Nobby opens centre

Football legend Nobby Stiles visited Tameside to open the new Carers Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne, during National Carers Week.

There are more than 22,000 carers in the borough, but just over 2,070 carers registered with Tameside Carers Centre. It is hoped more carers will be identified following the centre's move to Warrington Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, from its home of 12 years at Ryecroft Hall, Audenshaw.

Nobby Stiles said: "I was deeply honoured to be invited along to open the centre. It's been a real pleasure. Carers do an absolutely fantastic job and I'm amazed at the extent of the work that they do. Not least in terms of the £57bn that they save the economy."

Tameside Council Carers' Officer Ray Slamon said: "Carers Week, was the ideal week to officially open the new centre and having a national hero like Nobby Stiles to perform the ceremony was the icing on the cake. This was the biggest event for local carers since Princess Anne joined our 10th anniversary celebrations."

Tameside Carers Centre provides information, advice, support and advocacy to carers in the borough. The updated Tameside Strategy for Carers fulfils the aims of the Government White Paper ‘Our health, our care, our say' which encourages all local authorities to work closely with partner agencies, the voluntary and independent sectors. Carers provide 90% of care in the community and this makes it make it easy for Carers to get the support they need and are entitled to.

Facts about carers

1. One in eight (1 in 8) adults are carers... around six million people
2. Carers save the economy £57 billion per year, an average of £10,000 per carer
3. Over 3 million people juggle care with work
4. The main carer's benefit is £48.65 for a minimum of 35 hours, equivalent to £1.39 an hour
5. 1.25 million people provide over 50 hours of care per week
6. People providing high levels of care are twice as likely to be permanently sick or disabled
7. Over 1 million people care for more than one person
8. 58% of carers are women and 42% are men
9. By 2037 the number of carers could have increased to 9 million
10. Every year over 2 million people become carers

Celebrating Tameside's Youth

The spotlight was put on the young people of Tameside at the annual youth service awards.

More than 200 young people from across the borough gathered for the special celebration evening at Dukinfield Town Hall.

They received a range of youth awards, including performance skills, bike maintenance, Duke of Edinburgh, Open college network, Youth Achievement, John Muir, AQA, Youth Challenge and a number of local accredited activities.

Jax Effiong, of Tameside Youth Service which organised the event, said: "This is a fantastic achievement for young people from across the borough and shows real commitment and progression. Well Done to everyone concerned."

Young people received certificates from former Tameside Mayor Cllr Margaret Sidebottom and Head of Youth Service Sue Nathan.

Pupils have some egg-cellent ideas

Homeless people, those with alcohol and drug issues, people with mental health support needs, those with learning disabilities and women at risk of domestic violence are all receiving extra housing related services through the Supporting People programme.

Supporting People gives local people the opportunity to improve their quality of life by providing supported housing services that promote independence. The programme can help to equip people with the skills and confidence to live independently in the community.

The programme also provides a wide range of services for older people with support needs. This could include support and advice from a scheme manager in sheltered accommodation; sheltered housing linked to an alarm and response service; extra care housing and support at home including access to the Community Response Service.

The Tameside Supporting People team is producing a short film. This has involved many service users, sharing their experiences of how the housing related support they have received has helped to positively change their lives. The film will help raise the profile of all the services that are available to local people and also it will be included as part of a tendering pack for new services which will be commissioned in the future, which will address any current, identified unmet needs.

For more information ring 0161 342 3267 or Freephone: 08000 407013. You will also find lots of useful information on the website: www.tameside.gov.uk/housing/support.

Pupils rise to the challenge

A team from Samuel Laycock School in Tameside are the new Consumer Challenge Quiz Champs for Greater Manchester following a thrilling regional final involving teams from Bolton, Rochdale and Salford.

The Consumer Challenge Quiz has been developed by Trading Standards especially for youngsters with moderate learning difficulties. The quiz tests the children on their knowledge of consumer issues in a broad sense and uses an interactive format to make the competition fun as well as educational.

Each team consists of four students. The main aim of the day is for them to come away with the attitude ‘I can do it'. There are no losers as everyone (including the audience) goes away having learnt something and can see the achievements of those taking part.

The teams faced questions on a variety of subjects including Safety, Consumer Rights, Signs and Symbols, Organisations which can help, How to Complain and Food Matters.

After a very exciting contest with only a couple of points separating the teams throughout, Samuel Laycock School from Mereside, Stalybridge emerged as winners in the very last round of the quiz.

The school will now represent Greater Manchester at the National Finals in Manchester. There they will meet teams from all around the country to determine who are the Consumer Challenge Quiz National Champions.

The team won their school £250 as winners, with the runners up winning £150.00 and the other two teams £100.00 each. Team members were presented with medals by the former Mayor and certificates and team photographs. The children also went home with a goodies bag.

