Hello everyone and welcome to this the first edition of the Washington Pride online e-Newsletter covering all of the Washington area and more. This newsletter is in a user friendly format and can easily be printed out if needed. This newsletter and website is open to all voluntary and community groups in the Washington area including not for profit community service providers.

If you would like to see news and information from your organisation, promote an event, post job adverts or see what's going on in Washington please email you information to info@washingtonpride.org.uk or telephone Julie Stamp, Albany Family Centre. Albany Village, Washington, NE37 1UB 0191 - 497 2781.

(if you have any problems dowloading or accessing the E-Newsletter and would like a paper copy sent to you, please contact Julie Stamp on the above e-mail address or phone number Thursday & Friday only)

Latest News - Washington is a busy active community, there's a lot going on in our town. Discover funding and capacity building news which will help your community group grow and expand. View the news here>>

Washington Pride Website can offer you free web pages, entry in to our online directory, and free promotion of your event and activities download pro forma

Next Washington Pride meeting 30th November 07 at Millennium Centre, Concord, Washington, 2pm. All welcome.

Click here to download the Washington Pride July 2007 minutes

Washington in sight and sound

Hello, my name’s Sue Bartlett and I’ve just started work as one of three Area Regeneration Officer’s in the Local Authority. I have responsibility for two of Area Regeneration Framework localities in Sunderland – Washington and North Sunderland. I’ve been in post since October, so it’s all very new and there’s a lot to learn and take in!

I’ve worked in Sunderland City Council for the last five years and have a wide experience, starting in Social Services as a support services manager, then I spent some time doing research at the Tyne and Wear Care Alliance, before transferring into a business planning and performance management role in the former Adult Services (now Health, Housing and Adult Services) then moving into the Sunderland Partnership.

Since starting in my new job, I’ve done a significant amount of touring the area and speaking to people, and what has really impressed me is the massive amount and range of activities that are happening in Washington. The commitment, passion, drive and determination of people and organisations in Washington is very humbling and I hope I can help support individuals and organisations to continue to make the difference.

In a nutshell, my role is about playing a key role in developing and delivering Washington’s area and neighbourhood management arrangements, working proactively with partners across all sectors and with local communities to promote action on local priorities, with the primary outcome to be to improve the quality of life of local people and to narrow the gap between the most disadvantaged areas of the City and the rest of the City and Country as a whole.

Over the next six months, I will aim to concentrate on the following three areas:

i) Getting to know local providers, both from the voluntary, community and statutory sector so that we can work together through Washington pride and the Washington Area committee to improve the quality of life for people in Washington

ii) Work with the members of the Area committee to ensure the best use of resources at our disposal

iii) Support the development of Local Area Plans that will profile Washington in the context of the wider Sunderland Strategy and Local Area Agreement

Sue Bartlett - Area Regeneration Officer (Washington and Sunderland North) Tel: 0191 553 7912
Email: sue.bartlett@sunderland.gov.uk

Washington Area Committee Minutes click to download >>> http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/

What's it all about in Washington - When it comes to getting things done, Washington Pride is a force to be reckoned with."I really do believe in people power and to me it's a great platform for the community and voluntary sector in our part of the world," said Cllr Derek Sleightholme, who chairs the group. "We have some excellent organisations in our area, not least organisations such as Bridge, and Wearside Women in Need, Sure Start and On Track." A number of the 51 people who attended its first meeting in May 2000 still attend today, alongside 90 or so other names on the  database. "The meetings give people an opportunity to ask questions and to get answers from representatives of the police, the council and other agencies. Many a time something is said from the floor and the idea is taken on board and adopted.

"As an organisation we believe consultation is vital. That's why we did a road show in every ward just after we started - we wanted to have input into the Area Regeneration Framework action plan which reflects what local people want and need. "Transport came out as one of the main issues and we've had representatives from organisations such as NEXUS and Bus operators at Washington Pride. We've had some successes in improving transport timetables and routes, but we don't win all the time. "More young people live in Washington than in any other area of the city so some of us went to meet local school councils to ask young people what would improve life for them in Washington. "As a result we held a youth conference. We had MPs and chief officers present and transport, again, came out as an issue, but so did lack of things for them to do."

