Contacts
What's happening in your ward
Local council services
Reporting problems
Your ward committee and getting involved
Further information
Go to Top
What's happening in your ward
'Be inspired' - Making Changes in Life
An open event for people over 50
Thursday 22nd May from 1pm to 4pm at MEA House, Ellison Place.
For more information or to reserve a place please phone: 0191 232 6488.
'On Yer Bike' – Novice/refresher cycling classes for people 50+
Every Friday from 2 May – 25 July, 10–11.30 am - Start at the café in Exhibition Park. £2.50 per session, this covers bike hire, all safety equipment and a fully qualified instructor.
To reserve your place phone Michelle Mordue, Active Ageing Development Worker on 0191 255 1985.
Night-Watch...
..is now operating seven nights a week. The number may have changed but Newcastle's night time noise service 'Night-Watch' is still here. If you are having problems with noisy neighbours then call 0300 1000 101. Night-Watch operates between 8pm and 4am 7 nights a week.
Free Training Course for West End Residents
A brand new course is offering West End residents the chance to learn new skills and kick start their career chances. The free four-week course - known as Ucan - is available now, with flexible course times and help with childcare also on offer. If you'd like to find out more, please contact Daniel Gibson.
Phone: 0191 286 3456
E-mail daniel.gibson@newcastle.gov.uk.
Has it made a difference?
Benwell Library, Atkinson Road. 21 May 9.30am – 1pm
Last November about 150 local residents of all ages attended the Mix and Match Community Conference at Cruddas Park. Representatives of the council and other agencies came to listen to what they had to say about a range of issues that matter to local residents. This event looks at what action has been taken and what plans there are to improve things. It also looks at opportunities there are for local people to influence changes. This event if free for residents, but places are limited so please book as soon as possible.
Booking form (pdf, 57kb)
Event flyer (pdf, 2mb)
Phone Teresa at Riverside Community Health Project on 226 0754 ext 202 for more information.
Thanks to the residents of the Westgate Multis
Thanks to all those residents in the Westgate Multis who took part in a recent consultation about what it's like to live in the blocks. If you spoke to one of the officers or returned a survey then your views will be written up into a report which will go to those people who can make changes, such as YHN and Neighbourhood Services. Look out for feedback soon. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this piece of work please contact the Westgate Ward Co-ordinator.
New Deal News
The Spring 2008 edition of New Deal News is now available online at www.newcastlendc.co.uk. Use the link to download your copy and also find out more about Newcastle's New Deal for Communities programme.
West End Health Enabling Action and Response Group
A group of West End residents have been meeting monthly since last August to take action to improve health in the area. They have called themselves WEHEAR (West End Health – Enabling Action and Response). If you are interested in Health issues and would like to be involved please phone Barbara Cage or Rachel Parsons at West End Health Resource Centre for more information on 272 4244.
Meet Your Community Health Trainer Team
Community health trainers are helping people in areas of deprivation in Newcastle to get fitter and healthier. Trainers provide information and practical help on a range of issues. If you would like to know how to get in touch with your local Health Trainer then please phone 273 8889 or e-mail cht@wehrc.co.uk
Newcastle NDC Community Chest
The Newcastle New Deal for Communities Community Chest Grant Aid Budget is a responsive and flexible fund which provides funding for small scale, one-off community and voluntary sector projects. Projects seeking grant aid should be of direct benefit to the residents of the Newcastle New Deal for Communities area and must comply with the eligibility criteria. Further information is available at www.newcastlendc.co.uk/page/communitychest.cfm
Everyone’s Tomorrow… today!
Listen to an exciting radio programme broadcast by the Elders Council of Newcastle. Enjoy an hour of news, stories, discussion and music put together by older people for older people. Tune in to the monthly programme on the first Friday of every month from 2-4pm on NE1fm – 102.5.
Launch of New Jobs Club
Learning Links Europe is starting a new Jobs Club to help local people find work. The Job Club will offer support with:
The Job Club will be open every Friday from 9.30 to 3.30 at the Lynnwood Business Centre, on Lynnwood Terrace.
