Tag: lifestyle

Ultra-fit North East lawyer wins a place in London Landmarks half-marathon to help raise funds for equality and access to justice

By on 23rd January 2019in In & Around, Lifestyle, What's New?

A leading North East lawyer has won a much sought after place in the new London Landmarks Half Marathon….in his continued quest to help raise awareness and much needed funds for the voluntary ‘pro bono’ work within the legal profession.

Hugh Welch took up running as a hobby 10 years ago and is senior partner at Newcastle based law firm Muckle LLP.

Already clocking up an impressive list of marathons and ultra-marathons on his journey so far, he has now been awarded one of ten exclusive national places made available by Advocate, which is the national charity finding free legal help from barristers.

He has now earned the right to compete alongside13,000 other runners in the world famous half-marathon, which takes place on 24th March 2019 and also takes in renowned landmark places through both the City of London and City of Westminster.

The race starts on Pall Mall and finishes by Downing Street and has fabulous views of London’s most iconic buildings including Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral, Nelson’s Column, the Gherkin, the Shard, the Tower of London and the London Eye and of course the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand.

Speaking about his news, Hugh said: “This is such a privilege for me to be accepted and be given the opportunity to run in the London Landmarks Half Marathon. I took up running 10 years ago and run for fun, so this is a great opportunity for me to combine my love of running with fundraising for a cause that I really care about.

“I am passionate about equality and justice.  For me, access to justice is every bit as important within our society as access to education and healthcare.  It’s fundamentally wrong that people who can’t afford it are denied access to legal advice and to the court system.

“Also, like many other legal practices, our lawyers at Muckle are very active in doing pro bono work and we see this as a key part of our commitment to this region.

“I have been challenged to raise a minimum of £400 pounds in sponsorship money as part of my place in the half-marathon and this will be the first time I have asked friends, colleagues and clients to sponsor and help support my running,” he added.

Advocate encourages and facilitates voluntary work by lawyers and others working in the legal sector in their local communities.

Mary Dobson, Head of Fundraising and Communications, at Advocate said: “We are delighted to have chosen Hugh as one of our 10 participants to represent Advocate in this, the first year we’ve partnered with the London Landmarks Half Marathon.

“Last year Simon Gledhill of 3 Temple Gardens achieved a Guinness World Record for the fastest half marathon whilst wearing barrister robes. He’ll be running again in 2019, this time alongside Hugh to raise funds for our work.

“We are hoping our ten participants will raise thousands of pounds and much needed awareness for our work getting free legal help for really vulnerable people facing court alone in England and Wales.”

Advocate was founded as the Bar Pro Bono Unit by Lord Goldsmith QC in 1996. They are the only pro bono charity to provide legal assistance in every area of law in all courts and tribunals across England and Wales. They work with 4,000 volunteer barristers who donate their time and expertise to help people who cannot afford to pay for legal assistance and who are not eligible for legal aid. The Unit rebranded to become Advocate in October 2018, modernising their brand and service to become more accessible to as many people as possible and to help increase access to justice for all. Read more on their website https://weareadvocate.org.uk

Muckle LLP has a well-established charity and fund raising programme and actively encourages staff to become involved. Over 40% of its staff regularly volunteer for charities and the firm donates 1% of its annual profits to its charitable fund each year. To date, many communities and worthy causes across the North East have benefitted from over £500,000 in grants from the fund.

Hugh Welch has led the business in developing its award winning corporate social responsibility programme. Muckle is a five-time winner of the North East Business Heart of the Community Award (Tyneside and Northumberland) and won national recognition when it scooped ‘Best Contribution by a Firm with a Regional Head Office’ at the 2017 Law Works Pro Bono Awards.

To find out more about Hugh Welch’s half marathon fundraising drive, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/HughWelch

Get set to blossom in National Garden Month

By on 13th April 2018in In & Around

Now’s the time to get back into your garden – and not just because the warmth and brightness of spring are here. This month is National Garden Month, giving you another excuse to start sorting out your foliage or even get some new plants. However, sprucing up a garden isn’t just about making it look pretty; by taking up gardening, you can also grow your own food and even improve your health and lifestyle.

What is National Garden Month, anyway?

If you’ve never previously heard of National Garden Month, it’s probably because it’s largely an American thing. The United States’ National Garden Bureau and 23 cosponsoring national horticultural organisations were instrumental in legislating what was initially National Garden Week. On 18th April 1986, the Proclamation was signed by the then-President, Ronald Reagan, leading to the first celebration of National Garden Week from 12th to 18th April 1987.

