Tameside steps up fight against violent crime

Tameside has taken significant steps to tackle violent crime, a new report has revealed.

The Resources and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel highlighted a number of areas for improvement following the Best Value Review of Community Safety in April 2004, which concluded the council's approach to tackling violent crime and domestic violence needed to be more focused.

Members recently revisited the area to establish what progress has been made and published their findings in a report which found the council had made "significant" efforts to tackle the issue.

And it praised the Domestic Violence Forum for providing a good example of multi-agency working.
Their review - which has involved extensive consultation with key service providers as well as over 70 domestic violence victims - also pinpoints areas where successful schemes could be further developed.

These include:

• Exploring ways to extend safety initiatives - which are already proving successful in pubs and clubs - to late night takeaways, restaurants.
• Further development of schemes, such as the very effective Sanctuary Housing Scheme, which protects victims of domestic violence in their own homes (domestic violence is one of the major causes of homelessness).

Cllr Michael Smith, chair of the Resources and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel, said: "Our overall conclusion is that significant improvements in tackling violent crime have been made, especially in relation to domestic violence which now has a dedicated officer and an active partnership in the Domestic Violence Forum which is developing proactive multi-agency support."

New beginning for Tameside school

It's been a tough year but there is light at the end of the tunnel for pupils and staff at Lyndhurst Primary School in Dukinfield.

They celebrated the start of work on a brand new £3.4m school building at a turf cutting ceremony.
The school building - which was already in need of replacing - suffered devastating damage in an arson attack last June. The fire also caused irreplaceable loss to pupil's work as well as taking its toll on general morale.

Half the school has since been housed in temporary mobile classrooms. But work on a new building was delayed after it was discovered that a large retaining wall running down the middle of the school site needed to be urgently replaced.

But an end to the disruption is finally in sight now the school has marked the start of a new chapter.
Headteacher Jane Woofenden said: "Everyone connected with the school community has pulled together and we now sense a new beginning. Staff, governors and pupils have worked closely with council officers and architects on the design of the building and everyone is very excited."

The state-of-the-art new school will have a unique,contemporary look - semi circular on the outside, clad in wood and with a metal roof.

It should be completed around Easter 2008, although the old buildings will then need to be demolished, new car parking created and the school field reinstated. The whole project should be completed by the end of summer 2008.

Enjoy a bit of culture this summer

Following three months of restoration work, the Grade II listed Edwardian bandstand in Denton's Victoria Park was officially opened on june 16 by the Mayor Cllr Michael Smith.

To restore the 1913 bandstand to its former glory, missing iron work, rotting wood and a new roof all had to be dealt with. It has been repainted in its authentic colours of salmon and gold. The work on the 94 year old bandstand was able to take place thanks to a grant of £48,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the £15,000 from the council's Preservation of Historic Buildings Fund. The work was completed by Dorothea Restorations Ltd. In 1942, a de-fused bomb was displayed in the bandstand for a month to raise money for the National Air-Raid Distress Fund.

Denton & Audenshaw and Dukinfield District Assemblies are holding a number of weekend brass band concerts over the next few months.

Victoria Park Saturdays 2pm-4pm

• June 30 - Mossley Hollins School
• July 7 - Stalybridge Old Band
• July 14 - BelleVue Brass Band
• July 21 - St John's Droylsden
• July 28 - Carrbrook Brass Band
• September 1 - Tintwistle Band
• September 8 - Denton Brass Band
• September 15 - St John's Droylsden
• September 22 - Adamson Military Band

Dukinfield Park Sundays 2-4pm

• July 1 - Adamson Military Band
• July 8 - Carrbrook Brass Band
• July 15 - Greenfield Brass Band
• September 2 - St John's Droylsden
• September 9 - Belle Vue Brass Band

Ryecroft Hall Park Sunday 2-4pm

• July 1 - Stalybridge Old Band
• July 8 - Tintwhistle Band
• July 15 - St John's Droylsden
• September 2 - Carrbrook Brass Band
• September 9 - Fun day with Greenfield Brass band, line dancing demos and 5-a-side football, bowling tournament and art display.

Hyde Park Bandstand Sunday 2-4pm

• July 1 - 2pm - 4pm - Friezland Brass Band
• July 15 - 2pm - 4pm - Boarshurst Silver Band

Tameside Social Care and Health

Carers' Support and Self Help Group (Mental Health)

For two years we have been running a successful group for the family, friends and neighbours of people who have problems dealing anxiety, depression or other mental health issues. The group gives carers the chance to:

• be listened to
• have the support they give valued
• talk with other people in the same position.
• learn to look after their own health and well being.

We meet every second Tuesday of the month at West Villa Day Centre, West Street, Dukinfield, SK16 4PA between 7 and 9pm. Phone David Fowler on 0161 342 5137.

Meet friends for lunch at Pensioners House, Hyde

If you're over 60 and looking for a change of scene, take a break from cooking and spend time socialising over lunch at one of Tameside's Luncheon Clubs. As well as a hot meal and chance to meet friends, Pensioners House Luncheon Club, Grafton Street, Hyde runs a number of other activities such as bingo, keep fit, whist and art classes.

