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This round-up of events is written by readers. To get your charity event or story included, simply fill out the form at www.chroniclelive.co.uk/charitynews
New resource funded by £25k from Morrisons Foundation
A brand new technology training room for foster carers and adopters to learn the skills they need to safeguard the children in their care has been opened by leading UK children’s charity Barnardo’s. The room is based in the North East Fostering and Adoption office, in Lumley Court in Chester-le-Street .
The equipment and training will allow foster carers and adopters to work with confidence around social media applications and websites, such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram. It will help Barnardo’s staff demonstrate the risks and issues around the internet effectively and get the safeguarding message across to some of the most vulnerable young people in the North East.
Alison Rowland, Assistant Head of Business Family Placement East, said: “It is great to have this resource available to spread this vital message. All children can be at risk of sexual exploitation when going online and interacting with strangers, even if they have a supportive home environment. What can start as an innocent and harmless chat with a ‘friend’, can very quickly develop into a dangerous relationship with devastating consequences.
“That’s why it’s crucial carers can make the children they foster or adopt aware of the dangers online and explain how to keep themselves safe. I’d like to thank the Morrisons Foundation for supporting us to help us keep some very vulnerable young people safe online.”
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An MP is calling on the Government to fit all new and refurbished schools with sprinklers after four classrooms were destroyed in a suspected arson attack.
A fire broke out at St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy in Bedlington, Northumberland, on October 26, causing “substantial damage” to one classroom.
Teachers said the blaze spread and damaged three other classrooms at the school, which is not fitted with sprinklers.
Northumbria Police has launched an investigation into the incident and believe the fire may have been started deliberately.
Now, Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery has written to Amber Rudd MP, Justine Greening MP and Alok Sharma MP demanding sprinklers are installed in all schools.
In the letter, Mr Lavery said: “Many local people have been in touch regarding the provision of sprinkler systems, appalled that their presence is not mandatory either in new build or existing schools.
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Drivers are being advised ahead of a series of road closures throughout the North East on Remembrance Sunday.
Thousands throughout the region will join together at a host of events to pay tribute to our fallen soldiers.
ChronicleLive is compiling a gallery of photographs to show services and remembrance events across the North East, so please send a photograph to yourpictures@chroniclelive.co.uk telling us when and where you were.
And if you’re planning on travelling by car on the morning of Remembrance Sunday, here is a list of the road closures that will temporarily be in place:
Alnwick
3.15pm to 4pm - Percy Street, Green Batt, Hotspur Street. Bondgate Without, Bondgate Within, Fenkle Street
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Rock legend Mark Knopfler honoured fallen war heroes as he performed a moving guitar version of the Last Post.
Mark, who grew up on Tyneside, dedicated his performance to the 17,000 Northumberland Fusiliers killed in the First World War.
The rendition was part of a centenary music project organised by community group Superact, which will see events held between November 4 to 18 to mark 100 years since the start of the Great War.
Mark said: “The First World War left its mark on families throughout the UK, and throughout the world.
“It is important to remember the sacrifices made, and to think about why wars happen.”
Having gone to school in Blyth, Mark dedicated the Last Post performance to the Northumberland regiment, which suffered more casualties in the war then any other.
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Three men have been charged after four armed robberies targeting taxi drivers in recent weeks in Newcastle and Gateshead.
 
The robberies were carried out by offenders who initially got into the taxis, acting as fare paying passengers, directing the driver to a destination and then threatening and robbing them of cash and other property. 
 
The first happened on Diana Street in Newcastle, in the early hours of Thursday, October 19,  when a taxi driver was robbed at gunpoint, by two men. Next, a driver was the victim of a knifepoint robbery with three offenders near Priory Court in Gateshead  on Friday morning, November 3. Two further gun point robberies took place in Byker with two offenders responsible, both crimes in the early hours of Monday, November 6, both on Brinkburn Street after they earlier picked up fares from other locations.
 
The taxi drivers targeted in these crimes were shocked by the incidents but otherwise unharmed and have been helping police.
 
Detectives in Newcastle investigating these crimes have charged three men:
 
A 20-year-old man from Gateshead, charged with one robbery, and threatening a person with a bladed instrument.
 
An 18-year-oold man, from Newcastle, charged with three robberies and two counts of possessing an imitation firearm and threatening a person with a bladed instrument, they both appeared before Bedlington Magistrates' on Thursday, November 9.
 
The third man is due before Bedlington Magistrates court today, Friday, November 10. He is also aged 18, from Newcastle, charged with four robberies, three counts of possessing an imitation firearm and threatening a person with a bladed instrument.
 
