One Darlington May 2018

one

Darlington May 2018

An ingenious magazine for an ingenious town named the 7th best place to live in the UK

Walk this way

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I’m enjoying

FREE

childcare… ...is your 2 year old?

Check your child’s eligibility for up to 15 hours a week – have your national insurance number to hand and go online: www.darlington.gov.uk/childchecker, call the council’s people and families information support team on 406222 or email pfis@darlington.gov.uk

FREE 30 Hours Childcare for 3 & 4 year olds of working families.

Do you earn less than £100,000 a year ?

Are both parents, or th e sole parent, working the equivalent of at least 16 hours per week at the national minimum wage?

Is your child attending childcare or nursery?

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ilies Informa tio Fam n nd

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For more information speak to your childcare provider, nursery or school, or call the Council’s People and Families Information Support Team on 406222 or email pfis@darlington.gov.uk

Peop le a

If so, they may be entitled to a further 15 hours of FREE childcare a week.

DARLINGTON SEND ADVICE

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Showing that cares Welcome to Darlington One Darlington As chairman of the Friends of South Park, I was thrilled to be asked to be guest editor for this edition, which focuses on the environment.

Since it opened more than 160 years ago, South Park has been an important open space for both local people and visitors to enjoy. The Grade II listed park stretches across 91 acres with features including a bandstand, aviary, multi-use games area, lake, toddler and junior play parks, bowling green and green gym as well as our more formal garden areas.

The Friends aim to enhance the park by working with its management and staff, and listening to the views and suggestions of its users.

There are some exciting new developments coming up, which you can read about on page 10, and I do hope you will all continue to support our efforts and enjoy what’s on offer!

We are very proud of the great children’s facilities we have at South Park and you can read more about other organisations encouraging youngsters to enjoy the great outdoors on page 13.

The new walking routes and maps, detailed on page 4 and 5, are also a great way to get the whole family to enjoy the Darlington countryside together.

There are lots of exciting events on in town in the coming weeks – turn to page 16 to find out about the new Food Festival, page 17 for news of the annual Community Carnival and page 24 for information about the Arts Festival. There are also lots of ideas for things to do and places to visit in the What’s On pages 20 to 22.

I do hope this edition of One Darlington inspires you to get out and about to enjoy what our local environment has to offer. If you want to get more involved in what’s happening at South Park you can find out more about the Friends at www.southparkdarlington.co.uk

John Throw Chairman of Friends of South Park

Inside this issue 6-7

What happens to your recycling?

11

Changes at the Town Hall

______________________________________ ______________________________________ 14-15 The great outdoors

______________________________________ 18

Claim what's yours

______________________________________ 26-27 Get dressed, get moving, get home

______________________________________ 28

Tackling arson

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One Darlington is published by One Darlington Partnership, Room 106, Town Hall, Darlington.

Email editor@onedarlington.org.uk Design and production – Xentrall Shared Services.

Distribution – Swift Advertising NE Ltd. Tel: 0191 2653207.

The next edition will be distributed from 2 July. If you do not receive a copy by 12 July, please call 406056.

www.onedarlington.org.uk

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Walk your way to hea

May is National Walking Month and, with warmer weather just around the corner, it’s a great time to think about getting out to enjoy the countryside on our doorstep.

There are now even more walks to enjoy as eight new circular walks, branching from the Teesdale Way, are being added to the many that already exist.

The new walks have been put together with the help of River Tees Rediscovered and Let’s Go Tees Valley and are available, alongside other popular routes, at www.letsgoteesvalley.co.uk Leaflets on some of these walks are available at the Dolphin Centre and Crown Street library or can be downloaded from the website.

If you have a spare 20 minutes or a few hours, there will be a walk to suit you, and many of these link up to make a longer route. Walking is free and good for you and, with 350km of public rights of way, ten local nature reserves, seven parks, three community woodlands and numerous other open spaces, there are plenty of places to explore in Darlington.

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Walking is wonderful • It can save you money – swapping the car to walk the school run, for example, could save you almost £400 per year. Also, children who walk to school are often more alert • According to medical research, regular walking lowers blood pressure, reduces cholesterol, enhances mental wellbeing and helps prevent osteoporosis • People who walk regularly tend to be happier, laugh more and have reduced stress levels • If you’ve got a few pounds to lose, walking is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to slim down.

www.darlington.gov.uk/rightsofway

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ealth and happiness Let your fingers do the walking For more details on walking groups, local routes and maps visit the Let’s Go Tees Valley website www.letsgoteesvalley.co.uk Do you love walking? Have you considered leading walks for other people? We are looking for volunteer walk leaders. If you are interested please contact Natalie Whitworth at Groundwork on 464270 or email natalie.whitworth@groundwork.org.uk

Q&A

with Steve Petch the council's public rights of way officer

Tell us a bit about your role I’m responsible for maintaining, managing, improving and promoting the 350km of public rights of way – footpaths and bridleways – across the borough.

What’s your typical day?

Some days I’ll be out and about inspecting footpaths to make sure they are safe. Where there are problems, I need to work with landowners to address them. I receive queries from the public, landowners, developers, colleagues and councillors on a wide range of things. These might include dealing with a planning application that affects a public footpath, property searches, proposed path diversions or issues with access to paths.

What are you hoping to achieve?

A well used, well managed network of footpaths and bridleways, accessible to as many people as possible. I want more people to know about and use the treasure on their doorstep – our amazing network of walks, our lovely countryside; and to enjoy the benefits of getting out and about and being more active. I want to make sure that landowners and path users are aware of their rights and responsibilities. That way, more people will be able to enjoy what we have on offer.

What do you have planned?

There are lots of exciting things coming up including the creation of major cycling and walking routes celebrating the environment and history of the River Tees, the River Skerne and the Stockton and Darlington Railway. I am also looking at how volunteers can get involved in monitoring the condition of local paths and bridleways and I will be updating our pages on the council’s website, www.darlington.gov.uk/rightsofway, so people can find out how they can help.

www.darlington.gov.uk/rightsofway

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Have you ever wondered what happens to the rubbish you recycle?

Journey o

Follow a single tin can on its journey from your bin back to your cupboard!

You can watch the video of the journey of a tin can at www.darlington.gov.uk/recycleright

4. The bins are emptied into the right part of the wagon

7. Recycling is sorted and separated 06

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1. You recycle right

5. Wagons go to the r

8. Sorted recycling is bailed www.darlington.gov.uk/recycleright

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y of a tin can...

2. Put your recycling out for collection

go to the recycling centre

3. The wagon arrives

6. Everyone’s recycling is put together

10. Back in your cupboard ready to #recycleright again!

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9. Recycling is sent to be made into something useful www.darlington.gov.uk/recycleright

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The Great Park Auction!

Four parks were up for grabs in a very special Darlington Cares auction.

The auction gave Darlington Cares members the chance to bid to donate hours of volunteering to support one of the town’s parks.

Staff from the winning organisations will work in the parks over the summer, giving their time to maintain and improve the local environment.

Eastbourne Park Winning bid: 465.5 hours Bid by: Cummins

Chelsea Johnson, programme officer for Darlington Cares, said: “The competition between the organisations was fierce and in total 2,135 (and a half!) hours were bid. This amount of time will make a real difference to these parks and the residents who use them.”

Green Park Winning bid: 420 hours Bid by: Capita

Darlington Cares matches the volunteering skills of Darlington businesses and their staff with local projects that would benefit from their support.

DARLINGTONCARES The Denes Winning bid: 750 hours Bid by: EE

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North Lodge Park Winning bid: 500 hours Bid by: Darlington Building Society

/darlingtoncares

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Keep up to date in Darlington

#LoveDarlo is supported by retailers and businesses across the town centre in partnership with the council

Check out #LoveDarlo on Facebook and Instagram and keep up to date with the latest about everything that’s going on in Darlington town centre.

Packed full of news, events, offers and fun stuff about our town, #LoveDarlo is an independent voice to shout about everything good from retailers, leisure centres, pubs and restaurants.

Search for ‘Love Darlo’ on Facebook and Instagram and show your love for our town!

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Follow us on

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Summer of fun in store at South Park Fun will be brought to the fore as crazy golf comes to South Park this summer.

A new collaboration between Richmondshire Leisure Trust (RLT), South Park Bowls Club and the Friends of South Park is set to open up more attractions and improve facilities across the park.