For an information pack and details of how to join Grafton Street and other luncheon clubs held in Tameside, contact Ellen Kay, Luncheon Club Supervisor:

Telephone: 0161 342 2432
Fax: 0161 342 3493

If you would like transport Ring and Ride provide door-to-door transport for people who have difficulties accessing bus routes.

Full details from Ring and Ride, telephone: 0161 343 1404 (0161343 1808 for Booking Ring and Ride)

Information, Advice and Courses for people with a sight loss

A range of activities and courses aimed at helping people with sight loss to maintain their independence and develop skills are on offer, free of charge, from Vision First (part of Tameside Visual Impairment Service).

• Healthy Lifestyle starting Thursday 5 July
• Carers Course starting Friday 6 July
• Open Day 19 September - when IT and other equipment will be on display

Vision First hosts the Iris Gardening Club, monthly book club and provides low vision assessment and aids, as well as counselling, information and advice.

Further details from Vision First Tel: 0161 330 7028

New home for Tameside Carers Centre in Ashton

After twelve years at Ryecroft Hall, Tameside Carers Centre has moved to 50 Warrington Street in Ashton, the pedestrianised street between the bus station and the market.

Tameside Carers Centre is open to the public each week-day from 10am - 3pm for information, advice, advocacy and support for any adult who is caring for a family member or friend. Appointments can be made to see staff at other times by contacting the Carers Centre: telephone 0161 342 3344, fax: 0161 342 3720, minicom: 0161 342 3721.

Vets are on song

As part of the Falklands 25 year event in Hyde two local Falklands veterans Darren Poyzer and Andy Farrell recounted their experiences through a dynamic performance of original songs and poetry.

In 1982 at the time of the conflict, Andy Farrell was serving on board HMS Antrim, and like Darren who was on board HMS Broadsword, was at the heart of the Task Force and in the thick of action during the landings and subsequent re-claiming of the Islands. Both were teenagers, both were to leave the forces and pursue professional interests in the arts, thus enabling them to tell their stories creatively.

These days Andy is Head of Community and Education at The Lowry Theatre, and it is through his theatre work that he co-wrote and performed the play 52 Degrees South at The Imperial War Museum, which coveted the prestigeous Manchester Evening news Best New Play award. It was from that play, performed in mid June that Andy recited spoken word account in poetic form, as co-written with playwrite Kevin Fegan, and presented selected interviews on screen that featured a number of other veterans from the conflict.

Darren Poyzer is well known locally as a Glossop boy who after retiring from the Royal Navy, became resident in Ashton-under-Lyne, where for 10 years he promoted music events at The Witchwood. Since leaving The Witchwood in 1999, Darren has developed a career as a respected and much acclaimed singer songwriter, music tutor and more recently, undertaking work in music therapy. Three cd's and one live concert dvd, plus performances at festivals, theatres and music venues have brought Darren's songwriting to the attention of audiences all over the UK.

Andy and Darren's presentation and performance was a dynamic, heart on sleeve, passionate and entertaining contribution to the day.

Ref's whistle stop tour

Celebrity football referee Uriah Rennie paid a visit to Alder High in June as part of the school’s health is for life festival.

But, it didn’t stop there, a whole raft of events were lined up around the school, including Indian head massage, Thai massage and reflexology.

Uriah visited the Hyde school to chat with pupils about his experiences as a premiership referee, how he got into officiating and his thoughts on issues such as racism in sport.

And pupils were treated to relaxing head massages carried out by staff from the Body and Mind Centre in Mossley, before listening to a talk about tattoos and piercings from Tameside Council.

Later on in the afternoon music from the Caribbean could be heard wafting through the corridors to go with the delicious smells of the Caribbean food that had been prepared both in lessons and the canteen.

Teacher Paula Parker, who had organised the week-long run of events said: "The week was an enormous success.

"Our students have had the opportunity to experience health in its broadest sense. It has been both fun and educational and as one student said, ‘Miss, this is great fun it should be like this all the time."

Spring break winners

Twenty local residents each won a Spring Break holiday thanks to a Tameside Sports Trust competition

The holiday entitles the winners to book a three night weekend or four night midweek spring break with Haven and British Holidays for a family of four. There are 34 different holiday parks available to the winners during April and May this year. In addition to the winners, 10 runners up also received a Bradley Bear towel from the Trust.

The competition was run by Tameside Sports Trust through all of its swimming pools. To register, people simply had to pick up a competition card and then swim 10 times from 18 September to 31 December 2006. Once the card was full they simply handed it into reception or posted it back in one of the competition boxes.

The winners were drawn at random in January and all the winners met at Oxford Park Leisure Centre to receive their gift vouchers. Commenting on the success of the competition, Michelle Garner from Tameside Sports Trust said, “We received hundreds of entries from all of our centres and have been delighted by the response. This was designed to encourage more people to make swimming part of their everyday fitness routine.”

Susan Tate, Hyde, Tracey Kelly, Ashton-under-Lyne, Margaret Cooper, Stalybridge, Steve Shackleton, Dukinfield, Nicola Stewart, Droylsden, Stacey Holt & Harry Barclay, Droylsden and Robert Lancaster, Audenshaw.