Category: Lifestyle

Sunderland Bridges Hosts Fashion Weekend

By on 3rd April 2016in Lifestyle

Top trends from leading retailers will be on show this month as Sunderland’s leading shopping centre hosts its Fashion Weekend…

From April 21 – 24 the Bridges will be holding daily fashion shows, showcasing the exciting new looks being offered in a range of the centre’s shops.

Already a whole host of major names have signed up to participate including Debenhams, Miss Selfridge, New Look, Next and Primark.

Also taking part in the shows are Roman Originals, Select, Swarovksi, Topman, Topshop and TX Maxx, with the promise of others signing up to showcase their latest looks on the catwalk.

“We have a wide variety of retailers at the Bridges with clothes for both men and women and for all ages,” said Andy Bradley, Centre Director.

“The Fashion Weekend gives us a fantastic opportunity to showcase what we have to offer in what promises to be a number of fun and exciting shows.

“We are delighted to see so many of our leading retailers getting behind the event and we look forward to welcoming lots of fashion conscious visitors.”

Daytime shows will run at various times throughout the Fashion Weekend (April 21-24).

A fashion show will also feature as part of the Retail and Style Awards being held at the Bridges on Saturday April 23, in an evening which includes a black tie dinner and performances by top musical acts Lawson, Izzy Bizu and the Lake Poets.

Sound Advice From AYP Financial Planning

By on 2nd April 2016in Lifestyle

It’s a fact of modern life that as many as 40% of all marriages in the UK end in divorce. The break-up can be a traumatic time for all concerned and brings with it the need to make financial arrangements that can have ramifications for years after the settlement is made.

There are no hard and fast rules governing how assets should be divided, although there is a broad starting point of 50:50. If the divorcing couple are unable to come to an agreement on the division of their financial assets, the court will decide how these should be apportioned between them, based on factors such as their age, earnings ability, property and investments and role in the relationship (e.g. breadwinner or primary carer). The needs of any children of the marriage are always considered paramount.

AYP Financial Planning specialise in providing advice on divorce and can offer sympathetic, patient and pragmatic support throughout the whole process. You will need help to decide on your future financial goals, review your mortgage, life insurance, savings and investment plans and you’ll need to remake your will. Post-divorce, reorganising your finances is an essential step in moving forward to a new life.

Contact AYP Financial Planning for a confidential review now. First meeting is without charge but could prove to be the best time you ever spend. We can help, contact AYP Financial Planning on 01434 607808 or email info@aypfinancial.co.uk.

Seaham Solicitor Calls For Care Fees Cap In Budget

By on 30th March 2016in Lifestyle

A Seaham solicitor is calling on the Chancellor to end the worry about the unlimited cost of old age care by finally introducing his long promised and much delayed cap on personal care fees in the Budget…

Andrew Simpson, Lead Panel Solicitor with Seaham-based legal and financial planning specialist Ensure Inheritance, says that introducing a cap on costs for personal care would allow people to make plans for their long term care and reduce the widely held fear of being forced to sell the family home to pay for it.

He says: “A cap of £72,000 for personal care costs was to have been introduced this April (2016), but has been delayed until at least 2020. I would like to see the Chancellor stick to his earlier promise and bring in the care fees cap next month.

“With current legislation demanding that anyone owning assets valued in excess of £23,250 is required to make a 100% contribution towards the cost of their care, it’s no wonder that this a major concern for older people.

“Although this legislation also prevents people from deliberately moving their assets in order to avoid paying care fees, it is possible to protect the family home by using a Wealth Preservation Trust, provided the owner is in relatively good health and not presently intending going into long term care, and has genuine concerns about who will benefit from their assets.

“Unfortunately the lack of a care fees cap has meant that there has been little provision or take-up of insurance products for care, so establishing a trust for estate planning purposes is being increasingly used by people keen to avoid sacrificing the family home to pay for their care.”

Ensure Inheritance has produced a booklet which provides further information on Wealth Preservation Trusts. For a free copy, please contact Ensure Inheritance on tel. 0191 338 5143, via email at info@ensureinheritance.co.uk or via its website www.ensureinheritance.co.uk.