The RLT has secured funding and support from local companies to create the crazy golf course with work expected to finish later this month.

The trust has also made improvements to the café, extended its opening times and is selling bird seed, packaged by Friends volunteers, to help raise funds for the park. Visitors can also try bowling, with equipment available from the café, for £2 per person.

The bowls club is looking for people of all abilities to join up with a special membership offer of £39 a year which includes a free club shirt and unlimited access to the green and equipment.

If you’re interested call Scott on 07984 603455 or email scott@southparkbowls.co.uk The Friends of South Park carry out work in the park once a month and hold regular meetings to share ideas about enhancing the area. Visit www.southparkdarlington.co.uk for more information or follow them on Facebook.

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www.darlington.gov.uk

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Paul Wildsmith (centre) with Ian Williams and Suzanne Joyner

Meet the new team Changes to the council’s senior management structure will come into effect on Friday 1 June, when Paul Wildsmith becomes managing director.

The new role merges the current positions of chief executive and director of resources and was created following a further review of senior management costs. Paul will take over the top officer role at the council from Ada Burns who is retiring after 12 years as chief executive.

Council leader Bill Dixon said: “Paul’s experience and knowledge of the council made him a perfect candidate for the new job. I would also like to put on record my thanks to Ada for her leadership and dedication and wish her the very best for whatever venture she takes on next.”

As managing director Paul will head up the council’s workforce and be the lead advisor to councillors, while also being directly responsible for functions including finance, human resources, ICT and legal services.

Paul will work alongside two directors – Suzanne Joyner, director of children and adult’s services and Ian Williams, director of economic growth and neighbourhood services.

www.darlington.gov.uk

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Paul has been a director at the council since 1999 and has more than 30 years’ experience in local government. He is a qualified accountant who also previously worked for Durham County Council and Stockton Borough Council as an assistant director.

Born and bred in Darlington, Paul attended Abbey and Hummersknott schools and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College before studying at Teesside Polytechnic.

He said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a director with the council, working for your home town is a dream job. There have been many challenging times but equally many exciting ones, perhaps the highlight was being privileged to lead on the refurbishment of the Hippodrome Theatre, I am so proud of what the team delivered.

“There are great opportunities ahead, one of which is the potential regeneration of Bank Top Station and the surrounding area and we will be working closely with the Tees Valley Combined Authority on this and many other projects to improve the local and regional economies.

“Local government continues to face challenging times but I am confident the council will meet the challenges it faces and prosper.”

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Sweet smell of success Volunteers and businesses are making the town centre look blooming lovely for our entry into this year’s Northumbria In Bloom.

We have entered the ‘best city centre’ category in the competition which aims to encourage and celebrate community gardening.

Many businesses will display hanging baskets and have agreed to sponsor and maintain planters. The judges will also visit the Atisha Kadampa meditation centre which has created an eco-friendly community garden on a verge near Feethams roundabout.

Kelsang Dragden, a teacher at the centre, said: “We’re very happy to be able to share a lovely garden space with everyone to enjoy.”

The smallest park in Britain, the Gerald Lee pocket park, created by members of the South Terrace Residents Association and Guerrilla Gardeners Darlington Division, under an advertising hoarding at the corner of South Feethams and Victoria Embankment, will also be on show.

Friends groups are hard at work in the four parks in the town centre, alongside Street Scene staff, planting and maintaining bedding plants.

Other residents regularly join volunteers from Darlington Cares, Street Champions and Street Scene workers, to carry out litter picks in the town centre.

In court

We take action against people who drop litter, fly tip and commit other environmental crimes. Some cases heard recently include: Fly tipping: Ian Weston, 30, Welbeck Avenue (two offences); Kirsty Etherington, 32, West Auckland Road (and failure to answer questions); Cara Taylor, 43, Lansdowne Street (and failure to answer questions); Jamie Welch, 41, Nightingale Avenue (and failure to produce an authority for transporting If you pay someone to take rubbish controlled waste, failing to comply with a request to produce away, you must check they have a waste transfer notes and failure to answer questions). licence and they plan to dispose of Abandoned vehicle: Arthur Callaghan, 62, Croft Road, it legally. If your waste is fly tipped, Eaglescliffe; Tomasz Noga, Grainger Street; Andrei Chiricea, you could be fined, even if you have Ridley Gardens, Swalwell, Gateshead. paid someone else to take it away.

Section 110 offences (failure to answer questions): We can get rid of large items for you. We charge £16.83 for up to six Stacey Baldam, 31, Tennyson Close, Grangetown, Middlesbrough; Dean Clark, 23, Neasham Road, Middleton St items (or 12 black bags of household George; Bryony Collett, 21, Station Road; Savanna Cummings, waste) or £8.36 for up to ten bags of garden waste. Call 405111 or email 27, Wolsingham Terrace; Daniel Glasper, 29, Brunton Street; customerservices@darlington.gov.uk Paula Pitt, 30, Brunton Street; Tina Lumley, 45, Victoria Road to arrange. (and breach of community protection notice).

All addresses are Darlington unless otherwise stated and numbers are ages.

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www.onedarlington.org.uk

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In depth look at careers School children have submerged themselves in underwater technology to look indepth at careers in offshore industries.

Students from Wyvern Academy were given a hands-on experience of subsea engineering at a Foundation for Jobs event hosted by Darlington College.

The Year 9 students took part in a range of activities including building and testing mini remotely operated vehicles developed by the US Office of Naval Research.

Student Emily Bell, 14, said: “Building the robot was a lot of fun and has shown how science can be used in a practical way.”

Foundation for Jobs co-ordinator Owen McAteer said: “In the North East we have the highest youth unemployment rates in the country and yet we also have highly skilled industries that cannot recruit due to massive skills shortages.

“We need to try and address this shortfall by getting students interested in science, engineering and technology subjects and letting them know about the vast range of well paid careers available on their doorstep.”

The Foundation for Jobs campaign is an initiative to tackle youth unemployment led by the council in association with One Darlington Partnership and private and public sector organisations.

Become a Wildlife Explorer Families are being invited to explore their wild side with a series of fun outdoor challenges around the borough.

The Darlington Wildlife Explorers, set up by the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust and Darlington & Teesdale Naturalists' Field Club, is running challenges to bring people together in the great outdoors.

For £5, you can buy a wildlife challenge pack which details a range of family-friendly challenges from den building and fossil hunting to animal tracking and growing wild flowers. As you complete the challenges you collect award stickers to become a Wildlife Explorer, Wildlife Recorder and Wildlife Hero.

Everyone who signs up is also invited to free, challenge events – the next is a mini monster hunt at Maidendale Nature Reserve on Sunday 5 August.

www.onedarlington.org.uk

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Club treasurer Martin Chisholm said: “We feel that sharing the knowledge of our group of very enthusiastic amateurs with the younger generation is key to sustaining and improving our wildlife and environment for the future, as well as our general health and wellbeing.”

To find out more visit www.tvgreenplaces.co.uk, call 01287 636382 or email santrobus@teeswildlife.org

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The nature of c Change is everywhere and Darlington, like many places, continues to develop and change as the population grows and businesses expand and relocate here.

To many, it may seem like the natural world gets forgotten in the quest for development and growth.

As a local authority, we have a responsibility to protect our borough’s green environment. We aim to achieve this by working with partners to protect and improve it, while still allowing for growth.

There are more than 25 green spaces across the borough, including parks, nature reserves and thriving community woodlands like those at Merrybent and South Burdon. More than 1,000 trees have been planted in Darlington in the past five years.

The Five Pound Note Bridge

Like nature, it is a fine balance.

Here are a few examples of how we have tried to achieve this balance:

Wildflower meadows Lots of people have welcomed the wildflower plantings that have sprung up along areas such as Tornado Way and more recently along the Teesdale Way and near the iconic Five Pound Note Bridge.

Working with farmers and partners such as Durham Wildlife Trust, almost 50 acres of new meadow and wildflower areas have been created since 2010.

These aren’t just a pretty sight, they provide homes for wildlife such as kestrel and barn owls and foraging areas for small mammals and for birds such as sklylarks to raise their young. The flowers provide essential nectar for bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Long forgotten plants such as cornflower, corn cockle and corn marigold have now made a welcome return.

