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Northumberland County Council has offered emergency accommodation to survivors of the Grenfell fire in London.
 
Daljit Lally, the interim Chief Executive of the County Council  made contact with the Chief Executive and Director of Housing from the Royal Borough Kensington and Chelsea Council to make the offer.
 
In preparation the County Council has made arrangements for housing to provide immediate temporary or permanent accommodation in Northumberland for two families from today, Monday 19th June 2017.
 
Peter Jackson, Leader of Northumberland County Council said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. There is currently a crisis in housing people who have been displaced by this terrible tragedy in Kensington.
 
“Even though we are some distance from London, we were keen to offer support.”
 
In addition to offering accommodation for those affected by the tragedy, a proactive review is underway by county council departments to look at records of premises which operate stay put policies, or have external cladding applied to them, to provide confidence and assurance that safety issues have been properly considered and risk assessed.
 
Paul Hedley, Chief Fire Officer at Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service said: “Our thoughts are with all those involved in the Grenfell Tower fire and our colleagues in the emergency services.
 
"Across the country, this tragedy has touched us all.  Whilst Northumberland does not have any residential tower blocks of the type involved in the Grenfell Tower tragedy, there are residential low rise premises of up to 4 storeys.  There are of course also premises within Northumberland which we know are fitted with external cladding and we are working to establish the type and make of those panels.
 
“I would like to reassure Northumberland residents that we unaware of any concerns about the safety of any multi-storey residential premises within the county.
 
“As part of a wide range of measures, we will also be liaising with external partners and contacting premises across the county to provide an offer of support, advice and guidance on fire safety matters and asking that they take steps themselves to satisfy themselves that there are no safety concerns for the premises for which they are responsible.”  
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Young tenants' guide launched

By Bot, in News,

Northumberland County Council in partnership with Silx Youth Project, a Blyth based organisation has launched a guidebook aimed at helping first time housing tenants.
 
The Young Tenants’ User Guide has been developed directly with Silx Youth Project, based upon their own practical experience of working with young people and aims to provide information on everything a tenant may need.
 
Aimed at 18-25 year olds, the guide tackles issues such as finance and how to keep on top of your bills, budgeting and saving money on utility bills, and how to claim for benefits they are entitled to.
 
It also explains what a tenancy agreement is and the importance of understanding what tenants are responsible for and the council as the landlord, including what can happen if those responsibilities are not met.
 
The idea for the guide came from feedback from young people in the Blyth area who were struggling to manage in social or private rented accommodation.
 
John Riddle, Northumberland County Council’s Cabinet member for Planning, Housing and Resilience, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to work with Silx on this invaluable project.
 
“We’re keen to support young people in being able to take that next step into adulthood, by moving into their new home.
 
“However, we recognise they can find themselves in a vulnerable position and at risk of losing their tenancy, if they don’t have the skills or knowledge of what is involved in running a home. This guide covers everything they need to know to have a positive experience and to fulfill their potential as a home owner in the future.”
 
The guide also includes tips on how to stay safe in your home, as well as issues such as sexual and mental health.
 
Each new young tenant will be given the guide at their tenancy introduction meeting with a council housing officer, copies are also available from the Silx offices on Church Street, Blyth.
 
Chris Antony, trustee of Silx, said: “We were finding that more and more young people in the Blyth area were struggling with all the different aspects that come with managing and surviving in a social or private rented accommodation.
 
“Issues such as getting into debt, or anti-social behaviour in their home, were leading to young people not be able to progress with their tenancy.
 
“We hope that this guide will give young people the information and support they need to understand what is involved in running their own home.”  
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The Undertones will be headlining ​The Northumberland Live Festival at Blyth this weekend June 24th, playing timeless classics including; ‘Here Comes the Summer’, ‘Jimmy Jimmy’, “My Perfect Cousin” and the power pop anthem “Teenage Kicks.”

Review by http://neconnected.co.uk

"In support to The Undertones will be new wave power pop band, Cryssis, who regularly pack out stadiums in their base country of Germany.
Add to this local talent in the form of Ashington singer song writer Peesh, Durham based pop rock band, Twister and up and coming new alternative indie band Pacific who are tipped for the top. Also on the bill will be  he Real Gone Gadgies,  Arieanne Masters, The Exciters,  Endless Sky and Little Moth. There will also be performances from Bad Apples hip hop crew, Blyth Samba and a few surprises too.