For further information please contact Philip Hudson on 273 6520 or email philip.hudson@learninglinkseurope.com
West End girls are on the ball
Wanna bend it like Beckham? Now's the chance for West End girls to show their football skills, as the Hat-Trick Project launches a new Under-10s girl's football session. Taking place every Monday from 5-6pm at West Gate Centre for Sport, the sessions are suitable for girls in school years 3 and 4, and could lead an Under-10s girls team for Westgate Juniors next season. Phone:
Hat-Trick - 277 2877,
Mark Oliver - 07855 506 058
Kris Glenwright - 07921 184 278
Westgate Older People's Network
Are you a group working with older people in Westgate Ward? Would you like to find out more about what's happening in Westgate Ward? If so why not join the Westgate Older People's Network to receive regular mailings and information on events and activities that may be of interest to your members. There also may be the opportunity to meet up with other groups in your local area. If you want to find out more contact the Westgate Ward Co-ordinator.
Fusion - Free Sports Sessions
Newcastle City Council is launching a new FUSION initiative to get "More People, More Active, More of the Time", aimed at children and young people aged 5-18yrs who live in Newcastle. The scheme will offer free activities at council managed leisure centres and pools and at partner organisations. In Westgate the nearest free sessions will be held at Westgate Centre for Sport, City Pool, and Elswick Pool. For more information contact:
Neil Ramshaw, phone: 278 3098 or
Ged Nearney, phone: 278 2652.
What's On In The West End Website
Take a look at the What’s On In The West End website to find out more about physical activities available to residents in the West End of Newcastle. There’s also information on the site about Wonder Walks – a series of 10 short and local health walks situated in and around the West End of Newcastle.
An Older Person Friendly City Centre report
Assessing the 'older person friendliness' of Newcastle City Centre has been the focus of the Elders Council of Newcastle's Older Person Friendly City Centre Working Group for the past four years. They have been concerned with the implications of the forecasts of increasing longevity and the fact that if more older people are to have full, active lives within their communities we need 'olde person friendly' environments, where they can move around safely and easily. The end result of their work is a report, which you can view on the Elders Council of Newcastle website.
Newcastle Warm Zone are working in your area and we encourage you to talk to our assessor who will call to your door - an assessment to see if you are eligible for free cavity wall and loft insulation takes only five minutes and we don't even need to enter your property. All of our staff carry ID and wear the Warm Zone uniform. If you have any queries about the Newcastle Warm Zone project please call us on 0191 277 7373.
Click here for more information about Newcastle Warm Zone.
Knit and Natter Groups
1.30pm-3.30pm, Tuesdays at Cornerstone
1pm-3pm, Tuesdays at Fenham Association of Residents (FAR), Acanthus Avenue
2pm-4pm, Mondays in the community room in Holywell Close (off Barrack Road)
1.30pm-3.30pm, Fridays in Benwell Hall Drive community room
10am-12noon, Wednesdays at Condercum Court
All knitters welcome - no need to book just turn up! Search can provide knitting need les, wool and simple patterns for premature baby clothes and trauma teddies – or just bring along your own knitting. Any questions? Please contact Diana Hinns at Search Project, 74 Adelaide Terrace.
Phone: 273 7443.
Business Planning Advice Available from NCVS
The Newcastle Council for Voluntary Service (NCVS) Business Planning Service provides free advice, information and support to voluntary organisations and community groups working in Newcastle. To find out more contact NCVS. Phone: 232 7445
Website: www.cvsnewcastle.org.uk
Activities at Nunsmoor Centre
There are lots of activities and classes to take part in at the new Nunsmoor Centre on Studley Terrace. These include: how to use computers; healthy eating sessions; dads' sessions; baby social; baby peep; play sessions; support with literacy and numeracy and keeping fit. The community rooms and hall can also be booked for meetings and events. For further details please phone the centre on 0191 226 1006.