West Park – Peter Giroux Photography

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www.darlington.gov.uk/green

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f change

Cocker Beck, seen from Eggleston View

Rivers and waterways Riverside Park

Riverside Park – a new green area in the centre of town is the beginning of work, in partnership with the Environment Agency, which will see a revitalised river in the town centre. Planned improvements will increase fish populations and create a more natural and healthy water habitat.

Restoration of the Cocker Beck –

working with the Tees Rivers Trust and with help from schools and the Friends group; an improved and more natural water way will encourage water vole to return.

Landscape restoration of the River Skerne from Durham to Darlington

– working with many partners, this project aims to improve how we view and use the river.

Green and pleasant Considerable investment has been made in our parks and open spaces – with quality landscaping at West Park and vibrant local nature reserves, such as Drinkfield Marsh and Maidendale, providing a haven for wildlife and a tranquil space for everyone to enjoy.

Many of these projects form part of the council’s Green Infrastructure Strategy – a 13 year plan to improve and develop the environment. For more information, visit www.darlington.gov.uk/green

Drinkfield Marsh – Peter Giroux Photography

www.darlington.gov.uk/green

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We want your pictures! Share your snaps of your favourite green and pleasant parts of our borough.

Email them to editor@onedarlington.org.uk and we’ll share our favourites on social media.

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BBC Fusion Chef Aazam Ahmad will kick off the festival with cookery demonstrations

Friday 25 May Monday 28 May Various town locations and times

Michelin award winning TV chef Jean-Christophe Novelli will show us how to cook some of his favourite recipes using fresh ingredients from Darlington Market on Saturday.

Visit www.darlingtonmarket.co.uk for information

A selection of the region's finest food producers will showcase their culinary delights in the town centre over the Spring Bank Holiday.

Sample delicious foods, pick up tips from food demonstrations and treat yourself to world cuisines from our street traders.

Come along and enjoy our great street theatre too!

SUPPORTED BY:

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT WWW.DARLINGTONMARKET.CO.UK AND FOLLOW DARLINGTON MARKET ON FACEBOOK.

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Get ready for heroic carnival A day full of fun, bravery and adventure is assured as this year’s Darlington Community Carnival takes on the theme of heroes and heroines.

Celebrations start in the Market Square on 30 June, before a colourful parade sets off at 11am making its way through the streets to Stanhope Park where there will be stalls, live music, Punch and Judy, bouncy castles, children’s sports and other activities to enjoy throughout the day until 5pm.

Thousands of pounds have been raised for local charities since the event launched in 1983 and Bike Stop is set to benefit this year.

Although the council supports the annual event, it is run by a dedicated committee of unpaid volunteers and funded by donations, local businesses and sponsorship. The main sponsor again this year is Darlington Bondgate Round Table.

Everyone is welcome to join in the fun.

You can keep up to date with what’s going on at www.facebook.com/darlingtoncommunitycarnival or @darlocarnival on Twitter.

Setting out a vision for young people A five-year plan, designed to help give children and young people the best start in life, has been launched.

The 2017-22 Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP) has been produced by the council, in partnership with young people, health professionals, the police, young carers, the voluntary sector and schools.

It will be reviewed each year between now and 2022, to identify key activities based on emerging needs.

Autism ambassador and artist Jonathan Raiseborough was invited to produce artwork for the front and back covers of the plan.

The CYPP sets out the priorities for children and young people for 2017-22

www.darlington.gov.uk

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Young people were invited to find out more about the plan, as well as trying a host of activities including yoga, archery and crafts, at a launch event at the Dolphin Centre.

To read the plan, visit www.darlington.gov.uk/cypp

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It’s your money, don’t lose it!

More than £26m of tax credits, benefits and other allowances is going unclaimed in Darlington every year.

The average unclaimed amount estimated at £3,000 per household.

This is money people are entitled to.

It could be helping families support themselves, businesses and the wider area.

Is this money yours?

Take time to check whether you, or someone you know, is missing out on money they are entitled to. Even if you and your loved ones are in work, retired, or already receiving some benefits, you could qualify for financial support.

Universal Credit will be rolled out in Darlington in June. It will replace six other working age means-tested benefits and tax credits with a single monthly payment. Some changes may affect you - make sure you’re ready for when it does.

If you ARE already receiving some working age benefits or tax credits

If you ARE NOT already claiming benefits or tax credits you may be entitled

You will need to make sure you are prepared for when Universal Credit is introduced next month. You’ll need to have a bank account and be able to get online.

You need to check your entitlement and claim before Universal Credit is introduced next month to ensure you receive the maximum amount you are entitled to.

To find out more about how you can prepare for the changes visit www.dwp.gov.uk/universal-credit-preparation

If you fail to claim before this date you may be entitled to less money. To find out more visit www.gov.uk/universal-credit

To find out what you and your family may be entitled to visit: www.onedarlington.org.uk/darlomillions There’s a calculator for you to work out if you may be eligible for any financial support.

For support and advice, visit www.darlingtoncab.co.uk or call 0300 330 1195.

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www.onedarlington.org.uk/darlomillions

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Operation Relentless in action

Crackdown on crime More than 50 people have been arrested during a crackdown on prolific criminals.

Operation Relentless was launched at the start of March to target thieves, burglars, shoplifters and other wanted suspects across the town.

As part of the operation, officers are also giving out crime prevention advice and reassurance to residents and businesses through pop-up Police and Communities Together (PACT) meetings and school visits.

Officers from CID, neighbourhood police teams and road policing units have been working together alongside regular patrols.

Search warrants have been carried out at properties in relation to drug use, suspected stolen goods and wanted suspects and road policing officers have patrolled in hotspot areas.

Thanks to these efforts dozens of arrests have been made for offences ranging from shoplifting, driving while disqualified and handling stolen goods, to robbery, fraud and possession of Class A drugs. A number of cars have also been seized for offences including driving with no insurance.

Detective Sergeant John Hoar said: “We have really been putting the pressure on local criminals through Operation Relentless and are seeing positive results.

“Our teams have been working extremely hard to carry out these activities and disrupt these prolific offenders who have been causing misery.

“We have been acting on intelligence from the local community and would urge anyone with any information about criminal activity in their area to contact us in total confidence on 742199, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Operation Relentless will continue to target prolific criminals in order to ensure that Darlington remains a safe place to live, work and visit.”

Some of the results so far include: • A 24 year old man sentenced to 24 weeks in prison for burglary, theft and criminal damage. He broke into The Health Warehouse, on Post House Wynd, on January 19 and stole tools and around £1,000 from a vehicle on the same day.

• A 34 year old was given a 12 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, after admitting five fraud offences and a charge of theft. He was also ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.

www.durham.police.uk

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An officer visits Cockerton primary school

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WHAT’S ON WHAT’S ON With summer just around the corner, there’s lots happening in and around the borough. Here are a few ideas…

MAY parkrun – every Saturday, 9am, South Park. Free 5k run. Pre-registration needed - visit www.parkrun.org.uk/ darlingtonsouthpark or email darlingtonsouthparkoffice@parkrun.com

Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde – Tuesday 15-Saturday 19, 7.30pm, Darlington Hippodrome. Tickets from £19. A twisted tale of nerve-jangling horror, this adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic gothic thriller stars Phil Daniels (Quadrophenia, EastEnders).

Royal Geographical Society presents Hugh Thompson: One Man and a Mule – Wednesday 16, 8pm, The Hullabaloo.

Tickets priced £13, with discounts available.

The Rat Pack – Tuesday 8-Saturday 12, 7.30pm, Darlington Hippodrome. Tickets from £22. The pack is back and this time they’re bringing Ella Fitzgerald along. Drift back in time to the glamorous, glitzy nights of the Las Vegas Sands Hotel.

Imagination Playground – Friday 11 May-Wednesday 13 June, Theatre Hullabaloo. Come along and imagine, invent, collaborate and play. Go wild, let your imagination be your guide, and invent your own games in your space. There are no rules here for what you create!

Admission is free, no need to book.

Open days – Saturday 12 and Sunday 13, 11am-5pm (last admission 4pm), Tees Cottage Pumping Station, Coniscliffe Road, DL3 8TF. Come and see the history of water supply in Darlington. Steam machinery will be running, including the Victorian Beam Engine, boiler and gas engine. The miniature railway should also be available (small extra cost). The café will be open for snacks. Admission £5 for adults, £4 concessions, children free.