As well as the musical attractions, the Festival will have its much looked forward to array of street theatre, superb food from the counties finest food suppliers and a family activity area which will keep all ages entertained. Also dropping in will be the Royal Logistics Corps Parachute Display Team, The Silver Stars who will perform daredevil manoeuvres as they descend onto the beach area.
The fun starts at 10am and will continue until around 9pm. Parking is limited on site and a free park and ride service will be in operation run by Phoenix Taxis from the library in Blyth town centre."

For all the latest information on the event follow the Northumberland Live facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/NorthumberlandLiveFestival
 
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A special flag raising ceremony was held today at County Hall in Morpeth  to mark national Armed Forces Week.
 
The ceremony was part of a countrywide programme of events to celebrate and recognise HM Armed Forces - past, present and future.
 
Servicemen and women and war veterans  were joined by civic leaders and members of Northumberland County Council staff and the  public to pay tribute to all those service personnel  who put their lives on the line in war zones across the world.
 
The Armed Forces Flag was raised on the flagpole outside County Hall  and will fly all week ahead of Armed Forces Day, which falls on Saturday 24 June  this year.
 
Civic Head of  Northumberland County Council, Councillor Anthony Murray said:
 
“  Behind the flags, parades, and other events up and down the country to mark Armed Forces Day, we should remember that, as we speak, in this country and overseas, these brave people are putting their lives on the line - on the ground, in the air, and on the oceans - to keep us safe and to build a better world for our children.
 
“ We must also remember that each one of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and reservists is also a wife or a husband; a father; a mother; a son or a daughter and recognise that the pressure on their families is considerable. I want to thank all those who support their loved ones in our Forces.

“ Nor should we forget the commitment of our Cadets, or the adult volunteers . Of course, those serving in our Armed Forces will one day move into the larger family of veterans and Armed Forces Day is a celebration of our veterans’ community too, whatever their age.

This is a day when we can show our patriotic support for all of these heroes, and their outstanding contribution to this country. They are a constant reminder to younger generations that preserving our way of life and the things we hold most dear is sometimes hard won, and never guaranteed. ”
 
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Useful items for project

By Bot, in News,

The Matthew Project, based in Bedlington, has received a bundle of products from Asda Blyth that was donated to help those feeling financial strain.
Items handed over included tinned goods, biscuits, crisps and toiletries such as toothpaste and toothbrushes.
The project provides food parcels for individuals, families and homeless people in the Bedlington and Blyth areas following referral by organisations such as social services, Citizens Advice, Barnardo’s and Sure Start.
Leadership group member Maureen Chilton said: “It is thanks to the kind donations of individuals, churches and supermarkets such as Asda Blyth that we are able to continue to provide our vital service and lend a helping hand to those in need.”
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Ian Lavery has urged the Conservative-led administration at County Hall to announce its intentions for some key sites to ‘put mine and my constituents’ minds at rest’.
The areas highlighted in the Wansbeck MP’s letter to Northumberland County Council leader Peter Jackson – sent last night – include the town centre development in Newbiggin and future leisure, library, parking and school provision in Morpeth.
He also raises concerns about Arch, the local authority’s development company, and calls on the Tories to make a pledge not to reduce council jobs or services or pass any of them to the private sector.
But Coun Jackson has hit back today, accusing Mr Lavery of ‘unnecessarily scaremongering residents and council staff’.
He pointed to the example of the Pipers Place development in Bedlington, as he has said the planning permission process for this scheme should not be slowed down – an outline application for the mixed-use project was approved by the council earlier this month.
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A woman who grew up in Bedlington and today lives in Australia recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
Hilda Pearson, born on May 29, 1917, completed her schooling at about the age of 14 and left to do domestic work further south.
This money was sent home to help the family – her parents were John and Abigail Worn and she had two sisters, Emma and Rachael, and two brothers, Stanley and Sidney. Her father was a coal miner.
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Chalking up a success in Prudhoe

By Bot, in News,

Wildlife is blooming in a corner of Prudhoe thanks to a group being supported by Northumberland County Council and Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

The Spetchells Conservation Interest Group (SCIG) have been working hard over the past year to ensure a rosier future for the rare wildlife on the chalk hills at Tyne Riverside Country Park in Prudhoe, known as The Spetchells.

