like ham, cheese or tuna
At least one portion of fruit, for example a small banana or an apple
Vegetable snacks such as carrot and cucumber sticks, or cherry tomatoes
If you’d like your child to benefit from morning milk, simply let your school know.
help to maintain your child’s concentration levels until lunch.
If your child doesn’t already stay for a school meal, give them a try. You might just be surprised!
The right kinds of food in your child’s packed lunch box can help them concentrate and learn. A good packed lunch should include foods that will keep their energy levels steady through the afternoon.
Morning milk costs just £9 per year or £3 per term, and if your child receives a free school meal, they’ll also receive free milk.
●
●
A low-fat fruit yoghurt to provide protein and calcium A bottle of water to keep your child hydrated and alert.
This term, try making these four easy
changes: ●
●
●
●
Swap chocolate or biscuits for fresh fruit
Swap white bread sandwiches to wholemeal bread Swap crisps for carrot or cucumber sticks
Swap fizzy drinks for water.
For more information on school lunches, please contact the council’s Catering Services team on (0191) 643 8355 or email catering.services@northtyneside.gov.uk
Free school meals
If you are on income support or receive certain benefits, then your child may be entitled to free school lunches.
You can apply if you meet any of the following criteria:
· You receive Income Support · You receive income-based Job Seekers Allowance · You receive payment under Part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 · You receive Pension Credit guarantee · You receive Child Tax Credit without Working Tax Credit and have an annual taxable income of below £16,190
For advice or to apply by telephone, please call student support on (0191) 643 2288.
41
A day in the life of . . . victim support officer Kirsty Sproat Kirsty joined the council’s Safer Estates Team earlier this year and is thrilled with the chance of helping residents face to face. Her role involves assisting victims and
witnesses, updating them on the progress
of their cases and solving any problems
they may have.
The role of victim support officer is new to North Tyneside and was created following suggestions from the public.
8am I get to my desk at the council’s
headquarters at Quadrant on Monday morning and check my voice mail and email messages.
Afterwards, I phone the neighbourhood
beat manager at Northumbria Police and
she informs me of a number of incidents that have taken place over the weekend.
One involves an elderly lady who is
me if she has problems in the future, and
tell her about some community groups
that she could join to meet local people.
10am I visit Wallsend Police Station to inform
them of the cases I am currently dealing
intimidated her and advise her to phone me if there are any further problems.
My manager tells me that the person who
assaulted another victim I am supporting
has been arrested by the police and is to
appear in court the next morning.
frightened because youths have been
with.The police update me on the action
I telephone the victim to update her on
home.
cases I’m involved with.
actions of the council and the police.
writing graffiti and drinking outside her
9am
being taken against some offenders whose
12.30pm
the situation. She is pleased with the joint
1pm
I drive to the lady’s house and discuss the
Back at Quadrant, I update my case notes
I’m staying in Quadrant for a meeting with
how they are affecting her life.
met earlier that morning.
which is made up of volunteers who have
problems she has been experiencing and I reassure her that the graffiti will be
removed that day and that the police have contacted the parents of the youths.
I give her my number, so she can contact
42
widening horizons • July 2011
and log what was said by the client who I
After this, I telephone a woman I met last
week to make sure she is okay. I tell her
that the Safer Estates Team has issued a
final warning against the man who
the Witness and Victim Support Group,
been victims or witnesses of anti-social behaviour.
I help co-ordinate their session, and talk
about the lady I had met in the morning.
The Safer Estates Team is responsible for: ●
●
Working closely with Northumbria Police to solve cases of anti-social behaviour.
Instigating legal action in cases where complaints are received after warnings have been previously issued.
●
Co-ordinating the use of acceptable behaviour agreements.
The team has been recognised by the Home Office for working with residents to improve procedures that tackle anti-social behaviour on housing estates. To contact victim support, phone (0191) 257 9079. To contact Northumbria Police, phone 08456 043 043.
We consider ways in which we can help
Killingworth and meet the patch team
the lady to discuss her problems.
decide who will be taking care of the
and a member of the group offers to meet
2.30pm A resident has asked to meet me at
Longbenton Library to discuss his situation. He’s involved in a dispute with a neighbour who has threatened him in the past. Understandably, he doesn’t feel
comfortable with a council officer visiting
his house, so I’m more than happy to meet
up at the library.
We talk about the action that could be
taken against his neighbour and I reassure him about the possible outcome.
3.30pm
I head to the White Swan Centre in
from the council’s housing service.We
resident I met at Longbenton Library.
4.15pm
The Witness and Victim Support Group supports the Safer Estates Team in taking action against people responsible for anti-social behaviour as well as offering practical and friendly advice to those affected. It aims to:
I accompany a witness to North Shields
●
to give evidence in a few days time, is
●
witness service.
●
Magistrates Court.The man, who is due
shown around the building by the court I’ve tried to do everything I can to help
the victims and witnesses I’ve met during
●
the day. Now it’s time to head home,
ready for another busy day tomorrow.
●
Provide support over the phone and on a one-to-one basis. Refer people to specialist agencies when needed.
Assist in reducing fear of intimidation.
Provide help to complete incident diary sheets.
Encourage communities to take a stand and promote respect.
For more information about the group, phone (0191) 643 7715 or email: saferestates@northtyneside.gov.uk
43
Ne w
BRIEs in F The council, working with Macmillan Cancer Support, has set up a specialist welfare benefits team to help cancer patients and their carers.
The service helps those affected by cancer to make applications for benefits and access charitable grants – this can be done through telephone advice, benefit checks or assistance with filling in forms.
You can call the team on (0191) 643 7640.The service is completely free and confidential. Several parents have recently been fined by the courts for their child’s poor attendance at school.
Three were each fined £350 while another was fined £65 and issued with a parenting order. Court action is only taken as a last resort when parents have been unwilling to work with the school and the council to improve their child’s attendance.
If your child is leaving school this summer, a special roadshow may help shape their future.
The ‘get up and go’ roadshow offers advice, information, and employment and training opportunities.Young people from across the borough are welcome at either session.
The roadshow is on Tuesday, June 28 at Seaton Burn Community College (3.30 to 5.30pm) and Thursday, June 30 at Churchill Community College (4 to 6pm). You can also call the Connexions Service on (0191) 290 0415.