Darlington Dance Festival – Saturday 19 and Sunday 20, 1-3pm, Market Square. Street theatre, ballet dancers and dance school performances. The popular mass dance will take place at 1pm on the Sunday.

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Posters Exhibition – Saturday 19 MaySunday 8 July, Head of Steam museum.

An exhibition showcasing a range of railway posters from the museum’s collection.

Normal opening hours and entrance fee applies.

NERA meeting: A Creative Tourist Eclipses the Scout Cruise – Saturday 19 May, 1.30pm, Head of Steam museum.

Sam Woods presents three short talks covering: the CTAC Scottish Tours Express which ran through the North-East, some of the LNER’s attempts to handle the huge influx of passenger traffic prompted by the 1927 solar eclipse and a pre-war cruise train for Boy Scouts!

Vintage Vehicle Rally – Sunday 20, 11am-3pm, Head of Steam museum. A variety of rare and unusual vintage vehicles from across the North-East and Yorkshire.

Activities include mini train rides, arts and crafts, juggling and balloon making.

Admission is £2 for adults, £1 for children, free for under 5s and annual pass holders.

84 Charing Cross Road – Wednesday 23-Saturday 26, 7.30pm, Darlington Hippodrome. Tickets from £12. Starring Hollywood legend Stefanie Powers.

A tender and heart-warming tale of transatlantic friendship, a bitter-sweet comedy based on a true story.

Thriller Live! – Monday 28-Saturday 2 June, 7.30pm, Darlington Hippodrome.

Tickets from £22. Direct from London’s West End comes a spectacular concert created to celebrate the career of one of the world’s greatest entertainers.

Hero and Heroine mask making competition – Tuesday 29, 12-2pm, Cornmill Centre. Do you see yourself as the next Iron Man or Moana? We have just the competition for you! In partnership with Darlington College. All materials will be provided, all you need is your imagination!

Once you have completed and named your mask, you can upload a picture to the Cornmill Facebook page #maskchamp to be in with a chance to win a family ticket to see The Incredibles at Vue Cinema. You can take your mask away and wear it to the Darlington Community Carnival on 30 June.

Jay’s Animal Encounters – Thursday 31, 10.30-11.30am, Cockerton Library or 2-3pm, Crown Street Library. Bring your camera and capture the moment you meet a meerkat! Recommended for children aged 4-11. Tickets £4 in advance.

www.darlington.gov.uk/events

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WHAT’S ON WHAT’S ON JUNE

Crossing the Tees Book Festival Saturday 9-Sunday 24, various locations.

The library services for Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Hartlepool once again present the book festival for the Tees Valley.

There will be something exciting for all the family to get involved with, including plenty of talks, exciting events and activities for children. Visit www.crossingthetees.org to book online or call the box office at ARC, Stockton Arts Centre, on 01642 525199.

Ruby Wax: Frazzled – Sunday 3, 7.30pm, Darlington Hippodrome. Tickets from £14.50. Your passport to saner living.

Join Ruby as she presents her one-woman show on mindfulness.

Round 50 Mile Cycle Ride – Sunday 3, Market Square. The first of four tourist trials has developed into one of the most popular rides in the series.

A Blogging Workshop – Saturday 9, 1.30-3.30pm, Crown Street Library.

Alice-May Purkiss explains that blogging is more than typing words on a screen, pretty pictures or social media shares. It’s a place to tell your story, talk about your passions and make your mark online. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to decide what to write about, create and personalise your own blog. Tickets £5, booking as above.

NERA Exhibition: The Richmond Branch – Tuesday 5 June-Sunday 15 July, Head of Steam museum. A photographic exhibition curated by the North Eastern Railway Association. Normal entrance fee applies.

The Afternoon Lectures: History, Development and Current Role of British Transport Police – Thursday 7, 1.45pm, Head of Steam museum. Timothy Woolfen tells how the work of railway police officers has evolved, since the earliest days, when they acted as the first signalmen, through to the many challenges of today. Free to members of the Friends.

Non-members welcome – please call the museum for membership/price details.

Bookstart Day: The Bookstart Bird Boogie – Thursday 7, 10am-2pm, South Park. Darlington Library will take over South Park. This year’s theme is the Bookstart Bird Boogie. Free fun activities for 0-5 year olds. Free goodie bag for all. Call 349610 for more details.

Race for Life – Sunday 10, South Park.

Cancer Research UK hosts the UK’s largest women-only fundraiser. A 5k suitable for all abilities. Prices vary. To register, visit raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org

www.darlington.gov.uk/events

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Life, Lemons and Melons – Saturday 9, 6.30-8pm, Crown Street Library.

Journalist and writer Alice-May Purkiss talks about her self-published book Life, Lemons and Melons. What happens when you’re aged 26? If you’re lucky, you have a steady job, a loving partner and a dollop of fun. If you’re unlucky, you could be diagnosed with depression and then have breast cancer thrown into the mix. Tickets £5, booking as above.

History Wardrobes: Pink - the true story – Monday 11, 7-9pm, Crown Street Library. Salmon, rose, berry, peach? Pink can represent romance, intimacy, passion and power. Girl’s colour? Boy’s colour? All will be revealed in all its pink-tinted glory!

Tickets cost £8.

Blackout Poetry. Wednesday 13, 5 – 7.30pm, Cockerton Library. Get creative with Kirsten Luckens workshop featuring 'erasure' / 'blackout' poetry. Highlight words and phrases from printed text to create a poem and use artwork to hide unwanted words. All materials provided, participants will take home a framed piece of original artwork. Tickets £5. Booking as previous.

Poetry Reading and Workshop – Thursday 14, 2-3pm, 3.15-4.45pm, Crown Street Library. Join Vane Women for a reading of their latest work and bring your imagination for a workshop when it’ll be your turn to get creative. Reading free, workshop £5.

Tall Tales Family Mystery Event – Saturday 16, 1.30-3pm, Crown Street Library. Youngsters must turn detective to discover who has stolen the last book of spells from the library’s shelves. Aimed at children aged 5 – 11 and their families. £2 per ticket or £5 for a family of four, booking as above.

Family Comedy – Saturday 23, 1.302.30pm, Crown Street Library. Loveable Teessider and sought-after comedian Patrick Monahan shares his family comedy secrets. Suitable for children aged six and over. Tickets £2 per ticket or £5 for a family of four, booking as above.

Author Event – Saturday 23, 4-5.30pm, Crown Street Library. Murder Ancient and Modern. Judith Cutler and Edward Marston compare techniques for crime writing in the past and present. Tickets £5, booking as above.

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WHAT’S ON WHAT’S ON Thoroughly Modern Millie – Monday 11-Saturday 16, 7.30pm, Darlington Hippodrome. Tickets from £17. Hayley Tamaddon (Coronation Street, Emmerdale) stars in the title role as this Broadway smash hit musical comedy comes to Darlington.

Armed Forces Day flag raising – Monday 18, 10-10.45am, Market Square. A ceremony to mark the annual commemoration of Britain’s armed forces.

JULY Proms in the Park – Sunday 1, 2-6pm, South Park. Music from the Royal Signals (Northern) band, 102 Battalion REM Pipes and Drums, plus local school choirs. Free admission. Don’t forget your picnic!

Darlington Orchestra summer concert – Saturday 7, 7.30pm, Central Hall, Dolphin Centre. The orchestra will play a wide variety of light classical music, with special guest performers still to be announced. Visit www.darlington-orchestra.org.uk or find the group on Facebook and Twitter.

An evening with Peter Crawford, psychic medium – Friday 15, 7.30pm, Head of Steam museum. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets cost £12.50 and are available from museum reception.

Festival of Ingenuity – Friday 13 and Saturday 14, 10am-4pm, various locations. The town centre will once again explode with fun activities and all that is ingenious about Darlington. Look out for details on social media and at www.festivalofingenuity.co.uk Open days – Saturday 23-Sunday 24, 11am-5pm (last admission 4pm), Tees Cottage Pumping Station, Coniscliffe Road, DL3 8TF. Come and see the history of water supply in Darlington. Steam machinery will be running, including the Victorian Beam Engine, boiler and gas engine. The miniature railway should also be available (small extra cost). The café will be open for snacks. Admission £5 for adults, £4 concessions, children free.

