Clowning for CLIC Sargent-The Sandow Clowns All Laughter Show

Clowning for CLIC Sargent

The Sandow Clowns All Laughter Show will occur on Friday, July 26, 2013 at 2:00pm to 3:20pm

Description: Special holiday treat! Clowning for CLIC Sargent -The Sandow Clowns All laughter Show. The best value clean slapstick comedy on stage for all the family. Hilarious comic sketches, juggling, balancing, stiltwalking, comedy musical car and lots of prizes! All Profits Covenant to CLIC Sargent national registered charity 1107328. Over £24,000 donated on our tours. Check out our Childrens Choices Facebook page! Show starts at 2pm, tickets on the door from 30 minutes prior.

All tickets £3.50 adults and children three years and over, free for two years and under.


Location: Ponteland Memorial Hall
Darras Road
Ponteland, NE20 9NX
07969933236 
More Info: childrenschoices.co.uk

Leonard Cheshire Disability - Bradbury Court

Leonard Cheshire Disability has been a part of the Ponteland Community for many years, although many people may be unaware of Bradbury Court on Thornhill Road.

Bradbury Court is a Supported Living Unit for 9 People with varying disabilities.

Leonard Cheshire the Man was the most decorated pilot in World War II and took part in the Dam Busters Raid; started the charity in 1948, predating the founding of the National Health Service.

Despite Bradbury Court being opened since 10th October 1995, very few people in the area are aware of our existence.

To help remedy that situation, we are holding a Cheese & Wine Evening on Wednesday July 3rd 2013 at Ponteland High School.

The evening is being hosted by Ponteland High School and Waitrose, Ponteland.

On the night, entertainment is being provided by the Ponteland High School Jazz Band.

Tickets are on sale via Michael Metcalf Leonard Cheshire Disability & Carol Wilson at

Ponteland High School and priced at only £8.00

An electronic copy of the Flyer is attached.

For any further information, contact Michael Metcalf - Volunteer Coordinator

07831 585 803

Best wishes,

Michael Metcalf

Michael Metcalf - 07831 585 803

Volunteer Co-ordinator, Northumbria Supported Living

Leonard Cheshire Disability

Telephone: 01661 867610

E-mail: michael.metcalf@lcdisability.org

WOOLSINGTON DAD GOES AN EXTRA 1000 MILES FOR CHARITY

WOOLSINGTON dad of two, Martin Cowell is set to complete a challenge of a lifetime to mark his 40^th birthday by cycling unsupported from John O'Groats to Land’s End in aid of the North East Children’s Charity Heel & Toe.

Starting on Friday June 28 2013, Martin aims to complete his gruelling journey in just eight days, finishing in time to celebrate his 40^th birthday.

Martin, who works for his family-run business Cowell’s Garden Centre, aims to raise £5,000 by completing the End 2 End cycle challenge for the Heel & Toe Children’s Charity.

The Durham-based organisation provides free conductive education to children suffering from Cerebral Palsy and other physical disabilities, and is a cause close to Martin’s heart after seeing how his daughter Macey, 10, has benefitted from its work.

Martin said: “As a family we have witnessed first-hand the fantastic work that Heel & Toe do to support children throughout the region. I wanted to do something really special to mark my 40^th birthday and I couldn’t think of a better way to give back to the organisation which has made such a difference to my daughter’s life. 

“I know this isn’t going to be easy - to start at one end of the UK and get to the other end in only eight days is quite a challenge, especially when most riders take around 14 days and that’s with support.  But I’m confident I’ll succeed and I’ll just have to keep reminding myself why I’m doing it – Heel & Toe is a truly marvellous charity.

“I am grateful for any donations, however big or small, and would like to thank everyone who has donated so far, particularly the Strawberry Foundation based at The Strawberry Pub, Newcastle which has kindly contributed £500.”

By visiting Heel & Toe’s weekly group sessions Macey’s confidence has grown dramatically as she has receives support with everyday practical skills which has helped to improve her interaction with others, coordination and balance. 

Martin, who also has an eight-year-old son Finley, began his training in November 2012 and has currently cycled 3 back-to-back 120 miles in final preparation for his challenge. He has set up a blog to log all of his training efforts which will be used throughout the eight day ride to track his progress.

To support Martin’s End 2 End cycle challenge in aid of Heel & Toe Children’s Charity, donations should be registered via his Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/GeordieJogle or TEXT - DAFT50 £5 to 70070.

To follow Martin as he completes his training and during his challenge, visit his blog http://geordiejogle.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page_21.html

FAMILY FIRM CLIMBS TO NEW HEIGHTS

NORTHUMBERLAND family business Gustharts has invested in a brand new 3500 sq ft flagship showroom, which will also offer an additional 3000 sq ft of storage space, on Blagdon Estate to handle the growing demand for its garden power tools and range of equipment for professional users. 

