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May/June 2002 Archive

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Make a Change

Help for young people who are using drugs

What is Make A Change?
Make A Change is the Young People's Community Drug Team. We offer a confidential service for young people under 19 years of age who have issues around drug and alcohol misuse. We cover the Redcar/East Cleveland and the Middlesbrough areas.
As well as offering treatment packages, information and advice around drugs issues, we also offer support with employment, training and housing issues. Home visits can be arranged and we also have 'drop-In' Sessions throughout the borough.
M.A.C. also offers a separate Family Support Service to assist those caring for young people whose lives are affected by drugs or alcohol misuse and home visits can be arranged.
We are currently developing Support Groups for parents and carers and would be pleased to hear from anyone who thinks that they could benefit. If you would like to speak to somebody in confidence about any aspect of our service please contact the Team on Tel. 01642 827324.

SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY DRUG USE
Are you a parent or carer of a young person who's affected by drug use?
Are you finding it dfficult to cope?
You are not alone!
We would like to help
We understand how drugs destroy families and we'd like to set up a Support Group to help parents, Grandparents and Carers of young People who like us have been affected by drugs and live in the Coulby Newham or Hemlington Area.
If you think you could benefit and would like to find out more, please contact Pauline from "Make a Change" on Tel:827324
Supported by "Make a Change" (Young People's Community Drugs Team


ADAM GALLAGHER MIDDLESBROUGH'S FIRST YOUNG MAYOR

My name is Adam Gallagher and in April this year, I was elected the first Young Mayor of Middlesbrough. I am 15 years old and I go to Newlands School F.C.J.

The election for Young Mayor was launched by Middlesbrough Council in February. The election was the first of its kind in the country and because of this, attracted a lot of attention from local and national media. The election and some of the candidates were featured on Newsround, BBC 6 o'clock news. Look North and Westminster. We were also on Radio One, TFM, Radio Four and Radio Cleveland and there have been articles in the Guardian, the Northern Echo and the Evening Gazette.

The election for Young Mayor encouraged 3000 Young People in Middlesbrough to take more notice of what goes on in their town, to understand more about democracy and to actually have a say in something that affects them. As Young Mayor and an active member of the Youth Parliament, I am looking forward to making sure that they continue to have a voice to influence decisions that affect their lives and will develop projects that will make life in Middlesbrough much better for young people. I will be working closely with the Youth Parliament and having regular meetings with the Mayor, the Council and the Middlesbrough Partnership, ensuring that they listen to and respect the views of young people.

When I was elected I was given a budget of over £30,000 to spend on projects that will benefit young people in Middlesbrough. My manifesto laid out plans for how I would spend the budget and I am now putting that into action. My first promise was to send out a newsletter to young people to let them know about what is going on in Middlesbrough specifically for young people. I have now set up a team to help me do this and am hoping that my first newsletter will be delivered to all young people in Middlesbrough in the next couple of months.

My other priority is to raise money for a young persons non-alcoholic pub. At the moment, young people in Middlesbrough do not have anywhere that they can go, so we end up hanging about on street corners and although most of us do not do any harm, a lot of people complain about us. My solution to this is a non-alcoholic pub just for young people. This will be somewhere that is safe, worm and welcoming, and open on evenings, weekends and throughout the holidays for young people to go and just chill out with their friends. There will be no membership or entrance fee, and food and non-alcoholic drinks will be cheap so everyone can afford them. Although this is likely to take longer than my year in office, I am dedicated to seeing this project through to the end.

Over the next year I will be very busy putting my manifesto into action and more importantly, representing young people in Middlesbrough. I hope that I will do a good job and look forward to being a Young Mayor that people in Middlesbrough, young and old, can be proud of.

THE VERY BEST OF LUCK ADAM. FROM EVERYBODY IN COULBY NEWHAM

Hi Folks,

Seems like some good weather is on its way and I know for definite that 29th June is going to be a hot, sunny day, as 1 have booked it for the Carnival.Info on the carnival on the other page.

First of all, congratulations to Cllr. Paul Thompson for gaining the seat as Leader of Middlesbrough Labour Party. A resident and Ward Councillor of Coulby Newham and strong supporter of the Community Council and also a dedicated and community minded person, I'm sure he will do well. Also, congratulations to Ray Mallon in his success as the Mayor of Middlesbrough. I'm sure Paul and Ray will work well together for the better of Middlesbrough. And of course, the same congratulations to Adam Gallagher, our Young Mayor of Middlesbrough. May they all succeed in their visions for our town.

