Northumberland News - Winter 2011

Northumberland News issue 20 Winter 2011

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

Olympic Torch Relay route revealed Help for first-time buyers Christmas markets Win a year’s gym membership

Plus Winter weather alerts | New library website | What’s on near you

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Northumberland News In this issue: Now available online, by email or in print. 4 6 Northumberland News is a quarterly magazine 7 packed with features and news articles written specifically for county residents.

9 10 Published in July, September, December and 15 March it is distributed free of charge by Northumberland County Council. Every effort is made to ensure that all information is accurate at the time of publication.

If you would like to receive Northumberland News in large print, Braille, audio, or in another format or language please contact us.

Telephone: 0845 600 6400 Fax: 01670 511413 Text phone: 01670 542521 Text Relay: 18001 0845 600 6400 Email: ask@northumberland.gov.uk 2

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Olympic torch relay route LOVE Northumberland latest Christmas bin collections Help to secure your first home Winter health news Paul Bracewell opens football facilities Wedding fair success Free training with The U What’s on

Front cover: Grace Gibson, 14, pictured with Norham Castle in the background. As part of her Duke of Edinburgh (Bronze) Award Grace volunteered to clean up the War Memorial in the village of Norham on the Scottish Border. She is pictured (above) near to the war memorial, which records the names of sailors, soldiers and airmen who fell in the two World Wars.

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

Leader's welcome people living and working in the county. If you'd like to sign up, now is the time.

The alerts system is one example of how the internet and social media are transforming the way people communicate and work.

As a council we are committed to improving broadband coverage to help everyone who would like to get online access to these services wherever they live in the county.

Welcome to our winter edition of Northumberland News.

Details of the iNorthumberland project, which is driving this aim forward, can be found on page 23.

Preparations to tackle ice and snow on our roads have been put in place and details of our winter weather alerts system are listed on page 18.

With less than four weeks to Christmas we have published information about bin collections during the holiday period. There are also details about when and how to recycle and for those who do, there are opportunities to win some wonderful prizes.

Last year, the alerts proved to be an invaluable resource for

Prizes are also available in the form of passes to leisure centres

Planning ahead is a big theme in this issue.

across the county. This competition is listed on page 21 along with details of other offers in centres in all areas of Northumberland.

Aside from sport and fitness this issue has details of an exhibition at Woodhorn, Christmas markets as well as our usual 'What's on' listings taking us into 2012.

Mention 2012 and the Olympics is never far from our minds.

On 7 November the torch relay route was announced and Northumberland will play a big part in this. Full details of the route and what this means for the county can be found on page 4.

Next year looks set to be very eventful but in the meantime, I'll take this early opportunity to wish you a very merry Christmas.

Jeff Reid Leader of Northumberland County Council

Find us on: Facebook at: www.northumberland.gov.uk/facebook Twitter at: www.northumberland.gov.uk/twitter YouTube at: www.northumberland.gov.uk/youtube 3

Olympic Torch Relay route through Northumberland announced The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will pass through seventeen communities in Northumberland as it travels the country.

The Northumberland route has been picked to bring the flame as close to as many people as possible and will travel through large urban towns and small rural villages as it passes through all three areas of the county.

On Thursday June 14, day 27 of the relay, the famous flame will re-enter England via Berwickupon-Tweed before travelling down to Bamburgh and Alnwick where it will make an overnight stop in the town.

On Friday June 15, the flame will leave Alnwick and head to Hipsburn, Warkworth, Amble, Ashington, Newbiggin-by-theSea, Choppington, Morpeth, Hartford, Bedlington and Blyth.

The Olympic Torch Relay will then travel into Newcastle before returning to Northumberland on Saturday June 16 where it will pass through Prudhoe, Stocksfield, Hexham and Riding Mill in the west of the county.

The chosen towns and villages will be welcoming their surrounding communities along to share the excitement of the relay and celebrate the achievements of the torchbearers.

The news that the torch will be passing through much of the

Pictured (from left): Councillor Neil Bradbury and Alan Bowlas, Mayor of Berwick.

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county has been warmly welcomed by local residents and community leaders as an opportunity to put the county on the world stage and witness at first hand this amazing spectacle.

Councillor Neil Bradbury, executive member for culture at Northumberland County Council, said: “Over the years, many of us have watched on television as the Olympic Torch Relay has passed through countries and communities across the globe.

Now, incredibly, it is coming right through the heart of Northumberland and will shine the world spotlight on the special people and places in our county.

The Olympic flame will not be coming this way again in our lifetime. It’s a cliché but it’s true – this really is a once in a life time opportunity for us all and I am sure that Northumberland residents will join together to show their support for the Olympics and to be a part of this exciting and memorable experience.”

Northumberland County Council has been working alongside LOCOG (The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) to help co-ordinate the torch route through the county.

A special community task force has been set up to ensure that Northumberland's local communities gain maximum benefit from the games.

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

Pictured (from left): Councillor Neil Bradbury with James Fell, Northumberland County Council and Jennifer McGee, Mayor of Prudhoe.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: “We are thrilled to confirm that Northumberland will act as a host location for the Olympic Flame, extending an invitation to people around the county to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay during its journey around the UK. This is the UK's moment to shine and I want to encourage people across Northumberland to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity and show their support for the inspirational Torchbearers chosen to carry the Olympic Flame.�

In announcing the villages, towns and cities, LOCOG has realised the aspiration of taking the Olympic Flame to within an hour's journey time of 95% of the population. In fact more than 95% of the population will be within just 10 miles of the Olympic Flame next summer.

Full details of the relay, the times and street maps, will be announced nearer the date, inviting people from across the region to welcome the Olympic Flame to these locations.

To find where the Olympic Flame will be carried near to you, log on to www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap

The Olympic Flame, which represents peace, unity and friendship, will make its journey from Greece and arrive in the UK on 18 May 2012, ready for the 70 day journey when it will be carried by 8,000 Torchbearers.

The relay will end on 27 July, 2012 when the eyes of the world will be on the Olympic Flame as it arrives at the Olympic Stadium for the lighting of the cauldron to signify the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Pictured (from left): Nigel Walsh and Councillor Neil Bradbury of Northumberland County Council and Bob Parker, Mayor of Blyth.

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LOVE Northumberland - hate litter?

Did you know that each month the council collects enough litter from streets, footpaths and public spaces to fill at least 30 double-decker buses?

As the LOVE Northumberland campaign moves into its second year, the council has teamed up with Arriva buses to call on people to 'Report it now!' to reduce litter and tackle other environmental issues across the county.

Eye-catching banners currently feature on the sides of popular Arriva routes throughout Northumberland urging people to act on a sense of civic pride and report local issues that they would like the council to attend to.

Reports can be made in a number of ways, including on the spot from your mobile phone. The LOVE Northumberland app allows those with a smart phone to take a photo of litter, fly-tipping, graffiti, broken street lights or potholes and report it directly to the council for action.

