Thought for the Week

"The way to know life is to love many things."

Vincent Van Gogh

Street Soccer's back - be inspired!

Street Soccer is back - Wednesday and Thursday evenings at Greengate Junior School for the next 7 weeks. It's fun and it's FREE. Be inspired - get involved!

 

For more information call Craig Rutherford at Barrow AFC Community Initiative on 07816163346.

Cumbria CVS Barrow - latest news!

Cumbria CVS are moving to Lesser Kings Hall, Hartington Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. LA14 5SR

CVS are relocating to new premises, their planned moved is for week commencing Monday 2nd August 2010. During this week the office will be closed to the public and they will re-open at the new premises Monday 9th August 2010. Due to this move no Barrow E-Bulletin will be sent out on 05/08/10.

They would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to you or your organisation during their move. For further information contact Lorraine Irving, Lisa Millard or Julie Sharkey on 01229 823144.

If anyone would like to submit any information to be included in the newsletter. Submissions by 2pm every Wednesday will be included in Thursday's e-bulletin. Contact: Julie Sharkey - Tel: 01229 823144 email: juliesh@cumbriacvs.org.uk

Cumbria CVS Volunteer Workshop

Are you wanting to improve your skills and get a job in administration, youth work, health & social care, retail, driving, teaching, nursing, environmental work? Whatever job you are looking for why not gain some experience first by volunteering? Try volunteering to expand and enhance your CV and improve your job prospects. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, improve your skills, try a new challenge and it also helps to improve your confidence.

Locally in Barrow the volunteer centre at Lesser Kings Hall Hartington Street Barrow is now holding monthly 'Introduction to Volunteers'. The sessions cover the wide range of volunteering opportunities, organisations that are needing volunteers, the benefits of volunteering and state benefits, training opportunities, courses and NVQ's available to volunteers. This is a fantastic opportunity to find out what is available to you. No skills or qualifications are necessary.

Next Session 18th August 2010 at 11.30pm-1pm Tel: 01229 823144 to book your place or e-mail: lisam@cumbriacvs.org.uk

LOTTERY PUTS BIG TRUST IN BARROW ISLAND

At least £1 million of lottery good cause funding is to flow into Barrow Island in Barrow-in-Furness, as the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) announces the first 50 areas across England to benefit from its Big Local Trust programme.

BIG is investing up to £200 million over the next ten years to help turn up to 150 urban and rural neighbourhoods into better places for everyone to live.

The targeted neighbourhoods have all been selected following extensive analysis and discussion and are all places where people face many social obstacles and have a history of difficulty in obtaining resources, including funding from BIG, to help overcome them.

Helen Bullough, Big Lottery Fund Head of the North West region said: “The Big Local Trust is a dedicated Lottery funding stream to help people in neighbourhoods such as Barrow Island to identify local issues and to develop the skills and confidence necessary to change things for the better.

“We hope that by securing funding for the long-term and by offering a commitment to providing dedicated local support, the Big Local Trust will bring lasting positive changes to Barrow Island and its residents.”

An independent charitable trust will be set up to run the programme and today BIG is calling for expressions of interest from organisations who wish to apply to run the Trust. Organisations interested in becoming a Trustee are being asked to contact BIG by Thursday 12 August 2010.

In the meantime BIG will be working with a wide range of local organisations in each of the first 50 neighbourhoods. At least 50 more areas across England will be selected by BIG in the next 12 to 18 months to benefit from the programme.

The programme builds on BIG’s commitment to pioneering flexible, long-term and locally determined approaches such as the Fair Share Trust programme, which since 2002, has been investing £50million in 77 neighbourhoods across the UK.

For a full list of areas please visit: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/BigLocalTrust

Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Kite Kings compete for UK title - Barrow Kite Surfing Championships

NEW for 2010 sees the introduction of 3 new British Championship kite sports which will triple the numbers of competitors and spectators to over 10,000 people at Earnse Bay, Walney.

The event will see the Men’s and Women’s top professionals competing for the UK Title in FOUR different Kite Sports, namely Kite Landboarding, Kite Buggying, Kite Surfing, Kite Surf Racing.

