Durham, England

Musical Mondays are set to be the highlight of families’ weeks when a new session begins in Peterlee.
Music and Rhyme sessions are starting every Monday from next week (September 6) at the Sure Start Centre at Hill Rigg House on Lowhills Road between 1.00pm and 2.00pm.
Sam Neil is a Family worker at the Durham County Council run centre. He said: “Music and Rhyme is a fun and interactive session for children and adults.
“The class offers a chance to explore musical instruments using puppets and other games. Children learn songs and take part in action rhymes whilst meeting other children and having fun with music.
“Music and Rhyme sessions offer children and babies the opportunity to sing favourite rhymes, songs, poems and jingles and move and dance to music.
 “This improves language development and also helps develop social skills and self confidence.”
Sessions are aimed at the under fives, no booking is required.

Rock climbing, abseiling and off road buggies were just some of the activities keeping youngsters entertained at Moor House Activity Centre.
The activity day was part of Durham County Council’s Short Break Programme, organised by Children’s Network for children with disabilities and their families.
Craft sessions and circus skills sessions also kept them busy.
Organiser, Elaine Wilson, said: “Everyone had a fantastic day. The sun was shining which added to the children’s good spirits.
“All of the young people enjoyed the activities available and whilst they were having fun, their families took a well deserved break.”
Some of the youngsters enjoying the activities are pictured.

Eco-friendly youngsters from Stanley are hoping to pick up prizes by designing anti-littering posters.
Stanley Youth Club is taking part in the competition with the winning design being made into a mouse mat which will be distributed around local schools, colleges and libraries.
Youth club members will meet tomorrow (September 3) at the club on Tyne Road, Stanley between 2.00pm and 4.00pm where they will put pen to paper to create their designs and take part in an environment themed quiz.
The competition has been organised by Durham County Council’s Civic Pride Team.
This event is one of a number of community based activities taking place over the summer as part of Durham County Council’s 14 for 14 project. The aim of the project is to carry out community pride and environmental awareness sessions in each of the county’s 14 area action partnerships to make the county ‘altogether greener’. Visit www.durham.gov.uk/aap to find out about other opportunities to get involved in the project and help make a difference where you live.

With work scheduled to begin on the next stage of the regeneration of Bishop Auckland town centre next month, members of the public are being asked to give their views on the plans.
Council experts will be on hand for a number of face-to-face opportunities, while the proposals for the next environmental improvements will go on display.
Durham County Council project manager, Chris Myers, says it’s an important opportunity for residents, shoppers and businesses:” We know how passionately many people feel about this historic town centre and that’s why we want them to take this chance to tell us what they would like to see.
“We are inviting everyone to come and see the proposals, at the Town Hall library and advertising certain times when we will also be on hand to listen and discuss options. What we hear and the feedback we receive will then help us shape the final plans.”
To this end, a public exhibition is to be held within the library at the Town Hall for one week, starting on September 13. Durham County Council officers will be in attendance at various times during the week, including all day on Wednesday 15 September.
Cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, Councillor Neil Foster, says this is an important piece of the jigsaw for the town’s new look:” With the next exciting stage of the environmental improvements soon to get underway, this is your chance to get involved.
“This latest phase will complete a high quality public open space linking Fore Bondgate and Newgate Street with the Market Place and fully compliments the recent improvement works and historic setting.
“The Market Place is key to the urban renaissance of Bishop Auckland; attracting more visitors and shoppers to the town is critical to its success.
“In the past, poor quality paving materials and untidy parking have detracted from the visual appeal and quality of the area. I believe the improvements will make a big difference.”
The Bishop Auckland Masterplan identified the need to improve pedestrian links within the Market Place and to surrounding areas by improving traffic management and regulating car parking. Other objectives identified include:
• Providing more space in front of the Town Hall for civic and community activities
• Providing high quality paving
• Proving high quality, uncluttered street furniture
• Utilising the Market Place for events
• Improving building use
Durham County Council has funded this phase of the regeneration programme which has, most recently seen substantial improvements to the public areas around the Town Hall and created new improved parking and pedestrian access into the Market Place from the east. Other funding bodies involved in the overall project have been ONE and the Urban Rural Renaissance Initiative (URRI).
The public exhibition will be held at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Library from Monday 13 September until Sunday 19 September – during Library opening hours
Subject to the outcome of the pubic exhibition, proposed works are programmed to start on site Monday 25 October for a four week period, with a break between November and January for the Christmas season. This phase of the works is then likely to continue in to the spring.
 

Sundays are fast becoming fun days for dads in the Peterlee area.
A new series of Family Man sessions are starting on Sunday September 19 with lots of fun activities for dads and male carers to get involved in with their little ones.
Debbie Unsworth is a senior family worker with Durham County Council’s Sure Start.
She said: “The new group is aimed at attracting male adults who care for children up to five. This new group involves outdoor and indoor activities, arts and crafts and cookery. 
“We welcome dads, step-dads, uncles, granddads or any male carer to come along with their children and they can even tell us their own fun ideas on how to run future groups.”
 
The sessions take place between 10.00am and 11.30am at the Hill Rigg House Centre in Peterlee.

Families in Haswell and South Hetton are being given the chance to take part in a weekly programme which aims to embrace traditional values.
Durham County Council’s Haswell Sure Start Children’s Centre, on Church Street, is hosting a ten week ‘Family Nurturing Programme,’ which benefits both adults and children by discussing how to get the most out of family life and exploring the varied emotions experienced.
Yvonne Glass, Family Support Worker, said: “This programme benefits both adults and children and covers subjects such as how to use family rules, behaviour to ignore and problem solving. Parents and carers must try and attend all ten weeks for maximum benefit.” 
The course runs on Fridays between 9.30am and 11.30am, beginning Friday September 24.
Spaces are limited so families in Haswell or South Hetton who have children under five are advised to book a place by contacting the Sure Start Children’s Centre.
Tel: 0191 5261581.
Free crèche places are available and free transport will be provided for those living in the immediate area.

Residents in Great Aycliffe and Middridge can find out how local issues are being tackled when the local area action partnership meets later this month.
The GAMP board will meet on Tuesday 21 September 2010, between 6.00pm and 8.00pm, at Middridge Village Hall. Residents are invited to go along to observe proceedings.
Members of the public can also raise any local issues that they would like the board to address. These need to be put in writing and sent in by Monday September 13.
Please write to:  Brian Riley, GAMP Coordinator, Pioneering Care Centre, Cobblers Hall, Carers Way, Newton Aycliffe.
Anyone who would like to attend the meeting should register in advance.
Tel: 01325 327441.