Councillor Alan Thompson, executive member responsible for neighbourhood services and highways at Northumberland County Council, said: “Our teams are committed to keeping Northumberland clean and green, but we still have a constant challenge with those who drop litter. With the launch of the second year of our LOVE Northumberland campaign we are bringing residents’ attention to the problem, and calling on them to ask us to help to tackle

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Pictured: Councillors Alan Thompson (far right) and Isabel Hunter with members of the council’s neighbourhood services team. it. I urge people to report issues to us, so that we can deal with them, but also try to tackle the root causes with preventative measures.”

Civic pride across the county is already seeing dozens of individuals and groups volunteering their own time to improve their local environment.

The LOVE campaign wants to support and encourage further volunteering – and has recently launched a volunteering webresource.

LOVE Northumberland Volunteering is part of the Northumberland Life website www.northumberlandlife.org.uk.

Organisations and groups can advertise their volunteering opportunities. Those who wish to get involved in volunteering can look on the site to see what activities they can become involved in, in their local area.

For more information on the LOVE Northumberland campaign and how to get involved or report issues go to www.northumberland.gov.uk/ love.

Report local issues: If you would like to report litter, graffiti, fly-tipping or other local issues please email: environment@ northumberland.gov.uk or phone: 0845 600 6400.

Pledge your support You can pledge your support for the campaign and receive a colourful car or window sticker. Email your name and address to: communications@ northumberland.gov.uk or write to: LOVE Northumberland, Communications, Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF. The LOVE Northumberland campaign is on Facebook – to sign up search on: www.northumberland.gov.uk /facebook

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

Recycle your Christmas Christmas waste – you could win prizes! holiday bin

collections

Arrangements are in place across Northumberland to help residents to recycle their waste this Christmas and New Year.

Real Christmas trees can be recycled into compost, soil conditioner or chippings by taking them to your local household waste recovery centre. There are also additional local collection points – find out more at www.northumberland.gov.uk Residents can also win prizes in two competitions that are being run across Northumberland.

In the first, residents throughout Northumberland have a chance to win prizes by recycling bathroom items of aerosols and hard plastic bottles. Register for the scheme at www.northumberland.gov.uk or call 0844 844 4546.

A welcome pack will include a sheet of stickers which participants should pop on aerosols or hard plastic bottles before recycling them from now until June next year.

One winner will be chosen each month to receive a prize for themselves or nominated community group or school of their choice. The total value of the prizes for Northumberland is

Due to the bank holidays at Christmas and New Year all bin collections will be one day late on each of the weeks beginning December 26 and January 2. a minimum of £2,000. Prizes will include a choice of electronic equipment, outdoor activities and days out.

The second competition also offers prizes totalling £2,000 and aims to boost the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) which is collected for recycling and reuse.

The collection service can be disrupted by winter weather conditions. See www.northumberland. gov.uk for updates.

Residents will be encouraged to take their electrical items into a household waste recovery centre in December and January. In exchange they will receive one scratch card per visit, while stocks last.

Competition winners receive either one of twenty available £20 gift vouchers or one of the five available £200 holiday vouchers. Prize winners claim their prize from Northumberland County Council waste management team.

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New information points launched New information points to help people with a disability or a long-term illness will soon be opening across Northumberland.

The five information points are being developed through a partnership between Northumberland County Council and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. They will be based in libraries in Morpeth, Amble, Berwick and Haltwhistle, and in a customer information centre in Cramlington.

All offer good central locations at the heart of the community with nearby parking and disabled facilities. They are designed to help people remain independent.

to give advice either by appointment or to people who turn up on the day.

Councillor Ian Lindley, executive member for health and wellbeing at Northumberland County Council, said: “We are here to help all Northumberland's people live the fullest, happiest life. People who have a disability often face additional difficulties, so I am focussed on developing services that can maximise their life potential.

“Everyone prizes their independence. Everyone wants to be in control of what they do.

These social care and information points will enable us to provide information and advice in order to resolve the issues disabled people may have, so that they are able to live better within their own

communities. The information points will be places where people can find solutions that suit them - whether they are seriously ill or disabled, or just worried about problems they may face in future because of declining health.

We will also be continuing to develop other ways that people can access information and advice, including internet advice through the enhanced Northumberland Life website and phone access to social care and health services.”

Further information points are expected to follow, if the pilots are successful.

The first information point to be launched will be at Morpeth library, in December.

The new scheme is linked to a wider county council project, which will aim to provide better customer access to council services and to make better use of buildings. The new social care and health information points will ultimately form part of a new generation of integrated contact centres for people wanting to make face to face contact with services provided by the council and other organisations.

Information about support for disabled people will be available through library and contact centre staff throughout library opening times and specialist workers with expertise in solutions for ill and disabled people will be present in each centre for two days a week,

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Pictured (from left): Deborah Dodds, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Bob Balmer member of Ashington Older People’s Forum, Jane Bowie Northumberland Care Trust and Lesley Kelly Northumberland County Council Library Service.

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

Help to secure your first home Lloyds TSB and Northumberland County Council have joined forces to help first-time buyers purchase a home with a deposit of just 5%.

Buyers often say that raising a deposit is the biggest challenge they face when looking to take their first steps onto the property ladder.

Lloyds TSB has worked with Sector Treasury Services, part of the Capita Group, to develop the Local Lend a Hand product. The scheme enables borrowers to buy their first home with a deposit less than the 10% required by most mortgage lenders.

Northumberland County Council is one of the first local authorities to make the Local Lend a Hand scheme available.

Councillor Tom Brechany, executive member responsible for housing at the council, said: “We are very proud to be able to provide this offer to those members of our community who would not normally have the opportunity to own their own home without this initiative. We are hoping to be able to help more than 100 households in Northumberland to become home owners.”

Stephen Noakes, commercial director mortgages at Lloyds TSB, said: "With the launch of Local Lend a Hand in Northumberland, we're making

Pictured front centre (from left): Councillor Tom Brechany, Joy Lockhart service manager for housing Northumberland County Council and Kristy Bibby branch manager Lloyds TSB. the housing market accessible to more people. We know that many young people turn to the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ to get their foot on the ladder, but that isn't a solution for everyone.

“Helping people to buy their first home is crucial in achieving and maintaining a sustainable housing market. Local Lend a Hand addresses some of the real problems that prospective buyers in Northumberland might face."

vulnerable and reduce payouts to private landlords and expensive short-term accommodation. More people will be able to take the step of buying their first home, stimulating the local housing market and benefiting the wider local economy.

Subject to Lloyds TSB's usual lending criteria, borrowers are able to select any property within the local area, up to a maximum loan size of £95,000. First-time buyers will put down 5% of the property price, and Northumberland County Council will provide a cash backed indemnity of up to 20% as additional security. The local authority then earns interest on this amount.