The event is known as “Kiteival” and will feature the UK’s Top professionals battling it out on Walney Island beachfront for all to see in Round 3 of the UK Tour. The best in Britain, in the world’s fastest growing water sport, will be flocking to the beach at Walney.

The event aims to put Barrow firmly on the kite surfing map, inspire a whole new generation of water sports enthusiasts and provide spectacular entertainment for residents and visitors alike.

Kite surfing has been hailed one of the fastest growing water sports in the world and is conducted on open areas of water, which can be shallow or deep, flat or bumpy, in preferably constant winds between 8 -50 knots.

The Barrow event also includes championships in Kite Landboarding and Kite Buggying and people are invited to try out free power kite sessions on the beach to feel the force of the wind. Competition times during the day are 11 am-5pm and there will be onsite marquees for relaxing and watching the action.

For more information and full details of the British Kite Surfing Association tour as well as everything you need to know about the sport, local venues and schools, have a look at the website

http://www.britishkitesurfingassociation.co.uk/events/bksa-2010-events/kiteival-barrow-cumbria.html

'KITEIVAL 2010 ROUND 3' runs from 6th- 8th August at Earnse Bay, Walney Island, Barrow and is sponsored by Centrica Energy and Cumbria Tourism/ Adventure Capital and ERDF.

Thought for the Week

"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together."

Vincent Van Gogh

Cumbria Police express concern as drink driving continues

Cumbria Constabulary has vowed to toughen its stance on drink drivers after the number of people caught over the limit rose for the second year running.

Every June, the Constabulary runs a summer drink drive campaign from 00:01 on the 1st June to 23:59 on the 30th. Officers target drink drivers throughout the year, but the statistics collated during the summer campaign provide an insight into trends and attitudes toward drink driving in Cumbria.

This year, 95 people were arrested after officers conducted 952 breath tests during the campaign, meaning 10 percent of those tested were either over the limit or failed to provide a test.

In 2009, 88 arrests were made after 1434 breath tests, meaning six percent of those tested were either over the limit or failed to provide a test.

In 2008, 49 arrests were made after 1341 breath tests, meaning less than four percent of those tested were either over the limit or failed to provide a test.

During the 2010 campaign, officers conducted fewer stop checks and breath tests than last year, but concentrated their efforts on areas where intelligence suggested people were more likely to be drink driving. This tactic worked, with a higher percentage of drink drivers being caught.

Expressing deep concern about the rise in offences, Chief Inspector Kevin Greenhow said: “The figures reveal an alarming reality - a significant number of people in Cumbria continue to think it is acceptable to get behind the wheel while they are over the drink drive limit.

“We work incredibly hard with our partners to get the message around the dangers of drink driving through to people but it seems that to some, the message falls on deaf ears.

“Our positive efforts to target and educate irresponsible drivers will continue but we need the help of the community to make drink driving socially unacceptable. We need individuals to realise that neither police or the communities in Cumbria will tolerate those who needlessly put the lives of innocent road users at risk. I would urge any member of the public with information about a drink-driver to contact the police, or Crimestoppers anonymously, in the same way they would about any other crime.”

Of the 95 people caught over the limit in June 2010, 23 followed road traffic collisions, proving beyond doubt the serious consequences of driving while impaired by alcohol. 21 of those who tested positive were under 25-yrs old and 74 were older, showing that a respect of the law does not necessarily come with age.

MEDIA MAKERS - ‘GET INSPIRED’ – FREE LAUNCH EVENT

IF YOU ARE AGED 10 – 15 AND LIVE IN HINDPOOL OR CENTRAL WARDS IN BARROW, THEN COME DOWN TO HINDPOOL COMMUNITY CENTRE ON THURSDAY 29TH JULY FROM 6 – 8PM TO JOIN IN FREE FILMMAKING WORKSHOPS AND FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN MAKING FILMS OVER SUMMER AND INTO NEXT YEAR.