Lullabub – Saturday 23 June-Sunday 15 July, Theatre Hullabaloo. Join us as we enter a magical dreamland of sleepy byes in this playful, peaceful and wonderful performance for you and your baby. The show is presented in two versions - for babies aged 0-12 months and for toddlers aged 13-30 months. Tickets cost £10 for a baby and grown up. Extra tickets £6. Times vary – see website for details.

Dan Snow: An Evening with The History Guy – Sunday 17, 7.30pm, Darlington Hippodrome. Tickets from £18.75. There will be a chance to talk with Dan during a post-show Q&A session.

This Is Elvis – Monday 25-Saturday 30, 7.30pm, Darlington Hippodrome. Tickets from £17. This production celebrates 50 years since the TV spectacular that marked the comeback of Elvis, securing his place in history as the king of rock’n’roll.

If you have any events you would like listing in future editions, email communications@darlington.gov.uk or call 406058. Listings are free and we will try and include as many as we can. Deadlines for listings are about eight weeks before publication date. All information is correct at the time of going to print.

One Darlington comes out every two months.

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Summer Community Fun Day – Saturday 14, 1-4.30pm, North Park.

Elim Church’s annual afternoon of fun in the park for everyone. With live music, dance demonstrations, fairground rides, refreshments, football, crafts, face painting, Dot and Zooky circus skills with giant bubbles and balloon modelling. Entry is free. For details, call 487175, visit www.elim-darlington.org.uk or find Elim Church on Facebook.

VENUE CONTACTS Dolphin Centre – Call 406000/406411 or visit www.healthydarlington/events Darlington Hippodrome box office open from 10am to 8pm (6pm on nonperformance days). Cornmill Centre ground floor - open 10am-4pm Monday to Saturday.

Call 405405 10am–8pm Monday-Saturday (6pm on non-performance days), or visit www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk to book online.

Outdoor Events Team – call 406417 or email eventsteam@darlington.gov.uk The Hullabaloo – Call 405405 or visit www.theatrehullabaloo.org.uk Head of Steam – Darlington Railway Museum – Call 405060 or visit www.head-of-steam.co.uk; email headofsteam@darlington.gov.uk Entrance fees apply in most cases.

Crown Street Library – Call 462034.

Cockerton Library – Call 461320.

The Forum – Call 363135 or visit www.theforumonline.co.uk

www.darlington.gov.uk/events

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News in brief Have your say

Every year, the council has to offer residents the opportunity to have their say on the transport provided for new or existing pupils aged 16 years and over in full-time education.

To give your views on the ‘post 16 transport policy statement’, visit www.darlington.gov.uk/ consultations before Friday 18 May. To request a paper copy, call 406333.

Be proud of your smile

Tackle stress

One in four adults and one in ten young people suffer with a mental health problem at some time in their lives. Stress and how we cope with it can help to tackle mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, which can lead to self-harm and suicide. If you’re feeling, stressed and aren’t coping well or have concerns about someone visit www. mentalhealth.org.uk, www. youngminds.org.uk or call the Samaritans free on 116 123.

Safety week

Child safety week (4-10 June) highlights the potential dangers children face in and outside our homes.

Accidents can happen when we least expect them and common dangers include burns, scalding, choking and drowning. For information, visit www.capt.org.uk

Families first

Congratulations to Reid Street Primary School, which is the first school in the borough to be awarded a Families First award, recognising parents, carers and families are well informed and consulted about school issues.

www.darlington.gov.uk/oralhealthplan

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National Smile Month, 14 May – 14 June, is a great opportunity to brush up on your oral health and invest in your smile.

The council’s oral health plan aims to help improve oral health in everyone, particularly in children, young people and older people in residential and nursing care homes.

Read the council’s oral health plan at www.darlington.gov.uk/oralhealthplan Brushing your teeth last thing at night and on at least one other occasion with a fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes a day, cutting down on sugary foods and drinks and visiting your dentist regularly are all important steps in helping to develop and maintain a healthy mouth. They also go a long way to helping to prevent invasive and expensive treatment, gum disease and tooth decay.

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you – it can help you secure a job, a partner and generally get on well in life.

Your teeth help you chew food and speak clearly, as well as giving your face its shape.

For more information, visit www.nationalsmilemonth.org and www.nhs.uk and search for children’s dental health.

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Three plays will performed at Crown Street Library by local drama groups. The Hogarth Now in its sixth year, the festival, organised by Darlington Partnership will present an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic Great Expectations; Green for Culture (DfC) is a showcase for arts groups and Theatre will read Under Milk Wood by Dylan performers.

Thomas and Applause Theatre will perform At the centre of this year's festival is a day devoted ’night, Mother by American playwright Marsha to literary events, co-ordinated by local author Norman.

Tracey Iceton, at the Friends Meeting House on Co-ordinator Jane Hindle believes the festival is Saturday 26 May. a great opportunity for people to try something Drop in for one event or stay for the whole day to enjoy new, such as life drawing or writing poetry. workshops, readings and author talks with a chance to “Savour an afternoon of jazz or take time out read your own work at an open mic finale. Writing group to see an exhibition of original art,” she said.

Vane Women will be hosting a workshop and poetry “This year there is a chance to see examples of reading during the day.

Thangka, a rare form of Tibetan art, by Adam Vane Women will also join other guest speakers, at The Plumb, whose exhibition will be at the Town Hall.”

Hullabaloo on Monday 21 May for the Centenary Celebration of Votes for Women, organised by the DfC chair Jo Potter added: “We are delighted Darlington and District National Council of Women. As to see more local groups and artists become a finale to the day, the film club at The Forum will be involved in this year. Please check out the showing Suffragette in the evening. programme and support your local arts festival.”

If you love the arts or want to try something new why not pop along to this year’s Arts Festival?

Author Tracey Iceton

Vane Women

For more information, visit www.darlingtonforculture.org/festival-fortnight-2018

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www.darlingtonforculture.org

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Summer/Autumn 2018 Box Office 01325 405405

www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

Performances in ORANGE take place in The Hullabaloo

May Friday 4 - Sunday 6 May

Tuesday 8 - Saturday 12 May

Tuesday 15 - Saturday 19 May

1

Brian Conley: Still the Greatest Entertainer – In His Price Range

2

BalletBoyz – Fourteen Days

3

Gilbert O’Sullivan In Concert

16

RGS - Hugh Thomson One Man and a Mule

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Barbara Nice: “Raffle”

June Wednesday 23 - Saturday 26 May

Monday 11 - Saturday 16 June

Tuesday 17 - Sunday 22 July

Monday 28 May - Saturday 2 June

Monday 25 - Saturday 30 June

Thursday 6 - Saturday 8 September

Saturday 9 - Sunday 10 June

Tuesday 3 - Saturday 7 July

Further shows on sale. Visit website for full details.

3

Ruby Wax – Frazzled

5

An Evening with Pam Ayres

7

Jane McDonald The Anniversary Tour

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Dan Snow An Evening with The History Guy

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A Country Night in Nashville

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Tom Allen: Absolutely

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Showaddywaddy in Concert

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An Evening of Eric & Ern

July 8

Darlington Dance Festival

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Jacqui Dankworth: Jazz Sirens

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Chris Ramsey Live 2018

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Last Night at the Proms

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Hal Cruttenden & Eshaan Akbar

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Whitney: Queen of the Night

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Milkshake! Live The Magic Story Book

Keep up-to-date with what’s on...

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We hope you can help us as we get involved in a national initiative to make a real difference to our patients.

Research has shown that when patients get up and dressed while in hospital they generally feel much better, more like themselves.

Darlington Memorial Hospital, along with all our other hospitals, is involved in the national #EndPJparalysis 70 day challenge which is encouraging and supporting patients to get dressed during the day.

“Patients wearing their own clothes in hospital say it helps them feel more like themselves again.”

Evidence suggests that being dressed during the day can bring lots of benefits such as encouraging mobility and give a morale boost. Even minimal walking around, with assistance if needed, promotes a speedier recovery. Research suggests that a 50% increase in walking while in hospital is associated with a 6% shorter length of stay. So even a simple walk to the toilet or around the ward has benefits.

