Welcome to the September/October edition of Citylife magazine.
It’s all change at Citylife this summer as we said goodbye to our editor, Julie. We hope you enjoy this edition just as much – it’s been a collective effort by all the team.
Now that autumn is creeping up on us we’ve tried to give you lots of information about how to stay healthy and keep active. And if your children are keen, there’s still time for them to enter the Mini or Junior North Run on 3 October. As a cyclist, I will be heading to the quayside on 12 September to see our top cyclists cross the Tyne in the Tour of Britain cycle ride.
You can find out how to visit some of our city’s cultural treasures for free during the Heritage Open Days. Take the chance while you can – some of these places are only open for this one week in the year.
On a more serious note – every year we do a survey of Newcastle residents to find out what you think of our services. In this issue, you can read what people said last year. We’ll be sending this year’s survey out in September and October so if you get one through your letterbox I hope you can find the time to fill it in.
We hope you enjoy this edition of Citylife,
Meg Woollam and the Citylife team
Citylife cover photo
Our front cover shows drummer, Val Stevinson. of the Dolly Mixtures band at this year's Pride Parade. A great time was had by all as the colourful parade wound it's way through the city streets ending with the Pink Picnic in Leazes Park.
The Pride Parade was just one part of a new and exciting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender festival to celebrate the diversity of the North East with pride and passion. If you missed it this year then keep an eye out for details of next year's festival on www.northernpride.org.uk
Citylife pdf download
Download the pdf for Citylife September/October (2.1mb) or read the articles below on-line. The pdf also includes advertisements, Council diary and What's on.
Podcast
This months Podcast is now available. News produce audio tapes for some of our readers and will be producing the podcast for you to download or listen on-line.
News
Cheaper travel for under 16sFrom 1 September, young people with an Under 16 card will be able to travel at a cheap rate fare seven days a week throughout the day and evening.
Great North RunThere’s still time to enter the mini and junior run!
Improved A-level results for city againResults day figures showed our pass rate rising again by 0.9% to 96.5%, with the number of students gaining A-C grades also up by 1.9% to 65.4%
Tour of Britain cycle ride comes to NewcastleThe Tour of Britain will be hitting Newcastle on Friday 12 September.
Features
Work and benefitsYou may worry that you will lose all your benefits if you start work. The good news is that many benefits can be paid to people who work.
Our survey said…We need you to tell us what we’re doing well and where we’re going wrong if we are going to improve. And this autumn, you’ll get the chance to do just that. In September and October we’ll be sending out a questionnaire to a sample of households.
Discover our city’s cultural treasures during Heritage Open DaysFrom Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 September, you can go along to over 190 buildings, tours and activities in Tyne and Wear – 51 of which are in Newcastle itself. It’s not all about old buildings, there’s something to interest everyone.
Apply for a Queen’s Award and boost businessCompanies in Newcastle are being urged to apply for a Queen's Award for Enterprise to recognise their achievements and help boost their business
Scotswood’s winning teamFour Scotswood women have shown what communities can achieve when they pull together. The four – Audrey Kennedy, Audrey Bushell, Nellie Ternent and Gwen Hind – are part of the ten-strong management team that has won a Queen’s Award for its work in running the Scotswood Neighbourhood Centre.
Gosforth flying highFriendly staff and convenient service – that’s what customers have been saying about Gosforth Customer Service Centre.
African group honoured by QueenAnother deserving winner of the Queen’s Award is Newcastle Muungano Community Association. The group won the award for its work within the city’s African community.
Have your say on the future of the Ouseburn ValleyWe are preparing a new regeneration strategy for the valley which will guide development in the area.
New East and West End centresAs we told you in the last Citylife, a new centre for the East End is due to open in early November, just a few doors away from the existing customer service centre on Shields Road.
National Fraud Initiative 2008/09We, at the council, have to make sure that the money we use is safe from fraud. We can share information that we get with other organisations who check up on public money. This helps us and them to protect against fraud.
National conference comes to townAround 300 people are expected to attend a national conference in Newcastle this September, to share best practice in providing workplace support for those who are disabled or disadvantaged.
Step up for DavidDavid Thomas has come a long way since he started working for Newcastle City Council, thanks to the Workstep programme.
Helping you enjoy lifeBeing able to enjoy a good quality of life is important for everyone. That's why, as part of the Newcastle 2021 Vision project, we're working to improve the quality of life for all people right across the city.
Quaker Questa spiritual path for our time - simple, radical, contemporary.
Back on track with STARWhen Eileen Eisenklem came out of hospital after surgery to replace her hip she thought she'd end up stuck in the house.
100th birthday for the Territorial ArmyThe Territorial Army, or TA as it is usually known, is part of Britain’s reserve land forces. Together with the Regular Reserve the TA supports the Regular Army at home and overseas.
The two lives of Gary MaltbyGary Maltby turns up for work every morning like many other workers, but not so long ago he worked in a different place, a world away from Newcastle.
