ARMED FORCES DAY

Raising the Flag – Sunday 18th June 2023 (by Invite only)

Parade – Sunday 25th June 2023 (free entry for all to enjoy)

A well-established event that attracts approximately 1,000 visitors throughout the day. In addition to the presence of the Armed Forces, there will be various other attractions to enjoy including: street performers, a live wartime music stage, a 1940’s field kitchen, WWII re-enactments and fairground rides. See you there!

  Location: Stanley Front Street (DH8 0HU) – Times: 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

                

Three Bs brighten town eyesore in time for In Bloom judging

A derelict Stanley eyesore has been transformed into a colourful centrepiece for the summer.

Stanley Town Council has transformed the derelict former Stanley Board School into one of the main attractions of  Northumbria in Bloom submission, thanks to artistic schoolchildren from the town.

The project saw youngsters from St Joseph’s Primary School, draw inspiration from previous year’s academic theme of “Birds, Bees and Butterflies” to design 29 new “windows” for the school, featuring brightly coloured animals, flowers and summer scenes.

“People in the town, quite understandably, are tired of the derelict building at the bottom of the Front Street, and when Northumbria in Bloom judges visited the town in 2019, our submission was marked down due to the state of the building.  So, we decided that we would address it in the summer and I approached the building’s owners with the plan to brighten the place up and they agreed to let us carry out the project. Sadly, we had to delay the project when COVID struck in 2020, but as soon as the schools were back, we set about using the youngsters’ imagination and artistic talents to create a project of turning this eyesore into something that brightens up the area.  We’re really pleased with how well the project has worked out.” said Dave Jarvis.

The colourful displays also seem to have found favour with In Bloom judges, who now commented on how much they improved the building, and the town main shopping street.

“So much effort goes into making the town a pleasant place to be, it’s nice to get so many positive comments,” added Dave. “The great thing is, we will keep the artwork once the building is finally earmarked for development, so it will go on to future displays elsewhere in the town.

“I’d like to thank all of the youngsters and staff at St Joseph’s who have helped drive this project forward and created such eye-catching, amazing work.”

The project was made possible thanks to support from Stanley Town Council and Durham County Council.

 

Focusing on the feelgood factor with flowers, flags, and events

Stanley Town Council continuously has its focus firmly on the feel good factor, having signed-off a budget aimed at adding colour, lifting spirits, and enhancing the environment.

Among the projects bringing colour to the streets, is Blooming Good Fun, the yearly competition encouraging residents to show off their gardens, yards, window boxes, hanging baskets, tubs, open spaces, and businesses. The contest has been running for several years and is the prelude to the town’s entry into Northumbria in Bloom.

The Council will also issue messages of unity following the implementation of a The Council Flag policy that will see the Council flying a variety of flags to coincide with designated days and months as a sign of unity, support and respect.

Stanley Town Council will also add colour to the Civic Hall, embracing a variety of countries, cultures and events via their flag displays.

 

Happy 100th birthday Vera Soulsby

Happy 100th birthday Vera Soulsby 🥳
Huge congratulations to Vera Soulsby, resident of South Moor, Stanley who today celebrated her 100th birthday on 18th February 2021.
Vera, who has was born in Maple Street, worked in the Colliery canteen in her younger years, before moving to the Disco Superstore in Annfield Plain, an allusion to its true name of the Annfield Plain Co-op and Discount Electricals.
As one of eight siblings, she remains close to her only surviving sister, who is just four years her junior and who also lives in South Moor. Unfortunately Vera’s husband Eddie passed away in 1994, but she still reminisces the rides out in their car and their nice holidays abroad. Vera has continued to live an active lifestyle, devoting her time to the Woman’s Institute prior to its closure.

Stanley Civic Hall – Diamond Anniversary

 

Stanley Civic Hall has been at the heart of the town and community since her opening on 7th January 1961, accommodating many shows through the Alun Armstrong Theatre, cinema films, weddings, and celebrations, not to mention training courses, a base for community groups and conferences.

The year 2020 will be always known as a challenging year for all, however, the Civic Hall has remained at the heart of the town and community, just as was always intended, upon her opening in 1961. Following her closure to the public because of government COVID restrictions, she had continued to provide space for the operations of Stanley Town Council, whilst the Alnwick Suite and Lumley Room had housed an extended PACT House team.

In December 2021 we reopened and brought back the panto with a production of Beauty and the Beast, we also look forward to relaunching our community cinema programme, and to top it all off, a live events programme. Also not forgetting our private event partners, including MMA contests, Amateur Dramatics and of course our local education conferences.

Do you have any fond memories from across the years? Let us know!

Community Support

A community isn’t just an area of land – a postcode or village, town, suburb or street. It’s people. It’s goodwill. It’s coming together to achieve a shared goal or offer support in a crisis.

It is all of these things and more and in the Stanley area we’re lucky to have such strong bonds that will see us through the difficult situations and emerge a more robust, more united community.