Cecilie Booth, director at Sector Treasury Services, said: “Many potential first-time buyers in Northumberland, including those on the council's housing waiting list, or currently occupying affordable or social housing units, are unable to save a sufficient deposit, even though they could afford mortgage repayments on a typical first home.

The first-time buyer owns the property in its entirety, and will have access to a range of products at a lower rate of interest than would normally be available for this level of deposit.

“This initiative is designed to bridge that gap. Local authorities will both free up social housing for the more

Those interested in the local scheme should visit their local branch of Lloyds TSB for more information.

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Choose well this Christmas Over the Christmas period the NHS would like to remind people to ‘Choose well’ and keep their medicine cabinets well stocked with enough medicinal supplies for the festive season.

Excessive alcohol and food consumption can equal a very unmerry Christmas this festive season resulting in hangovers, headaches and unpleasant bloating – all of which can be easily treated.

Don't forget if you have a longterm health condition and need a regular prescription of medication you should check to make sure you have enough to last over the holiday season.

Repeat prescriptions should be ordered well in advance to prevent you from running out over the Christmas bank holiday and putting additional pressure on the local NHS, which could easily be avoided.

Dr Alistair Blair who is heading up Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “By having a well stocked medicine

cabinet you'll be able to treat common ailments such as indigestion, headaches, hangovers and tummy upsets yourself. And if you're unsure of what you should keep at home in your medicine cabinet ask your community pharmacist who will be able to advise.”

If you have a health condition that just won't go away then the best thing is to choose your GP. If your GP practice is closed then use the out of hours GP service.

If you are sick or unwell through over-eating or drinking then the best course of action is to rest and take plenty of fluids. If you are really ill and think you need medical help then contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or go online at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk for expert advice.

Get protected, get the jab The NHS in Northumberland is encouraging more pregnant women to protect themselves and their unborn babies from the flu and get vaccinated this winter.

People aged 65 and over, and anyone aged six months or over with a long-term health problem or a weakened immune system and pregnant women need to get the vaccine as a matter of urgency as flu can cause them serious complications, often

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resulting in a stay in hospital and in the worst cases death.

Dr David Shovlin, NCCG West locality lead (pictured left), said: “Flu is a preventable infectious disease: cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough, dispose of the tissue immediately and then wash your hands thoroughly. In short – catch it, bin it, kill it.

“If you get flu and you do not fall within an at risk group stay at home, rest, drink plenty of water and take paracetamol based cold remedies. If symptoms persist call NHS Direct on 0845 4647."

New health centre for Morpeth goes ahead The plans for a new health centre for the people of Morpeth have moved a step closer after being formally approved by the region's strategic health authority.

More than ÂŁ18 million is being invested by the local NHS to build a new health centre on the site of a former care home, The Mount at Haggs Field, in Morpeth.

The new centre will include GP and primary care health services as well as diagnostic testing such as x-rays and ultra sound scans which reduce the need for people to go to hospital.

Those people at risk who are under 65 can also go along to participating pharmacists and have the flu vaccine.

Patients who choose to go along to the pharmacy will need to take their GP letter and photo identification along to prove they are eligible for the vaccination.

If you are not sure whether you are eligible for a flu vaccination please check on the NHS choices website www.nhs.uk To find your nearest participating pharmacy go to: www.northoftyne.nhs.uk or contact the Patient Advice and Liasion Service (PALS) on freephone 0800 0320202 or text 0167051109 or email northoftynepals@nhct.nhs.uk

As well as new premises for two of the town's GP practices Greystroke and Gas House Lane the centre will mean access to new, modern healthcare facilities for patients registered at the practices. The health centre also offers the opportunity for integrated working for the staff and patients of Morpeth's third GP practice, Wellway.

Dr Alistair Blair (pictured left), who is a GP at Morpeth's Wellway Health Centre, as well as being GP lead for Northumberland's clinical commissioning group that in future will be responsible for making sure that people living across the county receive the healthcare they need, said: “This is the only health centre that is being planned for the town and we're really pleased with the prospect of having a new modern centre which will ensure that the people of Morpeth and the surrounding areas are provided for over the next 25 years.�

Work will start on the site in January 2012 and it is expected that the new centre will be open for patients in 2013.

GPs plan for health spending in 2012/13 Local GP leaders are considering plans for health spending in Northumberland in 2012/13.

In the run up to the New Year the Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group (NCCG) will be sharing details of their priorities for health spending in the county with stakeholders including Northumberland LINk (local involvement network), local hospitals, councillors, MPs and community and voluntary groups, for their input.

Northumberland CCG will officially take over responsibility for commissioning local health services on behalf of patients in April 2013 but before that time they are starting to take the lead on planning for health spending from the current statutory commissioner, Northumberland Care Trust (served by NHS North of Tyne).

The new plan for health spending will not be formalised until March next year. It will replace the 2011/12 Northumberland locality delivery plan which was approved in March this year and which is available online at www.northoftyne.nhs.uk

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Book festival success Hundreds of young readers across Northumberland met the writers of their favourite books as part of an annual festival held in November.

The 28th Northern Children's Book Festival is one of the largest of its kind in the UK. Libraries and schools across the North East eagerly plan for the event each November, which attracts more than 20 top authors to the region.

Northumberland County Council's library staff arranged for five children's authors and illustrators to visit Northumberland between 7 and 20 November to meet children and young people across the county.

During the sessions the writers talked about their books, told stories, made pictures, and answered questions.

Darlington-based illustrator Liz Million spent the day at Horton Grange Primary School, Blyth, inspiring children to draw fun characters and showing how her books grow from sketches to final artwork.

Rob Lewis entertained children at the Northumberland Church of England Academy with his storytelling and writing workshops.

Teen author Cathy MacPhail visited Newminster and Chantry

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Pictured: Five-year-old Lucy Carr at Hexham Library with some of the titles featured in this year’s book festival.

Middle Schools in Morpeth to talk about where her ideas come from and how to build up the suspense, character and plot in a story.

In the north of the county popular author Alan Durant encouraged children at Longridge Towers School, Spittal First School and St Cuthbert's RC Voluntary Aided First School in Tweedmouth to create their own exciting stories in his writing workshops.

Children at Acomb, Bellingham, Kielder, Greenhaugh and Wark First Schools enjoyed a high energy, fun-packed session

with award-winning illustrator Lynne Chapman.

Judith Walker who deals with library operations at Northumberland County Council, said: “Our Summer Reading Challenge proved very popular and did a great job in keeping children reading over the summer. This festival builds on all the enthusiasm that was generated. If children get the opportunity to meet and talk to their favourite author and learn how they create their characters and write their stories, then this proves a huge incentive for them to keep on reading.�

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

New look library site launched A new look library website launched this month by the county council is proving a great hit with residents.