44
widening horizons • July 2011
New affordable homes for borough
The council has joined forces with Bett Homes to provide affordable homes in North Shields. The 10 two and three-bedroom homes at
Warkworth Grange are 25 per cent below
the normal market price for people who meet certain criteria.
The Warkworth Grange scheme is part of
a drive to increase the supply of affordable homes in North Tyneside.
Since 2008, more than 400 affordable
homes have been built in the borough to
meet a range of housing needs.
These include homes for families, couples
or single households; bungalows and extra
The range includes homes to rent from
housing associations and homes that help people to get a foot on the property ladder.
The council will continue to work with a
range of partners, including developers and housing associations, to make sure
that more affordable homes are available
in the future.
For more details, contact the council on
(0191) 643 6214 or email
housingstrategy@northtyneside.gov.uk Further information on the new homes
at Warkworth Grange is available on the
back page of this issue.
care apartments for the elderly; and
housing for vulnerable people who need
support to help them live independently.
Des res: Moves are underway to provide more affordable homes in the borough.
Vital Metro work completed on time
Nexus, which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, has completed its biggest-ever upgrade of an existing line – as planned and on schedule. The 23-day line closure between Byker and Tynemouth in March and April was just one part of the modernisation of Metro in North Tyneside.
Nexus Director General Bernard Garner thanked passengers for their understanding as the vital work took place – as well as trackside neighbours who put up with increased noise and construction work for three weeks. He said:“Modernising Metro is vital for the whole economy, and doing the work in a short, intense period was the best way to reduce inconvenience to people who use the system or live close by.”
Modernisation of track and technology is continuing with weekend line closures – although the line has been kept open on bank holidays to help support the seaside economy between North Shields and Whitley Bay.
Stations are also being modernised. North Shields is being completely rebuilt during the rest of the year with a bigger concourse, lifts and better platform waiting areas.
Howdon and Meadow Well stations are also being refurbished, with work due for completion this summer. Other stations on the line will also be upgraded.
A second 23-day closure will take place between Byker and Tynemouth in spring 2012 to complete the modernisation project.
The work so far has seen track and technology between Chillingham Road and Hadrian Road completely replaced, and bridges and embankments on the whole route renewed and strengthened.
The remaining track and technology up to North Shields will be replaced next year – work that will secure the Metro line for decades to come.
Did you know? You can apply directly for council or social housing in North Tyneside at www.nthomefinder.co.uk
Vital work: Nexus has thanked passengers and people who live near the track for their patience during the recent modernisation programme.
45
Theatre serves up a feast of fun The PLAYHOUSE Whitley Bay is playing host to some great shows during the next few weeks.
Whether it’s singer-songwriters, tribute acts, or the ever-popular Ken Dodd, there’s something to appeal to every taste during the theatre’s summer season.The highlights include: Sunday, July 3 Ten years ago, Saturday Stage School supplied some of the young and aspiring actors for the award-winning film Billy Elliot. Now they have been selected to perform in the stage version of Billy Elliot the Musical, written by Lee Hall with music by Elton John. (Tickets, £8.50) Thursday, July 7 Frank Turner will be showcasing some of the tracks from his forthcoming album when he takes to the road for a special solo tour. Presented by the council as part of the Mouth of the Tyne Festival. (Tickets, £16). Friday, July 8 Musician and songwriter Kathryn Williams
takes to the PLAYHOUSE stage to perform a range of hits from her string of superb albums. Also presented by the council as part of the Mouth of the Tyne Festival. (Tickets, £12.50)
Sunday, July 10 Dolly ‘The Show’ celebrates the music of the award-winning singer, composer and actress Dolly Parton.The show takes you on a musical journey through Dolly's early days to sell-out arena concerts.
The show features Jeanne Jordan and BJ Thomas and is packed with some of Dolly's greatest hits, including 9 to 5, I Will Always Love You, Islands in the Stream, Jolene and Here You Come Again. (Tickets, £18.50) Thursday, July 14 Longbenton Community College presents A Night at the Musicals. (Tickets, £5) Wednesday, July 20 to Saturday, July 23 Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story recounts the three years in which Buddy Holly became the world's top recording artist.The show
features more than 20 of his greatest hits, including Peggy Sue,That'll Be The Day, Everyday and Rave On. (Tickets, £15) Wednesday,August 10 The Bootleg Sixties is, quite simply, the best 60s show around. Featuring The Overtures, this unique production will take you back to the greatest decade in musical history. (Tickets, £16) Thursday,August 25 and Friday, August 26 Back by popular demand after two sell-out shows last year, Ken Dodd’s Happiness Show has new material and even more laughs!
Revered as one of Britain's funniest comedians, Doddy has enjoyed a professional career spanning more than 50 years and received numerous awards and accolades. Get your tickets as soon as possible for this side-splittingly funny show! (£19.50)
Booking information In person: Monday to Friday (10am to 4pm) and Saturday (10.30am to 2.30pm) Online: www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk Booking hotline: 0844 277 2771 Enquiries: 0844 493 4567
Solo tour: Frank Turner appears at the PLAYHOUSE on July 7.
46
widening horizons • July 2011
All information correct at time of going to print.
Game, set and match at Churchill College New club launched
A new after-school club is being launched at four of the borough’s sports centres in September.
The sessions, for youngsters aged eight to 13, will take place at Hadrian Leisure Centre,Wallsend; The Lakeside Centre, Killingworth; Marden Bridge,Whitley Bay and The Parks Sports Centre, North Shields.
First-class facility: Roger Draper, David Baldwin (head of Churchill Community College) and Linda Arkley are flanked by James Parkin and Donia Azziz.
A new indoor tennis centre has opened at Churchill Community College,Wallsend. The new facility – Tennis @ Churchill –
has four courts which are available for the community to use, including students and
To mark the official opening, rising stars
James Parkin and Donia Azziz played an
exhibition match. Both have won under-10
national titles.
Elected Mayor Linda Arkley said the new
centre would be of huge benefit to the
local clubs.
borough, the region and beyond.
Mr Roger Draper, the chief executive of
“I am delighted we are able to provide
fantastic facility that will allow young people
North Tyneside,” she added.“I hope it will
the Lawn Tennis Association, said:“This is a
and adults to develop their skills and enjoy tennis all year round.”
