Tag: featured

Durham Foster Carers Lauded At Awards Ceremony

By on 19th March 2016in In & Around

The amazing efforts of foster carers in County Durham have been lauded at an awards ceremony…

Durham County Council has held its Foster Carer Awards Ceremony, an annual event to recognise the work of foster carers and celebrate their achievements.

Foster carers were recognised for completing national training qualifications and long service.

Four foster families were also given Special Achievement Awards for going the extra mile in caring for children and young people.

Thursday night’s celebration at County Hall in Durham was organised by the county council’s fostering service.

More than 70 people joined in, including authority staff and members led by chief executive Terry Collins, corporate director of children and adult services Rachel Shimmin, cabinet member for children and young people’s services Cllr Ossie Johnson, and chairman of the corporate parenting panel Cllr Peter Brookes.

John Angus and Keven O’Shea, who are long term foster carers for three children, received a Special Achievement Award.

John said: “This is the first Fostering Awards Ceremony we have attended and we were overwhelmed!

“We see fostering as something normal that we do, but being recognised for everything we do for the kids is just amazing.

“Fostering can be challenging sometimes, but to us it’s the best thing we have ever done, we love having the children as part of our family.”

Florence Coulter, the council’s fostering team manager, said: “Foster carers make a real difference to the lives of the children and young people that they care for.

“We have amazing carers in County Durham and these awards are our way of saying thank you for everything they do.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a foster carer can contact the fostering service on 03000 269 400 or visit www.durham.gov.uk/fostering.

MFC Foundation Introduce New Transition Project For Teesside Schools

By on 18th March 2016in In & Around

Last October, Head of Ofsted Sir Michael Wilshaw said that the importance of a good start to secondary school “cannot be overstated”…

And now, a new schools project on Teesside is set to give children their best chance yet when making the step up from primary to secondary education.

Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation is teaming up with Middlesbrough Council to roll out the schools transition project, with more than 300 children to receive support from ‘transition coaches’ from the later years of primary education through to their first years at secondary school.

Delivered by qualified staff from MFC Foundation, the official charitable arm of Middlesbrough Football Club, the pull of the Boro badge will be used to engage with the young pupils. As well as leading classroom activities to prepare youngsters for the step up, the transition coaches will provide a consistent point of contact for the children throughout the process.

The £100,000 scheme, which includes £70,000 of funding from Middlesbrough Council, will be piloted in three Teesside secondary schools and their 12 feeder primary schools from May.

Recent government research has suggested that the culture shift from primary to secondary school is one of the most critical periods of a child’s education. Published by Ofsted in September 2015, a report entitled ‘Key Stage 3: The Wasted Years’ concluded that “the rate of pupils’ progress and achievement [in Key Stage 3] were not good enough”.

It is hoped that the project will provide a positive catalyst to improve Key Stage 3 for children in the Tees Valley.

MFC Foundation is currently advertising three staff positions to work on the transition project. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 22 March. Please visit www.mfcfoundation.co.uk for more details.

Stewart Smith, MFC Foundation’s Chair of Trustees, said: “Raising aspirations through education is a huge part of MFC Foundation’s vision for the Teesside community.

“We’re delighted to have the opportunity to work with Middlesbrough Council to target and improve a crucial part of the school experience for our young people.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd said: “We are committed to improving outcomes for all young people, and the transition from primary to secondary is one of the most important periods in a great many young lives.

“Through this important scheme Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation is creating a unique opportunity to engage children in our disadvantaged communities and help them improve their self-belief, life skills, employment prospects and health.

“It is a fresh approach which has the potential to change lives for the better, and we are pleased to be able to support it.”

Princess Anne Awards Youth Offending Service Butler Trust Award

By on 17th March 2016in In & Around

Two staff from County Durham Youth Offending Service have received a prestigious national award for their innovative work…

Practice improvement officer Sarah Caden and speech and language therapist Susan Stewart have been given a Butler Trust Award 2015/16 – an “Oscar” of the criminal justice world – for their “outstanding dedication, skill and creativity” in transforming the service’s approach to young people’s communication needs.

And at St James’s Palace, the pair were presented with their accolade by the Trust’s patron, HRH The Princess Royal.

Sarah Caden said: “Receiving this award is brilliant as it gives us a platform to highlight the significant needs of young people who offend.

“Sixty to 90% of them have speech, language and communication needs and we hope to transform youth justice to put meaningful conversations at the heart of everything we do.