In just a few weeks, the new user friendly website www.mylibrary.co.uk has already doubled the number of people accessing their local library online.

Each library in Northumberland now has its own mini site containing a guide to everything you can do there; including opening times, directions, events to attend, groups to join, as well as lots of recommendations.

Pictured: Shirley Appleby (left) and Maureen Turnbull from Northumberland County Council’s libraries team looking at the new website.

New members can apply online to join the library, while existing customers can reserve or renew books online. And, if you need a little help deciding what to borrow next, you can browse through the current best-seller charts, view books in the news and on TV, or find someone who writes like your favourite author.

Councillor Neil Bradbury, executive member responsible for libraries at Northumberland County Council, said: “While other councils are closing libraries we are investing in a range of innovative schemes to strengthen our service. We know that as technology progresses,

There are now guides to researching family and local history and detailed information for parents to help them choose the most appropriate books for their children.

Those looking to meet people with similar interests can find local clubs and reading groups who meet in the area, while people who prefer to socialise online can join the new

Northumberland Readers’ group. It's not just about books either; there is a large selection of CDs, DVDs and audio books too.

more and more residents want to access council services online and our new interactive library website is another exciting development in our drive to improve our services to customers.

“We appreciate that there are still many residents who prefer the personal touch, and our team of librarians across the county, is always on hand to help.”

Mobile library service Work is currently underway to review the county's mobile library service to ensure it is being used in the best possible way.

Residents are being asked to give their views on some proposed changes to the mobile library service timetable and the frequency and location of stops.

To find out more about the review, log on to: www.northumberland.gov.uk/mobilelibraries, or speak to your mobile library driver or a librarian in your local library.

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Celebrating achievement and showing appreciation The Phoenix Theatre in Blyth was the venue for this year's looked-after children Celebrating Achievement Awards.

Young people and their families joined foster carers, councillors and county council officers for the fourth annual awards ceremony, which took place on 26 October.

More than 120 looked-after young people were nominated for awards by their social workers, foster carers and residential child care officers.

Awards were presented for excellence in personal achievement, education, and sports as well as group projects.

The evening also provided a showcase for the talents of some award winners who entertained the crowds with a packed programme of singing dancing and musical performances.

James Hudson, captain of the Newcastle Falcons Rugby team, attended and met the award winners. Each young person received a signed photograph of themselves and James as a memento of the evening.

National statistics show that, as a group, looked-after children achieve considerably less well than other children.

Northumberland County Council, as a “corporate parent”, is leading the drive to support and

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Pictured: James Hudson, captain of the Newcastle Falcons Rugby Team with award winner Siobhan Hudson (no relation). improve the life opportunities and successes of this vulnerable group of children.

Councillor Lesley Rickerby, executive member for children and young people at Northumberland County Council, said: "My congratulations go to all these worthy winners and to all the young people who made the event so vibrant and enjoyable – everyone should be proud of themselves and their achievements. I hope the recognition will spur these positive young people to go on to achieve even more.”

In a separate event, on 28 October, Northumberland County Council and North Tyneside Council teamed up with the Duchess of Northumberland to join the national appreciation of children who foster.

The celebration event was held at The Alnwick Garden to thank the children of foster carers for the difference that they make to the lives of the foster children and young people who live with them. The Duchess of Northumberland, joined the group to congratulate them on their part in making foster children's lives better, and presented certificates of thanks from the two authorities.

Thinking about adoption or becoming a foster carer?

For more information about fostering and adoption in Northumberland, please contact Caroline Matthews on 01670 534 450 or visit: www.northumberland.gov.uk/ familyplacement or email:caroline.matthews@ northumberland.gov.uk

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

Blyth braced for fantastic new football facilities Footballer Paul Bracewell joined pupils at The Blyth School Community College to open a new £731,000 sports facility earlier this month.

The former England international, Newcastle and Sunderland player tried out the new full-size, floodlit, third generation, artificial grass pitch with young players from local schools and teams.

The state-of the-art facilities will be used by The Blyth School Community College pupils as well as Blyth Town FC, Blyth Rangers FC and Blyth Spartans FC, who have collectively contributed £4,500 towards the project.

All clubs will use the new development to increase their combined number of teams from 56 to 76 over the next five years. This figure will also include a Blyth disability team to be developed in a joint venture by the clubs.

It is predicted that more than 800 local people will use the site every week in addition to 1,300 school children. Blyth Valley Arts and Leisure will manage the site for club and community use.

The project was funded with the help of a £131,420 grant from the Football Foundation.

Pictured (from left): Bridget Knowles, headteacher, Brandon Campbell, Jeff Reid, leader of Northumberland County Council, Brooke Proctor, Morgan Milligan, Paul Bracewell, Adam Reynolds and Bruce Ledger, chief executive of Blyth Valley Arts and Leisure.

Councillor Lesley Rickerby, Northumberland County Council's executive member for children and young people, said: “These new facilities will provide more opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy taking part in sport. The county council is keen to support such projects, which can have such positive effects on the general health and wellbeing of local communities now and in the future.”

Bridget Knowles, headteacher at The Blyth School Community

College, said: “We are delighted to have such a fantastic facility for our students and our community.

I'm sure that this will provide an opportunity for our school teams to excel even further.”

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “We are delighted that The Blyth School Community College and the local community will have access to these fantastic new facilities and commend the club and the County FA for their hard work in making this happen.”

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Don't let fire be an unwelcome guest this Christmas Here are some top tips to help you celebrate in safety this festive season: l Ensure you have a working smoke alarm installed on all levels of your home.

A working alarm can give you the vital time needed to escape in a fire. Test your smoke alarms regularly. l Check on older relatives and neighbours this Christmas to ensure their safety as they are at greater risk from fire.

As statistics reveal that nationally one in six fire deaths last year occurred in December, Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service is reminding everyone that some of their favourite festive traditions could have the potential to leave their celebrations in ruin.

l Never leave cooking unattended.

The majority of fires start in the kitchen so this is a high risk area. Avoid cooking whilst under the influence of alcohol and always turn off kitchen appliances when you have finished cooking.

The distractions of a crowded house can often result in festive cooking being left unattended. And the added influence of alcohol means that it's even more important to stay alert while preparing the Christmas dinner. Nearly 1,400 house fires were started by cooking appliances across the UK last December, resulting in more than 300 injuries.

l Put your cigarette out, right out.

Make sure your cigarette is fully extinguished and take care when drunk or tired. It's very easy to fall asleep while your cigarette is still burning and set furniture alight.

And while no Christmas party would be complete without a few decorations, the fact is that dry Christmas trees, flammable decorations and stray wrapping paper can all act as extra fuel for a fire sparked by overheated sockets, faulty fairy lights, unattended candles or carelessly discarded cigarettes.