The challenge is running for 70 days until 26 June.

Along with hospital trusts around the country, we’re monitoring how many patients are out of their pyjamas and dressed at midday each day and, of these, how many have been mobile.

Of course, it's not for everyone and some patients are too poorly to be up and dressed. But patients of all ages can benefit and there’s particular value for the elderly. Improved mobility and motivation can lead to an earlier discharge home to familiar comforts and routines. There’s evidence that ten days of bed rest in hospital leads to the equivalent of ten years of muscle ageing – so getting up and about is crucial.

Mrs Joyce Russell, 93, who lives in Newton Aycliffe, much preferred being dressed in her day clothes whilst she was a patient recently in Darlington Memorial Hospital.

“For those over 80, ten days of bed rest leads to the equivalent of ten years of muscle ageing.”

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www.cddft.nhs.uk

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Staying independent

Even the most independent older patient can quickly become dependent on others during a hospital stay. Being dressed, moving around and engaging with others can all help. Once they have been treated, we want as many of our patients as possible, who live independently, to return to the lives they had before admission.

Loved ones can help too

There are a number of ways that loved ones and carers can help, especially when they are responsible for the patient’s clothing. Of course, overnight clothes are still needed but we would like you to bring in comfortable clothes and shoes for your relative during the day – and fresh clothes when they’re needed. If appropriate, you can encourage and help your relative get dressed. We already appreciate the important role you play in taking pyjamas home to be washed and we hope you can do the same for day clothes as we don’t have much space to store lots of clothes on the wards.

Your involvement is really important to the success of #endPJparalysis and our nurses are more than happy to answer any questions you may about what clothes to bring in.

www.cddft.nhs.uk

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“A 50% increase in walking while in hospital has been associated with a 6% shorter length of stay.”

Aims of #endPJparalysis: • A speedier recovery, meaning less time in hospital • Reduced loss of mobility • Improved patient morale and self esteem • Reduced loss of strength and independence • Less likely to need institutional care after hospital.

Wearing shoes rather than slippers

Wearing comfortable shoes, rather than slippers, helps mobility and safety. Slippers sometimes don’t fit as well as shoes and are more likely to come off. It’s generally much easier to walk in wellfitting shoes and even limited walking is proven to have benefits.

Noel Scanlon, executive director of nursing at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We want it to become common practice for patients to wear their own clothes whilst in our care. Those who do, tell us they feel better for it. In hospital, pyjamas have become the patients’ ‘uniform’ but we want to get away from that. We know how important it is for patients to be up and out of bed, it helps them focus on getting well and home as soon as they’re well enough to do so.”

Patient Dorothy Waterhouse helps director of nursing, Noel Scanlon, launch #EndPJparalysis.

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Keep up to date with Local Plan The first draft of Darlington’s Local Plan – a legal document that sets out how the borough might develop in the next 20 years – will be released at the end of May. The draft document will be debated by councillors in the coming weeks, before going out to public consultation for six weeks in the summer.

The draft will include outlines of the plots of land that are considered to be suitable for development over the next two decades.

These are not detailed proposals, and it is not set in stone that these plots will be developed, but it will offer some certainty as to where new housing estates are likely to appear in the coming years, if there is demand.

What is the Local Plan?

A Local Plan is something every local authority must produce by law. It sets out what development is likely to be needed in the next 20 years across the borough.

The plan considers everything from roads and sustainable transport to provision for social care, health and education, as well as housing.

The plan will be a guiding hand to potential developers about where new housing estates would be considered suitable – and not suitable – and helps health and education authorities plan for future demand.

Where can I find out more?

There is a dedicated webpage at www.darlington.gov.uk/localplan that contains a lot more information about the Local Plan.

You can also register for alerts to be sent straight to your email address when a new phase of consultation begins.

Don’t miss out on your chance to have your say about the future direction of the borough.

Big Spring Clean thank you Thank you to all the people, groups and businesses who joined forces to spruce up #OurStreets for this year's Big Spring Clean.

Organised by LitterFree Durham and Darlington, in partnership with Darlington Borough Council and Durham County Council, the Big Spring Clean ran from 27 February until 16 April with hundreds of volunteers donating their time to help clean up streets, parks and green spaces.

This year’s Big Spring Clean may now be over but you can still do your bit to help look after #OurStreets by becoming a Street Champion or organising your own litter pick.

For more information, visit www.darlington.gov.uk/litterpick

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Volunteers at a litter pick at Drinkfield Marsh nature reserve

www.darlington.gov.uk

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Foster care transforms lives Fostering family: Maria and Mark, with their children Jessica and George

Foster Care Fortnight The UK’s biggest foster care awareness raising campaign runs from 14-27 May. Visit www.thefosteringnetwork.org.uk Do you have the commitment, passion to find out more. and dedication to be a foster carer?

There is no such thing as an ideal foster carer, no matter what your background, relationship status, religious beliefs or how much time you can commit – whether it’s a few days every month or long term care, we would love to hear from you.

Maria and Mark have been fostering with the council for almost two years. Together with their children, Jessica and George, they see themselves as a ‘fostering family’.

Their message for anyone thinking of becoming a foster carer?

Maria says: “Do it! It’s not without its challenges, but it’s one of the most rewarding things we’ve ever done.”

“We spent three years with an independent fostering agency, but much prefer it with the council, we have been able to choose the ages of the children placed with us."

We need foster carers to help care for babies and children of all ages, including teenagers. When you become a foster carer you’ll receive support to ensure placements go well and ongoing training and advice. You’ll also receive payments to help meet the needs of the child/children in your care and a fee for the work you do.

Our foster carers report that seeing young people in their care reach milestones and achieve their goals far outweighs any challenges faced along the way.

www.darlington.gov.uk/fostering

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Do you want to find out more?

Information sessions are held on the first Monday of every month, 6-7pm at Central House Annex, Gladstone Street.

Upcoming dates: Monday 4 June, and 2 July. There’s no need to book, simply drop in.

Visit www.darlington.gov.uk/ fostering or call 406222. Please make the call to transform lives. /DBCFamilyPlacement /@DBCFamPla

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Fill up on knowledge with a cyber breakfast Do you own a business? Are you confident you could stand up to a cyber attack? Do you know how to protect yourself from cyber criminals?

The North East Special Operations Unit has teamed up with Durham Constabulary to deliver a series of free cyber breakfasts aimed at Darlington businesses.

The sessions show how criminals remotely find, target and execute their attacks, which can all too often cripple businesses. A vulnerability assessment will also be available to give you an overview of your ICT weaknesses, so you can fix them before the cyber criminals find them. You don’t have to be in big business to be an attractive target for cyber crime – you just need to be vulnerable to attack.

Ron Hogg, Darlington's Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner, said: “The threats which the police are facing are changing. It is in this new and different digital world where some of the new challenges lie. The purpose of these breakfasts is simple - we want to show businesses how they can be vulnerable to cyber attack, by demonstrating a live hack and showing how you can protect your business from one.

“We realise that time is precious for businesses and have designed these cyber breakfasts with this in mind. We hope that people will leave the session more knowledgeable, better informed, and with a clearer idea of how they can improve their organisation’s cyber security.”

Please come along to one of our events, and learn how to defend your networks from common cyber attacks. Find out more at www.eventbrite.co.uk

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Businesses are likely to become a victim of a cyber crime from:

8 A phishing email – tricking you into making a fraudulent payment or delivering malware to your systems via attachments

8 People – whether it’s a rogue member of staff who shares your company secrets or an employee, with a complete lack of awareness, who finds a USB stick, puts it in a work computer inadvertently delivering malware

8 Vulnerabilities – criminals scan the internet looking for weaknesses in your website or business which they can exploit.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Government research has shown that if you take some basic steps, you are 80% less likely to be a victim of common cyberattacks.

www.durham-pcc.gov.uk

23/04/2018 14:15

News in brief

Learn as they earn

Council celebrations The mayor Jan Taylor hosted a service at St James the Great Church, Albert Hill, to mark the 150th anniversary of Darlington Council.

Sue Snowdon, the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, and civic dignitaries from across the region, attended the service which was led by the mayor’s chaplain, Father Kenneth Crawford.

Neighbourhood Watch The Darlington Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) Association has been dissolved due to a lack of support, as there were no volunteers to form a new committee.