Established in 1985, Gustharts sells equipment to gardeners as well as those working in the woodland, landscape and arborist (tree surgeon) trades. A major Dealer in the STIHL and VIKING product ranges, Gustharts sells everything from chainsaws to hedge-trimmers, multi-tools and lawn mowers to protective clothing.

2012 was the best year to date for the family firm run by Rob Gusthart and his brother-in-law Michael and nephew Phillip Mitchell. The company grew turnover by 15 percent to bypass the £1m mark in the last 12 months, and despite the poor UK weather, April 2013 was their best ever month in the history of the business.

In 2001 they introduced climbing kit for arborists when one customer asked for a single harness and now Gustharts is the biggest specialist tree-climbing equipment supplier in the North, also supplying many colleges across the UK.  Their specialist tree-climbing equipment also gets sent to EEC countries, with some internet sales travelling as far as New Zealand and Australia.

A need for more space for storage and good quality display space for demonstrations led Gustharts to double its space at Blagdon Estate with a brand new showroom and workshop built by the estate owner, Lord Ridley, with Gustharts subsequently investing £120,000 in a state-of-the-art shop fit and green IT equipment.

The new showroom is located adjacent to Gustharts’ former site on Blagdon Estate, but the new enhanced two-storey 6500 sq ft layout has almost doubled their space.

Rob Gusthart said: “Now we have the bigger showroom customer equipment demos are much easier and people are browsing or just popping in to look round, as opposed to before in our smaller workshop when we didn't have much passing trade.

“We have even got a 20 foot tree in the centre of the showroom to try out harnesses and in the summer we’re hoping to take customers outside onto the Blagdon Estate to test equipment too.”

The investment in green IT facilities was handled by EastQuayIT who installed a special ‘veryPC’ server that is designed to consume less power and a number of ‘veryPCs’ at the new premises. Built using a unique chassis which comprises 100 percent aluminum sourced from renewable and geothermal resources, the PCs are engineered for Low Power Consumption with Eco Power Management and consume around 80 percent less power than a typical PC. 

Ian Fraser, director at EastQuayIT, added: “EastQuayIT is happy to be working with Gustharts and to be helping the family firm further develop its green credentials following its recent move, by reducing power consumption and incorporating recyclable equipment into its IT infrastructure.”

The company was established on 4^th November 1985 as Gustharts Chainsaw Centre and coincidentally moved into its brand new showroom on the same day (4^th November) last year. Marking the official opening recently was Lord Ridley and managing director of STIHL GB, Robin Lennie.

Gustharts is one of the first STIHL Dealerships in Britain to benefit from both its smart showroom fit-out and a bespoke workshop facility, making it a flagship Dealer for the German firm. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony, STIHL GB’s Robin Lennie paid tribute to the Gustharts family business which has been a STIHL Dealer for more than 27 years: “Gustharts has long been a top quality STIHL Dealer. They are a pleasure to work with and give excellent customer service, reliable technical support as well as sound advice to their customers. On behalf of all at STIHL, I congratulate them on this new flagship premises, which clearly reflects their quality and scale. We wish them all the very best for long-term and continuing success.” 

Gustharts took on its first employee 15 years ago, and now has nine staff which it hopes to grow considerably in the next few years.

For further information on Gustharts visit www.gustharts.com.

New Ponteland Dementia Café opens in July 2013

Following the positive response to a Hexham social and support group for people with dementia and their family members, and in response to local people’s needs, Alzheimer’s Society’s Tynedale branch is setting up a new group in Ponteland’s Merton Hall.

The group will be known as ‘D.Caff’   and will be a café-style session, meeting the third Wednesday of the month, starting Wednesday 17^th July (1:30-3:00). People who have dementia (or are concerned about their memory) and their family and friends will be welcomed at the get-togethers.

Dementia Support Worker, Trudi Jackson, and her 4 volunteers Judi, Nicky, Jose and Trish are very much looking forward to welcoming new members. Each month they plan to offer a range of activities such as table top games, team activities, speakers, entertainment and, of course, time to chat and relax over a cuppa. For those who would like additional support or information about living with dementia, Trudi will be happy to help within the group or will arrange a one to one meeting outside the group, if preferred. A peer support group for carers of people with dementia meets in Hexham each month and if there proves to be a demand, then a similar group will be established in Ponteland too.

The Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Cafés value reducing taboos around dementia through discussing and understanding the condition and offering information in a non-clinical environment. Also of great importance to living well with dementia is having a network of support which the café can offer through regular contact with those in a similar situation – people affected by dementia are informed and do not feel alone. Trudi and her volunteers whole-heartedly endorse these aims.