Winifred’s work honoured – 60 years on!When West Denton’s Winifred Gordon heard the government was to honour the World War II land work of thousands of women, Citylife stepped in to make sure she got her due.
Text 80010 ‘Shelter’ for help and adviceShelter North East is expanding services to help a wider group of people and to offer a quick and easy way people can contact the charity for help.
Help us help you save money!Every year thousands of pounds of benefits go unclaimed. And you could be missing out.
New call-back service from our contact centreWe have introduced a new service for customers calling our contact centre to find out about Council Tax and Housing Benefits - particularly at peak times for example when Council Tax bills have been sent out.
Are you struggling to pay your Council Tax?Council Tax forms a major part of the council budget and, although we have a commitment to keep it low, it has to be collected from everyone who can afford to pay.
Is your school a Fairtrade school?Find out about how your school can become a Fairtrade school - and when the Fairtrade Fayre is taking place
Council members code of conductMark Scrimshaw tells us about the work of the Standards Committee
HealthylifeThis special supplement has been produced by Newcastle Primary Care Trust with key health information and advice to improve your health and well being.
Healthylife - Give up smokingPeople who live in the north of England die sooner than people who live in the south. More people in the north get diseases such as circulatory disease, cancers, in particular lung cancer, and diseases of the respiratory system. This is due to the fact that more people in the North East smoke tobacco or have been exposed to tobacco smoke.
Healthylife - Weight mattersObesity is one of the major public health issues in today’s modern world. If you are obese you have an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. In 2005, over 21% of men and women were obese – a figure which has trebled since the 1980s.
Newcastle’s bright future is planned outThe Newcastle Partnership has developed Newcastle’s first Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS). This is a plan describing how the partnership will develop and improve the city in the coming years, making it an even better place to live, work and visit.
Meet, relax, learn...be inspired!We're busy getting ready to welcome you to the new High Heaton Library.
Healthylife - Alcohol – a city’s experienceSo how can we enjoy our drink and stay healthy?
Give Stepney Bank stables a leg upStepney Bank Stables, in the Ouseburn Valley, is both a professional riding school and a charity which gives children and adults the opportunity to learn to ride and look after horses.
Regulars
everyone’s tomorrowWant to feel better, have more energy and confidence, and meet new people? Then good old-fashioned exercise could be the answer.
Newcastle Primary Care TrustFind out what Newcastle Primary Care Trust has in store.
Meet Anna FosterFind out what Anna Foster from Metro Radio has been doing since our last issue.
A safer place to liveYou are much safer from fire thanks to the work of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.
our Newcastle - improving your environmentFind out how Newcastle City Council and our partners have been cleaning up.
our Newcastle - Slim your binRecycling is one way to reduce waste but it’s just the start. You can also help by reducing what you buy; buying recycled goods; and re-using as much as you can.
our Newcastle - Newcastle Allotment and Garden Show 2008Sunday 14 September, 11- 4pm. In the Banqueting Suite, Civic Centre. Free
our Newcastle - Is your journey really necessary?We all like to make life a little easier for ourselves and cars help us do that. But most of the car users among us have been guilty of driving to the shops when we really could have walked. Or thinking it’s the end of the world if we can’t park right outside our destination.
ourNewcastle -Act local, think global - valuing our urban treesThe 2008 Northern Regional Tree Warden Scheme Forum hosted by the Newcastle Tree Warden Network
Bridging NewcastleGatesheadBridging NewcastleGateshead is working to create great places to live in parts of Newcastle and Gateshead. Want to know more? Visit www.bridgingng.org.uk, email info@bridgingng.org.uk or call 0191 277 2666.
Community News
News from local groups
Every Child Matters
Outstanding help for pupils"Since my child went to this school it seems like there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you for looking after my son." That was the message from one mum to headteacher Jeff Lough and staff at Linhope Pupil Referral Unit, in West Denton.
Cheviot View hits the spotIn March we reported on the opening of Cheviot View – a new short-break centre for disabled children. Six months on, Citylife pays a visit to see how children and parents are getting along with this great new facility.
Newcastle teachers are award winnersNo less than five of our teachers were honoured in this year’s North East Teaching Awards.
Moorside leads the wayMoorside Primary has been recognised as an example to others after being the first school in Newcastle named a National Leader in Education and National Support School – placing it in the top 150 of over 20,000 schools across the country!
Private fosteringIs someone else looking after your child? Are you looking after someone else's child?
Wyndham Primary celebrates 50 yearsEarly in July, Wyndham held a street party to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary.
Way ahead on extended schoolsWe’re leading the way on developing extended schools and are significantly ahead of government targets in a number of key areas.
Missing school is missing outWe’re helping schools spread the word that missing school is missing out from the very start of children’s school days.
Admission to reception classes and transfer to secondary school - September 09Find out which dates are important for your child entering reception classes and secondary schools next September.
Uganda teacher comes 4000 miles to Kingston Park SchoolKingston Park Primary has had some very special guests, as the school was visited by both a Ugandan teacher and a group of children from the Lake District.