THE HOLLYWOOD THEMED EVENING WILL INCLUDE:-

- TASTER WORKSHOPS IN ANIMATION

- PHOTOSHOP, CAMERA SKILLS

- HORROR MAKE-UP

- FILM SCREENINGS

- SNACKS AND DRINKS

COME ALONG WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO LEARN NEW FILMMAKING SKILLS, MEET NEW PEOPLE AND GET INSPIRED!

For further info contact may@signalfilms.co.uk or 01229 839983 or pop into and see us at Burlington House, Michaelson Road, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 2RJ (opposite the Job Centre)

North Walney Sunset Walk

Thursday 22nd July 2010 - North Walney Sunset Walk part of the Barrow Walking Festival.

Meet at 6.45 at West Shore Car Park, West Shore Rd, Walney Island.
Richard Scott of Feet First in Furness will be your guide around the North End of Walney Island exploring North Walney Nature Reserve, includes some rough walking across sand dunes. Approx 2hr 30min. Ring 01229 876505 for more info.

Win a family day out!

Click on the images above to enlarge and click here to download the form 

then return to Smokefree Northwest at hannah.couper@smokefreenorthwest.org.uk

Thought for the Week

"True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us." Socrates

Cumbria police have today released their first ever EvoFIT animation in a bid to trace an offender.

Cumbria Constabulary has introduced the new technology to help victims and witnesses identify offenders by exploiting the fact that the human brain is better at recognising a face than describing it.

The new system has been used for the first time by a team of Barrow officers investigating a robbery that occurred in April this year. A 17 year old boy was approached by the offender while he was sitting on a bench on Fell Street, Barrow at 2.30pm on 8th April 2010. The offender approached the victim from behind, shoved him and made off with a Nintendo DS console that the victim was playing on.

 

To boost their re-appeal for information, trained detectives have worked closely with the victim to put together a moving image of the potential offender.

 

Richard San Jose, Cumbria Constabulary’s Scientific Support Manager said: “Previous identification systems require a witness to choose from a menu of features, such as a crooked mouth or a pointy nose. EvoFIT, on the other hand, offers up a gallery of faces on a computer screen and then, based on witness choices, 'evolves' a face that resembles the offender.

“This is an exciting new system which we hope will greatly enhance criminal investigations around the county. Our communities are incredibly supportive of our work and by providing officers with the best available tools; we hope to generate even better responses from the public.”

DC Sarah McArthur who is leading the robbery investigation said: “We have been working hard to trace the person responsible for this crime which left the victim shaken and understandably upset and hope this new system will help.

“I’d like to re-appeal to members of the community to take a look at this EvoFit and see if you can help us trace the offender. Does he look familiar? Does this resemble somebody you know?

 

“The victim describes the offender as around 6ft tall, of a very slim build, with shaven dark hair and olive skin. He was wearing a black tracksuit top and black tracksuit pants at the time of the offence.

“Please take a long hard look at the image and call us with any information.”

Anyone who thinks they can help police with the investigation to contact Barrow CID immediately on 0845 33 00 247 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

More information about EvoFIT technology: Dr Charlie Frowd, who developed the software with colleagues from the Psychology department at the University of Central Lancashire, explained that the EvoFit system does not require the witness or victim to recall specific features, but allows them to select from recognisable shapes and 'breed' an image of the offender. Once the shape of the face and features resemble their memory of the offender they can manipulate the shape by ageing the face or adding weight, until they recognise the finished result.

The program works by trained detectives showing the victim a series of 70 faces selected for gender and ethnicity on a computer screen. Of these, the victim chooses the six that most resemble the offender. Using more than 80 variables that relate to either facial shape or texture, the program merges, or 'breeds,' the selected images and almost instantly comes up with 70 variations of the original six. The victim picks another six faces, and so on. After four or five rounds, EvoFIT produces a portrait the victim recognises.

Four detectives across the county undertook initial training and the system is now available to use during appropriate investigations in Cumbria.

Who says there's nothing to do in Barrow!