The development was made possible
thanks to a £347,000 grant and a £200,000 loan from the LTA, with support from
Sport England.
such first-class facilities in the heart of
inspire players of all ages and ability, as well as encourage newcomers to the sport.”
Contact the college on (0191) 234 7200 to book a session at Tennis @ Churchill.
Activities will include extreme dodge ball, dance mats, climbing and team games. Local students have been asked to name the new club and the winner will be announced in July.
For more details, contact Jodie Norman on (0191) 643 7453.
Sessions mark 650th anniversary
Two special events are being held at the Town Hall in Wallsend to mark 650 years of magistracy in England.
The sessions have been organised by North Tyneside’s ‘Magistrates in the Community’ group and will provide a fascinating insight in the role magistrates play in upholding justice and peace. The events will involve a mock hearing, historical displays and give visitors a flavour of justice through the ages.
The free sessions take place on Tuesday, June 28 and Thursday, July 7 (both 7 to 8.30pm). Drop in and enjoy a trip through time!
47
Insulation work means Elsie’s in the money!
Killingworth resident Elsie Newman is among more than 12,000 local householders who have benefited from insulation work since the council-backed Warm Zone project began in 2007.
The scheme offers free or heavily discounted loft and cavity wall insulation to local residents.
insulated my home, my heating bills were very high. I can already see the difference in my purse and feel the benefit in my home.”
Insulating cavity walls can save £160 each year off an average fuel bill.Together with loft insulation, fuel bills can be reduced by up to £300 per year.
Elsie made one phone call to the Warm Zone team and free insulation – installed
Cllr Ed Hodson, cabinet member for Transport and the Green Environment, said:“Our Warm Zone scheme is delivering brilliant results, not only for the residents of the borough, but also for the planet.
She also took advantage of the free and confidential benefits advice service offered by North Tyneside Warm Zone, resulting in a successful claim which has increased her household income even more.
“We will save more than 300,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions over the lifetime of the measures, helping the council to achieve the targets set in our Climate Change Strategy.”
quickly and without disruption – is making her home much warmer.
A delighted Elsie said:“At my age, you really do have to keep warm and that can be very expensive. Before Warm Zone
The Warm Zone benefits team has already secured more than £3.4m in unclaimed benefits for local residents.
Warm Zone, a community interest company (CIC) with not-for-profit status, is working in partnership with the council. The scheme can offer free or heavily discounted insulation measures, along with a free benefits advice service. Ring (0191) 223 4199 and you may be able to enjoy a much warmer home, just like Elsie! Staff will carry out a fast, free and no-obligation survey of your home to see if you could benefit from cavity wall and/or loft insulation.
The council has carried out a thermal imaging survey of all buildings in the borough, providing a heat loss profile for every building. The data is designed to help residents save energy and money (and do their bit for the environment) by ensuring their home is adequately insulated. North Tyneside Warm Zone will shortly begin contacting those homes exhibiting the greatest heat loss, offering a free, no-obligation survey.
Warm glow: A delighted Elsie Newman shows how much money she is saving on her heating bills.
48
widening horizons • July 2011
Residents back energy saving measures
Local residents are doing their bit to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change.
The latest figures show North Tyneside has the second lowest CO2 emissions per head of population in the region and, for the third year in a row, the borough is seeing positive reductions in carbon emissions. A recent survey carried out by the Energy Saving Trust in North Tyneside found that more and more people are seeking new ways of reducing their use of resources. In turn, the council is looking at its own buildings and the behaviour of staff in order to save money and energy.
For example, the authority has installed more efficient lighting in its leisure centres and introduced ‘shutdown’ software on personal computers to reduce the time they are left on unused. The council reduced its number of vans, lorries and diggers by around 20 per cent
last year and, following a further reduction of 13 vehicles earlier this year, it is on course to save £300,000 and cut carbon emissions by almost 300 tonnes.
The council is also using ‘route optimisation’ technology, vehicle sharing and driver training programmes to make sure mileage is reduced.
Meanwhile, cleaning staff are helping to reduce the amount of wasted energy in schools and other council buildings by switching off lights, closing doors and windows to retain heat and reporting leaking hot taps.
It’s important for schools to play their part as they contribute to more than a third of the council’s carbon footprint and have significant energy costs.
In 2008, only 23 out of 76 schools in the borough were registered on the Eco Schools programme.This has now increased to 70 and nine are flying the Eco Schools Green Flag.
Top tips for saving money and reducing carbon emissions Turn your thermostat down. Reducing the room temperature by 1°C could cut heating bills by up to 10 per cent, saving around £50 per year. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time. Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors. Always turn off the lights when you leave a room. Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily. If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher. One full load uses less energy than two half loads. Carry out an online home energy check with the Energy Saving Trust – www.energysavingtrust.org.uk If you want to know more about what the council is doing on climate change and energy efficiency, visit the council website (click on environment then sustainability) or phone (0191) 643 6505.
49
Flying Sparks 2011 The Flying Sparks competition – The Business Factory’s contest to discover enterprising local people and put them firmly in the spotlight – certainly went with a bang!
The competition was a real X Factor affair with tears, excitement and thrills all round. The bar was set extremely high and the judges – Andrew James (Andrew James Properties), Julian Freeth (Dilation Design), Adrian Don (CrazyHorse Communications) and Antonia Clifford and Christian Cerisola (Quay2Media) - said that everyone had done a fantastic job.
Presentations took different guises and forms – some chatted, some used PowerPoint, one or two involved the judges
Bright sparks: The winners with their trophies.
50
Widening horizons • July 2011
getting their hands dirty and being asked to participate in activities that demonstrated the business on show.
One entrant used his guitar skills to illustrate his idea, while another dressed as Marilyn Monroe.
Although the ‘onstage’ presentations were given with professionalism and confidence, most candidates gave huge sighs of relief when it was all over – some even had tears of joy at overcoming their nerves and self-doubt to get up in front of the panel and pitch. Even The Business Factory staff were moved to see such raw emotion.
This year’s winners were: ●
Youth Award (16-24) – Laura Dawson (Ziggy Chews) – a pet accessory
company with bespoke designs. Laura’s shop is due to open in Park View, Whitley Bay in July. ●
●
Best Social Enterprise Idea – Suzanne Thompson (Squiggles and Giggles) – a children’s messy play scheme.