However, in the early 21st century, the celebration was extended to cover the whole of April – on the initiative of the National Gardening Association. The first National Garden Month was in 2003; however, despite its American origins, it’s clear to see that there are plenty of green-fingered types on this side of the Atlantic who would love to join in with the fun.

If gardening can work for these stars…

Gardeners and researchers can vouch for many benefits of nurturing plants. Those benefits include improving attitudes to health and nutrition, fostering community spirit, and even helping children to excel at school. However, if you doubt the merits even now, consider the stories of people who have decided to basically make gardening their life.

Those people include the ‘80s pop star Kim Wilde. In 2015, she recalled that, despite having clocked up platinum records and toured Europe with Michael Jackson, she was “always plagued with anxiety and it badly affected my mental health.” However, Kim, who won a gold medal for a Chelsea Flower Show garden in 2005, enthused that gardening “has been great therapy for me and can help people get back on top of things when it feels like life is veering out of control.”

Meanwhile, the former Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin is now an urban gardener who grows fruit and vegetables in her California garden. She has cited gardening channels and YouTube as resources that have inspired her own gardening adventures – but you shouldn’t consider only those if you want to start gardening for the first time.

Some quick tips for gardening success

During a 2014 interview, Wilde recommended that beginner gardeners “start small” – even if they just “sow a seed” in “a little pot”. Not too little, though; otherwise, as Coughlin warns, the pot could prevent roots significantly growing and also can’t contain a lot of water, resulting in stunted plants.

Meanwhile, for tasks as routine as cutting grass and trimming hedges or as large-scale as entire garden makeovers, there are plenty of specialists in the North East who can help you to create a garden that will leave a big impression on visitors.

On your bike! Enjoy the local area on two wheels

By on 10th April 2018in Lifestyle, Places To Go
Cycling-mountain-biking-spotlight-1

We certainly live in a stunning part of the country; County Durham has no shortage of rural beauty and awesome architecture, and that’s before we even stop to consider that the area is sandwiched between Tyneside and Yorkshire, which have plenty of great attractions of their own.

However, what you might not have so readily realised is that getting around such places can be much more hassle-free on a bike. Here are some especially good reasons to take up cycling…

It’s a route! Where you can cycle in County Durham

Key to the appeal of cycling in County Durham is the wide choice of routes that you can take while on your bike. Although we don’t have the space to list them all here, we would eagerly single out the 100-mile Teesdale Way – along the River Tees from source to sea – and Link up the Loops, a largely off-road route running for 25 miles between Consett and Chester-le-Street.

If you fancy cycling beyond our county’s borders, we also recommend the C2C Cycle Route, so-called as it can take you from “sea to sea” – from Whitehaven or Workington on the Cumbrian coast, right through to Sunderland on the eastern coast. This is one of the UK’s most popular cycle routes.

Smash fit: get into better shape by cycling

You can also squeeze cycling into more routine aspects of your life, like getting to and from work – and to say that it can make you fitter would be putting it mildly.

In the United States, the National Forum for Coronary Heart Disease Foundation says that cycling regularly can give you the fitness level of a person a decade younger.

Don’t skip a proper equip: useful items for cycling

Obviously, before you can start cycling, you will need a bike. Any good working one will suffice for short journeys; however, if you want to use an old or second-hand bike, consider getting it serviced for roadworthiness first. You will also need a helmet for your own safety.

You could also invest in some good padded shorts to prevent an aching backside, while you can protect your eyes from bugs and stones if you wear sports glasses while riding.

Gym, be the best: if you can’t cycle outdoors

There might be occasions when you don’t want to cycle outdoors; for example, because the weather looks too brutal. However, gym classes of various forms can benefit cyclists.

Those forms include spinning, where you would cycle on fixed gear bikes. You also shouldn’t rule out traditional boxing exercises; they can exercise the upper body that can be neglected during cycling.

York in the road: eagerly anticipating the Tour de Yorkshire

Do you love watching others cycling? This year’s Tour de Yorkshire runs from Thursday 3rd May until Sunday 6th May. While this cycling race competition only started in 2015, last year’s event drew an estimated 9.7 million broadcast viewers, while more than 2 million spectators lined the route. Leeds, Scarborough, Doncaster and Barnsley are among the places the cyclists will visit this year.