Based in Seaham in County Durham, Ensure Inheritance provides a range of legal and financial planning services which help protect financial assets to provide their clients and their loved ones with peace of mind. In addition to long term care planning and wealth preservation trusts, services include Wills and Estate planning, funeral planning, inheritance tax planning, powers of attorney, court of protection deputyships, and probate.

Prom Princesses To Be Pampered At Ramside

By on 25th March 2016in Lifestyle

Prom princesses can now get pampered and preened on the lead up to their big night at a luxury North East spa…

RamsideProm-Body

The £8m Spa at Ramside, at Ramside Hall Hotel near Durham is opening its doors to school leavers with three special prom packages.

The packages, which are valid from May to July, include the ultimate Prom Princess package, the Dazzling Divas package and the Mii & My Prom make-up package.

Girls opting for the Prom Princess package can expect two indulgent sessions of pampering on the countdown to the big day, with the option to add on a third session with the in-house team at Reef Hair Salon.

The initial session will include a personal consultation with Ramside’s beauty experts, body exfoliation to prepare the skin for any tanning and an express booster facial for added radiance.

On the second visit, just before – or on the day itself – the treats continue with a polish and shine for hands and feet and a brow fix by in-house cosmetics company Mii. Guests can then either opt for a make-up tutorial prior to prom or choose to have their make-up done on the day.

For the girls wanting to pamper with pals, the Dazzling Divas package includes a polish and shine for both hands and feet.

Females wanting to focus on their face can go for The Mii & My Prom package, which includes brows by Mii and either a make-up tutorial prior to prom or make-up on the day.

“With proms being such a huge highlight for school leavers, we wanted to ensure that we provided packages that will add a bit of extra sparkle to prom night,” said Jill Russell, Spa Director.

“Proms are often compared to weddings in terms of preparation, so the Spa at Ramside aims to provide a memorable experience for young girls and really make them feel special for their first ‘big day’.”

Prom packages can be booked by calling 0191 375 3088 or going to www.ramsidespa.co.uk. Book before April 30 to receive a free gift on day of arrival.

Easter Bunny Set To Attend Sunderland Sunday Lunch

By on 21st March 2016in Lifestyle

The Easter Bunny is hopping to Sunderland for a very special Sunday Lunch…

On March 27 the Stadium of Light will be donning its best Easter bonnet and serving up a three course feast for families from across the North East.

Featured in the menu, devised by chefs from 1879 Events Management, are a host of traditional British dishes, including creamed potato soup with shredded leeks, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and a farmhouse cheese selection.

Stadium tours will be available throughout the afternoon, with all young visitors also receiving a free gift from the Easter Bunny.

David Moses, General Manager at 1879 Events Management, said: “Easter Sunday is a great opportunity for families to get together and enjoy a little quality time, without the pressures of work or education.

“This year we’ve invited the Easter Bunny along to deliver a few extra gifts alongside our three course lunch and stadium tours.”

Easter Sunday at the Stadium of Light is priced at £19.95 per adult.  Children eat for half price and a 10 per cent discount is available for SAFC season card holders.

To book call 0871 911 1555 or email conf&banq@safc.com.  More information can also be found at www.safc.com/whatson or www.facebook.com/stadiumoflight.

Abbey Leisure Centre Celebrates 25 Years

By on 9th March 2016in Lifestyle

It’s 25 not out for one County Durham sports facility, as Abbey Leisure Centre in Durham marked a quarter of a century…

The centre, built by the former City of Durham Council, transferred to Durham County Council in 2009 and is used by around 3,500 people each month.

Stephen Verde, the longest standing member of the centre’s gym, was invited along to help staff mark the special occasion, on Monday 22 February.

Stephen, a 60 year old retired social worker from Waldridge near Chester-le-Street, joined with his wife Penny 20 years ago.

Stephen tries to go every day, often with his daughter Sarah Taylor who is also a member.

He said: “I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since I became a member, I went to a birthday party at the centre with my wife and we both joined.

“The equipment has certainly improved over those years! I continue to go most days so I have a good rapport with the staff who all know me.”

