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The Cyclist's Touring Club, in collaboration with construction company Aggregate Industries, has produced a downloadable free software app for the Apple iPhone which allows you to report a pothole or road fault on the move.

By using the iPhone's built-in camera and GPS locator, together with the large display screen, you can now report potholes and other road defects right from the roadside. Working with the fillthathole website, the iPhone locates where you are on a map, looks up the address and allows you to add details if needed. You can then add a photo and upload the report to the website there and then.

The details of the road fault are sent through to Cumbria County Council's Highways department who can then assess and repair the problem.

Compatible iPhone models: The app will work with iPhone models 3G, 3GS, or 4 that are running Apple's iOS version 3 or 4. This includes many older models as well as the latest ones.

Downloading the app: You can download the app from the App Store for free, simply search for 'fill that hole'.

Senior Citizens Xmas Party

The Hindpool Community Centre - Café and Rooms Available for Rent

Hindpool Community Centre, Nelson Street, Barrow.

 

They have a  fully equipped and repainted Cafe up for rent, ideal for someone who does outside catering and needs a kitchen to work from with the possibility of running the Cafe area for a couple of hours a day or full time.

 

Also the main hall is available to rent during the day and ideal to run a Zumba Class,  Keep Fit,  Slimming World, Weight Watchers etc, they also have a set of indoor bowls along with two mats should anyone want to start an indoor bowling club.

 

Please contact The Hindpool Community Centre on 01229 871971 for more details and prices.

Thought for the Week

“Change your thoughts and you change your world.” Norman Vincent Peale

How to comment on our posts ...

One of the clever people here in our office said that perhaps the reason we haven't had many people leaving comments on this blog is because people might not know how to do it.

Well, if that's true here's the description of just exactly what to do.

Below every seperate item it reads 'posted by CHNMT' and next to that it shows the time the item was posted and directly next to that it says 'comments'.

Click on the word 'comments' and it will take you to a box which looks a bit like a standard email box. See above for sample screenshot of the comments box.

Write your comment in the box and then click on the 'post comment' button, yes it's as easy as that.

So now there's no excuse, let us know what you think of the items we post on here to help us get the content right so it's most useful for you.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Barrow Island Big Local Trust - News update

Barrow Island has been allocated £1m by the Big Lottery. This update will tell you what we’ve done, where we are now and what we are hoping to do next.

What we’ve done• We wrote to every household on Barrow Island in May to tell you about the £1m.
• We had a drop in on 9th June to get suggestions from the community
• We had a Streetsafe where people were asked for their views
• We have had feedback from Barrow Island young people in primary and secondary schools

Where are we now?We have had a series of meetings with Barrow Island residents to review all the suggestions and comments.
From all the comments to date, your community priorities appear to be;
• a community centre for all age groups including activities for young people

• an outdoor formal and informal sports and play

What next?Before we go any further, we need to report back to the Barrow Island community.
You are invited to an open meeting. This will be held at Dundalk St Centre, Dundalk Street, Thursday 3rd November, 6.30pmTea and coffee will be available from 6pm if you want an informal chat before the meeting. At the meeting, we will present a summary of what we have done and what you said.

We want you to:
• Confirm your priorities
• Agree a Steering Group to take matters forward

Contact us at any time

If you want to get involved, have some suggestions or have any questions, please get in touch. But not all at once!

Derek Brook, Nan Tait Centre, Abbey Road, LA14 1LG

Email: derek.brook@cumbria.gov.uk

Phone: 01229 407312

To keep up to date, 'like us' at  www.facebook.com/barrowislandbiglocaltrust  

Cumbria remains one of the safest places in England and Wales

Statistics published yesterday by the Home Office reveal that Cumbria has one of the lowest rates of crime in England and Wales.

The annual statistics show that crime is down by 5% in Cumbria, from 27,963 reported incidents between June 2009 and June 2010 to 26,447 between June 2010 and June 2011, representing 1,516 fewer victims of crime. It also reveals that Cumbria has the lowest rate of crime in England outside London’s square mile.

The statistics drill down to specific crime types and confirm that rates of burglary in Cumbria are the lowest in the North West, down by 9%, that criminal damage is also down by 9%; violence against the person is down by 3% and vehicle crime is down by 17%. In fact, Cumbria has the lowest rate of vehicle crime in England outside London’s square mile.

The number of drug offences in Cumbria rose last year by 7%, from 1,701 in 09/10 to 1,824 in 10/11. The number of sexual offences rose slightly from 397 in 09/10 to 407 in 10/11, fraud and forgery rose from 585 in 09/10 to 634 in 10/11 and robbery rose from 53 offences in 09/10 to 67 in 10/11.

Confidence in Cumbria Constabulary remains high with 63% of local people saying police deal with local concerns.

Chief Constable Craig Mackey said: “I am pleased with our performance and happy that overall crime remains low in Cumbria.