Overall Flying Spark Award – Alison Stanley (Stanna Productions) – a small performance troupe that uses music, drama and tactile experiences to engage elderly people in nursing/ residential homes.
All winners received a trophy, a netbook, Business in a Box resource pack, support from TEDCO and access to The Business Factory team. Everyone who took part received a certificate and feedback on their idea.
Perdi launches a beautiful bespoke business Perdi Brewis, of Wallsend, set up ‘Beautifully Bespoke Jewellery’ earlier this year after taking redundancy.
After a lot of soul searching, she eventually
found her niche working with Precious Metal Clay and found a metal clay artist offering courses on making keepsake jewellery.
Perdi (right) attended a course teaching
her how to encase leaves and flowers from a bride’s bouquet and, with the support of the Business Factory, has now extended her keepsake range to include jewellery with loved ones’ fingerprints, hand and
footprints and pet prints.
Happy birthday!
The Business Factory has been celebrating its first birthday. Since we opened our doors, we have helped residents in North Tyneside to start more than 170 new businesses and given free advice, support and training to 600 people to help them become more enterprising or start up in business.
Gordon joins the team
Perdi will be showcasing her jewellery,
which includes earrings, bracelets and
necklaces, at events and craft fairs around
the region.With the help of her Business
Adviser, Perdi will finalise her business plan
and is looking at setting up a website.
If you don’t have a business idea, there are hundreds listed on The Business Factory website. Our Ideas Bank is a database of business ideas and opportunities specific to North Tyneside. It is an online service that you can log into and browse at your leisure.
It covers a range of different sectors throughout the region from manufacturing, retail and beauty therapy to online ventures such as setting up an eBay store.
The Ideas Bank has nearly 500 opportunities for potential businesses, including everything from online ventures to franchises.Why not visit the website: www.businessfactorynt.co.uk
The Business Factory Tel: (0191) 263 6092 Pop in: 86 High Street West, Wallsend NE28 8HY. Email: info@businessfactorynt.co.uk Web: www.businessfactorynt.co.uk
Gordon Hanna has joined The Business Factory as a business opportunities advisor. Gordon will be liaising with the local business community - delivering workshops and offering one-to-one support on business ideas and opportunities.
51
Team hunts down loan sharks
A crackdown on illegal money-lenders, or loan sharks as they are commonly known, is underway in North Tyneside.
A national team of trading standards officers, working with their colleagues in the borough, is investigating the activities of local loan sharks, who charge extortionate rates of interest and can resort to threats or violence to reclaim their debts. At the same time, officers are working in local communities to raise awareness of the problem and support the victims of illegal money-lenders. In many cases, loan sharks will:
●
●
●
Add additional amounts to the original debt so borrowers struggle to repay.
Take items as security, such as passports or bank cards. Resort to extreme methods to get their money, including threats, intimidation or violence.
A spokesman for the team pointed out
that anyone who runs a money-lending
business without a licence from the Office
of Fair Trading is acting unlawfully.
He added:“Loan sharks should never be
used under any circumstances. Many start
out as a friend to their borrower but quickly change.
“If you have borrowed from an unlicensed
lender, you have not broken the law – they
have. Speak to us in confidence.”
You can report a loan shark by calling the
confidential hotline on 0300 555 2222.
You can also text ‘loan shark + your
message’ to 60003 or email
reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk
Financial misery: Borrowing money from a loan shark should be avoided at all costs.
Register provides peace of mind
North Tyneside has joined forces with Northumberland County Council to help residents find reliable builders or tradespeople. Companies that sign up to the Trader Register Scheme – a web-based directory – will be assessed to make sure they meet set standards and comply with consumer protection laws.
Principal trading standards officer Alan Burnett said:“The scheme will support good quality local businesses and marginalise rogue traders.”
Residents can check details of trades people in their area by visiting www.traderregister.org.uk or calling 0845 600 6400.
Be on your guard
Homeowners are being warned to be wary of companies offering to help them obtain council tax refunds of up to £2,000.
The firms have contacted some residents and suggested their property may be wrongly valued.They then offer to process an appeal – charging 30 per cent of any refund.
However, any resident can check their council tax banding for free by either ringing the Valuation Office Agency on 0845 602 1507 or visiting their website – www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax
Residents concerned about any unsolicited offers can contact trading standards on 08454 04 05 06.
52
Widening horizons • July 2011
Partnership is good news for the borough In 2009, the council and Kier Building Maintenance joined forces to set up Kier North Tyneside – responsible for carrying out repairs and maintenance to the authority’s housing stock and other council-owned buildings. Widening Horizons looks at the progress that has been achieved during the last two years. The staff at Kier North Tyneside are working hard to improve customer service, including faster response times to repairs and other enquiries. Since the new partnership was created, staff have carried out more than 60,000 repairs at homes across the borough – including nearly 9,000 classed as emergencies.
More than 1,660 homes have been fitted with new windows and doors, while over 460 have received new bathrooms.
However, there are other benefits to the wider community.The company employs nine apprentices and has given work experience to students from a number of local schools.
A dedicated team supports managers and other staff to develop their careers and the Friendly face: Kier North Tyneside staff are always willing to explain what work needs to be done.
training centre in Killingworth provides trade and vocational training as well as literacy, numeracy and IT sessions.
Kier North Tyneside is also committed to providing facilities for local communities and last year completed work on a new playground in Shiremoor. The Shiremoor Adventure Playground is specially designed to encourage adventurous play in a controlled and safe environment.
The project, carried out on behalf of the council, is the first playground of this type outside London.
And the work on the playground was carried out in the most environmentallyfriendly way possible, with CO2 emissions for the project falling way below government targets.
Did you know?
Kier North Tyneside employs more than 450 staff – with around two thirds living locally.
The company looks after 16,000 council houses and more than 500 council-owned buildings.
Each day, the partnership carries out 230 repairs, fits six homes with new windows and doors and installs two new bathrooms.
Kier North Tyneside was proud to sponsor the Tyne Tunnel 2K Wheelchair Race. It has also provided Wallsend Boys Club with new kits and raised money for local charities.
The company uses a pioneering environmentally-friendly paint to decorate homes in the borough.The product is manufactured locally from paint originally intended for landfill sites.
Phone 0345 2000 102 to contact the customer services team at Kier North Tyneside.
Did you know? You can now report, request or pay for many council services with one click from the www.northtyneside.gov.uk homepage.