“This award is for all the young people we work with.”

Sarah and Susan – who is seconded to CDYOS from North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust – won one of just 10 Butler Trust awards handed out to staff working in prisons, probation and youth justice services across the UK this year, following over 300 nominations.

Lord McNally, chairman of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, attended the award ceremony and praised the work of the Durham duo.

Lord McNally said: “It was a real pleasure to attend the Butler Trust award ceremony and to see so many inspiring examples of dedication and innovative work being formally recognised.

“Congratulations in particular to Sarah Caden and Susan Stewart at County Durham Youth Offending Service on their award and the tremendous work they have done in improving the service’s approach to young people’s speech, language and communication needs.”

Sunderland Live Appoint New Chief Executive

By on 11th March 2016in Local Biz

Sunderland Live Limited is excited to announce that Alison McDonough has recently been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Sunderland Live…

Andrea Winders, Executive Director of Sunderland City Council, said: “Alison has a great track record of events management, and has experience being involved with some very high profile events. This, combined with her deep industry knowledge and exceptional management skills, makes Alison uniquely qualified to lead Sunderland Live successfully into the future.”

Alison has already had a great impact on the team, which currently delivers the citywide programme of award-winning events that are helping to establish Sunderland regionally, nationally and internationally as a leading destination for events.

Alison said: “I am delighted to be part of a dynamic team of event entrepreneurs, delivering live events like Sunderland International Airshow, Sunderland Illuminations, community engagement programmes and – in 2018 – the launch of the Tall Ships event.

“Having a platform as fantastic as Sunderland is a dream come true. I am very proud to say that Sunderland is live!”

Alison brings with her a wealth of experience, having previously worked for local and international companies specialising in marketing and communications, events management and company development. She has also worked on transformational change programmes in industry, managed high profile accounts in FMCG, and has recently worked within a leisure business, investing in luxury properties for exclusive event hires.

Her rich personality is a clear indicator as to why she is a mentor for small businesses, an active volunteer for Cancer Research UK and a representative for constituents as a Governor of local Hospital Trust.

Sunderland Live formed in April 2013, and the team have been collectively delivering events for over 25 years. With their experience and expertise, they will be working collaboratively with strategic partners to strengthen Sunderland as a Destination City.

The event team has delivered spectacles including the Sunderland International Air Show, which last year attracted more than 1 million people to the city, and the ever-popular Sunderland Illuminations, which welcomed over 285,000 visitors in Roker Park alone.

Sunderland Live also brings military events, including the Freedom of the City and Remembrance Parade, to the city centre. Attracting thousands of spectators, these remain popular and poignant events.

Alison adds: “I’d like to offer my thanks to everyone who has been so supportive to the Sunderland Live team. Our annual events programme is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.

“I’m very excited to be a part of this growing cultural scene, and am very excited about the new opportunities that are ahead.”

For more information, visit www.sunderlandlive.co.uk, or follow Sunderland Live on Facebook.

Darlington Building Society Helps Local Florist Put Down Roots

By on 11th March 2016in Local Biz

Recent visitors to the Darlington Building Society in Northallerton might have noticed a new addition to the High Street branch in the form of an in-branch florist…

The Wallflower Floral Artist, which is owned and run by 32 year-old Lisa Sopekan, held a special pop-up shop at the branch from which she sold her signature bouquets and single flowers customers.

As part of its 160th anniversary celebrations Darlington Building Society has pledged to use its resources to help local business and organisations. One of the ways it is doing this is by sharing spaces in its 10 branches that can be used for a limited amount of time for businesses and customers to reach new people.

The Wallflower Floral Artist, which specialises in floristry for weddings and other events, is the first local business to take advantage of the opportunity to reach new customers in Northallerton.

Lisa Sopekan, owner of The Wallflower Floral Artist, said: “When I saw that Darlington Building Society was offering space in its branches for local businesses I jumped at the opportunity to reach new customers and spread the word about my business.

“I’m new to the world of business, but I have always loved flowers and floristry. I think my passion comes across when I get to speak to customers face-to-face.

“The company is only a few months old, so it’s really important that I get out there, to allow people to see examples of my work. In this line of work a lot of the customer base comes from word of mouth.”

Kayleigh Turner, Branch Manager at the Northallerton branch of Darlington Building Society, said: “It’s fantastic to have The Wallflower Floral Artist using the free space we have in the branch. A big part of the ethos of the Society is supporting local people so it’s great to be able to help a new business get off the ground in this way.

