May 2021 The community magazine of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Stockton- on-Tees News www.stockton.gov.uk/stocktononteesnews Welcome to the May edition of Stockton-on- SIRF | 08 Lockdown Legend | 11 Tees News. Over the last few weeks we’ve seen COVID restrictions begin to ease and it has been great to see so many of you out and about enjoying our town centres, leisure facilities, parks and green spaces. There’s lots of information in this edition about the things you can now enjoy including activities at Tees Active leisure centres on page 15 and walks across the Borough on pages 12 and 13. Turn to page 26 to learn about the steps that have been taken to make your visits to our six town centres as safe as possible. There’s lots of exciting news for us to share with you in this edition of the magazine, the restoration of the Globe Stockton Join is now complete and on pages 6 and 7 you can read all about it and how you can win tickets to some of the first shows. Walk this way | 12 Tees Active | 15 And we’re delighted to announce that Stockton International Riverside Festival is returning this summer. The COVID restrictions meant that we had to switch to a virtual festival the millions last year but this summer you’ll be able to enjoy four days Contents packed full of free street theatre, circus, dance and music with something for all the family. Make sure you save the dates – Thursday 29 July until Sunday 1 August. Find out more on News Round Up 4 pages 8 and 9. Our Places 6 Although we are gradually moving out of lockdown and towards a more “normal” way of life Coronavirus is still with us. We can already Our People 16 all play a part in keeping infection rates low by following the Our Economy 25 hands, face, space guidance and having regular COVID-19 tests so we know to stay at home until we are no longer infectious if Our Council 30 we do have the virus. It’s really easy to get tested. You can get tested twice a week - find out how on page 24. Stockton-on-Tees News is Stockton-on-Tees News Throughout the pandemic Council services supporting vaccinated published by Stockton-on-Tees is produced by Stockton- residents to live as independently as possible in their own Borough Council and distributed on-Tees Borough Council’s homes has continued, you can read about the excellent work free of charge. If you have not Communications Team and they’ve been doing on pages 32 and 33. received a copy please email designed by Twentyseven [email protected] or call Design. Pictures are courtesy of It’s been a difficult year for a lot of the Borough’s businesses 01642 528146. Stuart Boulton, Dave Charnley, but there’s an abundance of support available for both existing Andrew Heptinstall, Gilbert Alternatively, if you need to businesses and anyone looking to pursue a new business Johnston, Dawn McNamara, contact Stockton-on-Tees venture. On pages 28 to 29 we take a look at everything from Gary Walsh , Andrew Moore Borough Council, please call business grants to advice and access to training. and others. 01642 393939. Any photographs commissioned On 6 May a number elections took place Stockton-on-Tees News aims to for this edition of the magazine including the Police and Crime Commissioner provide information about the were taken following the election, the Tees Valley Mayoral election Council, its partner organisations, COVID-19 safety guidelines. We’ll let you know when your local community groups and and a number of Stockton-on-Tees Borough However, please note that some businesses. Every effort is Council by-elections. Turn to page 30 to find photographs were taken before made to ensure all information out who was elected. COVID-19 restrictions were in Covid-19 vaccine is ready for you. is accurate and up-to-date at place when social distancing and the time of publication. We face coverings were not required. always welcome your views, EVERY VACCINATION comments and feedback about There is an audio version of GIVES US the magazine. Stockton-on-Tees News. Email [email protected] or call Julie Danks 01642 528146 to order a copy. Managing Director Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council News Borough pays respects to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh .stockton.gov.uk/coronavirus News People across Stockton-on-Tees have paid their News respects following the death of His Royal Highness From across the Borough The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, last month. His Royal Highness accompanied Her Majesty The Queen on a number of visits to the Borough over the years including to Preston Park and the opening of the International White Water Course at the Tees Barrage. As a mark of respect during the period of national mourning, flags at Stockton’s Municipal Buildings and Town Hall were flown at half-mast and the feature lighting in Stockton Town Centre, Stockton Riverside and Newport Bridge, was set to purple. Local leaders and civic dignitaries including the Mayor, Cllr Mohammed Javed, joined in a minute’s silence in commemoration of His Royal Highness’ life. Members of the visit information the veryFor COVID-19 latest public sent messages to the Royal Family via the online Book of Condolence on the Royal website. Stockton-on-Tees Youth Offending Mayor visits vaccine manufacturer Fujifilm Team is Outstanding He had a tour of the premises and heard how the vaccine is www.stockton.gov.uk/coronavirus YoT is a joint partnership between the Council, the Police, the The Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, being made. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Probation Service and local health services. Councillor Mohammed Javed, has After his visit, Councillor Javed, who spent time in intensive Council’s Youth Offending Team It aims to reduce reoffending and help the Borough’s young care suffering from Coronavirus, spoke to BBC Tees about the visited Fujifilm Diosynth to see where people stay out of the justice system. importance of getting vaccinated. (YOT) has been rated ‘Outstanding’ millions of COVID vaccines are being Inspectors were impressed by the way children and their For more information visit by HM Inspectorate of Probation. parents or carers were ‘meaningfully produced. www.nhs.uk/coronavirusvaccine Inspectors awarded the service the highest overall rating involved’ in steps to prevent www.stockton.gov.uk/coronavirus following an inspection and found ‘highly motivated’ staff have reoffending. The consideration given ‘high aspirations’ for children and a ‘good understanding of to victims was also praised in the COVID-19 Update their needs and now to meet them’. report. Since the March edition of Stockton-on- Testing for people without symptoms • You have any of the Coronavirus symptoms, you’ve tested make sure you have the greatest level of protection against the Tees News we’ve seen a gradual easing One in three people who have COVID-19 do not experience positive for Coronavirus or live with someone who has virus. You can find out more about the vaccination programme of lockdown restrictions and while life symptoms. Identifying people who have COVID-19 helps to stop symptoms or has tested positive. at www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine is becoming a bit more ‘normal’ we are the spread of the virus because they know to stay at home until • Someone in your childcare or support bubble has symptoms continuing to live with the virus and that they are no longer infectious. and you’ve been in close contact with them since their For the very latest COVID-19 information visit information the veryFor COVID-19 latest means we all need to keep protecting Anyone living or working in Stockton-on-Tees who does not symptoms started or during the 48 hours before they started. each other. have COVID-19 symptoms can have a COVID-19 test: • Someone in your childcare or support bubble tested positive • At one of the Borough’s Community Testing sites. Find out and you’ve been in close contact with them since they had Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air where they are at www.stockton.gov.uk/testing or by calling the test or in the 48 hours before their test. By washing our hands regularly, keeping at least two metres 01642 528474. You should stay at home for ten days from the day your apart from people we don’t live with and wearing a face • By collecting a pack of tests to do at home from one of the symptoms started or from when you were last in contact with covering indoors or when it is difficult to keep two metres apart Borough's Community Testing sites the infected person. we can reduce the risk of passing the virus on. • By collecting a pack of tests to do at home from a local If you need help with things like shopping and picking We also know that spending time outside is much safer than pharmacy. You can find your nearest pharmacy offering this up prescriptions while you’re self-isolating the COVID indoors because the fresh air dilutes the virus particles and can service at maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk Community Support Team can help. You can contact them blow them away. on 01642 733906 or by emailing covidcommunitysupport@ By ordering a pack of tests online at www.gov.uk/order- • catalyststockton.org You can keep up-to-date with all the Coronavirus Testing for people with symptoms coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests to be delivered to your home Vaccination (COVID-19) related developments across the Borough If you have COVID-19 symptoms you must book a test at including the latest infection rates, roadmap rules, www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.