53
Ne w
BRIEs in F The borough is hosting its first outdoor music festival, exclusively for young people, at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend on Saturday, July 2. The event – organised by North Tyneside’s Young Mayor, Rebecca Leighton – features the best young bands and musicians from across the borough and will tie in with the annual Wallsend Festival.
Entry is by pre-bought wristband only. The wristbands, price £2, are currently on sale to young people aged between 11 and 19, who live or attend school or college in North Tyneside. The event runs from noon to 6pm. Please check The Event@Segedunum on the council website for availability of wristbands.
All library phone numbers, except Whitley Bay Library, begin with a 643 prefix. A BT service that diverted calls from the former phone numbers with a 200 prefix has now ended.
The numbers for the borough’s 15 libraries are:
Battle Hill (643 2255), Coast Road (643 2074), Cullercoats (643 2073), Dudley (643 2035), Forest Hall (643 2085), Howdon (643 2070), Killingworth (643 2040), Longbenton (643 7768), Monkseaton (643 2075), North Shields (643 5270), Shiremoor (643 2036), Tynemouth (643 2087),Wallsend (643 2072),Whitley Bay (200 8500) and Wideopen (643 2071).
54
widening horizons • July 2011
Mayor announces new cabinet portfolios Elected Mayor Linda Arkley has announced her new cabinet, following the recent local elections.
Cabinet members are Cllr Judith Wallace (Deputy Mayor and cabinet member for Finance), Cllr Glynis Barrie (Leisure, Culture,Tourism and Safer Communities), Cllr Pam McIntyre (Engagement and the Environment), Cllr Paul Mason (Housing), Cllr David Lilly (Children,Young People and Learning), Cllr Leslie Miller (Adult Social Care), Cllr George Westwater (Regulatory Services) and Cllr Ed Hodson (Transport and the Green Environment). Cllr Barrie is also the council’s Equality and Diversity champion.
their ward surgeries, are available on the council website – www.northtyneside.gov.uk
The annual guide to councillors will appear in the next edition of Widening Horizons, which will be published in early September.
Cllr John Stirling is the new Chairman of the Council and his deputy is Cllr Frank Lott.
Details of the local election results and information on all councillors, including
New role: Cllr Stirling (right) with outgoing chairman Cllr Duncan McLellan.
Lawrence calls it a day Former chairman of the council Lawrence Goveas has stepped down from the council – after more than 50 years serving the people of the borough.
He began his public service as a councillor on the former Tynemouth Borough Council in 1960 and served as mayor in the late 1960s.
He was elected to North Tyneside Council when the authority was formed in 1974, representing Cullercoats ward. During his time on the council, he served as Conservative group leader
and was deputy mayor in 2003 and chairman in 2004/05. He was awarded an MBE in 2005 for services to the community.
Mr Goveas said:“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the people of North Tyneside and I’ve enjoyed it immensely.”
Fighting the fly-tippers There were more than 1,000 incidents of fly-tipping in North Tyneside last year, which cost the council more than £72,000 to remove.
●
away.You should keep this, together
with any receipts and invoices, for two years to protect yourself from any
could face a fine of up to £5,000.
Here are some tips on how you can
●
charge to the household waste
recycling centre in Wallsend Road,
North Shields. Businesses must use a
Use a registered waste carrier to
You can report an incident of fly-tipping
to see a waste carrier’s licence – they should show you the original copy.
●
Keep a record of their details in case
they fly-tip your waste and it is traced
back to you.
The pair were fined and sentenced to community orders and made to carry out unpaid work.
service or take your waste free of
commercial waste disposal site.
dispose of the waste. Always ask to ask
A total of three and a half tonnes of rubbish was left in front of The Ship Inn, Gainers Terrace,Wallsend.
Use the council’s bulky waste collection
protect yourself and help stop fly-tipping:
●
Two men from Newcastle were spotted on CCTV dumping waste on land in Wallsend.
comeback.
responsible for what happens to your
If your waste ends up being fly-tipped, you
get a copy of a waste transfer note
from the person who takes your waste
As a householder or trader, you are
waste – even after it has left your premises.
If you run a business, you must always
Seen on CCTV
by phoning Envirolink on 0345 2000 103. Try to make a note of where and when it
happened, the registration and description
of the vehicle (if you saw one), the people involved and the type of waste tipped.
Firm caught
A Newcastle business was paid to remove a large amount of controlled waste, including building material and bulky waste, from the back yard of a house.
However, rather than dispose of it correctly, the owner deposited half at the household waste recycling centre – designated for ordinary household waste only – and the remainder in Carville Road,Wallsend.
Letters found among the waste were used by the council’s environmental enforcement officers to trace its origins. The owner of the waste collection firm admitted both offences and was ordered by the court to pay council costs.
55
Primary Care Trusts are the local part of your such as those provided by GPs, district nurses,
GP consortia look to a healthy future GPs in North Tyneside have formed two new GP consortia that will be responsible in the future for making sure local people receive the healthcare services to meet their needs. Called CareFirst and Engage Health, the two consortia bring together the 29 GP practices in the borough. CareFirst covers 18 GP practices and a patient population of around 135,000 across the borough. As a pathfinder, it will be testing out the government’s new
arrangements for the NHS in the run up to March 31, 2013 when primary care trusts will be phased out.
Engage Health covers 11 GP practices and a patient population of around 83,000 across North Tyneside.
The GP consortia are keen to put local people at the heart of the planning of health services in the future and, as such, will be developing new ways of involving patients so that their concerns can be taken into account.
Over the next two years, the current statutory commissioners of healthcare services – NHS North of Tyne (on behalf of North Tyneside Primary Care Trust) – will be working closely with CareFirst and Engage Health, to gradually hand over responsibilities.
More information on how this will happen will be available at your GP practice and future editions of Widening Horizons.
confirmed cases reported between January to March – compared with 13 cases for the same period the previous year.
GP. We can’t stress enough that measles is a serious illness and delaying immunisation puts children at risk.”
Dr Mike Guy (right), medical director at North Tyneside PCT, said:“Measles is potentially a very serious illness which, on rare occasions, can be fatal.
The recent upsurge in cases is probably related to people travelling to Europe. Measles can spread easily in schools and universities among children and young adults who are not fully immunised.