Who says there's nothing to do in Barrow! Follow link below for over thirty events and activities for young people throughout the Summer - many of which are FREE. The Forum, Dock Museum, football, cricket, film making, canoeing, puppetry, fun days, circus skills, dance, rugby, Barracudas and much more ...
Be inspired - get involved!

Summer 2010 activities.doc

DARE DANCE has joined forces with the forum and Inspiring Communities to offer a summer of DANCING for infants, juniors and youth !!!

Following on from the success of Dare’s Summer Dance Show we are starting our Summer holidays with Dancing!!! The Dance Summer School will be led by DARE staff and guest artists for Infants, Juniors and Youth at the forum.

We are partnering with Inspiring Communities for a special offer for girls aged 11-14yrs living in Central and Hindpool areas of the town.

Monday 26th July – Friday 30th July (daily)

Infants 10:00-12:00 £20

Juniors 10:00-3.30 £30

Youth 1:00-3.30 £20

FREE to girls aged 11-14yrs living in Hindpool & Central Wards.

To book your place, contact the forum box office on 820000. Free places must be booked in advance at the box office.

If you are aged 11-14yrs living in Central and Hindpool areas don’t miss this great offer!

For more details contact Amanda at DARE on 833228

FREE Holiday Sports - get involved, be inspired!

click on the image above to enlarge

FREE Dance Mat sessions

click on the image above to enlarge

FREE Canoeing - get involved!

click on the image above to enlarge

Passive drug dogs sniff out trouble in Barrow

Passive drugs dogs took to the streets of Barrow this weekend as part of a policing operation that saw over 600 people ‘scanned’ for illegal substances.

Barrow Neighbourhood Policing team joined forces with dog handlers and their two passive drug dogs on Saturday 10 July to conduct searches at eleven licensed premises. Passive drug detection dogs are specially trained to patrol crowded areas quietly indicating when they detect the scent of illegal drugs on a person. This indication then gives the police the ability to search individuals and take action if drugs are located.

Around 680 people were ‘scanned’ by the dogs during the course of the evening which led to 15 people being searched by officers under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Towards the end of the operation, a man was approached and after a dog indicated that he may have an illegal substance on his person, he was searched and two tablets were found. The 30 year old man from Barrow was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and taken to the police station. He received a caution for the possession of two ecstasy tablets.

Sgt Paul Madden said: “Saturday night was a very successful evening and around 680 people came into contact with our valuable drugs dogs.

“We have built up a good relationship with local licensees who now approach us if they suspect that illegal drugs are being brought into their premises. The majority of licensees welcomed the operation and saw it as something that was both necessary and proportionate to tackle the misuse of drugs within the town.

“Many owners of pubs and clubs need support to help tackle the misuse of drugs in their premises and this operation enabled us to do just that – while demonstrating that in fact the vast majority of customers are law abiding.

“High profile operations like this reassure local people that we are listening to their concerns, while sending out a strong message about our attitudes to the misuse of drugs in the area.

“We are constantly reviewing and refreshing our tactics used to tackle drugs in our communities to keep up to date with our most recent intelligence that suggests where and when people will be using or dealing drugs. We will plan more operations like this in the future so revellers should get used to seeing us out and about on the streets and in pubs and clubs.

“If anyone has any information about drug use in their area, they are asked to call Cumbria police on 0845 33 00 247. We need our communities to act as additional eyes and ears and any pieces of information relating to illegal drugs can help us to paint a picture of problems in our area.”

PC John Bunting works in the Constabulary’s dog section and helped to coordinate the operation. He said “This was a very positive operation which demonstrated to the wider community just how effective our passive drugs dogs can be in the fight against crime and in the detection of offences. The number of positive indications, culminating in an arrest for drug related offence, goes to show that the dogs are capable of finding very small amounts of drugs on a person.
 

“In light of this, and other scanning operations, we will be looking to develop our tactics and training even further to ensure these dogs remain a valuable resource in combating the distribution and use of controlled drugs in our county, and we will definitely be running similar operations in Barrow in the near future.”

Thought for the week

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant." Martin Luther King Jr.