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Firearms Surrender 13th-26th Nov

By Bot, in News,

From Monday November 13th, until the end of Sunday November 26th, Northumbria Police will take part in Operation Aztec.
Operation Aztec is part of a National Firearms Surrender, giving members of the community an opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of firearms and ammunition. 
The purpose of the surrender is to reduce the risk of harm to the public as well as protecting our communities.
Previously such items have included weapons that have been overlooked, antiques, inheritances or that belong to family and friends.
This is a surrender not an amnesty. This surrender does not mean that the police will not investigate any offences prior to its surrender and the public should be reassured that we will continue to vigorously investigate offences linked to any firearm we receive.
Northumbria Police’s Chief Inspector Dave Gould our local lead on the surrender said: “This surrender gives people an opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of firearms and ammunition in a safe environment. 
“The more firearms and ammunition out of harm’s way helps us keep our communities safe, avoids the risk of them getting into the wrong hands and the possibility of them being used in crime.
“The surrender not only applies to firearms and ammunition, but includes replica firearms, air weapons, BB guns, imitation firearms, component parts and other ballistic items.  No firearm will be refused.
“Fortunately Northumbria has a low number of firearm related crimes however, we want to do all we can to get these types of weapons off our streets and out of our communities.  Every weapon we retrieve has the potential to save a life and I urge people to get involved and do the right thing.”
While there are designated police stations for the surrender, the public can go to any police station and they will accept any and all firearms and ammunition. For a list of designated police stations please see below:
 
Alnwick
Prudhoe Street, Alnwick, NE66 1UJ - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Ashington
Lintonville Terrace, Ashington, NE63 8HD - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Bedlington
Schalksmuhle Road, Bedlington, NE22 7LA - 8am to 8pm (7 days a week)
Berwick
Church Street, Berwick upon Tweed, TD15 1DZ - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Byker
Clifford Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1EA - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Etal Lane
Etal Lane, Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 4AW - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Gateshead
High West Street, Gateshead, NE8 1BN - 8am to 8pm (7 days a week)
Hexham
Shaftoe Leazes, Hexham, NE46 3DG - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Houghton-le-Spring
Dairy Lane, Houghton le Spring, DH4 5BL - 10am to 2pm (5 days a week)
Newcastle City Centre
Forth Banks, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3PH - 8am to 8pm (7 days a week
North Shields
Upper Pearson Street, North Shields, NE30 1AB - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
South Shields
Millbank, Station Road, South Shields, NE33 1RR - 8am to 8pm (7 days a week)
Southwick
Church Bank, Southwick, Sunderland, SR5 2DU - 8am to– 8pm (7 days a week)
Wallsend
Middle Engine Lane, Wallsend, NE28 9NT - 8am to 8pm (7 days a week)
Washington
The Galleries, Washington, NE38 7RY - 9am to 5pm (5 days a week)
Whickham
Front Street, Whickham, NE16 4HE - 9am to – 5pm (5 days a week)
 
For frequently asked questions please see below:
 
Q1) How long will the surrender campaign last?
A) Police forces are encouraged to run the campaign for two weeks between 13 and 26 November this year.  
 
Q2) What is the main purpose of the firearms surrender?
A) To reduce the volume of guns in circulation in the UK which could get into the hands of criminals. A surrender could save lives. 
 
Q3) How effective are these campaigns for targeting real criminals? 
A) Several forces have held gun surrenders since the last national surrender three years ago and this has resulted in hundreds of firearms and rounds of ammunition being handed in. This can only be a good thing. It takes the weapons out of circulation and out of the hands of criminals.
 
Q4) What items do you think will be handed in?
A) In previous campaigns there have been various weapons handed in including antique guns, air weapons, rifles, shotguns. We hope many weapons will be surrendered across the UK. If you want to safely dispose of a firearm you can contact your local police force for advice by dialling 101. 
 
Q5) What is the difference between an amnesty and a gun surrender?
A) An amnesty exists around a particular point in time when a firearm is surrendered to a lawful authority. Any possession or use of the gun prior to that may be considered for prosecution.  The amnesty is not valid for the lifetime of the firearm. Police may still consider prosecution linked to any offences committed before the weapon is handed in during a surrender campaign.
 
The message we want to get out is that anyone with a gun they don’t want or do not legally hold should give it up during the surrender campaign and not wait for the police to turn up at their address.
 
Q6) What will happen to all the guns handed in?
A) A proportion of the firearms will be destroyed but some may be retained by armourers if they are of significant interest, unusual, etc. Any guns which can be proved to be linked to crime will be kept as evidence and retained for any future court case proceedings.
 
Q7) If gun crime levels have been falling why do we need surrender campaigns?
A) It is true that gun crime levels generally have dropped in the last decade and compared to other countries our gun crime levels are low. However latest figures show gun crime is now on the rise and we cannot be complacent about the continued threat to our communities from criminals with access to guns. NABIS, working together with UK police forces, are determined to carry on suppressing the threat. Gun surrenders are one way to show the public how seriously we all take this issue. We want to get as many firearms out of circulation and off the streets as possible. One gun in the wrong hands can have catastrophic consequences.          
 
 
 
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A man has been cleared of killing a popular dad outside a nightclub.
Jason Glancey died after an alleged confrontation in Blyth in the early hours of a Sunday morning in April this year.
Connor Long was accused of killing Mr Glancey by punching him and causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the ground but a jury found him not guilty of manslaughter.
Newcastle Crown Court heard there had been an incident outside Deja Vu, on Stanley Street, Blyth, on April 30.
Prosecutors said Mr Long punched 45-year-old Mr Glancey, knocking him backwards into the road and the impact of his head on the ground fractured his skull.
Jurors were told he never regained consciousness and died on May 17 of complications from a traumatic brain injury.


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