Trust Life Dec 2011
Welcome: to short days, long dark nights, the prospects of cold snowy weather – but Santa is coming, so all is well.
We can begin our Christmas countdown now that the Torchlight Procession has taken place. Once again the youngsters of the town enchanted the crowds with the fantastic lanterns they made, which complimented the ever stunning display by the lights volunteers and the shops dressed in their festive best– how lucky are we to have such a brilliant community event. We would like to thank everyone who participated, assisted, performed, organised, stewarded, funded or watched. You made it worthwhile.
We also had a wonderful opening day for Pride of Northumbria which I am pleased to say is doing well. The honours were carried out by Doug Paterson from DP Builders who carried out both the external and internal works. Pride of Northumbria is turning into a real community shop where customers feel comfortable to browse and chat.
We have some wonderful artwork displayed and I must thank Larraine Duquemin whose project for Armistice Day was displayed. I have been overwhelmed by the support from volunteers who have offered to ‘man’ the shop, each for their own reasons but all enjoying the customer contact. So a big thank you from myself, Trust employees and trustees.
Having received several enquiries for the ‘middle unit’, I am heartened by the interest that is being shown in the town, especially when you listen to the doom and gloom on the news. To complete the building work we now need to develop a plan and secure funding for the first floor. So that will be our next project.
AmbleGPX was shortlisted for a Northumberland Business Award in the technology category. This was very gratifying, especially for all the young people who helped bring the project to this stage.
On the skateboard front, we hope to have alleviated some of the litter issues by re-siting two more bins in the vicinity. The new group of young people who will form the steering group are committed to keeping the area clear – even to the point of challenging an adult who felt it was okay to deposit rubbish near the site. It just goes to show that it isn’t always the young people who need to be educated on such matters!
Our new staff have settled in at Pride of Northumbria and are working well as part of the Trust team – Sandy the Mad Jam Woman is keeping well but still undergoing treatment so we are working around her availability – but whenever she is in you can see her cheery face through the window.
Our meetings with the town council continue on a positive note, with many discussions centred around how we can bring about various activities and events to generate added tourism and generally brighten the town up.
With the announcement that the Olympic Torch will travel through the town (even though I understand it will be an early morning visit) it would be great to get schools, groups and organisation working together to celebrate. One suggestion has been to hold ‘street olympics’ – what do you think? Not sure which event I’d be getting my trainers out for! Anyway, the more involved the better. We can put on as good a show as anyone else in our own inimitable way.
Perhaps with Christmas coming your thoughts aren’t on what may be happening next year, but we know that the Jubilee and Olympic Torch events will soon be upon us and we would like to work together to ensure the occasion is marked and enjoyed.
Well I think that’s about it for now. So from all of us here at the Trust may we wish you a very merry, peaceful Christmas and prosperous New Year.
Julia Aston, Director,
Amble Development Trust
