Budget update Summer 2014 learning courses Days out in Derwent Valley World War One memories Contact us: 0191 433 3000 www.gateshead.gov.uk GatesheadCouncilNewsis “I’m going to hospital - will publishedbyGatesheadCouncil anddistributedtoeveryhousehold andbusinessintheborough,free you look after my cat?” ofcharge.Itaimstoprovidenews andinformationaboutGateshead Council,itspartnerorganisations andlocalcommunitygroupsand Gateshead Council’s customer service organisations.Everyeffortismade team try to answer all your questions... toensurethatallinformationis accurateatthetimeofpublication. from bin collections to the bizarre - Itisdistributedtoallhomesand businessesacrossGatesheadby we’ll do our best ! FlyerDistribution(UK)Ltd. (Fordeliveryqueriescall “... and by the way NO, but we could help 01912289730).. If you would like to receive find someone who can look after it!” Council News in large print, Braille, on cassette, For queries about council services phone us: CD or mp3, please contact Diane Brennan on 0191 433 3000 0191 433 3444 or email Email: [email protected] dianebrennan@ gateshead.gov.uk or drop into one of our customer service centres: l Birtley - 16 Durham Road, Birtley FrontCover:DerwentValley Photographer:AndrewHeptinstall l Blaydon - 5 Wesley Court, Blaydon l Leam Lane - 129 Cotemede, Leam Lane Estate Designedandproducedby l Town Centre - Gateshead Civic Centre GatesheadCouncil CommunicationsService, GatesheadCouncil,CivicCentre, RegentStreet,GatesheadNE8 1HH.©GatesheadCouncil PrintedbyStIvesDirecton environmentallyfriendlypaper fromrenewableforestresources. Other dedicated numbers: 0191 433 7131 (automated switchboard) Your council online 0191 433 7000 (refuse collection/street services) www.facebook.com/gatesheadcouncil www.twitter.com/gmbcouncil 0191 433 3131 (pest control) 0191 433 4646 (benefits) 0191 433 3600 (Council Tax) 0800 408 6008 (Council house repairs) 2 GatesheadCouncilNews-Mar-May’14 Contents 4 BikeittoKenya 5 Votelocal,vote European Welcome from leader 6 ‘Rocket’replacement of the council, 7 WorldWarOne commemorations councillor mick henry CouncillorMickHenry 8-9 TheCouncil’sbudget LeaderofGatesheadCouncil 10 Schoolmealshelp economy WelcometotheSpringissueof Werevealtheruraldelightsofthe 11 LocalHeroes CouncilNews.Inthisissuewe DerwentValleyandbringyounews highlightourkeybudgetdecisions ofourlatestuniquepieceofpublic 12-13 Volunteering fortheyearahead.Iwouldliketo art-Halo-nowinplaceinTrinity 14 Halolands thankthethousandsofyouwho Square.Gatesheadvolunteersare tookpartinourconsultation, onceagaininthespotlightaswe 15 Jobstop1,500 attendeddropins,orgaveus lookforwardtooursecond 16-17 GoONGateshead feedbackoverthelastfewmonths. GatesheadVolunteerMonthinJune. 18 Fostering We’vehadtomakesomevery There’saremindertomakesure difficultdecisionsandwe’veset youareontheelectoralregister 19 Unlockinggrowth outtheCouncil’sthinkingandthe aswemovetowardselections 20-21 DerwentValleyfocus outcomeofthisprocessina bothlocalandEuropean,which specialtwopagefeature. takeplaceon22May.Andwe’ve 22 RugbyWorldCup Youcanpickandchooseyour arangeofpublichealthinformation 23-42 learningSkillsDirectory learningcoursefromthehundreds tohelpyoumaketherightchoices Summer2014 onofferintheSummerlearningSkills whenitcomestolivingahealthier Directoryandreadaboutour lifestyle. 43 Beclearoncancer planstocommemoratethe100th 44-45 Change4Life anniversaryoftheFirstWorldWar. 46 Apprenticeships MickHenry 47-50 AviewfromInnerWest Gateshead 51 HillTopSchool 52 LocalHistoryMonth 53 Sistersschoolsuccess 54 Adoption 55 SafeguardingAdults Board 56-57 HealthTalk 58 FreedomofBorough Page 7 WorldWarOne Page 11 LocalHero–SirBobbyRobson parade 59 Restorativejustice 60 ActiveKidz 61 SportReliefMile 62 GatesheadInternational JazzFestival 63-65 What’sOn Page 20 DerwentValley Page 52 Halo 3 Bike it…to Kenya! PuPilS raiSe money for african School PupilsfromFellsidePrimary SchoolinWhickhamrecentlytook a147-milebikeridethroughthe RiftValleyinKenya-andwere stillhomeintimefortea! Theyweretakingpartina sponsoredvirtualbikerideasa wayofsupportingacharitythatis raisingfundstobuildaschoolina remoteMaasaicommunityin Kenya.ComradesofChildren Overseas(COCO)organiseda realbikerideinKenyainvolving co-founderSteveCramandothers Photo:courtesyofncjMediaLimited includingtheschool’schairof governorsJohnBaines. bikesbyinstallingstaticbikes AndfellowcyclistRoseMcGregor Asawayofsupportinghimand linkedtoturbotrainersinthe added“Weraisedalmost£2,000 thecharity,theideaofa‘virtual’ schoolhall. tohelpCOCOandthatmakesus bikeridethatcoveredthesame Thebikeridemayhavebeen reallyhappytohavehelped.” distancewasdevelopedwithpupils virtual,butthesatisfactionand To find out more about how takingitinturnstoclockupthe pridefromallinvolvedwasvery schools can get involved in