Work on the City Academy is now underway. That once green and pleasant land (playfield) is gradually turning back into the way it was pre-Coulby days, as a farmer's field. The roundabout and car park is being developed first mainly for access for the workforce and building utilities. Fences are being erected and compounds created for machinery. One concern I have at the moment is that mounds of earth from one part of the field are being transported and dumped on the other side of the field, which is too near to housing to my liking. Already, I have had to have words with some children who had been throwing lumps of soil at other children, people walking along the pathway, and at lamposts. With heavy machinery working and levelling these mounds of earth and children playing nearby is an accident waiting to happen. Please inform your children of the dangers of this. Concerning the Academy and its Christian Ethos that is causing much concern lately, in a recent newspaper publication was an article and photograph of parents giving their concern about this and demanding that there should be held a public meeting with the community, the Vardy Foundation, and the Mayor, Ray Mallon. I would like to point out that such a meeting did take place on 14th May at Coulby Newham School at 6.30pm and from that meeting we have published an article from one of the concerned parents who attended the meeting. (See article on other page)

Plans for a new kiddies playarea off Newham Way, near the old demolished playarea, opposite Newham Grange Leisure Farm, is still ongoing. Two children, Adam Dicken and Daniel Huddlestone. attended our last Community Council meeting and bravely gave us a presentation, seeking help for a Skateboard Park. Further liaison with Middlesbrough Council reveals the possibility of such a development taking place at Prissick Base.

The footbridge over Stainton Way needs two new beams cast before it can be rebuilt. The cost of filling the gap and checking the remaining structure is looking towards a sum of £80,000. Sounds like good news for the Youth Club at Coulby Newham School. Word is that it is now going to be retained and upgraded in parts. The rest of the school will go to dust though.

bye for now Geoff Wishart (Sec)



STOKESLEY & DISTRICT ROUND TABLE

Although Round Table is mostly known for its charity and community work, that is not the whole story. Stokesley & District Round Table is a small and informal group with around half its members coming from the Middlesbrough area. Recently we have organised events including: white water rafting, 4x4 forest driving and climbing wall.
If you are between the ages of 18 and 45 and are looking to get off the couch and do something, why not come and see what it's all about? Telephone: Neil, 01642 315257
e-mail: neil.lawson@zetnet.co.uk
www.rtbi.co.uk

Coulby Newham Jubilee Carnival

Come to the Carnival

at

Newham Grange Leisure Farm
On Saturday 29th June 2002

Open 11 am - 4 pm
Free entrance to the Farm.

Lots of Displays and Entertainment. You'll be sure of a fun day for all the family.

Displays showing will be the Michelle James School of Tap & Ballet, Gymnastic Troup, Zanshin Karate, Redcar Dog Agility, Folk Dance, Morris Dance, Clog Dance, Asian Dance, Henna Painting, Face Painting, TFM, Young Woodlanders, Miniature Railway, BTCV, Cleveland Fire Brigade Fire Appliance, TA 104 Pioneer Squadron, Sea Cadets, St Johns Brigade, Rainbow Leisure Centre X4, Beat the Goalie and other games. Cycle Maintenance Scheme, Punch & Judy, Bouncy Castles, Woodturnig displays. Tees Forest, Mini Traction engine, WWF network, Wildspace Officer, Healthy Walks, and stalls gallore.

To start the day we are planning a march along the road from Langdon Square Community Centre to the Farm with a band taking the lead followed by horse and carriage carrying celebrities and our wonderful Jubilee Queen, Rebecca Crutchley
Don't miss out on this great occasion.

And if anyone wishes to get involved with the event, do a display, hold a table for craft, bric-a-brac etc, (£5.00 table) or volunteer some time. Then please contact me now This will be your last chance to get involved. Please phone Geoff Wishart on 599723
or leave a message with the caretakers at the centre, or email me on
geoffwishart@gwishart.fsnet.co.uk


A Tribute To A Special Person

When I was a little girl my grandmother died at the age of 72 "What did grannie die of?" I asked. " Just old age. " my mother replied, and this I accepted without question. When I was doing my warden's job between 1985-95 I considered 72-year olds to be my young pensioners.

