Surf spectacular
National championship at Druridge Bay

A Dog's life
We have the best dog beaches - it's official!

Affordable housing
Dreaming of your own house?

Deer Ambler
Spring surprise

Everybody's talking
Community forum promotes our interests

Hedging bets
Doing what comes naturally

Saving wildlife
Making a river change its mind

RNLI station shop
Spend money and save lives

Amble slimmers
Get thin and save lives

Editorial
Supermarket snags and what's in this "life saving" issue.

Have your say
Letters and email, including photos

Improving Queen Street
Grants can give you an uplift

National 'Elf
Dress up as an elf and save lives

Veggie basket scheme
Disadvantaged people help community

Neighbourhood watch
Keeping an eye on your neighbours

Coquet High School Partnership
Expected drop in pupil numbers

Women's house building project
The house that Jill built

Artograffi
Easter fun

David's Diary
News from Amble Development Trust

Town council report
News update from the Town Council

Confessions of an addict
Harry gives up the weed

Age Concern Northumberland
...need people who are concerned

Chinese freeze affects Welfare
Snow stops take-away

Child Trust Fund
Invest in your child's future

Penny
New year Resolutions

Amble Churches Together
Thoughts for New Year

County Councillors report
Future developments

A tale of two thefts
You have been warned

The Peer Mentors
Students help each other

Residents get the hump over bumps
Calming the traffic?

Dirty wellies in a wine bar
Rural romance

Small skinny latte
Toddlers make their own coffee shop

Poetry corner
Safe to shore

Paddlers Paradise
New look play area

Snippets...
Local food, recycling, school numbers, welfare update

What's On
Including live music, Easter services, volunteering at Warkworth Castle and more.

Greetings from Aglaia
Message from a tall ship

Ray King column
Kevin Keegan takes over. "We all eagerly await"

Age concern Northumberland

Ready, Steady, Volunteer!
Age Concern is asking for volunteers. Do you enjoy creating culinary delights? Could you show Ainsley Harriott a thing or two in the kitchen? Then we have the perfect volunteering opportunity for you. Age Concern Northumberland has recently moved to new premises in Ashington with facilities to run a café during the week. We are now looking for volunteers to help in The Round House Café. So if you would like to cook up a storm in our kitchen, we would like to hear from you.

Age Concern Northumberland’s Community Dementia Day Care is now well established in Amble, Berwick and Belford and they are keen to involve volunteers to help provide day centre care for clients with varying stages of dementia.

As a volunteer with Age Concern Northumberland you will be offered a variety of training to assist you with your voluntary role. All training costs are covered by Age Concern Northumberland and any travel expenses will be reimbursed. Such training opportunities include: First Aid, Food Hygiene and Moving and Handling.

To find out more about these volunteering opportunities or volunteering in general with Age Concern Northumberland, then contact Hazel Webb on 0845 140 0088. Alternatively, email info@ageconcernnorthumberland.org.uk. Further information is available on: www.ageconcernnorthumberland.org.uk

Abuse of Older People
Edna is 79 years old and she lives with her grandson in Northumberland. Her grandson is taking all of her pension money to buy drugs leaving Edna with no money for food. She hopes he is going to get some shopping today, but Edna doesn’t know if he’ll return today, tomorrow or next week.

Edna is ashamed this is happening to her. She wants it to stop but she doesn’t know what to do.

Abuse of older people is a hidden problem and we have a culture of denial that elder abuse occurs. Too often abuse has continued because people spotted something which felt wrong but took no action as they doubted their own concerns or did not know who to contact.

Age Concern has recently started a new project, the first of its kind in Northumberland - Safeguarding Adults. The aims of the project are to ensure that we all know how to recognise an abusive or neglectful situation concerning an older person and to know how to respond appropriately and who to contact if we have any concerns.

The project aims to help individuals like Edna by making sure they understand no-one has to put up with abuse and there are people who can help.

Helen Neilson (Project Worker) will meet with older people in North Northumberland, local groups, organisations and individuals who deal with older people, whether in a paid or voluntary capacity.

If you feel you would benefit from meeting Helen please telephone 01665 510244. The service is free of charge.

Aileen Alexander
Deputy Chief Executive Head of Operational Services