Save Yourself From Debt This Christmas

By on 18th December 2016in Lifestyle

In the run-up to Christmas, Durham County Council is encouraging everyone to speak to their local credit union to avoid giving themselves the unwanted gift of debt this year.

With weekly payment stores charging several times the actual value of goods, and payday lenders offering easy money at exorbitant rates of interest, people are being encouraged to save themselves from unfair and unmanageable debt.

The council is working with Prince Bishops Community Bank and the North East First Credit Union, the two main credit unions for County Durham, to help spread the word that they can offer sensible loans and effective savings to their members.

Cllr Neil Foster, Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “Christmas is meant to be a time of happiness and joy but with parents feeling under immense pressure to buy their children the latest toys and gadgets it can also be a time of great stress and worry about money.”

As part of its support for the credit unions, the council has funded a new Apprentice-themed promotional video to alert people to the dangers of using weekly payment stores. It highlights how a loan from a credit union could save Christmas shoppers £1,000 by allowing them to buy a £500 iPad outright instead of signing up for weekly payments and eventually shelling out over £1,500 for the same item.

Cllr Foster continued: “The video highlights just one of many stories we’ve heard as part of our ongoing work with the credit unions. A loan from a credit union can stop you having to pay three times as much for the same item at a weekly payment store or save you from paying hundreds of pounds in interest payments on short-term payday loans.

“This year we’re desperate to encourage people to give themselves a truly merry Christmas by talking to their local credit union instead. They lend money to their members even if they’ve got a poor credit history but they won’t charge over the odds to do so. And if you’re looking for someone to save with, you can help your local community at the same time by saving with a credit union, knowing you’ll be helping to put loan sharks and people that prey on the vulnerable out of business for good.”

People can save with confidence with County Durham’s credit unions as, like all banks and building societies, they are regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority and are part of the Bank of England’s financial compensation scheme. They currently have over £3 million deposited with them and council staff alone have saved and borrowed over £750,000 with credit unions over the last 3 years through a salary savings scheme.

People can see the video and find out more about their local credit unions at www.durham.gov.uk/financialhelp. Also on the website is a link to a host of information for anyone having trouble managing their money or dealing with debt.

Cabinet To Discuss More 20mph Limits Around Schools

By on 11th December 2016in In & Around

A successful scheme to introduce 20mph speed limits on roads near County Durham schools could be extended.

Part-time limits are already being put in place near more than 30 schools across the county following the launch of the initiative in 2014.

Now members of Durham County Council’s Cabinet are being asked to approve a list of 33 more schools to be included in the scheme.

The schools have been selected based on factors including traffic speeds, accident data and potential risk to pedestrians.

Cllr Brian Stephens, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “Lower speed limits have now been implemented at almost all of the schools chosen for the first phase of the scheme.

“This is not only ahead of schedule but also under budget. That’s why, earlier this year, Cabinet was able to agree that the money we have left should be spent on doubling the number of schools covered by the scheme.

“Our aim is to improve road safety and promote a healthy and active lifestyle by encouraging more people to walk or cycle instead of using the car.”

The project is funded by a one-off Public Health Grant of £952,850 and is accompanied by an education programme which aims to make children more road aware, promote cycling and walking and increase speed awareness among motorists.

Cabinet meets at County Hall on Wednesday, 14 December.

If the recommendations are approved, part-time 20mph speed limits would be introduced on roads near the following schools:

 