Becoming Visible Communication - British Sign Language Courses
Courses in British Sign Language and Deaf Awareness / Equality are available at the Newcastle Deaf Centre on Sum merhill Grove. Courses follow the British Deaf Association's BSL Curriculum and are accredited by the Open College Network. For full details contact Lou Redpath, Becoming Visible Communication
Newcastle Deaf Centre, 2 Summer hill Grove, Newc astle, NE4 6EE
Phone: 233 0999
E-mail: training@becomingvis ible.org
Help your local Community Centre
Murray House C ommunity Recreation Centre is looking for volunteers to join their management committee. The Centre is on Diana Street and provides activities for all ages. The Committee meets every month and would welcome new members to help them progress the work of the Centre. If you are interested in hel ping out then please contact the Westgate Ward Co-ordinator for further information.
Newcastle Futures
Newcastle Futures is an organisation that is looking to help West End residents into jobs and training. Based in community venues, Newcastle Futures can listen, help f ind opportunities and even provide grants for the cost of interview clothes and travel costs. For further information phone 0800 587 0478.
Funding Opportunities for Community Groups in Westgate
Community Spaces Grant
Groundwork UK is managing the Community Spaces Grant on behalf of a consortium of env ironmental organisations. Community Spaces will fund a range of small, medium and large projects to improve g reen and open spa
ces, including play areas, community parks, wildlife areas, ponds and village gr eens. The majority of grants will be between £10,000 and £50,000. Applications open in March. If you would like more information or would like to talk over an idea please contact Siobhan O'Brien at Groundwork on 0191 277 3498, or visit www.community-spaces.org.uk.
Groundwork is also working with Business in the Community to identify volunteering projects for their members, usually a team for one day. This year they are looking for innovative ideas but will consider a range of projects. Contact Siobhan O'Brien on the number above with suggestions.
Could you use an individual funding advice session?
Are you a community organisation working in Newcastle? Do you need advice on improving a draft application or have you just had an application rejected and want to talk about why it happened? Are you looking for new funding opportunities? Perhaps you want advice on measuring outcomes or you just want to discuss whether your proposed project is likely to attract funding. You can come to NCVS and talk to a Funding Advice Officer about any aspects of fundraising. For an appointment phone Louise or Chris on 232 7445.
Football Foundation
The Football Foundation is the UK's largest sports charity funded by the Premier League, the FA, Sport England and the Government. The aim is to improve facilities, create opportunities and build communities throughout England. There are a number of grants available – for more information visit the website www.footballfoundation.org.uk
David Dockray's West End Young People’s Fund – was established at the Community Foundation in 2007 following the sale of the West End Youth and Community Centre in Fenham. The fund aims to support children and young people aged 5-25 in the West End of Newcastle. The majority of grants will be between £250-£5,000 but grants of up to £20,000 will also be considered. Grants can be for core costs, project costs or capital costs.
For more information or to get an application form:
Phone: 0191 222 0945
Website www.communityfoundation.org.uk
Ringtons Fund - has added £250,000 to its charitable fund to celebrate its centenary year. The fund supports charitable organisations that work with families, women, elderly people and disabled people in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland. Grants of up to £5000 are available and applications can be made at any time and are considered by family members of the Ringtons every six months. For further information and application forms contact Community Foundation, Cale Cross, 156 Pilgrim Street
Phone: 0191 222 0945
E-mail: general@communityfoundation.org.uk
Website: www.communityfoundation.org.uk
Hedley Foundation – supports activities that benefit the following groups:
young people, particularly projects involving education, training and health and welfare
disabled people and terminally ill people, providing specialist equipment and support for carers
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for registered charities in the UK. Grants are for specific projects only and are awarded on a one off basis. They cannot fund individuals, core revenue, salaries, transport, large or national appeals. For further infor mation and application forms contact the Hedley Foundation.
