Strategic Grant Funding for Women’s Centre

A STANLEY safe haven for women who have mental health issues, been subjected to abuse/trauma, or may be suffering long-term unemployment is celebrating a funding windfall to bolster its burgeoning business ambitions.

Just for Women received £620 from Stanley Town Council’s Strategic Grant Fund to buy machinery and materials to support the Crafting to Wellness group.

The new strategic small grants pot, worth £35,000, was launched in 2019 and supports smaller projects via a simple bidding process, administered by Stanley Town Council.

The award will help the not-for-profit organisation, which moved to its HQ St Joseph’s House in 2018, commercialise craft products, that include dolls, bedding and a host of other soft furnishings, produced at its Stanley base.

Just for Women director, Lestryne Tweedy, said: “Stanley Town Council has been an incredible source of support for Just for Women since we were established, most notably last year when it paid £190,000 for the St Joseph’s House building to allow us to continue delivering the vital support we do to vulnerable people in and around the town.

“This money from the Strategic Grant Fund will allow us to further develop the quality products being produced by the Crafting to Wellness group, which has helped many women and men unearth talents that many didn’t know they had.

“This fund is exactly what Stanley needs – it’s quick and easy to apply, very little bureaucracy and, once approved, the funding arrives amazingly quickly.”

Just for Women has helped countless women, and some men, find their feet following abusive relationships, mental illness, homelessness and other issues impacting negatively upon their lives.

Overseen by former social worker, Linda Kirk, who started Just for Women in 2011, the charity has grown from a support organisation to incorporate a business arm and is providing life skills training to people.

Using “crafting” as a form of therapy, it is now a cottage industry for the centre, which sells quilt & cushion covers, soft furnishings and teddy bears to help reduce the need for external funding for its support and training services.

Stanley Town Mayor, Cllr Carole Hampson, said: “For eight years, Just for Women has helped the most vulnerable people in and around Stanley not only find a safe haven, but provide access to training that has created jobs, improved mental health issues and given people a purpose in life.

“Hopefully, this new equipment and material will help Crafting to Wellness continue to develop this fantastic small business and contribute towards making more money that Just for Women can then re-invest in its support services.”

To find out how to apply to the Strategic Grant Fund visit: www.stanley-tc.gov.uk/grants/

Greenland School Application withdrawn

The Town Council has just been informed that the Planning Application to turn the old Greenland School into a care home which the Council lodged an official objection against has been withdrawn by the applicant.

Stanley Town Mayor Cllr Carole Hampson said “I would like to thank everyone who attended the public meeting and for the continued support. I would also like to thank the planning officer for writing a comprehensive report, it was well researched”

Council Receives Bronze Award for supporting ex-Armed Forces Personnel

Following Stanley Town Council’s decision to sign the Armed Forces Covenant in the summer, Stanley Town Council were last week recognised by the MOD Employer Recognitions scheme and awarded a bronze award.

The bronze award recognises the Town Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant by agreeing to ensure our recruitment processes treat ex-armed forces personnel, reservists and their families favourably by guaranteeing interviews for relevant people who meet essential job criteria, and by promoting the covenant within our area.

Pictured with the award are Deputy Town Mayor Cllr David Marshall (L) and Council Leader Cllr Les Timbey (R).

Cllr Marshall, who is the Council’s Armed Forces Champion, said “I have already arranged meetings with local businesses to promote the covenant to them and I hope to do much more to promote the covenant and support armed forces personnel over the coming year”.

It was also announced at the Council’s meeting on 22nd October that the Council will be working with Help for Heroes to build a banner case to display the South Moor No1 Lodge banner within the Civic Hall next year.

Blooming Good Fun Awards 2019

Last night (21st October) Stanley Town Council hosted the 2019 Blooming Good Fun awards, a gala evening to award prizes for the most beautiful gardens, yards and business in the Stanley area and to thank the people and organisations from around the Stanley area who contributed to the Town Council’s first entry of the town into Northumbria in Bloom.

The winners of the three categories were Alan Gleghorn for best garden,

 

Kathleen Gibson for Best Yard, and

Stanley Park Care Home for Best business.

The overall winner was Alan Gleghorn, see below being presented with his award by Town Mayor Cllr Carole Hampson

Speakers included Oliver Sherrat, Head of Environment at Durham County Council, discussing the importance of partnership work in improving the street scene, Nathan Hopkins from the Woodshed Workshop – a social enterprise based in Sacriston which works with people who are long term unemployed, taking mental or other health issues and uses reclaimed materials to make bespoke furniture and Cllr Les Timbey, the Leader of the Council who outlined how working together with residents, charities and community groups had made the project such a success.

At the event, Town Mayor Carole Hampson re-presented the Tanfield in Bloom group with the Percy Boydell Cup for overall winners of Northumbria in Bloom which they won, beating off the likes of Durham City, Hexham, Corbridge and Saltburn-by-the-Sea to take the trophy. Tanfield are competing in the National Britain in Bloom finals in Friday in London and we wish them all the very best.

A raffle was also held for the Town Mayor’s chosen charity, PACT House, which raised £171.

Remembrance Events in Stanley – November 2019

Details of the Remembrance Events being held on Sunday 10th November around the Stanley area are listed below.  The Council is pleased to announce that following the positive reaction from the community last year, the remembrance beacon in Front Street will be lit again at 7pm on Sunday evening. 