Nigel Dodds, the county council’s strategic manager for culture and sport, said: “It’s fantastic that Stephen has stayed with us and been such a loyal member.

“Well done to all of the staff at Abbey who work really hard to make it such a much-loved and well-used facility.”

The site is one of ten leisure centres run by the county council.

Whether it’s fitness, sport, or family fun that inspires your visit, Abbey Leisure Centre has a great range of activities on offer including a gym, exercise classes and loads of activities for children to enjoy.

The centre’s sports hall and courts are also available to hire for badminton, basketball, football, squash or table tennis.

Journalism Student Nominated For National Radio Award

By on 3rd March 2016in Lifestyle

A final year Journalism student from Northumbria University has been nominated for a national award that recognises her talent for broadcasting…

Lizzie Longley has been shortlisted for ‘Student Journalist of the Year’ in the prestigious IRN (Independent Radio News) awards, which are run in association with Sky News.

The awards celebrate and showcase the very best journalism in UK commercial radio – and this year has seen a record number of entries.

Lizzie submitted a piece of radio news which looked at the debate around the provision of sexual consent workshops for young men in UK universities. The 20 year-old travelled around the country to interview key individuals, before recording and editing all the footage herself – all while studying for the final year of her degree. She was over the moon to find out that the hard work paid off.

Lizzie said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw my name alongside the other nominees – I kept having to double check, then I rang my Mum and burst into tears.

“I’ve wanted to be a journalist since I was 10 years old, so to be graduating from university in a few months with so many opportunities ahead of me is just a dream come true.”

The ‘Student Journalist of the Year’ award recognises an individual who ‘excels in producing and presenting news content’, and is sponsored by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) – the UK’s largest independent journalism accreditation body who accredit Northumbria’s journalism courses.

But the IRN judges aren’t the first to spot Lizzie’s talent. Mark Davenport, Programme Leader for Journalism at Northumbria, whose industry background includes 12 years as a Senior Producer with ITV Tyne Tees, said: “Lizzie has a flair for broadcasting and has shone as a radio reporter as well as a TV presenter.

“Our journalism course aims to give students practical skills like interviewing technique, writing across a range of media, and audio and video editing. We also ensure they are given an insight into theories so they can understand and analyse news.

“Lizzie’s brought those skills together and combined them with her own drive and determination, and her nomination is the fruit of her efforts. I think we’ll be hearing and seeing a lot of her in the industry in the very near future.”

The winners of the IRN awards will be announced on Thursday 10th March at a ceremony in London, hosted by Sky News and Sky Sports presenter Sarah-Jane Mee.

For Lizzie, this will be the perfect networking opportunity ahead of her graduation – which she admits will be bittersweet.

“I’m so glad I studied at Northumbria. It’s the best thing I could have done, so I’m excited to start my career, but really sad to be leaving university.

“The lecturers have been so supportive. They will always make time to help you if you need it, and really go above and beyond to make sure you have the best possible experience. You can completely trust their opinions because they have had successful careers as journalists themselves.

“For me, the biggest thing I’ve gained over the past three years is confidence. At school, teachers said I had no confidence, but the academics here really make you believe in yourself and feel like you can achieve anything you put your mind to.”

For more information about studying Media and Communication courses at Northumbria, click here.

Award-Winning North East Bar And Distiller Join Forces

By on 29th February 2016in Lifestyle

Two of the biggest names in North East gin are joining forces to offer discerning drinkers even more choice…

Newcastle bar City Tavern, which currently stocks more than 80 gins from around the world, will now be serving spirits from Sunderland-based Poetic License.

The independent small batch distiller, established by entrepreneur Mark Hird, currently crafts two award-winning gins and a vodka using its own still at the Roker Hotel.

From this week, City Tavern, based at Northumberland Road, will be stocking the brand’s Northern Dry Gin and Old Tom Gin, which are both carefully crafted to be enjoyed as a stand-alone drink or as part of a cocktail.

David King, Owner of City Tavern said: “We pride ourselves on offering visitors a wide range of popular and unfamiliar drinks, including several that are brewed exclusively for City Tavern.

