Trust Life: Jan 2012
Welcome back to life at the Trust and may I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and prosperous new year. How many of you have made (and perhaps already broken) new year resolutions? I have decided that this will be a year of positivity. Positive views, news and action!
After a busy and rather hectic Christmas period at Pride of Northumbria (thank you to all who have visited, purchased and hopefully enjoyed the goods) we are working on a programme of events to be held in the shop. Activities that will engage tourists while including the community. So far we have booked Darryn Wade, who will talk about his pictures and framing. This is in the week leading up to Mothers Day, so if you are looking for something different now is the time.
Local artist Ashley Sim will be in residence just before Easter. There may even be the opportunity to try your legs out using cycle power to make your own smoothie! Events will be informal so you are welcome to drop in to have a chat and peruse at your leisure – but keep an eye out for information posters in the window.
To get schools involved, working with Darin Fawcett the community support officer, we will run an Easter egg competition and a ‘design a label’ competition. This will be for a new jam or relish to celebrate the Jubilee. For the latter a prize will be given to the winner at the annual Young Citizens Award ceremony in July – Darin will be in schools to explain how to enter in early February. We are also considering having tasting events, perhaps including a wine tasting evening. Let me know if there is anything else that would be of interest to you and we will see what we can do.
Amble Business Club continues to attract new members and meets here at Fourways 2 on the first Wednesday of each month. So if you would like to join, you will receive a warm welcome.
Together with the Town Council, Business Club and other service providers in the town we are hoping to organise events to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and arrival of the Olympic Torch. Suggestions on activities and participation are welcomed.
Although there seems to be very little in the way of good news at the moment as far as employment goes, we had thought it wouldn’t be long before the Tesco development would commence. Now, there appears to be some uncertainty as to if or when this will happen, so we are trying to get some clarification from Tesco themselves. While there are varied views on the subject, the town is much in need of new opportunities which, hopefully, the supermarket will bring. Whatever your view, we have to acknowledge that it will probably happen, so need to make it work for the town and community.
On the job front – we have noticed an increase in the numbers coming through the doors requiring assistance with job hunting and CVs. If you are in this position remember we are here to help, wherever possible.
Julie can offer a confidential CV writing service as well as assistance with internet job search. If required there is also a basic skills course which includes some computing, which always helps as so many job applications have to be completed online these days.
We can also offer volunteering opportunities, either in the shop, organising events or assisting with The Ambler.
Together lets make 2012 a good year for Amble.
Julia Aston
Director, Amble Development Trust