“Although this is the first time we have had a pop-up shop from a local business at the branch we hope to have many more throughout 2016 as we celebrate the 160th anniversary of the formation of the Society.

“We’re always looking to support local people, businesses and organisations in any way possible, from opening up spaces in our branches, to helping move equipment around and even financial support.”

If any local organisations or businesses would like the opportunity to share some space of one of Darlington Building Society please contact them direct on contact-us@darlington.co.uk or pop into your nearest branch.

Ensure Inheritance Launches Online Will-Making Service

By on 11th March 2016in Local Biz

North East legal and financial planning specialist Ensure Inheritance has launched an On-line Will Making Service to allow people to make decisions about their bequests in their own time and in the comfort of their own home…

Information provided on-line is reviewed and checked by one of Seaham-based Ensure Inheritance’s panel of experienced solicitors who will then speak by telephone to the person making the Will to ensure that they have taken into account their family circumstances and everything they own, so that the Will is right for them.

“Thinking about our death is an uncomfortable experience for most people, and as a result, more than half of adults in the UK die without making a Will. We hope that by allowing people to fill out the details of their bequests at home, this will mean that more people feel comfortable and confident to do so,” says Andrew Simpson, the Lead Panel Solicitor with Ensure Inheritance.

“Only by making a valid Will can you ensure that your loved ones will be provided for after your death and that the people and charities you want will benefit from your hard earned efforts.

“If you die without making a Will, the law takes over and your assets will be distributed according to strict rules based upon legal and blood relationships. For example, unmarried partners will not receive any part of the estate, so it is vital to take the plunge and make a Will.”

Ensure Inheritance’s On-line Will Making Service can be accessed at http://www.ensureinheritance.co.uk/make-a-will-online.

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 Wills and Estate planning, services include: long term care planning, wealth preservation trusts, funeral planning, inheritance tax planning, powers of attorney, court of protection deputyships, and probate.

Ensure Inheritance can be contacted on tel. 0191 338 5143, via email at info@ensureinheritance.co.uk or via its website www.ensureinheritance.co.uk.

Biochemica Goes For Growth With Senior Team Expansion

By on 10th March 2016in Local Biz

Water management company, Biochemica UK Ltd has made a succession of senior appointments as it targets national and global expansion…

As part of its ambitious growth strategy, Biochemica has appointed Managing Director of Focus on Success, Gary Lumby MBE, to its Board as the company’s first Non Executive Director (NED).

The announcement follows a company restructure made at the start of the year, which saw the appointment of a Chief Operating Officer to oversee the day-to-day management of the business. A Leadership Team, comprising of Biochemica’s senior managers and directors was also established to drive performance and departmental alignment.

After enjoying consistent annual growth since its conception in 2007, the water and wastewater treatment specialist is stepping up its ongoing expansion across the UK and internationally. These plans will see the Teesside headquartered company increase its geographical presence by opening two new locations in the South East and South West, as well as targeting Asian and European markets.

In pursuit of these moves, Biochemica enlisted the expertise of Mr Lumby, who holds several NED positions at other northern businesses that have experienced similar rapid growth. The well-known businessman and influential finance figure joins joint owners and founders, Dr Tim Robinson and Dave Ruddy, alongside Compliance Director, Dave Stratford.

Managing Director at Biochemica, Dave Ruddy said: “Gary impressed us with his extensive and proven track record in helping companies like ours to realise their potential. We are delighted to have him on board at this critical time as we embark on taking Biochemica to the next level.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Lumby – who recently added six associate directors to his Focus on Success team – said: “Biochemica is an ambitious company with the foundations for great success. I am looking forward to sharing my experience and knowledge in finance, marketing and strategic business planning to add strength to the Board and support the execution of our growth plans at an accelerated pace.”

As a result of increased demand for its specialist technical services and chemical products, Biochemica’s nationwide team has already doubled over the past year. The next stage of expansion promises employment figures to escalate again, with the creation of new jobs and apprenticeship opportunities.

New roles will be required to bolster the company’s Billingham operation, establish its southern premises and enhance its wider regional teams spread throughout the UK.

Mr Ruddy added: “As one of just a handful of UK-based companies to provide expert solutions across the areas of both water and wastewater treatment, plus the ability to apply our technical knowledge to a huge range of industries in the public and private sector, opportunities for growth are unlimited for Biochemica.