Sunday 10th November

Annfield Plain

11am The Avenue, Greencroft

11am Loud Bank Memorial, West Road

Annfield Plain Cenotaph

1.45 Tesco Car Park meet up.
2pm Service at St Teresa’s Church.
2.30pm March from Church to Memorial in Park
2.45 approx Wreath laying in Park at Memorial

Craghead

10.45 at the War Memorial

South Moor

10.45 Memorial Park

Stanley

9.45 am Service at St Andrews Church
10.45 am at the Memorial in St Andrews Church

6.45 pm “Battles Over” Beacon Lighting Ceremony on Stanley Front Street

Tanfield

9.00am for service at St Margaret’s Church with wreath-laying.

Tanfield Lea

1.00 pm Tanfield Lea Club

Monday 11th November 

Civic Hall Stanley, 11 am

 

Hedley House Opens Its Doors for Vulnerable Young People in Durham

Hedley House is a supported accommodation project for young people at risk of homelessness in County Durham, to provide safe and secure accommodation when facing difficult circumstances and/or being at risk of becoming homeless.

The project, based in Park Road, South Moor Stanley, is provided by a partnership of Changing Lives, Durham County Council Housing Solutions and Children and Young People’s Services.

The project was officially opened by Councillor Carole Hampson, then Town Mayor of Stanley.

In celebration of the launch, Changing Lives hosted an afternoon tea, which was prepared by the young residents. The event was well attended, with our CEO Stephen Bell welcoming guests from Durham Police, Durham Housing solutions and Durham County Council.

Northumbria in Bloom 2019

This year has seen Stanley Town Council’s first entry in the Northumbria in Bloom competition in the large town category. As we shared earlier, some of the groups and organisations we worked with this year received their own recognition in Northumbria in Bloom as well as being a part of the town’s overall submission.

St Josephs School in Stanley received a GOLD award in the Schools category; the Just for Women Centre has received a SILVER award in the Special Awards category and PACT House Stanley has received a BRONZE in the Commercial Premises category! Copper Beech community garden in White le Head received a SILVER award and the Town was awarded an overall SILVER.

There were also special mentions for the Haven, Catchgate Partnership and Annfield Plain Infants school in the “It’s your neighbourhood” category

These are fantastic results Congratulations to all our partners who worked with us to deliver our In Bloom entry this year and brighten up the town.

This is a great achievement for our first entry and the fact that so many of our partners also received separate recognition is a great thing for our communities.

Notice of Conclusion of Audit 2018/19 Accounts

In accordance with the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, the Council is required to publish a n notice informing electors that the final audited accounts for the year 2018/19 have been published and how they can be inspected if required by the public.

The Notice of Conclusion of Audit can be accessed HERE

The Annual Governance & Accounting Statement can be accessed HERE

Celebrating Tanfield’s Railway Heritage

Stanley Town Council, working in conjunction with the Tanfield Railway and Midland Railway Society recently unveiled a heritage plaque in celebration of local man, the son of a pitman from Clough Dene who went on to become a pioneer in the development of the Victorian railway, the first Locomotive Superintendent of the Midland Railway,  founder of the massive Derby works and designer of steam locomotives some of which survived in service for 80 years, through both world wars to the end of steam.
Matthew Kirtley was born in February 1813 in Clough Dene, Tanfield. It is perhaps no coincidence given that Tanfield was a pioneering place in the development of the railway that Kirtley joined the Stockton & Darlington Railway as an apprentice aged 13 in 1826 and would have worked under either the Stephensons or Timothy Hackworth. In any case, it is likely he was present as a 16 year old at the now legendary Rainhill trials, won by Stephenson’s Rocket (but at which Hackworth also sold his locomotive, Sans Pareil). Indeed he was soon on the Liverpool & Manchester Railway working as a fireman. Kirtley’s career was closely linked to the Stephensons and it was under their patronage that he rose through the ranks.
Kirtley’s career progressed – he became an engine driver and by 1836 he was employed by the London & Birmingham railway looking after locomotives and static engines at Camden shed. An urban myth has persisted for many years that it was he who drove the first train into the new terminus of the railway,  Euston station – he may well have driven works trains into Euston before it was opened but it is highly unlikely he would have taken the controls of the first public train into the station.
By 1842 Kirtley had risen to the position of Locomotive Superintendent at the Birmingham & Derby Junction Railway. Two years later, when the Midland Counties, North Midland and Birmingham & Derby Junction merged to form the Midland, Kirtley only 33 years of age and the Superintendent of the smallest of the three companies was appointed Locomotive and Carriage Superintendent for the new railway.
Kirtley had to oversee the standardisation of a vehicle fleet which contained a myriad of different locomotive designs from different makers. This trend continued as the Midland expanded rapidly, absorbing company after company. Kirtley needed to consolidate the repair maintenance and manufacturing capability of the railway. By 1851 Derby could build its own locomotives.
Matthew Kirtley died on May 24th 1873 at his home in Derby aged 60. His funeral was attended by all the management and foremen of the company and some 800 workers, such was his popularity after 30 years with the company.
The plaque was unveiled by Town Mayor Cllr Carole Hampson in a ceremony attended by Don Asher of the Midland Railway Society, representatives of the Tanfield Railway, local residents and Town Councillors for the Tanfield ward who put the request for recognition of Mr Kirtley forward.
A more detailed biography of Matthew Kirtley by Don Asher of the Midland Railway Society can be found HERE