Protect your child against measles
As the holiday season approaches, parents are being urged to protect their children against measles.
With many children and young adults travelling on educational trips and family holidays, North Tyneside Primary Care Trust is reminding parents to ensure their children have been immunised with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. This is particularly important given the recent increase in cases among the under-25s. Nationally, there has been an increase in cases of measles with 135 laboratory-
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widening horizons • July 2011
“You never know who will go on to develop the more serious complications of pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). “It’s never too late to get your child vaccinated. If they’ve missed out on MMR in the past, it’s always possible for them to catch-up. Just contact your local
NHS and run community healthcare services, health visitors and specialist therapists.
Think Pharmacy First for hay fever
If you suffer from hay fever this summer and are entitled to free prescriptions due to low income, you can access Think Pharmacy First for treatment.
people are using the scheme to go
You can also get a list of pharmacies
treatment for conditions such as hay
www.northoftyne.nhs.uk
Think Pharmacy First is great for
Look out for the bright yellow posters
treatment for minor ailments
participating pharmacies, urging you to
patients as it gives easier access to
without having to make an
appointment to see their GP. Dr Mike Guy, from North Tyneside PCT, said:“We are delighted that
straight to their pharmacy to get free
fever, which is prevalent at this time of
taking part in the scheme by visiting
year.�
and window stickers displayed in Think Pharmacy First.
For more information, go to any
pharmacy that shows a Think Pharmacy First window sticker.
57
Get ready for Age Takes Centre Stage 2011
This year’s festival for the over-50s takes place in October with a month of activities, events and special offers across the borough.
over 50 in the spotlight – look out for the Age Takes Centre Page promotion in local libraries for reading ideas over the summer and special events in October.
The organisers, in partnership with the council, are currently putting the finishing touches to the full festival programme, which will feature in the next edition of Widening Horizons, published in early September.
You can also nominate an individual or group for special recognition in the Age Takes Centre Stage Awards 2011:
The festival gets underway on Saturday, October 1 with a fabulous day of entertainment and activities to mark Older People’s Day at the Oxford Centre in Longbenton.
Then during the rest of October, take your pick from the ten pin bowling challenge, mini-Olympics, craft Olympics, festival jazz night and church service plus a wide range of walks, talks, dances and parties.
●
However, you can get in the festival spirit now by enjoying books that put people
We welcome nominations for individuals and groups who have not been nominated in the past two years. In the run-up to next year’s London Olympics, we are particularly
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widening horizons • July 2011
●
Older People Together – to celebrate the achievements of groups (based in North Tyneside and in which at least half the members are over 50) that give older people more opportunities to enjoy life and contribute to the community.
Individual Achievement in Volunteering – for a person aged over 50 who has given a lot to the community in North Tyneside as a volunteer.
keen on inviting nominations for individuals and groups that promote physical activity and sporting involvement among people aged over 50. (Nominations close on August 30.)
The awards are sponsored by Age UK North Tyneside and presented at a special awards ceremony hosted by DFDS Seaways on board their cruise ship MS King of Scandinavia at Royal Quays.
Look out for more information in the Age Takes Centre Stage Awards leaflet available in libraries and from Age UK North Tyneside, Bradbury Centre, 13 Saville Street West, North Shields NE29 6QP. You can also call (0191) 293 9149, email info@agetakescentrestage.org.uk or visit www.agetakescentrestage.org.uk
2010 awards: Last year’s winners show off their awards.
Coach trips
You can now book for several Friendly Day Outings, organised by the Amongst Friends Friendship Centre, on: ●
Thursday, October 6 – Thornton-le-Dale and Whitby
●
Thursday, October 13 – Holy Island and Seahouses
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Wednesday, October 19 – Ripon and Market Day in Skipton
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Thursday, October 27 – The Lakes (Bowness on Windermere and Grasmere)
Join Age Takes to the Sea 2011 and sail away to Alkmaar from just £94 per person! Sailing from North Shields to Holland at 5pm on Monday, October 10, returning at 9.30am on Wednesday, October 13.
Alkmaar is Holland’s cheese capital and it is famous worldwide for its traditional cheese market. However, it has much more to offer than just cheese.
Established in 1254, the pretty centre is surrounded by water and you’ll find many monuments and historical buildings dotted around the town. Alkmaar has an array of lovely shops, there’s also a lively arts scene and numerous quality bars and restaurants.
With a population of around 100,000, Alkmaar is far from the largest city in Holland but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in quaintness and its sense of history.
There are some great museums to visit, including the National Beer Museum and the Dutch Cheese Museum, which is based in an old weighhouse. Other attractions include the Stedelijk Museum, canals and narrow streets, "Molen van
Piet" windmill, St Joseph's Church and canal tours.
The price of £94 per person includes: ●
●
● ●
Two nights on board ship, with a lower berth, outside, en-suite cabin, based on two sharing. Buffet breakfasts, each way, on board ship. Live on board entertainment
Coach transfer to Alkmaar, with approximately five hours to explore the town.
Why not pre-book your evening meals and save up to 30 per cent compared with on-board prices? To book, visit www.dfds.co.uk/age or telephone 0871 882 0887 and quote “Age Takes Centre Stage”.
Offer terms and conditions: Subject to availability. Credit card & telephone booking fees apply.Visit www.dfds.co.uk/terms for full details.
The cost is £12 per person for each outing, with coaches supplied by
Chris Cooper Travel.The coaches pick up at Killingworth,West
Allotment, Shiremoor,Whitley Bay,
Cullercoats, North Shields,Wallsend
and Central Station.
Please telephone Chris Cooper Travel for availability on (0191) 421 1894.
Once booked, cheques can be sent
to Chris Cooper Travel, Unit 4, Lonprell Works, Clockmill Rd,
Dunston,Tyne & Wear NE8 2QX.
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‘Making more of life for you’ is what Age UK NorthTyneside is here to do! Take Chris for instance:
that I am where I am now and my prospects are promising.
With Employment Guidance and
Volunteering Opportunities at Age UK North Tyneside, Chris Walker’s life has been turned around.