Councillor Anita Romer, the county council’s member with responsibility for public protection said: “Christmas is a time for celebrating with family and friends. By being aware of the risks and making a few simple checks you can ensure that you and your loved ones can celebrate in safety.”

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l Never leave candles unattended.

Keep candles out of the reach of children, and away from decorations, cards and wrapping paper, fires, lights and heaters.

l Don't overload sockets.

Always turn off plugs when they are not in use, except those that are designed to be left on, like freezers. l Ensure you switch off fairy lights.

Unplug them before you go to bed, or leave the house. Check your Christmas tree lights conform to the British Standard (BS EN 60598). l Always use an RCD (residual current device) on outdoor electrical equipment.

This safety device can save lives by instantly switching off the power if there is a fault and can be found in any DIY store. l In the event of fire: get out, stay out and call 999. Make sure that everyone in your home knows what to do in a fire.

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

Domestic violence – new help available Help for those affected by domestic violence is now available from a new website launched by the Safer Northumberland Partnership this month.

The ‘Enough – action against domestic violence and abuse’ website at www.enough.me.uk has been recreated so that it is easier to use. The site contains all of the latest points of contact for those seeking help.

Victoria Barrington, head of public protection at Northumberland County Council, said: “All members of the Safer Northumberland Partnership were keen to launch the new version of the website in advance of Christmas and the winter holiday season. Research shows that incidents of domestic violence increase at this time and it is important that those affected, as well as their friends and families, have access to all the help and support they need in Northumberland.”

The new website was designed following consultation with a group of women from Tynedale who have previously accessed Sixtyeightythirty, a domestic abuse service based in Hexham that provides practical and emotional support to women and their children.

Rae Briggs, the deputy manager of Sixtyeightythirty, said: “The women were delighted to be consulted and involved in developing the new website.

ENOUGH!

action against domestic abuse & violence in Northumberland

Their views and opinions have been incorporated in the design of the website, which has three sections in relation to what is domestic abuse, help and support information specific to Northumberland and across the country as well as practical advice.”

Morris Winning, the domestic abuse and sexual violence coordinator for Northumberland County Council, said: “Consultation with the women's group was extremely important and we now have a website that meets the needs of female and male victims of domestic abuse in Northumberland.”

Sixtyeightythirty can be contacted by phone on 01434 608030.

Full details, as well as a list of organisations offering support in Northumberland and national helplines, can be found on the website www.enough.me.uk The Safer Northumberland Partnership was created in 2009.

Partners include: Northumberland County Council, Northumbria Police, Northumbria Police Authority, Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, Northumbria Probation Service and Northumberland Care Trust.

The group, which also includes a number of voluntary organisations, aims to work in partnership to make the county a safer and more desirable place to live.

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On alert this winter This winter the county council will once again be using social media to help people deal with the effects of the cold and access vital information over the internet.

More than 13,500 residents are now actively using the service, which helps keep people up to date with issues such as school closures or problems on the roads by logging onto sites like facebook and twitter.

Launched in December 2009, the county council's winter alerts system was a new information service to help residents and visitors to Northumberland get the latest information on how the weather was affecting services.

The alerts system provides instant, real-time information on things like local weather warnings, school closures, road closures, flood alerts, delays to bin collections and any major emergencies.

Updated by council staff and teachers, the alerts appear instantly in a dedicated area at the top of the homepage and on social networking sites facebook and twitter.

Since its launch in December 2009, the alerts system has become increasingly popular.

According to research, more than 52 per cent of internet users in Northumberland now use social media sites in their

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Pictured: Hexham Abbey in winter 2010. everyday lives, making it a powerful tool for keeping residents informed. In an online review of the alerts many residents left positive comments of support for the county council's system.

host of other information about the county as well as providing a system where people can report things like potholes or fly tipping.

So far, more than 2,000 people have downloaded the app from iTunes.

People with smart phones are also able to access real-time information on the move, which has seen the community engaged in local conversations about what's happening on the ground and helping each other resolve problems.

Councillor Jeff Reid, leader of Northumberland County Council said: “We now keep the alerts open all year round so people can access information whatever time of year. When we get bad weather it can really have an impact so this lets people get the information they need in a faster, clearer way. We have almost 3,000 miles of roads and more than 180 schools so our alerts system has been really useful.�

More than 1,000 alerts were issued during the last cold snap with thousands of residents accessing them via social networking sites, but also through the council's own website, which saw an extra 350,000 visitors.

Northumberland also has its own iPhone app, which lets people access the alerts and a

More information about downloading the app for free and other ways to stay up to date is available on the council's website at www.northumberland.gov.uk/ iphone

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

Markets - real good news

Pictured (from left): Market trader Gary Lock with Councillors Anita Romer and Alan Thompson at Ashington Market.

Markets in Northumberland are the 'real deal' – and that's official!

Northumberland County Council has signed up to the national 'Real Deal' campaign – demonstrating its commitment to ensuring safe, fair and legal markets across the county and protecting shoppers from fake goods.

Through signing up to the Real Deal charter, the council will benefit from working together with traders, industry groups, copyright and trademark owners and other local authorities to tackle the problems associated

with counterfeit and pirated goods.

and asked to sign up to a code of practice.

At the heart of the Real Deal campaign is a national markets’ charter which sets out key principles for market operators, trading standards and industry and trademark representatives to sign up to and abide by.

Real Deal is supported by Crimestoppers and Consumer Direct as well as several big business names, such as Manchester United FC, Adidas, GHD hair products, FACT (representing the film and TV sectors) and BPI (the British Recorded Music Industry).

The council's trading standards and neighbourhood services teams have been working together with regular market traders across the county to meet the requirements of the charter, which will be displayed at all of the markets it manages in Northumberland.

All traders have been provided with information about Real Deal

Information about fake goods on sale in Northumberland should be reported to Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

For more information about markets in Northumberland visit www.northumberland.gov.uk/ markets or phone 0845 600 6400.

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Wedding fair success

Pictured: Heather Farrar, registrar (left), exhibitor Wendy Smith (centre) from Café Des Amis and Gillian Turner, clerk to Morpeth Town Council (right).

Couples planning their big day were invited to meet registrars and specialist suppliers at the county's newest wedding venue last month.

The historic town hall was originally designed in 1714 by Sir John Vanbrugh who is perhaps better known for his work at such landmark buildings as Blenheim Palace, Castle Howard and Seaton Delaval Hall.

More than 200 couples attended the wedding fair at Morpeth Town Hall along with 20 local businesses, including photographers, jewellers, wedding outfitters, florists, car hire companies and cake makers from in and around the town.

Following extensive refurbishment, Morpeth Town Hall has become an impressive and popular venue for all Morpeth Register Office weddings and civil partnerships.

Gillian Turner, clerk of Morpeth Town Council said: “Morpeth Town Hall is a very versatile venue, so whether you are planning a small intimate wedding, or would like something more lavish, I am sure our team will be able to help you to plan your special day.”