 

 

In my last update, I focused on the outstanding work of PACT House, which has mobilised incredibly since the very beginning of this crisis.  Offering meals and free teas & coffee literally all day with a friendly warm smile.

County Durham Community Foundation
Victoria House
Whitfield Court, St John’s Road
Meadowfield Industrial Estate
Durham, DH7 8XL

Tel: 0191 378 6340
Email: 
info@cdcf.org.uk

Monday – Thursday 9.00am – 5.00pm; Friday 9.00am – 4.00pm

 

Just for Women welcomes all women and young girls, provide support and assistance in a non-judgemental, non-threatening environment that will give each woman the opportunity to be heard and accept the equal worth of each women and value the individually of her life experience.

“We are a community based, independent service dedicated to empowering women and young girls through support, advice and bespoke programs tailored around the women and young”.

  • To be open to all women and young girls
  • To offer counselling and support groups free of charge
  • To focus activities that meet the needs of women and young girls
  • To educate women and young girls through seminars and workshops at the centre
  • Listen, understand and validate women and young girls in a non-judgemental, safe and
    supportive atmosphere
  • Be sensitive to women and young girls choices and life circumstances
  • Respect all differences
  • Enable women and young girls to have a choice through provision of opportunity knowledge and support
  • Partner with other organisations to meet the needs of women in our community

Tel: 01207 281145
Email:
justforwomencentre@yahoo.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

West Stanley Disaster Memorial Sunday 16th February 3.30pm

Every year the town stops and pays its respects to the 168 men and boys who were killed on 16th February 1909, when at 3.45 pm, an explosion ripped through the Burns Pit.

It was a disaster that had a huge effect on the town. Over 300 dependents, the vast majority of whom lived in colliery company houses faced destitution after losing their loved ones.

The log book of the East Stanley Board School stated :

“Many of our children have lost father or brothers. The intense grief is unbearable. In my visits I find that 11 of my old pupils have suffered on Tuesday. The West Stanley Disaster has made an awful havoc among our children”

There will be a Remembrance Event held from 3.30 pm on Sunday 16th February. Songs and poems will be sung and recited and the Craghead Colliery Band will perform, followed by the observance of a silence to remember those who died 111 years ago.

Council Backs Budget to Build on Stanley’s Success

THE AMBITIONS, concerns and passions of people in Stanley are placed at the heart of the 2020/21 budget, agreed this week [21 January] by the Town Council.

Councillors threw their weight behind the 2020/21 Budget, which includes a plan to carry out the most thorough consultation exercise ever carried out in the town and its surrounding areas.

“Three years ago, we made a pledge to the people of Stanley that their views would be listened to and acted upon,” said Council Leader, Les Timbey. “What we want to do now is take that even further – we want to engage with them directly and learn not only what we can deliver for them as a Town Council, but what changes people want to see beyond our remit.

“We want to know about their ambitions for the town, what makes residents concerned, we want their views about their children’s education, how care is provided…we want to create a Stanley Knowledge Bank and leverage the collective weight of the Council, councillors and officers to become agents for positive change, building on the success we have had over the last three years.”

Investment has been made available for a series of regeneration projects in and around Stanley, all of which will be included in a “Stanley Masterplan”, providing a blueprint for regeneration and development across the area.

Extra provision has also been made available for the voluntary sector, which is increasingly relied upon to bolster public service or, in some extreme cases, replace ones cut from public sector budgets.

The Town Council has also pledged to bring a Pantomime back to the Civic Hall in 2020, and has recruited a professional production team to stage the popular Christmas curtain raiser.

Among other projects approved is continued support for the popular “Play in the Park” events for children and parents during the summer holidays, Stanley’s spectacular annual fireworks extravaganza and continued investment in the community wardens and environmental caretakers service.

The Council is also continuing with the Stanley Fund, that has delivered thousands of pounds of grant support to Stanley groups and organisations, since it launched last year.

Cllr Timbey explained how the new budget was once again designed to protect the most vulnerable, enhance the town’s offer, but most of all put Stanley residents at the heart of decision-making.

“Every pound and penny we spend is done so with the sole intention of making things better for our residents, communities and businesses,” said Cllr Timbey.

“We keep getting told by Government that its cruel and unrelenting austerity measures are over, but they are still being felt in Stanley and across County Durham.

“This Budget shows that Stanley Town Council will continue to back projects that have a significant impact on the lives of people in the Stanley area. Our focus remains on enhancing the environment, improving safety, supporting community projects and, once again, asking people what they want to see in Stanley and working with our partners to make sure the projects are delivered.”

The Council has been forced to increase its precept by 2.99% from the 2019/20 Budget to keep in step with inflation.

“Any rise in taxation is not something we take lightly,” added Cllr Timbey, “but we are confident what is a relatively small increase will deliver huge benefits for the community”

Deputy Leader, Cllr Mark Davinson, said: “I am proud of what this Council has achieved over the past three years and I wholeheartedly believe this Budget empowers us to build on the progress we’ve already made.

“While great strides have been made in public engagement, we expect the forthcoming consultation exercise to once again deliver some real key priorities for us to act upon.”