Councillor Lucy Hovvels

Smokefree County Durham - New Incentive for Routine and Manual Workers

Smokefree County Durham has new funding to introduce a financial incentive for routine and manual workers where they can earn up to £120 for quitting smoking! This will be in the form of vouchers increasing in amounts as the individual progresses throughout their quit journey, being rewarded at their initial appointment, 4 weeks smoke free, and 12 weeks quit. This launched on the 1st of October as a pilot scheme until the 31st of December 2024.

For more information visit: smokefreecountydurham.co.uk or call 0800 772 0565.

Pension Credit Pension Credit is extra money for pensioners to bring your weekly income up to a minimum amount - what you'll get, apply, eligibility.

🤩Do you want to make a real difference? Custody Detention Scrutiny Panel Recruitment now open!

The Office of the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner is keen to hear from people in the local community who want to make a real difference to their local policing service.

We're looking to recruit several individuals selected from across the policing area to become volunteers for our Custody Detention scrutiny panel.

👉Find out more and apply at https://www.durham-pcc.gov.uk/vacancies/custody-detention-scrutiny-volunteer

Last chance to apply for our Hydrotherapy Pool Attendant roles at the Pioneering Care Centre. 📍

Our Hydrotherapy Pool is opening later this year - so you'll be joining the centre team at an exciting time!

Find out more and apply here: www.pcp.uk.net/hydrotherapy-pool-attendant-newton-aycliffe

We will be partnering with employers across the county to deliver free workplace health checks to help protect people from high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes.

Today, the Department of Health and Social Care announced our application to be part of the pilot scheme was a success and we are set to receive £119,000 to provide these potentially lifesaving checks between September 2024 and March 2025.

Regular health checks are key to ensuring signs of cardiovascular disease and other conditions are identified early, increasing the chances of recovery.

However, with many of us juggling work, family and caring commitments, it can sometimes be a struggle to find time to put ourselves first.

By delivering Workplace Health Checks in partnership with employers – both big and small – across the county, we can reach people we know are less likely to seek help. It will allow us to offer blood pressure and BMI checks, while also providing an opportunity to share valuable health and wellbeing advice in a setting where people feel safe and comfortable.

Good Luck to everyone collecting GCSE results today! ⭐

If you need inspiration for your future or advice on what to do next, DurhamWorks can help - visit https://durhamworks.info/

COMING SOON - East Durham AAP Capital Grants Fund

East Durham AAP recognises the need to support communities in East Durham and will be inviting expressions of interest for project that meet the priorities of:

• Maintaining the Social Fabric of our Communities
o Supporting community buildings
o Supporting volunteers
o Supporting vulnerable people in our community

• Neighbourhoods and Place:
o Place and regeneration
o Community safety
o The green agenda

• Children, Young People and Families

Funding of £5,000 will be available for capital projects that meet our aims. Examples of eligible projects include:

• Building and refurbishment works
• Environmental improvements
• Play areas
• ICT equipment

Only not for profit constituted organisations are eligible to receive a Capital Grant, these can include:

• Voluntary and Community Sector organisations
• Statutory bodies including DCC Services, Police, Fire and Health Bodies
• Parish and Town Councils
• Schools and Colleges

The grants fund will launch for applications following the AAP Board meeting on Wednesday 11th September. Due to changes in funding rules applicants will need to demonstrate that all permissions (including planning permission and landlord’s consent) are in place on submission and that three quotes have been obtained for works over £5,000.

For further information or to discuss a project idea please contact the team at: [email protected]

We’re proposing to extend restrictions on the display of letting boards in part of Durham City and would welcome your views.

We introduced the restrictions in October 2019 after successfully applying to the Secretary of State for a Regulation 7 Direction. It means anyone who wants to display letting boards in the Durham City Conservation Area has to apply for consent from us. The direction is due to expire this October but we think it’s worked well – we receive far fewer complaints than we used to – so we’re proposing to apply to the Secretary of State to renew it for a further five years.

What do you think? Find out more and respond to the consultation: https://ow.ly/M43450Sszfr

Great Night for the community. Looking forward to another night of great music and entertainment

Today is Easter Sunday in the Ukraine. To celebrate, our Ukrainian friend, Svitlana, prepared a meal which we all enjoyed together at Ludworth Community Association after volunteering 🇺🇦

Щасливого Великодня

Houses which fall into disrepair, because they have been empty for a long time, reduce the value of other houses in the area, attract vermin, may become unsafe and can become the focal point for anti-social behaviour. To report an empty home email: [email protected]

Once you report an empty home the team will then:

• Engage with owners/landlords once identified.
• Offer financial assistance via interest free loans to owners/landlords
• Offer advice and support as well as negotiating with owners.
• The use of enforcement, as a last resort.
• Investigate and respond to complaints received for empty properties; and,
• Provision of assistance and support to area-based regeneration initiatives.

More on empty homes week can be found here: https://ow.ly/KYa050QKJzc

Apprenticeship Support | www.livin.co.uk Our Livin Futures team can support you into an apprenticeship role by helping you to find local vacancies, improving your job hunting skills, building a strong CV and interview preparation.

From today, the Durham Tees Valley listening service will switch to freephone 0800 046 1313, as the crisis line prepares to transfer to NHS 111 select mental health option very soon.

The team will continue to offer 24/7 emotional support and advice to anyone aged 18 and over living in Teesside, Durham and Darlington.

Know what the difference is between robbery, theft and burglary?

Robbery involves stealing from someone by using force or making think it will be used. Theft means taking someone's property without using force, and burglary means illegally entering a property to steal from it.

If you have information about those committing such crimes in your community, contact our charity. You stay 100% anonymous. Always.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3GQSUIW

Don’t let criminals walk in uninvited.

Opportunists often take advantage of homes that are unsecured – make sure to keep your doors and windows locked, as it only takes a few seconds to open an unlocked door and grab your valuables, car keys and then your car…

Speak up, 100% anonymously, to our charity if you have information about criminals or burglaries in your local area.

Call 0800 555 111 or fill in our online form: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/keeping-safe/home-property-safety/burglary

Due to Storm Babet collection conditions for our Bin Crews are extremely difficult today.

Collections are ongoing as normal, but crews will be placing boxes in bins and laying bins on their side to try to stop them blowing over.

Our next surgery is in Wheatley Hill at Greenhills Centre on Wednesday 4th October. Please come along and see us.

We do have others in the rest of the division- details to follow.