Lorraine Dewison is responsible for the registration service at Northumberland County Council, She said: “The wedding fair gave brides and grooms-to-be, as well as their families and friends, a great opportunity to explore this fantastic wedding and reception venue. At the same time they were able to

The event was organised by Morpeth Town Council and Northumberland County Council.

For further information about weddings and civil ceremonies at Morpeth Town Hall, or any other venue in the county, please contact our wedding ceremonies co-ordination team on 01665 602870.

Throughout the day, Northumberland County Council's registrars, who officiate over weddings and civil services, were available to meet couples and show them around the rooms where the wedding ceremonies and functions can take place.

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meet a wide a range of local wedding suppliers who will be able to help them make their wedding day special.”

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

Get active this winter!

Leisure centres across Northumberland are running special events in the build-up to Christmas and many are offering New Year offers for those determined to get active in 2012.

Blyth Valley Arts and Leisure's '12 Days of Fitness' is perfect for those looking to kick-start a resolution to exercise. For just ÂŁ12 the offer entitles each person to 12 days use of all BVAL gyms, fitness classes and swimming pools.

Vouchers can be bought any time until the end of December and will be activated any time from January 2012. Once used the vouchers entitle the holder to enjoy 12 consecutive days of fitness in the BVAL centres, which include: Blyth Sports Centre, Concordia Leisure Centre, Sporting Club Blyth, Sporting Club Cramlington, Ashington Leisure Centre and Newbiggin Leisure Centre.

For more information visit www.bval.co.uk or phone 01670 542222.

North Country Leisure runs centres in Alnwick, Hexham and Prudhoe. Details of the full Christmas and New Year programmes are available from www.northcountryleisure.org.uk or phone 01434 613 200.

To contact Berwick's Swan Centre for Leisure for Christmas and New Year opening hours visit www.teesactivelimited.co.uk/ swan or telephone 01289 330603.

Harpers Health and Fitness runs centres in Morpeth and Ponteland. For more information about the winter programme of events visit: www.harpersfitness.co.uk/gyms/ riverside-leisure-centre-morpeth or call 01670 514665 for Morpeth or visit: www.harpersfitness.co.uk/gyms/ ponteland-leisure-centre or telephone: 01661 825441 for Ponteland.

Win an annual membership to your local leisure centre Olympic year could be the inspiration for many of us to try a new activity. For a chance to win an annual membership to your local sports centre, please answer the following question.

On what date will the Olympic torch relay first arrive in Northumberland next year?

Please send your answer, marked leisure membership competition, by email to: communications@ northumberland.gov.uk or by post to: Communications, Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF. Entries must arrive by Friday 23 December and the winner (who will be able to pick one from a selection of leisure membership packages) will be chosen at random from all the correct answers.

Please provide a daytime telephone number.

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The U Northumberland – free training sessions for you Ever wondered what people have the potential to learn in 90 minutes? The U Northumberland, a new venture from the Young Foundation, can give you the answer.

During one of The U's sessions you could learn to save a life, defuse conflict or even save some money and energy - and attending sessions is free of charge!

The U launched two months ago and has been running free first aid sessions around Northumberland. Teaching British Red Cross approved first aid training, the sessions are run by volunteer hosts - people from across Northumberland who have attended The U training weekend.

First Aid sessions are on now and more Be A Lifesaver first aid sessions are booked for December 2011 and January 2012: l Saturday 10 December, 10am to 11.30am at

Hexham Community Centre l Wednesday 21 December, 7pm to 8.30pm at Hexham Community Centre l Saturday 14 January, 10am to 11.30am at Hexham Community Centre l Thursday 26 January 7pm to 8.30pm at Hexham Community Centre You can register here: www.the-u.org.uk/northumberland/upcomingevents or phone 07535 976 931. Any costs incurred in coming to the sessions will be reimbursed. New module and 'Host' training starts soon.

Pictured: Participants at a session run by the U. The next module coming up at The U Northumberland will share some basic but essential communication skills to help you manage day-to-day stresses and difficult situations. These sessions will begin in early January.

Training is also planned for individuals to become volunteer 'Hosts' in December and January. Check the website: www.the-u.org.uk/Northumberland for more details.

If you are interested in having a session at your community centre or business, contact project manager Olav Veldhuizen on 07535 976 931 or email northumberland@the-u.org.uk To check dates and sign up for a free Be A Lifesaver first aid training session go to: www.the-u.org.uk/northumberland/upcomingevents/ or contact Olav as above.

For further information about The U Northumberland visit: www.the-u.org.uk/Northumberland 22

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

has broad appeal Northumberland County Council has launched a campaign to bring superfast broadband to every home and business in Northumberland.

Backed by £7.03m of Government money, the programme will focus on ensuring that everyone has access to a standard service of 2 Mbps, with 90% of the population able to access superfast speeds – currently defined as 25 Mbps – by 2015.

Broadband glossary: Megabits per second (Mbps) – is a term used to measure internet data transfer speeds.

What you can do over the internet, depends on what speed your service provides: ?

1Mbps – basic web browsing, internet

radio, gaming ?

2Mbps – should play standard quality

catch-up TV ?

4Mbps – support higher quality video

content ?

8Mbps – play HD video over the

connection Faster speeds above 8Mbps are ideal for doing all of the above at the same time.

Over the past fifteen years, the internet has changed the way most of us do things. As connection speeds get faster and faster, new technology emerges to move more and more of our lives online – transforming businesses, home lives and public services.

The council recognises that better and faster internet connections will be essential to the future of our county and our ability to attract highquality and lasting employment opportunities into Northumberland.

The private sector is planning high-speed connections to some areas - with towns such as Morpeth and Hexham soon able to reach superfast speeds in excess of 25Mbps. However, in our rural communities where there are fewer people and the geography makes it expensive to install faster connections, service providers cannot be relied upon to fund the necessary improvements. This is why the government has made available through local authorities a pot of money to fund rural broadband improvements.

The first stage in securing the £7 million funding for our county has been the development of a Local Broadband Plan. This document has been produced with input and support from the many business groups, voluntary and public sector organisations that operate throughout Northumberland. This plan will be submitted to government for approval and we hope to receive a response early in the New Year.

A requirement of our plan is to clearly illustrate how we will focus resources on upgrading our networks, alongside evidence from across the community that the people of Northumberland want a faster broadband network. In order to gather this information, we launched the iNorthumberland campaign in early autumn.

People from across the county were asked to visit the campaign website – www.inorthumberland.org.uk – to tell the project team why they want faster and more reliable internet connections and the response was incredible.

The iNorthumberland campaign will build over the next few months, please continue to look out for details in local papers, libraries and leisure centres as we work together to bring about better connections for all.

By 2015, everyone in Northumberland can expect to see an improvement in their internet connection in terms of both speed and reliability. For those currently unable to get online at all – you will finally be able to join the digital revolution.