Chris, 56, from Backworth became unemployed last December and felt lost, even desperate. Fortunately, he was
signposted to the Back on Board Project at Age UK North Tyneside which provides advice and guidance to unemployed people aged 50 and over. “The staff helped build my self-esteem and confidence and gave me the support to get my life back on an even keel and heading in the right direction,” he said. “Even now, I know that an email or phone call is all I need and the support is there still. It is thanks to Age UK North Tyneside
“Apart from looking for full time employment, I am a qualified walk leader and a volunteer on the Life Choices Project within Age UK North Tyneside – helping clients maintain their independence within the community. I am also studying at Tyne Met College on a counselling course.”
With our Safe & Secure Scheme:
Mrs Knott is 84, lives on her own and likes to collect her pension rather than have it paid directly into the bank. Her daughter, though, worries about her carrying large sums of money. Now, Mrs Knott has been
supplied with a purse alarm and feels much safer and her daughter is much happier. Mrs Edwards is 80 and lives alone.
To improve her safety, she had a door bar
fitted and received a purse alarm. During the assessment, Mrs Edwards was asked
whether there were any other small tasks
that she needed help with and at the time
she did not. However, she later rang to say her curtain rail had fallen down and could
we help. Alan Little, our volunteer
‘handyperson’ was sent out the same day.
Mrs Edwards later rang to say:“I can’t
believe how quickly this has all been
organised.What fantastic service, I really
appreciate it!”
The Safe & Secure Scheme allows older
North Tyneside residents to be supported by Age UK North Tyneside, Northumbria
Police and partners to stay safe and secure in their homes.The initiative has been
supported by Northumbria Police Authority
(£25,000) and retailer Wilkinsons (£2,580).
Make more of your life with Age UK North Tyneside
Age UK North Tyneside Bradbury Centre, 13 Saville Street West, North Shields Here to help: Members of the partnerships at the launch of the Safe & Secure Scheme.
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widening horizons • July 2011
Telephone: (0191) 280 8484
enquiries@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk
Keep it local North Tyneside Council is committed to helping small businesses.
If your company is based in the borough, you can advertise in this section free of charge.
So far, nearly 200 local businesses have included their details in Widening Horizons, which is distributed to more than 90,000 homes across North Tyneside. Just send us the following details and we’ll put your entry in the next available issue:
Photos to Disc
Have your old family photos digitally scanned on to CD/DVD to share with your family forever. From as little as £25 for 300 pictures scanned.
Tel: 07779 34 68 22
Email: info@photostodisc.co.uk
John Edward Web Design Professional websites for business start-ups, sole traders, small businesses. Reseller of web hosting and domain names. Tel: 07964 878 098 Email: info@johnedwardwebdesign.co.uk
www.johnedwardwebdesign.co.uk
Please note: Space is allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Adverts not used in one edition will receive priority for the next. The next issue of Widening Horizons will be published in September. The deadline for adverts is August 1. Send your details to: steve.forshaw@northtyneside.gov.uk
ADS architectural
Small architectural practice – 12 Sandhoe Walk,Wallsend. Specialising in domestic extensions and small works. Planning permission drawings, from £299. Fixed price given. Tel: (0191) 236 9826 or 07885 425 932
www.adsarchitectural.co.uk
Gas Angel Heating Services Ltd
Local business. Gas Safe registered. All aspects of heating/gas work covered. 10 per cent discount for senior citizens.
Tel: 07920 462 945
www.gasangelheating.co.uk
Venus Property Maintenance Ltd
Clare Scope-Farrell
Novelty knitting patterns with a twist! Amazing designs for mail order purchase (food, flowers, Russian dolls etc) plus free downloads.
www.clarescopefarrell.co.uk
For quality and affordable maintenance, local to your area – call Gary. Free quotes, 24/7 call out. Commercial and domestic.
Tel: (0191) 266 0468 or 07910 705 608 Email: garyvenus1@googlemail.com
Dr Xiao Xi Yu
Sun Hie Chinese acupuncture – 249,Whitley Road,Whitley Bay.To book your free consultation, contact Dr Yu. Tel: (0191) 252 6101 Email: Chinese.acupuncture@hotmail.com
www.sunhieacupuncture.co.uk
Vuvu
Unisex salon – 19b, Esplanade,Whitley Bay. Specialising in all aspects of hairdressing. 20 per cent discount off your first appointment.
Tel: (0191) 251 9779
• Name of company or shop • Brief (20 words maximum) description of your business • Phone, email or web address
www.vuvusalon.co.uk
Parks Hair Design (Wideopen)
Family-run ladies and gents hairdressers – Canterbury Way,Woodlands Park. Competitive prices, friendly atmosphere. Appointments not always necessary. Contact Jill or Cheryl.
Tel: (0191) 236 2979
Daren Pearse Driving Instructor
Approved driving instructor offering excellent tuition across North Tyneside. Friendly and reliable, competitive rates.Tel: 07795 483 575 Email: daren@darenpearsedrivinginstructor.co.uk
www.darenpearsedrivinginstructor.co.uk
North Tyneside Council does not accept any responsibility for the businesses listed above.
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Keep it local Eothen Homes
A registered charity providing Christian care for the elderly. Each resident is treated individually and encouraged to live as independently as possible in a friendly and caring environment.Tel: (0191) 297 0707 Email: whitleybay@eothenhomes.org.uk www.eothenhomes.org.uk
ALC Painting & Decorating
All aspects of painting and decorating undertaken, including paper hanging, domestic and commercial, interior and exterior. Discounts for OAPs.
Tel: 0774 841 0938
Lase-Away
Safe, affordable laser tattoo-removal and body-piercing clinic. Based in Nile Street, North Shields. Local authority registered.
www.lase-away.co.uk
Temple Plastering
All aspects of plastering covered – no job too small. Insurance work welcome. Free estimates and advice.
Tel: 0797 603 9995 (Craig) or 0798 930 9757 (Barry)
Edge Ahead Gardening & Landscaping All aspects of gardening and landscaping – carried out to very high standards. Look us up on the Internet or call Simon.
Tel: (0191) 236 2261 or 07740 724 042
Function Pianist
Weddings, birthdays and corporate events a speciality. Professional quality and affordable. Instant atmosphere for your special day. Get in touch with Mark Deeks.
Tel: 07793 713 378 www.piano-player-newcastle.co.uk
Amberley Driving School
Independent local driving school for the North Tyneside and Newcastle area. Competitive rates. Qualified ADI and Pass Plus registered.