The cafes are all on Wednesdays at 1:30-3:00pm on the following dates:

17 July, 21 August, 18 September, 16 October, 20 November and 18  December 2013

in Merton Hall, Merton Way, Ponteland, NE20 9PX

For more information about the group or about living with dementia, please contact

Trudi Jackson, Alzheimer’s Society, Hexham Community Centre, Gilesgate, Hexham, NE46 3NP

Tel. 01434 607 318

trudi.jackson@alzheimers.org.uk

Hundreds have fun in the sun

FAMILIES took advantage of the glorious sunshine to enjoy the entertainment and activities on offer at this year’s Ponteland Party in the Park.

On the main stage there was music from Ponteland Community Band, The Rambling Group and Darras Hall First School Choir and a group from the Jill Errington School of Dance and Drama did a showcase on the nearby grass area.

There were also performances from local U3A Recorders and Ukelele Band in the tea tent. Among the other attractions were a Punch and Judy show, bouncy castle, football games, fire engine and a range of stalls.

The Friends of Ponteland Park had a display at the flower meadow and expert Guy Tansley brought along some bugs for people to look at or touch if they wished.

Sunday’s event was organised by Ponteland United Reformed Church, St Matthew’s Church, Ponteland Methodist Church and St Mary’s Church.

Andy Anderson, who is part of the organising committee, said there was a record turnout this year.

“We were delighted with the fantastic weather and both the tea tent and barbecue sold out, while there was a good 20 to 30-minute queue for an ice cream during parts of the afternoon,” he added.

“The stalls were kept busy and both Guy Tansley and Punch and Judy man Tony James were very popular with those who attended.

“We’re grateful to our main sponsor, Newcastle International Airport, Ponteland Town Council for allowing us to use the park for the party and the other organisations and individuals who help to make this event possible each year.”

Source: Morpeth Herald

CHARITY AUCTION for KENYA NURSERY SCHOOL

CHARITY AUCTION for KENYA NURSERY SCHOOL

THURSDAY, 4th JULY 2013, 7pm

at

PONTELAND HIGH SCHOOL

In February this year 36 students and 5 staff from Ponteland High School embarked on an expedition to Kenya. Having flown to Nairobi the group travelled north to Lake Baringo, stopping en route at the equator for the compulsory photographs, before pitching camp on the shores of the lake.

Whilst at the lake we enjoyed nature walks to discover local flora and fauna, including both carpet vipers and scorpions. The early morning boat trips to watch dawn rise over Lake Baringo were spectacular, and included sightings of so much wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles and fish eagles. From Baringo we headed south to Olorte via Lake Naivasha. At Olorte, we stayed in an Eco Camp and involved in local community work, helping to paint furniture at a local school and to build a new “wallow” to try to encourage the wildlife to return to the area. A particular highlight was to spend a night under the stars at Enchorro Naibor, a truly inspirational viewpoint visited by very few Westerners – estimated at less than 200 Europeans to date.

From Olorte, we travelled to Labentera, a small village which hosted its first “international” football match between Ponteland students and their Kenyan counterparts. It was at Labentera that we were introduced to  Moses who is the chief of a small Maasai tribe which lives about 5 miles outside the village.. The children of Moses’ village have to walk these 5 miles every day to attend school. It is a physical impossibility for the infants to walk this distance and consequently the younger children are not receiving an education.

Part of the motivation behind our recent trip was to support the efforts of Moses and the villagers in their attempts to raise funds to build a nursery school. This school will be built close enough to the village to enable the younger children to attend. If further motivation was required it was most certainly encouraged by the hospitality the tribes folk showed us. They welcomed us into their homes and organised a wonderful evening of song, dance, food and ceremony in our honour. Wonderful times were had delivering outdoor lessons to the children who, whilst initially sceptical and cautious, soon became involved, enthusiastic and appreciative.

To date Ponteland students have played a small part in helping to prepare the site for the new nursery school and have worked with the villagers to remove the bushes in the area and to mark out the parameters of the building. Using the money Ponteland staff and students have already collected, the building work has already begun. It is our intention to raise sufficient funds to complete the building and furnishing of the nursery school. To that end we are holding an auction at
Ponteland High School on Thursday 4^th July at 7pm. We are hoping many local residents will come along to bid for the variety of ‘lots’ on offer. Many generous donations of items to auction have been received from parents and local businesses.

Examples include:

·         7 day, 7 night adventure in Maasailand, KENYA in October 2014

·         Trip in light aircraft over Northumberland

·         Trip in micro light over Northumberland

·         Cruise on Tyne for 8 – 10 people

·         Passes for Ponteland Leisure Centre           

·         Tickets to Dare to Dream at Metro Radio Arena

·         Many vouchers / items from local retail outlets

A return to Kenya in February 2015 is in the planning – hopefully Ponteland students will be able to see the nursery school in action.