To find out the latest on the iNorthumberland campaign, please visit our website: www.inorthumberland.org.uk 23

Woodhorn delves into the Delavals A new exhibition at Woodhorn Museum and Archives explores the life of one of Northumberland's most famous families.

A Cut Above: Delve into the Delavals is a fascinating look at life in Seaton Sluice in the late 1700s.

Taking the opening of the new harbour as a focal point, the exhibition links this event and various characters from the community to illustrate the way of life at the time. Visitors can find out about both members of the Delaval family and those who worked for the estate.

The exhibition has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and to hours of painstaking work by staff at the Northumberland Archives at Woodhorn, near Ashington.

The details have been carefully extracted from an extensive collection of Delaval documentation.

Now the information can be accessed through the study centre at Woodhorn for anyone wishing to explore it in detail. For the general public, this colourful exhibition makes the information from the archives easily accessible.

Woodhorn director, Keith Merrin, believes such exhibitions are the perfect way to be both informed and entertained at the same time. He said: “Although there are many regular users of the archives at Woodhorn, most people have their own specific projects to research. Few would think about delving into a random subject, so having the facility to be able to showcase a wonderful collection and the staff to be able to mount an exhibition is fantastic.”

The opening of Woodhorn in 2006 brought together a museum and public archive centre which has created new opportunities to uncover and share the region's history. This exhibition is just one of a programme of events taking place during Woodhorn's fifth anniversary year.

A Cut Above: Delve into the Delavals will be on show at Woodhorn until 23 December.

Full details of the birthday celebrations and all of Woodhorn's events and services are available at www.experiencewoodhorn.com

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Pictured: Dr Liz O’Donnell from Woodhorn who has carried out much of the research for the exhibition. She is pictured with an original letter from the collection and the exhibition illustration of Susanna Delaval to whom the letter was sent.

Directions Woodhorn is just off the A189 Coastal Route east of Ashington, Northumberland.

Opening hours The main museum and galleries: Wednesday – Sunday (plus Monday and Tuesday in school holidays and Bank Holiday Mondays) October to March – 10am to 4pm April to September – 10am to 5pm The Northumberland Archives and Study Centre: Wednesday – Sunday (Closed all bank holidays) 10am – 4pm all year

Christmas and New Year arrangements 2011/2012 The museum and archives at Woodhorn will close at 4pm on Friday 23 December 2011.

They will reopen at 10am on Wednesday 4 January 2012.

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

Maltings breaks records with 'best-ever' year England's northernmost theatre has enjoyed a record-breaking year.

The success of The Maltings Theatre & Cinema in Berwickupon-Tweed, is evident in figures contained in its recently released annual report and accounts.

“It appears that we've broken almost every record in our history,” said Dr Miles Gregory, chief executive and artistic director at the busy Berwick venue. “From bar sales to box office income. This is an incredible time for our theatre and the whole town should be very proud of The Maltings.”

The Maltings, once a struggling arts centre with a chequered financial history and selling just 23,000 tickets a year, is now – just three years later – a flagship regional venue selling almost 50,000 tickets annually with a national reputation for excellence and hospitality.

The decision taken by the Trustees in late 2008 to adopt a bold, innovative, approach to

turn around the theatre's fortunes has led to results this year, which would have been unthinkable in the past.

The theatre's box office income at the year ending 31 March 2011 is 44% higher than the previous year. Since 2008, income from ticket sales has increased by 96%. Box office income is now nearly three times greater than 2006-07.

The team at The Maltings has been working extremely hard to consolidate the venue's reputation as the North-East's leading mid-scale theatre by focussing on the quality of the work presented and thinking carefully about the customers' experience.

The theatre's Arts Council funding will be quadrupled from April 2012, the fourth highest percentage increase in the country. This future increase in funding is regarded as representing a vote of confidence on the part of the

Arts Council in The Maltings' track record.

The Maltings is currently funded

by Northumberland County Council and Arts Council England.

Dr Miles Gregory (pictured) said: “None of this would have been possible without the support of Northumberland county council.

The council clearly understands the vast economic and social benefits that The Maltings brings to our region. The funding we receive from the county council is absolutely critical to our continued survival” For more information about The Maltings, or to view a full programme of events, visit: www.maltingsberwick.co.uk or telephone the box office on 01289 330 999.

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www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

Apprenticeships – bringing real benefits to your business Could you employ an apprentice in your workplace?

Would you like to: l Motivate your workforce? Apprentices tend to be eager, motivated, flexible and loyal to the

companies that invest in them. l Improve your cost effectiveness? Offering an apprenticeship can lower your recruitment costs and

help succession planning. l Broaden the skills within your team? Apprenticeships deliver skills designed around your

business needs providing the skilled workers you need for the future.

Did you know? l Apprenticeships are open to all age groups from

16 years to 65 years. l The apprenticeship programme can support your existing workforce as well as new employees recruited into your business. l There are more than 200 different types of apprenticeships available offering more than 1,200 job roles within a variety of industry sectors. l There are three levels of apprenticeships available: l You can use the National Apprenticeship vacancies online system to advertise and recruit apprentices into your business at no cost to your workplace.

Find out how apprenticeships can help to support your business needs - contact Debra Lowes: Phone: 01670 533521 or email: debra.lowes@northumberland.gov.uk

Council extends its telephone opening hours Customer contact centre opening hours have been extended to make it easier for people to do business with the county council.

Telephone lines will now open an extra two hours in the evenings, Monday to Friday from 8am until 7pm.

Staff in the contact centre take in the region of 28,000 calls every month from customers

wishing to make a payment or needing information and support on a wide range of issues.

The extension is a trial. The number of calls will be logged and if the new telephone opening hours prove popular with the public the council will retain the new service.

You can contact the Customer Service Centre at 0845 600 6400 or email: ask@northumberland.gov.uk

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Councilmeetings Thursday, 1 December, 2011 l Area Planning Committee - North 6pm Alnwick Council Chamber, Clayport Street, Alnwick, NE66 1LA. Monday, 5 December, 2011 Executive l 2pm Committee Room 1, County Hall, Morpeth.

Tuesday, 6 December, 2011 Planning and Environment Committee l 6pm Council Chamber, County Hall, Morpeth.

Wednesday, 7 December, 2011 County Council l 3pm Council Chamber, County Hall, Morpeth.

Monday, 19 December, 2011 Executive l 2pm Committee Room 1, County Hall, Morpeth.

Economic Prosperity & Strategic Services l Overview and Scrutiny Committee 10am Committee Room 1.

Tuesday, 20 December, 2011 Area Planning Committee - South East l 6pm Isabella Community Centre, Ogle Drive, Blyth, NE24 5JF. Wednesday, 21 December, 2011 Area Planning Committee - West l 2pm Venue to be confirmed.