“With the expansion of our senior team and access to Gary’s professional guidance and network, we have all the key components in place to take Biochemica forward at a quicker rate than ever before.”

For further information about Biochemica UK Ltd, visit www.biochemica.co.uk, call 08455 045440 or email info@biochemica.co.uk. You can also find Biochemica on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google+ by searching Biochemica UK Ltd.

Brand New Heavies To Headline Sunniside Live

By on 10th March 2016in Entertainment

A SUCCESSFUL North East music festival is to return for the second time, headed up by a leading international jazz funk band…

Sunniside Live, Sunderland’s only city centre live music festival, is to take place on July 16 with headliners The Brand New Heavies, who will be journeying to Wearside ahead of a USA tour.

The band will be joined by a host of other acts, including North East groups Smoove & Turrell and Dennis, along with special guests Alison Limerick and Shola Ama.

The event is organised by Helen Davies and Sean Maddison who run both Bar Justice and newly opened Gin & Bear it Bar at West Sunniside and is being supported by Sunderland BID.

“We were over the moon with the response to last year’s event,” said Sean.

“And it’s that response that’s made us stage it again. We believe, as a business, that it helped to raise the profile of the area and we want to put the focus on Sunderland city centre and use it to showcase what we have here.”

The event, which will run from 12pm until 10pm, will include a number of food stalls, a pop-up café by The Place Café. There will also be a licenced bar run by Bar Justice and Gin & Bear It bar, a retro Pimm’s van and a bottle and spirits stall.

Ken Dunbar, Chief Executive of Sunderland BID said he was delighted to see Sunniside Live return.

“This was an extremely successful event last year that attracted thousands of people to the city centre,” he said.

“And that success lasts beyond the event itself as it turns a spotlight on this area of the city and shows what fantastic bars and restaurants are situated there.”

During the run up to the festival, Bar Justice will also be holding a Battle of the Bands competition, with the winner opening Sunniside Live and performing alongside some of the music festival’s big names.

The plan for this year is to increase the event capacity from 2500 to 4000, with wristbands to attend on sale now at £10 from www.sunnisidelive.co.uk or by visiting Bar Justice or Gin & Bear It bar.

For more information about the event visit www.sunnisidelive.co.uk or contact us at info@sunnisidelive.co.uk.

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.

Boro Taxis Saves French Skiing Holiday

By on 9th March 2016in Local Biz

Boro Taxis came to the rescue to save the holiday of a woman who had left her passport 250 miles away by driving to London and back…

Christine Gordon, 27, had travelled up to her parents’ home in Osmotherley, North Yorkshire, from her home in London for a family skiing holiday in the French Alps.

She had journeyed from Kings Cross to Northallerton by train arriving at her parents’ home at 10pm on the evening before her flight.

Christine, a dentist, 27, explained: “I arrived at my parents’ quite late in the evening and it suddenly dawned on me that I couldn’t remember having packed my passport.

“I frantically emptied my bags and couldn’t see it anywhere. I called my boyfriend, who was back at my flat in London, and he saw that it had slipped down the side of the bed where I had been packing. I couldn’t believe it as I’m normally so organised.”

Christine and her family realised there were a few options; drive to London and back, arrange a courier collection, change Christine’s flight to the following day from London, or Christine could miss the holiday all together.

Christine added: “It was such a stressful start to the holiday as it was, without the thought of a mission back to London or missing the start of the holiday. Then my dad had a brainwave and wondered if Boro Taxis could do it.”

Her father Ian called Boro Taxis, one of the largest firms of its kind in the North East, and the company quickly accepted the job and dispatched a driver who travelled through the night to London and then back to Osmotherley.

Christine was reunited with her passport in time to catch her flight.

Christine said: “I was in a real state when I realised I had forgotten my passport. Boro Taxis didn’t just save the day, but saved my holiday thanks to its fabulous customer service.

“It’s great to know that there are firms able and willing to step in when people are in a crisis. I can’t thank Boro Taxis enough – the company and its driver were my saviours!”

Boro Taxis regularly is called upon to transport people from the region to destinations throughout the UK, but picking up and delivering a mislaid passport is among its more unusual bookings.

Mohammed Bashir, Boro Taxis founder, said: “We strive to meet the needs of our customers whatever their transport requirements.

“We’re proud that Christine’s father felt that Boro Taxis had the ability to come to the rescue. We are delighted that we were able to reunite Christine with her passport.”

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