Tameside's Head of Enforcement and Licensing Ian Saxon said: "Everybody - no matter how young or old- should be aware of their rights and responsibilities as consumers.

"Events like the Consumer Challenge are a really stimulating and enjoyable way of ensuring that youngsters are aware of what they can expect when they go into a shop or pay for a service.

"I'd like to wish the youngsters from Samuel Laycock all the very best for their trip to Manchester and I am certain that they will do our borough proud".

New beginning for Audenshaw schools

Pupils and staff from Aldwyn and Hawthorns primary schools celebrated the start of the construction of their new building.

For the first time in Tameside, a mainstream school and a special school (for children with moderate learning difficulties) will come together in a purpose built building, costing just over £5.1million.

And children from the two Audenshaw schools took part in a turf cutting ceremony at the Lumb Lane site.

The newly named Aldwyn and Hawthorns Primary School will accommodate 365 primary pupils aged 5-11 from both schools together with an integrated nursery for Aldwyn Primary School.

The proposal to co-locate the two schools in a new building came about as a result of the review of Moderate Learning Difficulty provision in Tameside after extensive consultation with schools and parents.

Both schools will retain their own status as an individual school but will share a building enabling pupils from both schools to take advantage of the benefits of a more inclusive education.

Staff, governors and pupils from both schools have worked hard with council officers and architects on the design for the new building which features a sedum roof, again another first for the borough.

The project is expected to be completed and the building ready for moving into by March 2008. Both schools will move into the new building together. Additional work will be needed to demolish the existing building and complete play and car parking areas, with all the work expected to be completed by July 2008.

Roundheads invade

The streets of Dukinfield once again echoed to the sound of Roundhead troops in April.

Almost 350 years after the Civil War ended, Col Edward Montagu's Regiment of Foote were in the town to salute Col Robert Duckenfield, one of the North West's staunchest supporters of Cromwell and the cause of Parliament.

Before a statue of the colonel was unveiled outside Dukinfield Town Hall, the soldiers performed a march-past with standards flying and drums beating. They were led by a mounted officer and concluded with a volley of musketfire.

Col Robert Duckenfield (1619-1689) was lord of the manor and lived at the now demolished Dukinfield Hall where he set up one of England's first independent congregations at the hall chapel.

He took part in the defence of Manchester in September, 1642, and later became one of the most trusted commanders of Sir William Brereton, Parliament's senior officer in Cheshire, fighting at the battles of Middlewich and Nantwich.

In 1644 Duckenfield commanded the forces which took Wythenshawe Hall and he was present at the surrender of Chester in 1646. By 1648 he was commander of Cromwell's forces in the North West and became high sheriff of the county. In 1652 Duckenfield led the forces which captured the Isle of Man. Later, he was an MP and a member of Cromwell's Council of State.

He died in 1689 aged 70 and is buried at St Lawrence's Church, Denton.
Councillor Jackie Lane, project head (heritage and tourism), who performed the unveiling, said: "As a Dukinfield councillor and a native of the town, I feel honoured to be unveiling the bronze statue of Col Duckenfield. He was a man of great Puritan faith who distinguished himself in battle for Parliament's cause."

The bronze statue of Col Duckenfield is the latest in a series to be commissioned by Tameside Council. Those already on show include LS Lowry (Mottram); Jack Judge, the composer of "Tipperary", (Stalybridge); a tribute to the Chartist Movement, in Hyde; and most recently Hyde Seal.

Montagu's Regiment of Foote is part of the Roundhead Association which, with the King's Army, forms the English Civil War Society. It was created in the 1970s and draws its members from Scotland and the north of England. The troops will be dressed and equipped just as Col Duckenfield's would have been.

Family exercise can help beat obesity

With the incidents of childhood obesity on the rise, what's the solution for families in Tameside?

It's difficult to tear the kids away from the TV, computer or Playstation. But with a little planning there are plenty of activities open to families both during the week and at weekends.

In Tameside there are a number of well run local authority centres at The Broadoak Centre, The Etherow Centre, The Longdendale Centre, Hyde Leisure Pool, Ashton Pools, Medlock Leisure Centre, The Copley Centre, Dukinfield Pool, Denton Pools, Egerton Park and Oxford Park. All these centres offer a range of activities for the family to get involved in. Here is just a selection of the activities on offer:

• Fun pool swimming
• Family fun inflatable sessions
• General swimming
• Badminton
• Martial arts
• Multi-sports sessions

"The physical side of things isn't the only benefit a family can get out of exercising together," comments Michelle Garner of Tameside Sports Trust. "The family that plays together stays together. It might be a bit old hat in this day and age but a family that can join in an activity together instantly has a common theme – something to talk about and an open channel for communication. Exercising together is a great way of strengthening the family bond whilst getting fitter into the bargain."

By using the facilities on your doorstep you can help improve obesity levels in Tameside, give your kids a healthier outlook on life and find an activity that the whole family can enjoy together.