requirednumberofmilesoverfive real.PupilJamesTaylorsaid“I cycling and the Bike it scheme days. feelproudknowingIwashelping in Gateshead contact Ben Sustran’sBikeitOfficerBenTweedie thechildreninAfricagetagood Tweedie on: 07500 856 998. helpedthepupilsgetontheir education.” Commonwealth Games Alzheimer’s ViSit of the Queen’S Baton relay Appeal TheQueen’sBatonRelaycomes TheAlzheimer'sSocietyis toourregiononFriday13Juneon lookingforitemstohelp thefinallegofitsjourneyacross peoplewithdementiato Englandasitmarkstherunupto reminiscebyputtingtogether theCommonwealthGameswhich ‘memoryboxes’. startinGlasgowonJuly23. Thecharity’sGateshead- Thebatonwillvisitanumberof basedbefriendingsupport locationsinGatesheadand officerAliWilkesexplained: Newcastlebeforemakingitsway “Wearelookingforgood- toAlnwickCastle.Eventswillbe qualityitemsandiconic heldtocelebratesportandrouse designsfromorange supportfortheteam.Ateach Tupperwaretohaircurlers.It event,therewillbeasmall canbringalotofjoytopeople numberofbatonbearers,specially withdementiawhenold chosenfortheircontributionto memoriescometothefore sportinthelocalcommunity. CyclistSirChrisHoywiththeQueen’s andtheycanhaveagoodold Baton CouncilLeaderMickHenrysaid: reminisceandthesememory “I’mdelightedthatwehavebeen boxescanreallyhelpopen selectedasahostandI’d For further details visit the thingsup.” encourageeveryonetogetbehind Commonwealth Games To make a donation TeamEnglandandshowtheir website: contact the Alzheimer's supportintherunupto,andduring www.glasgow2014.com Society’s Gateshead office theCommonwealthGames2014.” on: 0191 477 7490. 4 GatesheadCouncilNews-Mar-May’14 Vote local, vote European douBle electionS cominG uP in may OnThursday22May,youhave canaskforaproxyvote.Thisis pollingcard,whichyouwillreceive thechancetocastyourvotein whenyounominatesomeoneelse acoupleofweeksbeforethe twokeyelections. tovoteforyou–thedeadlineto electiondate. Youcanvoteforthepersonyou sendinyourcompletedapplication For more information on the wanttorepresentyouon formtosortthisoutis5pm, forthcoming elections, the GatesheadCouncilwhereathird Wednesday14May. electoral register or how to ofcouncillorsareupforre- Polling Stations stand for a local election, election,andforthepersonyou Ifyouprefertovoteinperson, phone the helpline on: wanttoseeasyourEuropean makesureyoucheckwhereyour 0191 433 2152/2164/2166, MemberofParliament. pollingstationis.Itmightnotbein email: electoralregistration@ Inordertovote,youneedtobe thesameplaceaslasttime. gateshead.gov.uk or visit: ontheelectoralregister.Ifyou Detailsofyourstationandits www.gateshead.gov.uk/voting aren’talreadyregisteredyouhave openingtimeswillbeonyour untilmidnightonTuesday6May toregistertobeabletovotein theseelections. Postal Vote Did you know? Thedeadlineforanyonewanting • Theelectoralregisterisnotonlyawayofensuringyourvote.It’s toapplyforapostalvoteis alsoawayofcheckingthatyouarewhoyousayyouare.Ona Wednesday7May.Wewould numberofoccasionswe’vebeenaskedbyresidentstosenda needyourcompletedpostalvote lettertoapotentialemployerconfirmingthattheyareonthe applicationformby5pminorder registerataparticularaddress,ortoabankwhentheywantto foryoutogetapostalvote. openanewaccount. Proxy vote • Yourcreditratingcouldsuffer.Notbeingincludedontheelectoral Ifyoucan’tgettoapollingstation registercouldstopyoufromgettingamortgage,creditcardor yourselfbecauseforexample,you evenamobilephonecontract. areonholidayorinhospital,you Gateshead Awards 2014 Ryton Hirings nominationS noW oPen Thisyear’sRytonHirings Fairwilltakeplaceon Ifyouknowan This year’s categories are: Saturday24May,12noon to4pmatYeOldeCross, individualoran • LifetimeAchievement organisationthat HolyCrossChurch, • VolunteeroftheYear makesareal CommunityCentre,Church differencetowhere • YoungVolunteeroftheYear HallandtheVillageGreen. youlive–whynotnominate • VoluntaryOrganisationoftheYear Refreshments,stalls,and themforaGatesheadAward? • CareroftheYear carouselrides. We’vebeencelebratinglocal • YoungCareroftheYear Freeeventsincludelive heroesformanyyearswithawards • SportsAchieveroftheYear music,Children’s presentedannuallybytheMayor entertainments,playbus, • SportsCluboftheYear circusskills,displays, ofGatesheadtothosevolunteers, • SportsCoachoftheYear organisations,carersandothers children'sdogshowandlots • MaureenChaplinYoungSports whohavemadeanoutstanding more!OrganisedbyMid Achiever contributiontotheircommunities. TyneLionsClub,anymoney raisedwillgotolocalgood Visit: www.gateshead.gov. We’renowlookingforyour causes. nominationsforthisyear’sAwards. uk/gatesheadawards to Thereareanumberofcategories nominate online, phone the For more information or tochoosefromandweneedyour Mayor’s secretary on: to book a stall, contact: nominationsbyFriday18July2014. 0191 433 2011 or email: 0845 833 9527. [email protected]