The result of that consultation was the opening of Pit Stop, a youth centre, in central Washington. Cllr Sleightholme sits on the steering committee and is proud that the centre complete with computers and sound equipment, is still thriving. Residents and visitors have often struggled to find their way around Washington because it was divided into numbered districts. But not now. "That was definitely a bit of a triumph for Washington Pride," said Cllr Sleightholme. "We did a lot of consultation with all the sectors and the overwhelming response was that people wanted to have village names rather than district numbers." The changes in Local Government
structures will place Pride into a strong, ready made consultative body, one that responds to people's aspirations, that will scrutinise the delivery of services provided in Washington.

Washington Stage School
A performing arts group for young people which teaches singing, drama and dance and meets at Biddick Primary School each Wednesday from 5-8pm. The class started in February 2007 and is run by John Hudson Music Productions Ltd, following the same successful format as Tyneside Stage School and Durham Stage School.   Please do not hesitate to contact Elissa Hudson on 07932 645495 or via our website www.johnhudsonmusic.co.uk for any further information.

FREE WIFI
Perhaps in retaliation to Starbucks' exclusive deal with Apple, fellow fast food and drink joint McDonald's has announced it will soon offer free unrestricted wireless access in all of its 1,200 UK restaurants.

As such all customers will have the option to use their laptops, mobile phones and games consoles without fees and there will be no limit to what must be ordered to use the hotspots or for how long they can be accessed.

An ambitious deadline of 31 December has been set for all UK McD restaurants to be WiFi equipped and, at a stroke, it will make the company the UK's largest single wireless hotspot provider.

Update on Digital Challenge

Earlier this year, Sunderland City Council won the country's digital battle with its digital plans to improve residents' lives through technology.

The council's consultation with residents, community groups and voluntary organisations on how lives could be boosted using IT helped to secure it top spot at the Department of Communities and Local Government's (DCLG) Digital Challenge.

Now it is gearing up to roll the innovative programme out across the city, using the £3.5million cash prize. Sunderland Mayor Les Scott with one of the briefcase gifts given out at the Digital Award ceremony at the civic centre, watched by some of the guests.

Man beats speed camera

A South Tyneside inventor beat a police rap when a device he designed proved a speed camera wrong.
And the move may allow other motorists caught on the Northumbria Police mobile camera to challenge their fixed penalties.

Dr Phillip Tann from South Shields received a fine for travelling at 42mph in a 30mph zone in Sunderland. But his car was equipped with an autopoietic tracking system that he has designed. The system, built into a mobile phone, records its location and speed on a computer database.The design has already received Government funding, with an NStar proof of concept award.

Dr Tann, whose business Autopoietic Systems (Tann Ltd) is based in Birtley, Gateshead, said: "When I received the fine, I checked my database.

"The system I was testing is more accurate than anything else on the market. It said I was only doing 29.177196mph at that time."

Dr Tann astounded police and courts when he turned up to a magistrates' hearing with a CD containing his evidence, and pleaded not guilty.

He said: "My solicitor stood up and told them the exact speed I was travelling at that time.

"The Crown Prosecution Service requested to view the system, and agreed that the autopoietic system was more accurate than the police laser gun!

Sunderland Community Network

http://www.sunderlandcommunitynetwork.org.uk

Jeanette Harold - Hi, I am the Sunderland Network Coordinator and I would like to introduce myself to Network Members and other colleagues. I have over 20 years experience in community development, working directly within communities for both the voluntary and statutory sector. I have managed a Town Centre Support Project, a community development team and Sure Start Programme. I have worked closely with National Organisations such as Women's Aid Federation, Community Matters and the Anti Poverty Movement - developing and implementing campaigns as well as policy development.

Telephone number : 0191 565 1566 - jeanette.harold@sunderland communitynetwork.org.uk

Wendy Hadlington - Hello, I am the newly appointed administrator for the Sunderland Community Network. Although this is my first post within the voluntary sector I am very excited by the prospect of my new role. My previous experience includes 8 years within a local GP Practice, followed by 3 years as a school secretary in a local primary school. wendy.hadlington@sunderlandcommunitynetwork.org.uk

Lenny Szrama - Hi, I have over 5 years experience working in community development, as the Regional Development Officer for the North East Pensioners Association and Information Officer for Gateshead Voluntary Organisation Council. I have also spent time serving on various management committees. Prior to this I spent thirteen years serving in the British Army as a tank crewman. I have tried various professions before choosing to settle in the Voluntary and Community Sector. lenny.szrama@sunderlandcommunitynetwork.org.uk

Useful Funders Information - more at http://www.sunderlandcvs.co.uk/

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