Annfield Plain Infant School, Annfield Plain

Annfield Plain Junior School, Annfield Plain

Byron Sixth Form College, Peterlee

Chester-le-Street C of E Primary, Chester-le-Street

Cockton Hill Infant and Junior School, Bishop Auckland

Consett Academy, Consett

Delves Lane Primary, Consett

Easington Academy, Easington

Easington Colliery Primary School, Easington

Framwellgate Moor Primary, Durham

Framwellgate School, Durham

Green Lane C of E Primary, Barnard Castle

Neville’s Cross Primary, Durham

New College, Durham

Our Lady and St Thomas RCVA Primary, Willington

Our Lady of the Rosary RCVA Primary, Peterlee

Our Lady Star of the Sea RCVA Primary, Horden

Pelton Community Primary, Pelton

Ropery Walk Primary, Seaham

Roseberry Primary and Nursery School, Pelton

Sacriston Primary, Sacriston

Seaham Harbour Nursery, Seaham

Shield Row Primary, Stanley

Shotton Hall Primary, Peterlee

St Bede’s Catholic Comprehensive School, Peterlee

St Bede’s RCVA Comprehensive School, Lanchester

St Joseph’s RCVA Primary, Stanley

St Leonard’s Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Durham

Tanfield School Specialist College of Science and Engineering, Stanley

Teesdale School, Barnard Castle

The Academy at Shotton Hall, Peterlee

Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form College, Spennymoor

Willington Primary, Willington

More Foster Carers Needed In County Durham

By on 9th December 2016in Lifestyle, Uncategorised

The number of foster carers in County Durham continues to rise – but more prospective parents are needed to help provide a loving home for looked after children.

Councillors will next week hear how Durham County Council’s fostering service has seen an increase in the number of potential foster placements – but that the number of children in care continues to outstrip that supply.

A report to Cabinet, on December 14, will set out four main priorities for the service over the next year, including recruiting more foster carers to ensure that children remain in County Durham communities; and developing its Foster Xtra scheme that supports children with some of the most complex needs.

Margaret Whellans, the council’s corporate director of children and young people’s services, said: “The majority of our looked after children are placed within our fostering service, but it is increasingly challenging to manage the growing demand for placements.

“Our foster carers tell us that nothing gives the same feeling of love and warmth as fostering and by working with us you could make an enormous difference to a child’s life.

“We know that there are many myths that surround fostering and so we would encourage people to find out the facts before they rule themselves out.

“You don’t need any special qualifications – just a genuine interest in caring for young people, patience, understanding and a sense of humour – and we can offer you training and specialised support along the way.”

For more information about fostering with Durham County Council visit www.durham.gov.uk/fostering.

10 Things Not To Forget This Christmas

By on 1st December 2016in Lifestyle

The festive season may be a time of fun and plenty (in theory, anyway), but there’s a huge amount of preparation that goes into a truly successful Christmas. Here are 10 of the things that you really shouldn’t allow to slip your mind if you are to avoid those last minute ’emergencies’.

  1. Planning

This is the single most important thing not to forget. After all, with everything from the office Christmas party to your children’s nativity play to think about, you’ll be overcome with anxiety if you fail to follow such basic steps as putting together a ‘to-do’ list and spreading out those essential duties over the coming weeks in your diary.

  1. Christmas cards

This is the time of year when you suddenly seem to remember all of those family members you never actually meet, and you won’t want to be the only one in the family not to have sent them a Christmas card. So, make sure you make a list of all conceivable recipients to avoid repeat trips to the card shop when someone else pops to mind.

  1. Postal costs

Sending off presents to your far-flung relatives can get pretty expensive. To alleviate this, look for gifts that are light, non-breakable and easy to wrap, and include your Christmas card to the recipient in the same package to save you having to buy another stamp.

  1. Budget

It seems that we all plan to be frugal over the festive period, but so often find ourselves plunging into our overdrafts due to that costly present that we hadn’t initially expected to buy, or that party where we overspent on the sherries. So, by all means, agree a budget with your family – not too strict, and not too costly – but then stick to it.

  1. Tidying up

Those weeks of calm before the Christmas celebrations are the perfect period in which to declutter your home – not least to make space for everyone set to descend on your humble abode. Put last year’s unwanted gifts on eBay to raise present-buying funds, find a cupboard for all of that wrapping and make a flattering space for the Christmas tree – accounting for height and not just width!

  1. Food and drink

This aspect of your Yuletide shopping threatens to be such a headache with all of the queues – unless you take steps to avoid this, such as ordering online for home delivery or purchasing all non-perishable products well in advance. The turkey’s a natural essential, so order yours well ahead of time for collection on the 23rd.

  1. Stress management

With so much to plan, buy and organise, it’s easy to become overwhelmed – but don’t shirk your duties. Instead, practice effective stress management techniques such as breaking down everything that you have to do into smaller, less daunting chunks, or delegating tasks to other people where you can. Are the kids helping out enough with the washing up, for instance?

  1. Fashion

You won’t want to lag behind anyone in the style stakes at your Christmas party. Get an instantly glamorous look by pairing a statement necklace with a lightweight knit, and for your footwear, opt for a medium heel or a block heel with a platform to ensure the utmost comfort on the festive dance floor. Nor will a tasteful handbag go amiss for completing your look.