“Poetic License’s artisanal processes and unique flavours fit well with this philosophy, and I’m sure they will make an excellent addition to our collection.”

City Tavern, which benefitted from a £450k investment by Mr King in 2015, is the latest high profile venue to begin stocking products from Poetic License, which has only been operating for around four months.

While the brand’s handmade approach limits production to around 400 bottles per week, all three of its core products can already be found in a wide range of bars, restaurants and hotels around the region, as well as leading stores Fenwick, Newcastle and Lewis and Cooper Ltd, Northallerton.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with how well Poetic License has been received and what we have been able to achieve in a relatively short space of time,” said Poetic License’s owner Mark Hird.

“The staff and customers at City Tavern really know their gin, and we’re delighted that both our Northern Dry Gin and Old Tom Gin meet their strict selection standards.

“Our focus now is on targeting more state-of-the-art bars like this and extending our distribution on a national scale.”

For more information about City Tavern, visit www.citytavern.co.uk and for Poetic License log on to www.poeticlicensedistillery.co.uk. All trade sales enquiries for the distillery should be directed to Luke Smith on 0191 5103564 or luke@poeticlicensedistillery.co.uk.

County Durham Leisure Centres Hold Sport Relief Fundraiser

By on 27th February 2016in Lifestyle

Council fitness coaches are inviting families to spin, swim and sprint in aid of Sport Relief…

As part of their continuing efforts to improve the health of people in County Durham, staff at Freeman’s Quay and Riverside leisure centres have organised fundraising fitness events this March.

Cllr Maria Plews, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for leisure, libraries and lifelong learning, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for people to visit our Durham and Chester-le-Street leisure centres, use some of the fabulous facilities we have, and support a great cause.”

A 24 hour ‘spinathon’ will take place at Freeman’s Quay Leisure Centre from 8pm on Thursday 17th March until 8pm on Friday 18th March.

Members of the public can book themselves in for a 30 minute slot – or longer if they feel up to the challenge – on one of the centre’s 13 spin bikes between 6.30am and 10.30pm.

Staff – including coaches Aiden McDaid, Steven Gardiner and Sam Renwick – will then continue the trial through the night.

With cyclists busy on the bikes, coaches Laura Gwynne, Claire Fothergill, Chloe Heslop and Carol Shaw will invite swimmers to take part in an hour long ‘aquathon’ on Friday 18th March.

From 9.45am to 10.45am visitors to the Freeman’s Quay pool will be able to dance along to everything from Abba to Glee, and the Beatles.

Meanwhile, at Riverside Leisure Complex, schoolchildren and sports club members will be encouraged to walk, jog or run a mile on its running track between 9am and 3pm.

The track will also be open from noon to 1.30pm for any member of the public who would like to take part.

All the events are free, but donations to Sport Relief will be requested.

Stadium Of Light Hold 3 Course Meal For Mums

By on 26th February 2016in Lifestyle

Families from across the North East are being invited to toast to their mothers in a special celebration at the Stadium of Light…

This Mothering Sunday (March 6th), the Sunderland venue will be hosting a Champagne reception, followed by a three course meal in its Riverview Brasserie.

The menu for the event, planned under the new SOL brand, will include a choice of four starters, main courses and desserts, ranging from homemade salmon and dill fishcakes to roast loin of pork and strawberry shortcake.

Other options include country style terrine, lemon and thyme buttered chicken, passion fruit and mango tart and a traditional cheese board.

All mothers attending the event, run by 1879 Events Management, will receive a complimentary gift to take away, while children can dine for half price to ensure it is a real family affair.

David Moses, General Manager at 1879 Events Management, said: “Mother’s Day is the ideal time for families to show their mum, grandmother or female head of the household how much they care.

“This year we’ve worked hard to ensure the afternoon will not only be sparkling and extra special but also affordable for everyone too.”

Mother’s Day at the Stadium of Light is priced at £26.95 per adult or £19.95 excluding the Champagne reception, and a 10 per cent discount is available for SAFC season card holders.

To book call 0871 911 1555 or email conf&banq@safc.com. More information can be found at www.safc.com/whatson or www.facebook.com/stadiumoflight.

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