“An overall drop in crime of five per cent shows that by working closely with local residents and partner agencies we can focus on the issues and concerns that matter most in each community and effectively tackle crime. Our low rates of burglary also highlight that Cumbria is a safe place to live, work and visit.

“I note a rise in the number of reported sex offences, which are a priority for our detectives. On the one hand, this is concerning, as it is a distressing crime, on the other, I am pleased that victims have the confidence to report incidents to police in the knowledge they will be supported and investigated as a priority.

“We will continue to focus on neighbourhood policing, and encourage people to share their views and priorities with us via community and online meetings, so that we can make sure we continue tackling the issues that matter most to local people.

“The challenge for Cumbria Constabulary now is to maintain low rates of crime in a difficult financial climate. We will do everything we can to minimise the affect of budget cuts on frontline policing, and will continue to work closely with local communities to make Cumbria safer.”

Ray Cole, Chairman of Cumbria Police Authority, the policing watchdog for Cumbria, said: “The Police Authority commends the Constabulary’s continued high level of performance. We welcome the reductions in crime and are pleased that neighbourhood policing teams continue to deal with the issues of most concern to local communities. The Authority supports the Constabulary’s work and will continue to scrutinise the performance of the force to ensure we maintain low rates of crime in Cumbria.”

Warning to Barrow youngsters about legal highs

Police in Barrow have teamed up with the NHS to issue a warning to local youngsters about the side effects of legal highs.

The warning comes after a group of 7 teenagers attended A&E in Furness General Hospital yesterday, Wednesday 19th October, after smoking an unknown substance which is believed to be known locally as ‘Black Mamba’. The substance is believed to be a new form of a ‘legal high’ although the contents of the substance and its exact effects are unknown.

The teenagers called an ambulance and attended hospital after some of them experienced effects such as nausea and racing hearts. All were released and were not detained.

Sgt Mark Rawlinson said: “We believe that the substance in question in this case is known as ‘Black Mamba’ and that it was purchased in Barrow.

“The use of legal highs is worrying - people should not assume that a substance is safe because it is currently regarded legal. People using substances like Black Mamba are taking serious risks - no-one knows what the drug is mixed with or the long-term effects that it can have and this instance highlights that the risk just isn’t worth it. The sensible and safe option is to avoid drugs and legal highs altogether.”

Dr Nigel Calvert is an Associate Director of Public Health. He said: “So-called ’legal highs’ such as Black Mamba are constantly in the news and new ones are being developed all the time. Just because they are not yet illegal does not mean that they are safe. On the contrary it just means that the substances mixed within the drug are not illegal, but they can still have a drastic effect on someone’s health and the effects are totally unknown.

“Although we’d advise people not to take drugs or ‘legal highs’ it is important that if anyone does decide to, that they are sensible and take precautions. People should always let someone trusted who isn’t under the influence of drink or drugs know what they are doing, so help can be sought if needed, and most importantly don’t mix the substance with any other, including alcohol, as this could have serious consequences.

“Both legal highs and illegal drugs are totally unregulated and this means that they can have untold affects on people’s health which might be instant or develop later in life. There are also no standards or regulations which oversee these substances, so there is no telling from one batch to another how strong it will be. This means if someone has taken a drug once and not had a bad experience does not mean that they will not have a strong reaction another time, as there is no telling how strong the drug will be.”

Thought for the Week

“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.” Benjamin Franklin

Cumbria Constabulary has pledged its support to this week’s ‘National ID Fraud Prevention Week’

Identity fraud continues to rise with 4 million victims in UK alone - Yet consumers continue to be complacent with their identities.

Cumbria Constabulary joins partners of National Identity Fraud Prevention Week to issue a stark warning to public: individuals could be risking up to £9,000 as a result of ID fraud.

National Identity Fraud Prevention Week (NIDFPW) started this week to alert consumers and businesses to the threat of identity fraud at home and at work.  For the seventh year running, NIDFPW brings together partners from both the private and public sector, providing a broad range of expertise and resources to help consumers and businesses protect themselves against identity fraud.

According to research commissioned by Fellowes exclusively for the campaign, although 95% of the UK population are now aware of the threat and risks of identity fraud, the number of victims is still rising as people continue to be careless with their identities. 7% of the UK population have been victims of identity fraud, equating to over 4 million people. The average cost of these incidents to each victim is £1,190, but some individuals have lost up to £9,000.

Statistics from CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, reported that the number of identity fraud cases declared to the authorities in the UK continue to rise, with over 80,000 reported in the UK so far this year.