Darlington NHW members are now administered by County Durham & Darlington NHW Force Association and they will be kept up to date via the national NHW alert system.

For more information call Jim Allen on 07521 791482 or email jimb2944@virginmedia.com

www.onedarlington.org.uk

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Darlington College and Student Loans Company staff with the latest apprentices

Students are getting the chance to earn as they learn thanks to a partnership between Darlington College and The Student Loans Company.

Twenty-three people recently started apprenticeships at the company at Lingfield Point, bringing to almost 50 the number taken on in the past six months.

The apprentices are working full time for a year in various departments, they will then return to college and will be awarded L2 business administration qualifications based on their performance and course work, with the prospect of securing permanent jobs.

Apprentice Zoe Harrison, 19, said: “The apprenticeship gives me the chance to earn while I learn and work for a large organisation with great prospects of promotion.”

Charity celebrates birthday A charity which gives hope and support to children with physical disabilities has celebrated its second birthday.

Enjoy archery at the birthday party

Families and Conductive Education (FaCE), based in Grange Road Baptist Church, transforms the lives of children, recognising their potential and supporting and celebrating their development.

The charity, which also runs Big Lotteryfunded school holiday camps, held a party to celebrate its second birthday and the work it does to support families.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: “With support, the parents of physically disabled children don’t have to feel isolated and alone. There is a place to belong, where there is advice and the children can receive a high quality service which helps them to be as active and as independent as possible.”

You can find FaCE at www.familiesandce.com

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Dolphin Centre gym getting me 10km ready Move More Star Claire Hunter is challenging herself to take part in this year’s Sherwood Darlington 10km run.

To ensure she is going to be fit enough for her first 10km, Claire joined the Dolphin Centre gym and uses the treadmill, cross trainer and bike three times a week, gets out for a run for at least once during the week and takes part in the parkrun every Saturday morning.

Claire said: “A friend mentioned she was taking part in this year’s 10km. I fancied a challenge, needed to get fitter and lose weight and so decided to enter too!

“I joined the Dolphin Centre gym, and together with a member of staff, created a training plan to help me make sure I’m fit for the event.

“I can’t thank the Dolphin Centre staff enough for their support with what seemed like the unachievable – I’m running my first 10km, from never running before. I can’t wait! Plus I feel great, I’m losing weight, my clothes fit better and I have much more get up and go.”

g ter is trainin Claire Hun gym to help e tr hin Cen lp o D e th in rwood’s for the She re a p re p r he 10km Darlington

If you fancy taking part in the Sherwood’s Darlington 10km, there’s still time to enter and get fit – visit www.darlington.gov.uk/10K to enter and www.healthy.darlington.co.uk or call 406000 to help you find the right exercise to help get you race ready!

On the road to going green A drive to cut carbon emissions and make the council’s fleet of vehicles more eco-friendly is picking up speed.

Seven electric Nissan vans were introduced to the building services maintenance team fleet in the autumn of 2016 and have already proved their worth.

Running costs are about 30 per cent cheaper – with cheaper servicing and fuel savings of between £740 and £1,300 a year.

As they are 100 per cent electric, they produce zero emissions, which make them more environmentally friendly.

It is hoped, with further improvements in technology, other services will be able to switch their vehicles when they need to be replaced.

www.darlington.gov.uk

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The white vans are used by gas and electric service engineers who carry out safety checks and repairs to appliances in about 5,000 councilowned homes.

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Clubs and Societies There’s lots of clubs and societies in and around Darlington. Whatever you’re interested in, there’s something for you. For more clubs and societies visit www.darlington.gov.uk/clubs

Enjoy some easy listening in Hurworth

The Sans Pareil Singers rehearse at 7.30pm every Wednesday at All Saints Church, Hurworth. New members are very welcome, no auditions necessary. Rehearsals are light hearted and enjoyable; it doesn’t matter if you don’t know the words or the tune. For details, simply pop into a rehearsal or visit www.sanspareilsingers.org.uk Darlington Dolphin Table Tennis Club meets every Friday 7-9pm. All are welcome (aged seven and over) regardless of ability. Coaching and equipment is provided.

For details contact Dave Noutch on 07758 211234.

Email noutchdavid@yahoo.co.uk Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club meets at St Augustine’s Parish Hall, Larchfield Street, at 12.30pm on the first Saturday of every month (except January). Entry is £10 at the door, children aged 15 and under go free and there are discounts for Darlington for Culture members. Tea and coffee and a licensed bar are available and all are welcome to bring food. Arrive early as the best seats go very quickly.

Visit www.darlingtonjazz.co.uk, email ray@darlingtonjazz.co.uk or call 07860 368022

Hurworth Society Jazz Band has been playing at Hurworth Grange Community Centre for the last 17 years. Established by Ted Hughes, the band has seven members who travel from all over the region including Malton, Pickering and Leyburn as well as Teesside and closer to home.

They play traditional jazz and standard well known tunes in the New Orleans style. The band would love to see more people coming along to see them live at the community centre (DL2 2BN).

Shows start at 8pm on the last Friday of the month throughout the year. Anyone who brings an instrument could be invited to 'sit in' on a couple of numbers in a friendly informal atmosphere. A regular bass player would be most welcome.

Admission to the show is £2 on the door, there is a bar and tea and coffees available. Any queries, please contact band leader John Crisp on 01642 564198.

New visitors are advised to confirm dates.

Breathe Easy Darlington meets on the first Tuesday of the month from 1-3pm at the Copper Beech, Neasham Road. Free to join, speakers, days out, friendship and support for lung condition sufferers, carers and family. Visit www.blf.org.uk/BreatheEasy/Detail/Darlington or email breatheeasydarlington@hotmail.com or call 360303/333652.

South Durham Model Engineers host children's miniature train rides (steam and electric) on the first Sunday of the month from 10am-1pm at Hurworth Grange.

Next dates Sundays 3 June and 1 July.

North Park Bowling Club meets at North Park Mondays and Tuesdays 2-4pm and Thursdays and Fridays 6-8pm until 6 September. Away games are also played. Call 350368 or email terry.beer555@outlook.com Hurworth Grange Model Railway Club meets weekly on Sundays at 2.30pm and Tuesdays at 7.30pm at Hurworth Grange Community Centre. A new club, members welcome.

Call 359846 or email lowes_family@btinternet.com Haughton Badminton Club meets every Wednesday in The Education Village Sports Hall from 8-10pm. All players welcome. Call 07779 343315 or visit www.haughtonbadmintonclub.webs.com

If you would like your club or society listed on this page, please get in touch. We will include as many entries as often as we can. Listings are free. Email details to communications@darlington.gov.uk or call 406058. There is a page on the council’s website dedicated to clubs and societies.

Visit www.darlington.gov.uk/clubs

www.darlington.gov.uk/clubs

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Council Leader’s Column Hopefully as the weather continues to improve we will all be able to get out and about and enjoy the great outdoors on our doorsteps.

We are very lucky in Darlington to have so many great parks and open spaces and to be surrounded by so much amazing countryside.

I would like to thank the army of Friends groups and other volunteers who give up their time to look after our local environment and help to make this town a great place to live and visit.

I am interested to see how the plans for South Park develop – I know the new-look café is proving popular and hopefully by the summer, families will be able to enjoy a game of crazy golf and bowls when they visit.

Volunteers are also working around the town centre to make sure it looks its best for our programme of summer events and the Northumbria in Bloom judging.

This edition of the magazine is full of examples of people and organisations helping to improve our local environment. It can be a tricky balancing act, making sure we look after nature as we continue to develop and grow as a borough, but as the features in this magazine show, a lot of great work is being done to keep Darlington green – now and in the future.

As we continue to build new houses and attract new businesses, I am confident we can also ensure that our environment thrives.

It would be wrong for me to leave this edition of the magazine without thanking Ada Burns, our outgoing chief executive, for all her hard work and dedication to the borough. I am grateful for all the time and passion she has put into her role, especially in these hard economic times. I wish her all the best for her future. I am looking forward to working with our new managing director, Paul Wildsmith, and his team as we continue to ensure Darlington can grow and prosper, and be a place we are all proud to call home.

Cllr Bill Dixon MBE (@billdixondton) Leader of the Council

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Ward surgeries in Ward in Your councillor is there to listen to you and find out about the issues that are affecting life in your ward.