  1. Everything you need for wrapping

Sellotape, scissors, wrapping paper that isn’t embarrassingly out-of-date… they’re all the kind of things that you might expect to already be in your cupboard due to all of that shopping you did last year. However, you should always double check far in advance. Don’t forget those labels either, and make sure everything’s wrapped up ahead of the last Christmas posting dates.

  1. A smile

If you’re the host of the Christmas party, you’ll need to remember to provide the best possible hospitality, including that all-important festive cheer. Try to avoid those heated debates about politics or who should have brought the food course – unless all of that’s your “thing”, of course.

Fascinators Are Odds On Favourite As North East Women Prepare For Ladies’ Day

By on 13th June 2016in Lifestyle

Ladies from across the North East are being encouraged to dress to impress for Redcar Racecourse’s Ladies’ Day with superb designer prizes up for grabs…

The Teesside racecourse’s annual Ladies’ Day Premier meeting, on Saturday June 18th, is always a glamourous occasion and this year won’t disappoint, as thousands of women will don their most fabulous outfits for an afternoon at the races.

In keeping with the tradition of Ladies’ Day there are fabulous prizes to be won for the ‘Best Dressed Lady’ and the ‘Best Hat’, which have been kindly donated by Market Cross Jewellers, Orange Kerr Hair & Beauty, Lynne Young Chic Hats, and Eastwood Photography.

Amy Fair, Redcar Racecourse’s general manager, said this is one of her favourite Premier meetings of the season as it’s always a magnificent event.

She said: “With fascinators, dresses, bubbly and glamorous prizes to be won, what more could a girl want? This is the most highly anticipated event of the racing season and we’re looking forward to welcoming ladies from across the region to Redcar Racecourse.”

“This is the perfect event for social racegoers and racing enthusiast alike. If you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply want a great excuse to get dressed up, then you need to attend Ladies’ Day.”

Competition ‘spotters’ will mingle with the crowds throughout the afternoon and select the ten finalists for the hotly contested ‘Best Dressed Lady’ and ‘Best Hat’ competitions.

The lady judged to be the ‘Best Dressed’ will be invited to represent Redcar Racecourse in the Go Racing In Yorkshire Grand Final at Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday 22nd October.

The prizes for the ‘Best Dressed’ ladies are: (1st) A Gucci necklace and bracelet and £150 gift voucher from Market Cross Jewellers, and a cut and blow dry voucher from Orange Kerr Hair & Beauty; (2nd) Links of London necklace, Chlobo pearl star ring, Chlobo pearl bracelet, and £100 gift voucher from Market Cross Jewellers; (3rd) Daisy heart necklace, Swarovski slake bracelet, £50 Nomination gift voucher from Market Cross Jewellers. All three placed winners will also receive Orange Kerr Hair & Beauty gift packs.

The prizes for the ladies with the ‘Best Hat’ are: (1st) Bespoke fascinator and matching bag from Lynne Young Chic Hats, a makeover photoshoot for two from Eastwood Photography, and a gel nails voucher from Orange Kerr Hair & Beauty; (2nd) Lola and Grace collier crystal necklace from Market Cross Jewellers; (3rd) Michael Kors logo stud earrings from Market Cross Jewellers.

Racegoers are being encouraged to put on their best accessories for a chance to win one of 20 #TopSpot goodie bags on the day.

The racecourse has teamed up with local charity Teesside Hospice to showcase a ‘Dress For Less’ fashion show after the 2nd race at 2.05pm. All of the outfits have been sourced through the Teesside Hospice shops proving that you can look fabulous without spending a fortune and you’ll be supporting a great cause at the same time.

In the run up to the big day, Redcar Racecourse is also giving one lucky racegoer the chance to win a VIP day for four. The winner and their three friends will receive a three course meal with wine in the Voltigeur Restaurant, VIP Grandstand Admission badges and racecards, and a luxury gift, all with an estimated value of more than £500.

Anyone who wants to be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize should head over to Redcar Racecourse’s Facebook page and follow the instructions.

Amy added: “Ladies’ Day is always an incredible event and winning a VIP day at the races would make it extra special for any racegoer.”

Alongside the seven races, local performing arts company, Page2Stage, will help to deliver another grand day with entertainment for all the family, including appearances from princesses Snow White, Cinderella, and Rapunzel.