Phone: 020 7489 8076
Go to Top
Local council services
Neighbourhood Services, one of the council's departments, is responsible for dealing with the cleanliness, safety and improvement of the local environment. The manager for Westgate ward is Doug Wilkinson.
The managers are in charge of the Neighbourhood Response Teams, whose job it is to respond quickly to problems that soon make a place look untidy or make it feel unsafe. This team includes the Rapid Response staff who sweep the streets, pick up litter and empty litter bins; remove small scale graffiti; make minor repairs to the footpath or street furniture; and cut back shrubs. They also deal with problems such as dead animals, blocked street drains, potholes and fly-tipping.
The Neighbourhood Response Managers make sure these teams are doing the jobs that are a priority for the local community. They work with local councillors, ward co-ordinators, tenants' and residents' groups and local people to find out what their priorities are. They work closely with other Neighbourhood Services teams in the area such as grounds maintenance, and road and pavement work.
If you want to contact your Neighbourhood Response Manager you can contact them directly, e-mail them or go along to a ward committee meeting.
Key monitoring documents
Ward priority plan (pdf, 22Kb)
- sets out the key environmental issues in the ward and what we are doing to tackle them
Go to Top
Reporting problems
If you want to report environmental problems, such as overhanging trees or graffiti, or ask for a bulky rubbish collection, you should contact Envirocall.
Our streetlights are maintained by a PFI (Private Finance Initiative) project.
We work with the police on removing abandoned vehicles.
Go to Top
Your ward committee and getting involved
Ward Committees
Your Ward Committee is made up of three local councillors. Its purpose is to identify and address local issues. The committee consults and works with local residents and businesses, agencies and voluntary and community sector organisations.
The Ward Committee meets on the fourth Monday of every month and is open to all members of the public. Meetings alternate between business meetings – which discuss issues of local concern and hear grant applications – and more informal themed meetings which offer residents a chance to look at a specific topic in more detail. Meeting dates are as follows:
2008
19 May - Murray House Community Centre, Diana Street
Get Healthy with Westgate Ward Committee
Come along to Westgate Ward Committee and find out more about healthy living. Try some gentle exercise, have a health MOT and meet organisations who are working to promote good health in the Ward. Everyone is welcome at this fun and informal event – drop in at any time between 6.30-8pm. To find out more please contact your Ward Co-ordinator.
The Ward Co-ordinator organises and publicises Ward Committee meetings and deals with any issues raised. They can help you with transport to and from the meeting, childcare and information in a range of community languages.
View the public papers for Westgate Ward Committee meetings.
Grant Aid
The Ward Committee has a budget which community and voluntary se ctor groups can apply for by completing a grant aid application form (see related forms to right of screen). Deadlines for the submission of application forms are :
2008
To find out more about grant aid please read the Guidance Notes (pdf, 35Kb) or speak to your ward co-ordinator.
Community Groups
Are you a Community Organisation working in Westgate Ward? If so, we can give you the chance to publicise your work and events on this page. To find out more please phone the Westgate Ward Co-ordinator.
Westgate PAST
Would you like to help keep a record of the West End's past? Westgate PAST is now an established Local Heritage Initiative for the collection of oral history, photographs and artefacts in order to record the change that is taking place in the West End of Newcastle from days gone by to the present day. You can help the project in a number of ways
Contact us so we can interview you and record your memories.
T ell us if you have any photographs you’d like us to look at.
Come to our skil ls s essions on digital photography editing, in terview skills, photography, sound editing, using the internet to send e-mails as a historical research tool, and computer skills.
Website: www.westgatepast.com
E-mail: admin@westgatepast.com
Phone: 242 1236
Go to Top
Find out what consultations the council is carrying out in your ward and submit your views online. You can also see the results of previous consultations.
Cityeye gives details of events in your ward. You can also find information about societies and clubs in Westgate.
Use our online map to find your nearest libraries and schools. You can also find out where your nearest recycling site is and find leisure services, such as swimming pools, and heritage information, such as listed buildings and ancient monuments.
See also the Related Pages panel at the right of the screen.