The group has raised over £5,000 and put in countless volunteer hours to remove invasive cotoneaster shrubs from the top of the hill, making the land once more ideal for solitary mining bees and the dingy skipper butterfly, as well as a range of specialist chalkland plants such as wall rocket and dyer’s greenweed.

Funding has come from a range of supporters, including Northumberland County Council’s Community Trust, Greggs, SCA, Thompson’s of Prudhoe, Jewson’s, Waitrose and Northumberland Wildlife Trust. This has enabled the group to buy information boards, training and tools to enable work to take place.

The County Council’s Green Spaces team and Northumberland Wildlife Trust enabled the project to go ahead and also ensured the volunteer work was supported with logistics and tool storage.

The Spetchells are an artificial landscape of chalk, created as a by product of the old ICI factory that was on the site SCA now occupies. The area is unique in the north east of England and now hosts the biggest chalk grassland habitat in the region. Many unusual species of plants and animals are found there, and SCIG formed last year to tackle some of the issues on site that now threaten them.

Councillor Glen Sanderson, Northumberland County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services, said: "We’re delighted at the finished work on the signs and the ongoing support of the very knowledgeable volunteers of SCIG, which have enabled huge progress on site through their efforts.

“The site is a real asset to the local community and is already attracting a variety of endangered species.”

Dr Keith Shaw, who has spearheaded the group, said: "The area is a popular beauty spot, but there were real concerns for the botany and insect life which needed huge effort to overcome.

"We are so pleased to now offer signage to help people understand the site better, and with all the support we have had in returning this site to favourable condition, although there are further challenges ahead."

Naomi Waite, Magnificent Meadows officer for Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: "This site had been designated a special Local Wildlife Site many years ago for its populations of Dingy Skipper butterflies, but the whole site is important. It’s great so many people have helped reclaim our wildlife on site, it’s already making a big difference in 2017."

The group will continue to meet to improve the grassland, offer talks to the public and monitor the wildlife. For more information contact countryside@northumberland.gov.uk
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Work on a  £1.5 m scheme to restore  Hexham House and create a new wedding venue for the town is  now in its final stages with the venue on track to be opened to the public in September.  
 
Northumberland County Council will be holding a series of open evenings later in the summer so couples planning to get married can view the venue and meet and chat with members of the Northumberland Wedding co-ordination team.
 
Hexham House is a Grade II* listed building located within an award winning park  with views of the Abbey from almost every room and will undoubtedly be a beautiful and popular place for couples to get married.
 
The house  is  undergoing  a major  face-lift to convert it into a wedding complex, with the creation of a new register office, two wedding ceremony rooms and  seven luxury self-catering  holiday apartments complete with bridal suite.
 
The interior of the building in Gilesgate is having  a full upgrade and refurbishment and every effort is being made to ensure that any work is in-keeping with the heritage of the 18th Century house.
 
Northumberland County Councillor Nick Oliver, cabinet member for corporate services
said:
 
“ The redevelopment of Hexham House is a really exciting opportunity, both for people planning to get married and the town itself.  It is set to be one of the finest register offices in the North of England and  will provide a great opportunity for those couples who are looking for an elegant setting that is also great value for money”
 
Hexham House will not provide reception facilities and couples will be encouraged to contact local providers for this aspect of their wedding.   The first couple to be married at the venue in September  have chosen nearby Hexham Abbey for their reception and evening function.

Prices for a wedding ceremony in the House range from £345-£395  Monday - Saturday and £500 on a Sunday or a Bank Holiday.  Bookings for weddings can be made through the council’s ceremony coordination team Tel: 01670 602870  email: alnwickreg@northumberland.gov.uk.
 
   
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Parents need to apply for 30 hours ASAP and well before the 31st August 2017 deadline if they wish to access a place next term (September 2017).

A delay in applying may mean parents will not be able to access a place until January 2018 

You can apply for free childcare here

All 3 and 4 years old are entitled to 15 hours a week (570 hours a year) of free childcare and the government will begin to offer an additional 15 hours of free childcare per week to all eligible working families starting September 2017. 
 
For further information and to check whether your child is eligible to receive the additional 15 hours childcare, click here
 
Northumberland County Council has been part of the pilot scheme offering 30 hours of free childcare, if you have taken part in the pilot scheme and your child will remain eligible for 30 hours free childcare in September 2017 then you will need to apply under the national scheme to continue to receive your additional entitlement.


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