Admission prices on the day start from £5 per adult with free admission for accompanied children aged 17 and under. The admission gates will open at 11am and the first race is scheduled to start at 1.35pm.

Parties of 10 or more can also save over 20% when they book their Grandstand or Course Enclosure admission tickets in advance.

For more information visit http://www.redcarracing.co.uk/ and to enter the Ladies’ Day VIP competition, visit https://www.facebook.com/RedcarRacing/.

Facebook & Twitter: @Redcarracing

2016 remaining Premier meetings:

Saturday 18th June Ladies’ Day

Sunday 17th July Help for Heroes Family Fun Day

Saturday 6th August Caribbean Carnival Day

Saturday 27th August Ladies’ & Gents’ Evening

Saturday 1st October Totepool Two Year Old Trophy Day

North East Lettings Agency Lobbying For Change

By on 26th May 2016in Have Your Say

A North East-based lettings agency has launched a national pledge to help challenge the unethical practices that go on in parts of the industry…

lettingsbody

The Ethical Lettings Pledge is the creation of Carla Keegans, who supports the Government’s proposals to tackle rogue criminal agents, but believes much more needs to be done in the wider industry.

With more than two million private landlords currently operating and over 12 million tenants living in the private rented sector, many people turn to lettings agents for help, but are increasingly let down or excluded.

Carla, who in July 2015 set up The Ethical Lettings Agency in Redcar, has been working on the pledge since December, seeking advice and feedback from trusted individuals around her.

She said: “It’s only right landlords expect agents to be properly qualified and experienced to help navigate round the increasingly complex legislation and issues that are now common in the sector.

“Unfortunately, many agents are not and there are numerous examples, backed up by national research, which indicate many landlords feel ripped off by agents.

“This pledge will show landlords and tenants that agents operate to some clear ethical standards, and if agents signed-up to the pledge fail to deliver, then landlords and tenants can challenge them on this.”

Landlords, tenants, and members of the public can also sign a formal petition to lobby for national legislative change, which will shortly be accessible via The Ethical Lettings website.

As a community interest company (CIC), The Ethical Lettings Agency fully understands the impact letting agents can have on local communities too, which will benefit as much from the pledge as tenants and landlords.

The Agency has already created two new jobs in Redcar, a town which has suffered from 1000s of recent job losses; perhaps a reason why the Agency was recently invited to meet Prince Charles.

Political figures have already shown support for the pledge, including Cabinet Member for Housing at RCBC, Cllr Lynn Pallister.

She said: “This social enterprise delivers ethical services and investment into our community and we are proud to support it for the benefit of our residents.”

Saltburn-born Carla, spent several years working in a senior housing role within the City of London Corporation, before returning home to start The Ethical Lettings Agency. Her time spent in the capital inspired her to create the pledge, which she hopes will attract as many signatures as possible, to help create national change.

Carla, a long-standing Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing, added: “My experience working for various housing and public sector organisations had already convinced me there was a need in the market for an agency that provides a better service to landlords and tenants, which is why I set up The Ethical Lettings Agency.

“The Ethical Lettings Pledge is simply an extension of my vision and the company’s ethos, which is to shake up an industry which is letting people down time and time again, by making the system fairer.”

The Ethical Lettings Agency is open to all landlords and tenants in the Redcar and Teesside private rented sector. In particular, the Agency works with landlords to help manage their rental properties as a business, to reduce rental risks and save money.

To show your support for the pledge, visit http://theethicallettingspledge.co.uk/ or for more information about The Ethical Lettings Agency, visit http://www.ethicallettingsagency.co.uk/.

Twitter: @EthicalLets

School Pupils Lend A Hand In Tudhoe Community Project

By on 2nd May 2016in In & Around

Pupils at Tudhoe Colliery Primary School helped to spruce up their village as part of a community project…

The children, who are in Year 3 at the school, worked with Durham County Council’s neighbourhood services team to make landscape improvements to a seating area in Tudhoe.

The community project used plants leftover from other schemes and includes ornamental sculptures.

The result is a low-maintenance and attractive communal seating area which can be enjoyed by everyone in the village.

Steve Johnson, Durham County Council’s street scene supervisor, said: “This has been a great opportunity to carry out low maintenance yet visually striking improvement in Tudhoe with the help of Tudhoe Colliery Primary School pupils.”

Dan Watson, Year 3 teacher at Tudhoe primary school added: “We really enjoyed our planting session and contributing to the community in general.”

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