You can email, telephone or meet your councillor at regular ward surgeries. Find out more at www.darlington.gov.uk Emailing councillors If you wish to email your councillor, their email address is firstname.lastname@darlington.gov.uk For example, if you wish to email Bill Dixon, type in bill.dixon@darlington.gov.uk The only exceptions are Andy Scott (Haughton and Springfield Ward), Anne-Marie Curry (North Road Ward) and Tom Nutt (Whinfield Ward); their email addresses are shown with their ward surgery details.

BANK TOP AND LASCELLES Veronica Copeland (L) Tel: 358530; Chris Taylor (L) Tel: 243298; Wendy Newall (L) Tel: 251574. Cleveland Bridge Social Club – Sat 12 May, 9 Jun and 14 Jul – noon-1pm. King William Street Community Centre – Fri 18 May, 15 Jun and 20 Jul – 5-6pm.

BRINKBURN AND FAVERDALE Sue Richmond (L) Tel: 351538. Brinkburn RA Club – Thu 7 Jun and 5 Jul – 6-7pm. Rachel Mills (C) Tel: 482906/ 07786 077189. West Park Academy – Wed 13 Jun and 11 Jul – 6-7pm.

Richard Grundy (I) Tel: 485409. Brinkburn RA Club – Tue 15 May, 19 Jun and 17 Jul – 6-7pm.

COCKERTON Paul Baldwin (L) Tel: 362690; Jan Cossins (L) Tel: 241124; David Regan (L) Tel: 495258. Windsor Court – Tue 12 Jun and 10 Jul – 10-11am. Cockerton Library – Thu 14 Jun and 12 Jul – 6-7pm.

COLLEGE Tony Richmond (C) Tel: 351538; Ian Galletley (C) Tel: 07507 904109. Abbey Junior School – Wed 13 Jun and 11 Jul – 6-7pm.

EASTBOURNE Roderick Crichlow (L) Tel: 488173; Bill Dixon (L) Tel: 486588. Pilmoor Green Community Centre – Wed 16 May, 20 Jun and 18 Jul – 5-6pm. Firthmoor Community Centre – Wed 30 May, 27 Jun and 25 Jul – 3-4pm. Kevin Nicholson (I) Tel: 07791 807629. Firthmoor Community Centre – Thu 17 May – 2-3pm, 21 Jun – 5-6pm and 19 Jul – 2-3pm.

HARROWGATE HILL Gill Cartwright (C) No Ward surgery held, please contact Tel: 382276/07963 200893. Marjory Knowles (L) Tel: 265847; David Lyonette (L) Tel: 464693. Harrowgate CIU Ltd – Wed 13 Jun and 11 Jul – 7-8pm.

www.darlington.gov.uk/your-council

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es in in your your area area

Key: (L) Labour (C) Conservative (LD) Liberal Democrat (I) Independent

HAUGHTON AND SPRINGFIELD

PIERREMONT

Chris McEwan (L) Tel: 283262; Andy Scott (L) Tel: 253707, andrew.scott@darlington.gov.uk; Nick Wallis (L) Tel: 07960 247554. Salvation Army, Thompson St – Wed 13 Jun and 11 Jul – 6-7pm. Asda foyer – Sat 2 Jun and 7 Jul – 10-11am.

Bob Carson (L) Tel: 240627; Stephen Harker (L) Tel: 380039; Linda Hughes (L) Tel: 07904 772387.

Reid Street Primary School – Wed 6 Jun and 4 Jul – 6-7pm.

HEIGHINGTON AND CONISCLIFFE Gerald Lee (C) Tel: 314622; Paul Crudass (C) Tel: 374537. Summerhouse Village Hall – Sat 7 Jul – 1011am. High Coniscliffe Church Hall – Sat 2 Jun – 10-11am.

HUMMERSKNOTT Alan Coultas (C) Tel: 07788 542859; Charles Johnson (C) Tel: 463712. Carmel RC College – Mon 4 Jun, 25 Jun and 30 Jul – 6-7pm. By Appointment only using contact details above.

HURWORTH Joe Kelley (LD) Tel: 266760 – Hurworth Grange Community Library, Hurworth Road – Thu 7 Jun and 5 Jul – 6-7pm. Lorraine Tostevin (C) Tel: 333382. Hurworth Grange Community Library, Hurworth Road – Wed 16 May, 20 Jun and 18 Jul – 6-7pm.

MOWDEN Pauline Culley (C) Tel: 250482. Alan Marshall (C) Tel: 359138. Mowden Junior School – Mon 14 May, 4 Jun and 2 Jul – 6.30-7.30pm.

NORTHGATE Eleanor Lister (L) Tel: 254091; Sonia Kane (L) Tel: 486754. Corporation Road Primary School – Wed 6 Jun and 4 Jul – 6-7pm.

NORTH ROAD Anne-Marie Curry (LD) Tel: 07531 304050, annemarie.curry@darlington.gov.uk; Fred Lawton (LD) Tel: 467413. St Thomas Aquinas Church, North Road – Wed 23 May, 27 Jun and 25 Jul – 1-2pm. Morrison’s North Road cafe – Wed 13 Jun and 11 Jul – 6-7pm.

Dawn Storr (L) Tel: 07543 159224. Morrison’s North Road cafe – Wed 6 Jun and 4 Jul – 6-7pm.

PARK EAST Cyndi Hughes (L) Tel: 480975; Malcolm Wright (L) Tel: 484374; Michael Nicholson (L) Tel: 240750/ 07906 552714. St Augustine’s Parish Centre – Wed 13 Jun and 11 Jul – 6.30-7.15pm. Forum Music Centre – Wed 6 Jun – 6-7pm. St Columba’s Church, Clifton Road – Fri 11 May and 8 Jun – 6-7pm. The Coleridge Centre – Fri 13 Jul – 6-7pm.

PARK WEST Bob Donoghue (C) Tel: 07767 294194; Heather Scott (C) Tel: 468547. 9 Ayton Drive – Fri 18 May, 15 Jun and 20 Jul – 5-6pm. By Appointment only using contact details above.

www.darlington.gov.uk/your-council

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RED HALL AND LINGFIELD Ian Haszeldine (L) Tel: 496548/ 07807 381613.

Sharifah Rahman (L) Tel: 07399 675507; Red Hall Community Centre, Headingley Crescent – Wed 13 Jun and 11 Jul – 6-7pm. Heathfield Primary School – Wed 23 May and 27 Jun – 6-7pm.

SADBERGE AND MIDDLETON ST GEORGE Brian Jones (C) Tel: 332820; Doris Jones (C) Tel: 332820; Steve York (C) Tel: 332025. Sadberge Village Hall – Tue 29 May and Thu 26 Jul – 6-7pm. Dinsdale Court – Tue 22 May, 26 Jun and 24 Jul – 6.15-7.15pm.

Bishopton Village Hall – Tue 26 Jun – 6-7pm.

STEPHENSON Jan Taylor (L) Tel: 243298; Katie Kelly (L) Tel: 260239. St James the Great – Tue 12 Jun and 10 Jul – 6-7pm. Wesley Court Community Centre – Sat 26 May and 7 Jul – 11am-noon.

WHINFIELD Helen Crumbie (L) Tel: 462642; Tom Nutt (L) Tel: 360953, thomas.nutt@darlington.gov.uk. Asda foyer – Sat 2 Jun and 7 Jul – 10-11am.

YOUNG PERSONS’ SURGERY Councillor Cyndi Hughes, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, will be holding a Young Persons’ Surgery at the Dolphin Centre – Sat 19 May, 16 Jun and 21 Jul – 11am-noon.

MPs’ SURGERIES: Jenny Chapman (Darlington MP) will be holding surgeries at her constituency office at 40a Coniscliffe Road, DL3 7RG on alternate Fridays, 9.30-11am. Call 382345 for an appointment.

Phil Wilson (Sedgefield MP) has a constituency office at 4 Beveridge Walkway, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 4EE. For a dedicated surgery call 321603 or email phil.wilson.mp@parliament.uk

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VIRTUAL CLASSES

100’s of classes on demand at the touch of a button.

Pay as you go or included in full 12-month membership for just

£24.95 per month

THE DOLPHIN CENTRE 01325 406000 www.healthydarlington.co.uk

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