Now, in 2002 we hear of many people (mainly ladies) who reach the wonderful age of 100 years. Local people usually have their photograph in the local press, surrounded by family and carers. I am often amazed at some of the lovely complexions and bright eyes I see.

Of course you will by now have guessed what I am leading up to.

On the 30th of March the Queen Mother died at the great age of l0l years. Her life has been well chronicled by the media, and this must have been quite a simple job, as they had so much to write about, and the lady was a very popular member of the Royal Family, as well as it's most senior.

Some people may say that a life of great privilege, and first class care would help her to longevity, but this is not the case, she needed more, and one of these things was determination, remember her on her feet again after hip operations done at a great age?

We send our sympathy to the family who have lost their Queen Mum, especially the Queen, who had so recently lost her only sister Margaret.

Yvonne on behalf of The Coulby News Team

Here we go round the Plinth again

Well, once again we mention THE PLINTH

in Trafalgar Square. You will remember
we had strong views about the Upside Down
Sculpture some time ago. There have been
suggestions from some quarters that it would

be suitable for a statue of the Queen Mother.

We agree that if we can't have Captain Cook,
the Queen Mum gets our second vote.

THE MARTON WEST BECK

An extract from the report of Middlesbrough Council's Open Spaces Dept. 1983
"The Marton West Beck rises in the Nunthorpe area, at, or near to, the lake in the grounds of Grey Towers (formerly Poole Hospital) and flows through one of Middlesbrough's most important wooded valleys, lying to the south of the town centre, and entering into the Tees in the North Ormesby area.
The valley contains areas of deciduous and mixed woodland, natural grassland and scrub areas, supporting a diversity of plant and animal life.
Along the length of the beck between Brass castle Lane and Emerson Avenue, 16 species of butterflies, 75 species of birds, and 240 species of wild plants have been recorded, together with many sightings of both large and small mammals. A research team is presently working on an ecological survey of the valley.
Their findings are used to ensure that the area is managed in a manner appropriate to a conservation area. A team of Rangers regularly patrol the length of the beck, to ensure the safety of the wildlife present there, and also to protect the area from poachers and vandals.
Access is available to all council-owned areas in the form of formal, and semi formal footpaths leading through unspoiled woods, across natural grassland and around the enchanting Fairy Dell Lake. "

Such was the report of the Marton West Beck special group in the 80s. My part in this group was to carry out a full botanical survey at that time, which led to a management plan being drawn up, so that the council's Parks and Environmental Dept could use it in the ensuing years.
Unfortunately, the team of Warden Rangers (paid) broke up, most going to other Jobs. The lack of money and staff seemed to prevent the subsequent maintenance by the relevant department, and eventually nature took its own course, helped by unscrupulous individuals and house owners allowing the beck to become polluted in more ways than one.

These latter problems have, more recently been resolved.
Now in 2002 I have been introduced to a new Open Space officer for Middlesbrough (Dr Susan Antrobus) who is working with some of the local schools being involved with the beck as a natural resource. I am currently involved with a school in the Newham Bridge area.

I am also updating the survey work to see what effect the lack of management has had on the area, and with special interest in the vegetation in, and around the lake and woods, which lead to Gunnergate Lane. When the lake was first created I remember the then head of the Parks Dept bringing in certain wild plants, which came from a marsh in the Hutton Rugby area, which a farmer was landscaping, and wanted rid of. Those plants settled in well at the time, but alas they eventually suffered from the pollution, and lack of care, and only a few now survive, but the more aggressive reed grasses are now dominating and need thinning out. But generally speaking the pond vegetation is settling down, and some species (some of them rare) may establish themselves with some careful assistance.

I hope to give a further report this autumn on the state of the wildlife (down in the Dell) Meanwhile I will be pleased to hear from any local people concerning the history of the lake and woodland which will be of interest in my report, which I will submit to Dr Antrobus, who will pass it on to the council. Any problems down there would also be of interest from local people.
Ian C. Lawrence

We wish to thank lan Lawrence local botanist, for his contribution to our Coulby News. He may be contacted through Langdon Square


For full text of reports on the meetings at Coulby Newham and Brackenhoe Schools on 14th and 15th May to discuss South Middlesbrough City Academy go to SMCA Parents' Site