Tel: 07545 923 473 www.AmberleyDriving School.co.uk
Chiropody/Podiatry Clinic,Wallsend
Valerie Davis MChS, BSc (Hons). Full range of chiropody/podiatry treatments. Modern surroundings. Professional, friendly service. Home visits available. 58, Station Road,Wallsend.
Tel: (0191) 236 9933 or 07985 449 886
Sound IT Services
BW Architecture
Tel: (0191) 268 3569 Email: sale@sound-it.co.uk www.sound-it.co.uk
Email: info@bwarchitecture.co.uk www.bwarchitecture.co.uk
Computer repairs, upgrades, network set-up, software and computer accessory sales – for home, education and business users. PAT testing for business, public and educational establishments.
Frew Pain & Partners
Commercial agents and property consultants for the North East, specialising in the sale/letting and acquisitions of industrial premises. Tel: (0191) 229 9517 or 07841 871 710
Email: james.pain@frewpain.co.uk www.frewpain.co.uk
Redesdale Out of School Club
Ofsted-registered breakfast and after-school care for children aged 3 to12 years. Pick-up and drop-off service available to and from other schools. Tel: (0191) 295 0286 or 0773 266 0636
Email: redesdaleoutofschoolclub@hotmail.co.uk
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widening horizons • July 2011
Chartered architects, based in Forest Hall. House extensions a speciality. Quick and cost-effective service for Planning and Building Regulation applications.Tel: (0191) 289 4312 or 0794 4573 433
UK Blinds
We supply and fit all types of window blinds at affordable prices. More than 20 years experience. Free measuring and fitting.
Tel: (0191) 250 1119 or 07828 578 792 (Ronnie)
Epicurus Events Ltd
Epicurus provides catering services, catering equipment hire and event management throughout the North East.Tailor-made wedding catering packages available.
Tel: (0191) 270 8540 www.epicurus.co.uk
Keep it local Grime to Shine Window Cleaning Service Providing a reliable, professional cleaning service to the North Shields and Whitley Bay areas. Fully insured. Free estimates.
Tel: 0790 519 8497 Email: grimetoshine@hotmail.co.uk
Jobson Plumbing and Heating
Established 24 years – we deal with anything from replacement boilers, with five years warranty, to complete bathroom suites. Gas Safe registered, quality workmanship guaranteed.
Tel: (0191) 250 2726 or 07860 819 993 Email: info@jobsonplumbingandheating.com
The Shipyard Studios
Great new recording studio – offering recording, CD duplication and poster printing at affordable prices. Also caters for kids pop star parties. Pametrada Building, Davy Bank,Wallsend.Tel: 07791 289 124 Email: info@theshipyardstudios.com www.theshipyardstudios.com
Birchwood Landscaping
Providing a professional friendly service for all your gardening needs. Contact us now for a free estimate.Tel: (0191) 290 1119 Email: enquiries@birchwoodlandscaping.co.uk
www.birchwoodlandscaping.co.uk
WPS Bathrooms
Bathroom installations and plumbing services. Free estimates and friendly advice.Wet-room specialist. No job too small. Tel: 0779 163 6314 (Shawn) Email: wpsbathrooms@yahoo.co.uk
Anna Leigh Vocal Studios
Discover how to strengthen your voice through healthy singing methods – feel no strain, pain or discomfort when you sing! Tel: (0191) 258 4557 or 0778 341 8280 www.annaleighvocalstudios.com
Plastermind
All aspects of plastering work undertaken. For a free quote, please call Dean. Tel: (0191) 234 0722 or 0778 403 3584 Email: dean_rutherford@hotmail.co.uk
Mick Sheldon – North East Plans
Building plans drawn for Planning and Building Regulation approval. Commercial and home developments. Competitive fee levels. 40 years experience.
Tel: (0191) 257 2020
www.northeastplans.co.uk
out! northeast magazine
News, features, lifestyle and listings magazine for lgbt people. Download your copy free online or email us to join our mailing list.
Email: out@outnortheast.com
www.outnortheast.com
Maia Beauty
Fully qualified and insured mobile beauty therapist – offering spray tanning, semi-permanent eyelash extensions, hair extensions, nail extensions and more.Tel: 0754 337 1670
Email: maiabeauty@hotmail.co.uk www.maiabeauties.co.uk
LNS Consultancy – Accountants
Professional and modern practice, providing excellent accountancy and taxation services to personal clients and corporate businesses. New office – Rake House Farm,Whitley Bay.
Tel: (0191) 296 4218 www.lnsconsultancy.co.uk
Harrison Property Maintenance
We provide quality property maintenance and building services. Time-served tradesmen, all jobs welcome, fair prices, fully insured, free estimates. Phone Howard Harrison.
Tel: (0191) 258 1264 or 0785 721 4673
Cambridge Weight Plan
Are you worried about your weight? The Cambridge Weight Plan could be the answer. Contact Ally, your local independent Cambridge consultant. Based at the coast. Tel: (0191) 257 8918 or 0798 338 6985 Email: ally.diets@hotmail.co.uk
Hearn Electrical Services
24/7 call out. Any electrical work undertaken – from full rewire to replacing a single light. Friendly and reliable. Contact Geoff Hearn.
Tel: 0787 981 2260 Email: geoffkh@aol.com
North Tyneside Council does not accept any responsibility for the businesses listed above.
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Warkworth Grange | Wantage Avenue | North Shields | NE29 7BE
believe you could get 25% off a brand new home Bett have teamed up with North Tyneside Council to help local people step on the property ladder. If you live or work in the borough, you may be eligible for an exclusive 25% discount off the purchase price of one of Bett's great new 2 and 3 bedroom homes. Warkworth Grange is a stunning collection of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes designed to meet today's contemporary lifestyles. Contact us to find out more.
2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes from £71,246*
Let’s talk Now it’s even easier to make an appointment. Simply call or go to our website.
For more information, speak to a Sales Advisor at The Bakers, North Fenham NE5 3LD
08442 579022 betthomes.com/warkworthgrange Price based on 75% of the full asking price £94,995. Eligibility criteria applies: applicants must have a combined annual income of less than £60,000, either live or work in the borough of North Tyneside, want to move to the borough to take up employment or to care for a relative living in the borough. These homes are to provide a sole residence for successful applicants and are not available to investors on a buy-to-let basis. Applications will be approved by the council. Prices correct at time of going to press. Images representative only.