Cumbria CVS Volunteer Workshop

Are you wanting to improve your skills and get a job in administration, youth work, health & social care, retail, driving, teaching, nursing, environmental work? Whatever job you are looking for why not gain some experience first by volunteering? Try volunteering to expand and enhance your CV and improve your job prospects. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, improve your skills, try a new challenge and it also helps to improve your confidence.

Locally in Barrow our volunteer centre at 72-74 Scott Street is now holding monthly 'Introduction to Volunteers'. The sessions cover the wide range of volunteering opportunities, organisations that are needing volunteers, the benefits of volunteering and state benefits, training opportunities, courses and NVQ's available to volunteers. This is a fantastic opportunity to find out what is available to you. No skills or qualifications are necessary.

Next Session 14th July 2010 at 12.30pm-2.30pm Tel: 01229 823144 to book your place or e-mail: lisam@cumbriacvs.org.uk

Exhibition - Lakeland Light by Mark Laird

Exhibition - Lakeland Light by Mark Laird - the Forum exhibition space, Duke St, Barrow.

A love affair with the mountains and wild places of the Lake District, protrayed through colour and light. Starts 01 July 2010 and ends on 31 August 2010.

Admission Free

Free Swimming To Continue In Barrow and Dalton

Despite the announcement by Government that it is withdrawing the grant to support free swimming for under 16's and pensioners, Barrow Borough Council has decided to continue the initiative through to March 2011.

The Council will use £40,000 of its reserves to replace the government grant which is being withdrawn, and will review the long term future of the scheme as part of its 2011/12 budget review which will take place following the publication of the government’s Public Spending Review on 20th October 2010.

Vice Chairman of the Council’s Executive Committee Ken Williams said: “I think we all appreciate the difficult task the government is facing in balancing the nations books and why this grant has been withdrawn. However, I am delighted that because of our sound financial position we are able to use money we set aside in past good years to keep this valuable scheme going until March rather than end it abruptly as many other Council’s are being forced to do”.

What's on in Barrow Park

Sunday 11th July - Evening Mail Funday with It's a Knockout 12pm -5pm on the Events area

Sunday 25th July - Unity/Movement & Atic DJ Extravaganza at the Bandstand 12pm - 6pm

Visit here for more what's on at the Park.

Capital Grants For Barrow AFC And Barrow RLFC

Barrow Council is to award £50,000 each to Barrow AFC and Barrow RLFC to help with much needed ground improvements.

The grants will replace an annual grant of £5,000 each which the Council presently gives annually to the clubs.

Leader of the Council Jack Richardson said: “We know that maintaining Holker St and Craven Park to the standards required places a significant burden on both clubs. Fortunately, the Council has a strong capital position and it is in everyone’s interest to replace our annual revenue grant with a larger single capital grant. We wish both clubs continuing success on the pitch”.

Furness Abbey - well worth a visit!

Furness Abbey is now open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. til 5 p.m. (until further notice).

You may have some visitors over the summer who you want to take. Remember, if you live in the Barrow Borough, you can take your council tax bill in to the Town Hall Central Reception to obtain a Pass, which entitles you to go into the Abbey & South Walney Nature Reserve for FREE. Please spread the word.

Admission Prices: Adults: £3.70

Concessions: £3.10

Children (5-15 yrs): £1.90

Furness Abbey's Tel. No. 01229-823420 or visit http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/

Sutherland St area improvements

Improvement work is well under way in the North Central housing renewal area of Barrow.

Contractors are currently working on the evens side of Sutherland Street and demolition work on the odds side is due to start later this month.

 

The photos here show the great quality of the work being carried out which will improve the housing and make the whole area a more attractive place to live.

The work along the Sutherland St block forms just one part of ongoing improvements in the wider area and further work is planned for later in the year.


For further information call Steve Robson on 01229 876546.

Connexions Family Open Evening

Family Open Evening

Connexions Centre, Dalton Rd, Barrow

4pm-7pm Thursday 8 July 2010

You will have the opportunity to meet Connexions personal advisers as well as getting involved in loads of interesting events and activities.

 

Refreshments will be available.