When it comes to identity fraud, prevention is always key. Some easy ways for individuals to protect themselves include:

• Always checking for unfamiliar transactions on bank statements
• Shredding all documents containing sensitive information using a cross cut shredder before throwing them away
• Looking into mail that goes missing
• Carrying out regular personal credit report checks
• Redirecting post for at least six months when moving house
• Limiting the amount of information shared when using social networking sites

Cumbria Constabulary’s Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hyde said: “It is important that people in Cumbria understand the risks that identity fraud presents and the simple steps that can be taken to protect themselves from becoming a victim of crime.

“Like many crimes, people think that it just ‘won’t happen to them’ but it is important that people are vigilant with their bank accounts and double check things that don’t seem right so that if it does happen, it can be spotted quickly. These sort of thieves hide behind their computer screens and can steal somebody’s life savings without ever coming into contact with them so they need to be traced and stopped.

“Thankfully, identity fraud is not a major problem in Cumbria although we know that a lot of frauds go unreported so are unknown to police or Action Fraud.

“Our teams of financial investigators have joined forces with Action Fraud who provide a dedicated service to detecting and preventing fraud in Cumbria and the UK.”

Jamey Johnson, head of Action Fraud, the national fraud reporting and advice centre, said: “Stealing an identity is just the beginning for a fraudster.  With few details, accounts can be taken over, loans can be applied for and purchases can be made, all without the consent or knowledge of the individual, potentially costing the victim substantial sums of money.  Last month alone (September) Action Fraud saw over £245,000 worth of loss due to identity theft.  The worrying part is that this figure was generated from a limited amount of reports, suggesting the amount lost to ID theft would be much higher if more people were reporting.

“It is important to report a loss to Action Fraud, but it is more important to protect yourself from it happening in the first place.  Limiting access to your personal information is the key to safety from ID fraud.  Remember, personal details are as valuable as cash to a fraudster.”

For more tips and advice on how to prevent identity fraud, visit the campaign’s website, www.stop-idfraud.co.uk  The website contains a downloadable advice pack for consumers as well as a business guide.

It's Time to Test: change your clock, test your smoke alarm

A new hard-hitting advertising campaign is urging people to make a potentially life-saving move when they change their clocks on the weekend of 29/30 October - by taking a moment to test their smoke alarm too.

The twice-yearly clock change is a task that everybody takes for granted. Turning the clocks back for an extra hour in bed will already be on the 'to-do' list for the majority of British households over the clock change weekend.

While timekeeping is a vital part of our lives and we all keep our clocks working to stay on track, it's shocking to know that many people forget to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones by keeping their smoke alarm in the same working order.

A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999. But only half of all householders who own a smoke alarm say that they test it's working on a regular basis.

You're more than four times as likely to die in a fire if your smoke alarm is not working. So it's clear that the simple act of testing your alarm is a vital part of any household routine.

In 2010-11, there were over 36,000 accidental fires in the home, resulting in 246 fatalities and more than 7,000 casualties. The Fire Kills Campaign hopes that by adding this simple smoke alarm check to people's clock-change routine, many more lives will be saved.

Fire Minister Bob Neill said "Everyone soon notices when a clock stops ticking, but it's more difficult to be sure that your smoke alarm is still in working order. The only way to make sure is through regular testing.

"When the campaign began in 1988 only 9 per cent of homes had a smoke alarm - now that figure is 86 per cent. But having a smoke alarm is not enough - it must be kept in working order to save your life.

"The number of fire deaths in homes has halved since 1988 but if everyone takes time to test their alarm regularly we can make sure they don't go up again.

"We're all looking forward to getting that extra hour's sleep as British Summer Time comes to an end. Knowing that your smoke alarm is in working order will help you sleep that little bit better."

The Government's Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser Sir Ken Knight said: "You're more than four times as likely to die in a fire without a working smoke alarm. But despite the fact that nearly 250 people died in house fires last year, only half of the people who own an alarm say they take the time to check that it's working.

"A smoke alarm can give you the vital time you need to get out, stay out and call 999 in a house fire. As you put your clocks back on 29 or 30 October take an extra moment to push the button on your alarm to make sure it is working properly - it could save your life."

Listen out for radio and press adverts supporting the 'Change your clocks, Test your smoke alarm' campaign and find out more on the Fire Kills Facebook page www.facebook.com/firekills.

An online video has also been released showing a mantelpiece clock melting in the heat of a house fire - bringing home the harsh reality of the consequences of a fire in the home. See it at http://bit.ly/firekillsclock.

Help keep yourself and your loved ones safe in the home by following these simple steps:

• A working smoke alarm can buy you valuable time to get out, stay out and call 999. Make sure you fit one on every level of your home and test them regularly.
• Make testing your smoke alarm part of your household routine. Check the alarm by pressing the button regularly; change your battery once a year or invest in a 10-year alarm; and clean the alarm casing twice a year to ensure dust doesn't block the sensor.
• Whatever happens, never remove the battery in your smoke alarm.
• Make sure that everyone in your home knows what to do in a fire and practise your escape route.
• For more information visit the Fire Kills campaign's Facebook page at facebook.com/firekills.