Family and Children's Services Overview and l Scrutiny Committee 2pm Committee Room 1, County Hall, Morpeth.

Monday, 12 December, 2011 Area Committee - North l 6pm Venue to be confirmed.

Wednesday, 4 January, 2012 Planning and Environment Committee l 6pm Council Chamber, County Hall, Morpeth.

Tuesday, 13 December, 2011 Area Committee - West l 6pm Corbridge Church of England First School, St. Helen's Lane, Corbridge, NE45 5JQ.

Thursday, 5 January, 2012 Area Planning Committee - North l 6pm Alnwick Council Chamber, Clayport Street, Alnwick, NE66 1LA.

Wednesday, 14 December, 2011 Area Committee - South East l 6pm Choppington Social Welfare Centre, Colliery Road, Scotland Gate, Choppington.

Communities & Place Overview & Scrutiny l Committee 2pm Committee Room 1, County Hall, Morpeth.

Thursday, 15 December, 2011 Care and Well-being Overview & Scrutiny l Committee 2pm Committee Room 1, County Hall, Morpeth.

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Monday, 9 January, 2012 Area Committee - North l 6pm Venue to be confirmed.

Executive l 2pm Committee Room 1, County Hall, Morpeth.

Tuesday, 10 January, 2012 l Area Committee - West 6pm Venue to be confirmed. l Communities & Place Overview & Scrutiny Committee 2pm Woodhorn Museum, QEII Country Park, Ashington, NE63 9YF

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400 Wednesday, 11 January, 2012 Area Committee - South East l 6pm Isabella Community Centre, Ogle Drive, Blyth, NE24 5JF

Wednesday, 25 January, 2012 Homes for Northumberland - Strategic Board l 6pm Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Blyth.

Tuesday, 17 January, 2012 Area Planning Committee - South East l 6pm Adamson Suite, Choppington Social Welfare Centre, Colliery Road, Scotland Gate, Choppington.

Thursday, 26 January, 2012 Family and Children's Services Overview and l Scrutiny Committee 2pm Committee Room 1, County Hall, Morpeth.

Strategic Group l 10am Committee Room 2, County Hall, Morpeth.

Wednesday, 18 January, 2012 Area Planning Committee - West l 6pm Venue to be confirmed.

Thursday, 19 January, 2012 Care and Well-being Overview & Scrutiny l Committee 2pm Committee Room 1, County Hall, Morpeth.

Licensing and Regulatory Subcommittee l 10am Venue to be confirmed.

Monday, 23 January, 2012 Economic Prosperity & Strategic Services l Overview and Scrutiny Committee 10am Venue to be confirmed.

Monday, 30 January, 2012 Economic Prosperity & Strategic Services l Overview and Scrutiny Committee 10am Venue to be confirmed.

Wednesday, 1 February, 2012 County Council l 3pm Council Chamber, County Hall, Morpeth.

A full list of meetings is available at www.northumberland.gov.uk. Meeting dates and venues can change. Before attending please check the website or contact committee services on 0845 600 6400 to confirm details.

Tuesday, 24 January, 2012 l Housing and Care Services Working Group 10am Venue to be confirmed.

Make your voice heard Would you like to find out more about how the county council makes its decisions and how you can have your say?

Organisations and groups of individuals who would like to find out more are invited to contact the county council's committee services team to register their interest.

Earlier this year, Northumberland County councillors and officers ran a series of local

democracy workshops in July and then again in November to help and encourage residents to get involved in the democratic process in Northumberland.

During each workshop topics covered included: attending committee meetings, residents' speaking rights at meetings, raising issues with councillors, accessing and requesting information held by the council and how to petition the council.

For further information, please call Committee Services on 0845 600 6400 or email demserv.ar@northumberland.gov.uk.

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Whats on?

December Throughout December Family wreath making at The Alnwick Garden The Alnwick Garden, Denwick Lane, Alnwick www.alnwickgarden.com Phone: 01665 511350 Friday December 2 Christmas by Twilight at Wallington Hall Wallington, Morpeth until 7pm See the house decorated and lit for Christmas Christmas events also running 3-4, 10-11 and 1718 December www.nationaltrust.org.uk Phone: 01670 773600 Saturday December 3 Morpeth Christmas Farmers' Market, Market Place, Morpeth 9am - 2.30pm.

Sunday December 4 Christmas Fayre at Woodhorn Museum Woodhorn Museum and Archives, Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, near Ashington Seasonal foods and unique crafts www.experiencewoodhorn.com Phone: 01670 52 80 80 11am - 4pm.

Saturday December 10 Hexham Christmas Market and Abbey Fair Santa and his reindeer face painting, carol singing, seasonal food, crafts and gifts from around the region www.visithexham.net 9am-3pm.

Christmas Fayre at Berwick Guildhall Berwick-upon-Tweed www.b-a-r-k.co.uk 10am - 2pm Sunday December 11 Dickensian Christmas Market at Marygate, Berwick More than 50 stalls selling gifts, food and festive fayre Phone: 01289 332455 11am-4pm.

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Friday December 16 Santa and his reindeer come to Spittal Berwick-upon-Tweed Phone: 01289 306387 Sunday December 18 Berwick Christmas Farmers' Market The Maltings, Berwick www.maltingsberwick.co.uk Phone: 01289 330 999 10am-1.30pm.

Friday December 23 Alnwick Christmas Farmers' Market Market Place, Alnwick Local fresh vegetables and goodies for the festive period 9am - 2pm.

Monday December 26 Spittal Boxing Day Dip Berwick-upon-Tweed www.spittalisgreat.co.uk Phone: 01289 306387 Tuesday December 27 A Christmas Carol (runs until Thursday 29 December) Belsay Hall www.english-heritage.org.uk/events Phone: 0870 3331183.

Saturday December 31 Allendale Tar Barl's Ceremony Discover this ancient tradition dating back hundreds of years whereby the old year is burnt out by a procession of blazing tar barrels, which are then thrown to light a bonfire. A true Northumbrian spectacle!

Phone: 0191 2860551.

To find out more about events happening across the county go to www.visitnorthumberland.com or www.northumberlandlife.org

www.northumberland.gov.uk | Phone 0845 600 6400

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Social care and health information point Do you have a disability or a long-term illness, or look after someone who does?

We can help you by offering advice and assistance about: l Support groups in your area, which can put you in touch with other people in similar situations l Issues you may have about getting around at home or going out l Activities in the area to suit you l Entitlements you may have to support l How social services and other organisations may be able to support you Our information points will be opening from 12th December 2011 in libraries in Amble, Berwick, Haltwhistle, Morpeth and the information centre in Cramlington. Call in at your local information point or book an appointment by phoning 01670 536 400 or emailing socialcare@nct.nhs.uk You can also visit the Northumberland libraries website at infopoint.mylibrary.co.uk to find out more.

Informing you‌ Supporting you In partnership with