If you want an extra nudge to test your smoke alarm regularly, try setting an automatic reminder. Safelincs, in partnership with the Fire Kills, has created a free service that reminds you, by email or text, when it's time to test your smoke alarm, change the battery or renew the unit. The service is completely free and can be cancelled at any time, visit www.safelincs.co.uk/reminders to find out more.

Cumbria Mental Health Group

Cumbria Mental Health Group (CHMG) are holding a tea and chat on Tuesday 18th October 2-4pm at St Marks Church Hall on Rawlinson Street. All are welcome to come along and join them for a drink and a chat.

CMHG are a charity who work with people whose lives are affected by a variety of mental health problems. Their main aim is to help influence and change the way mental health services are delivered in Cumbria.

The local office is in the CVS offices at Lesser Kings Hall, Hartington Street, Barrow. You can ring 01229 826655 or 01229 827870. Visit our website at www.cumbriamentalhealthgroup.org.uk or find us on Facebook.

Barrow Male Voice Choir - 'With a Voice of Singing'

Barrow Male Voice Choir - 'With a Voice of Singing' Saturday 15 October 7.30pm at the forum, Duke Street. Tickets £7.50/£6.50 concessions. Barrow Male Voice Choir returns to the forum celebrating it's 80th anniversary in style.  With many awards to its credit and prestigious appearances with massed choirs at the Royal Albert Hall, the choir has helped to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for local and national charities. To make the concert very special they are joined by St. James C of E School Choir and guest artistes.

Thought for the Week

“He who knows others is wise; he who

knows himself is enlightened.” Lao Tzu

Art Show ...

Cumbria CVS Barrow Local Forum

Wednesday 19 October 2011 at the Dock Museum, North Road, Barrow in Furness from 12-2.00pm with lunch and refreshments provided.

This is an invitation to all Third Sector groups active in South Lakes and Barrow. The Local Forum is important to anyone interested in finding out about local issues and working with other groups and organisations to find local solutions.

The Forum is a useful link with your Local Strategic Partnership and with Cumbria CVS. It will help keep you informed and ensure that your views are properly represented. It is your opportunity to let us at Cumbria CVS know how you feel about our services, and make suggestions of ways we could be working with you.

By Third Sector we mean voluntary and community, sport, faith, environmental and social enterprise groups and organisations.
Agenda Items:

Welcome

Rebecca Rawlings – Barrow Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership

Jackie Denny – Cumbria Mentor Point

John Harington – The Shaw Trust

Kay McGregor - Local Involvement Network News (LiNk)

Information sharing and networking for attendees. For further information or to confirm attendance, contact: Lisa Millard on 01229 825630 or email: lisam@cumbriacvs.org.uk 

Thought for the Week

“It’s only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth — and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up, we will then begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.” Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

'What Lies Beneath?' exhibition at the Dock Museum

Change to Town Hall opening hours for the public

Change to Town Hall opening hours for the public - please note that from Monday 31st October, 2011 the Town Hall will only be open to the public between the hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm (Monday to Friday).

Love Barrow Awards 2012 - nominations open!

The Love Barrow Awards 2012 nominations are open from today. This is your chance to nominate that special person who goes the extra mile in your community. We are looking for nominations for;

Citizen of the Year - awarded to people who have made an outstanding contribution to Barrow and Furness through their voluntary and/or professional contribution to community life.

Young Citizen of the Year - awarded to a young person aged 18 and under who has made an outstanding contribution to Barrow and Furness through their voluntary and/or professional contribution to community life.

Group/Project of the Year - awarded to a group or project that has made a real difference to the lives of people in the local community through their voluntary and/or professional work.

Teacher of the Year - acknowledges the contribution of those who promote learning in our community in an inspirational way. The nominations can include people from formal and community based settings.

Carer of the Year - to recognise the valuable contribution that carers make to our community, this includes professional or voluntary work and might include nurses, social workers or family carers.

Sports Volunteer of the Year - recognises the outstanding voluntary contribution of individuals who are the lifeblood of our local sporting community.

Environmental Volunteer of the Year - acknowledges the outstanding voluntary contribution of individuals to maintaining our natural environment and working to promote sustainable living.

The Courage Award - this award seeks to recognise the real depths of courage that ordinary people show in difficult circumstances. This might include acts of bravery by people in the emergency services or ordinary members of the public who are ‘first on the scene’ of emergency or critical situations. It also seeks to recognise the daily courage that people show in facing life’s challenges, such as illness and loss, and the courage of individuals to turn these difficult circumstances into positive action for the good of the community.

Love Barrow Awards 2012 Nomination Form

See Evening Mail article here http://www.nwemail.co.uk/time-to-nominate-your-local-heroes-1.881988?referrerPath=home