News Archive July - August 2008
August 2008
Phil Hope will be speaking at the Hazel Leys Tenants and Residents Association meeting on Monday the 1st of September
Phil will be speaking to the group about the great progress that is
being made in the regeneration of the town, and of his work to direct
the positive energy shown in the town's development toward revitalising
the social, cultural and educational aspirations of the community.
The introduction of the Safer Community Team and the detached youth workers
in the area has brought real improvement in the level of nuisance crime
and anti-social behaviour. However, Phil is still aware that there is
progress to be made. To help community groups deal with handling these
difficult issues effectively Phil will be launching his 'anti-social behaviour
handbook – your guide to the law'.
Phil Hope MP says:
"The Safer Community teams are successfully tackling crime in our
communities, but we need to keep up the momentum. I am launching the'anti-social
behaviour handbook – your guide to the law' to help community groups
understand exactly what measures they can take to address problems they
may encounter in their local area. Copies can be obtained from my constituency
office."
29/08/08
Phil Hope welcomes great GCSE results for all the schools in his constituency
"I am delighted by the fantastic GCSE results from schools across
my constituency.
The students and teachers in all the schools deserve congratulations for
their outstanding achievements. We are seeing more A* - C grade passes,
I agree with the sentiments of local head teachers that say 'Every grade
matters'. Every student should be proud of their individual successes
today.
"I want to take this opportunity to thank all the teachers in our
local schools for their hard work and dedication throughout the past year
without which we would not have so much cause for celebration today."
21/08/08
Multimillion pound PFI upgrade for streetlights in Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire
Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire's streets are set to benefit from
£145.8 million in Private Finance Initiative investment, Transport
Minister Rosie WInterton has announced.
The funding will allow Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire County Councils
to secure private sector partners in a joint project to upgrade 98,000
streetlights over the next 25 years and the installation of almost 14,000
new lighting columns.
Rosie WInterton said:
"Experience shows that better streetlighting helps improve road safety,
as well as reducing crime and the fear of crime. It also helps create
happier and healthier local communities by promoting social incusion and
more sustainable patterns of transport by encouraging people to cycle
and walk.
"I am very pleased that Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire are jointly
using PFI arrangements to deliver real benefits to motorists, pedestrians
and all road users alike."
East Midlands Regional Minister, Phil Hope said:
"Better streetlighting makes a real difference to people's lives
and this investment of more than £145m will bring significant benefits
to both Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire."
East of England Minister, Barbara Follett added:
"It's great news that this money has been awarded to provide better
streetlighting in Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. This will help
improve road safety, and the overall quality of life of people in these
areas."
15/08/08
Corby's new Play Rangers Project
Phil Hope recently met local children and Corby's new Play Rangers at
the Ollerton Walk play area in Beanfield.
Corby Borough Council has secured funding of £200,000 from the
Big Lottery Fund £170,000 of which is being used to launch the Play
Ranger Project. The Play Rangers are running after school and holiday
activities from their Play van which is kitted out with all sorts of sports,
crafts and den building equipment. Each day of the week they will visit
a park or open space to encourage children aged 8 – 14 to come outside,
run around and play for free.
Phil Hope MP says:
"This is a creative and positive way of encouraging children to enjoy
outdoor play.
It gives them the chance to run about outside in the fresh air in a safe
environment making use of the wonderful open spaces we have in Corby.
"Many people's happiest memories are from times spent messing about
outside with friends. We need to give the children of Corby the chance
to capture that feeling of carefree fun and freedom whilst building up
their fitness and personal confidence."
The sessions are open to all and children can come and go as they please.
Weekday sessions run from 3.30 – 5.30 and Saturday sessions run
from 10.30 -12.30.
The Play Rangers will be at the following places throughout the week:
| Monday | Exeter Open Space, Counts Farm Road |
| Tuesday | Beanfield Play Area, Ollerton Walk |
| Wednesday | Thoroughsale Woods, WoodnewtonWay/Willowbrook Road |
| Thursday | Weldon Play Area, Weldon Woodland Park |
| Friday | Oakley Vale Play Area, behind Harpers Brook |
| Saturday | Pengreen Play Area, Stevenson Way |
18/08/08
Phil praises local schools for commitment to the arts
Phil Hope has welcomed news that 3 schools in Corby and East Northamptonshire
have recently received national recognition for their commitment to the
arts. Kingswood Primary School and Lodge Park Technology College in Corby;
and Prince William School in Oundle have each been awarded the prestigious
Artsmark award by Arts Council England.
Artsmark is Art Council England's national award scheme that provides
a benchmark for arts in schools so that children and young people have
access to a wide range of experiences in dance, drama, music, art and
design. An Artsmark shows how much a school cares about arts in education.
These 3 schools will now join Studfall Junior, Kingswood School, Polebrook
C of E Primary School and Maplefields School in Corby and East Northamptonshire
who are all already in receipt of an Artsmark award.
Phil Hope MP said:
"In being awarded an Artsmark these schools are setting a benchmark
for the teaching of the arts in Corby and East Northants. I am delighted
that they are receiving the national recognition they deserve for their
obvious commitment to expanding arts opportunities for young people.
"Accessing high quality education in the arts can help inspire people
to greater heights and develop natural talents. These awards are testament
to the hard work of teachers and pupils in promoting the arts in their
schools."
21/08/08
July 2008
Phil Hope meets with the newly formed 'Corby African Association'
Phil met with members of the Executive Committee who outlined the objectives
of the group, which are:
To help to integrate Africans within the Corby community and surrounding
area.
To provide activities and support mechanisms that promotes social inclusion
within Corby and the surrounding area.
To provide activities and information aimed at highlighting the awareness
of the Corby community and surrounding areas to cultural issues.
Phil Hope said:
"I welcomed the opportunity to meet members of the Corby African
Association who express a strong desire to integrate into the local community;
I was delighted to hear that the group are intending to hold a meeting
at the Corby Volunteer Bureau on Wednesday 23rd July 6.00pm- 7.30pm to
which everyone with an interest in African culture is invited to attend."
For further information contact, Peter Matsa
Tel: 07908 402927 – 01536 742903
Email: pl13550@yahoo.co.uk
21/07/08
Listening to the people of Irthlingborough
Phil Hope recently held a listening panel in Irthlingborough, which offered
an opportunity for local residents to express their concerns regarding
crime and anti-social behaviour. PC Neil Cowley of the Safer Community
Team gave an overview of the current policing in the town and introduced
PCSO Michael Pearce whose position is part funded by Irthlingborough Council
and Northamptonshire Police.
Phil Hope said:
"The listening panel was a great opportunity for me to hear the views
of the Irthlingborough residents. A number of issues were raised and as
a result I have written to the relevant authorities asking for action.
There seemed to be a general feeling that more facilites for young people
should be made available and I informed the group of my support for a
skateboard park.
As a result of the meeting I have decided to produce a booklet offering
information and guidance to those affected by anti-social behaviour. Anyone
who would like a copy can contact my office on 01536 443325." Issues
raised at the listening panel were:
- Anti-social behaviour, sanctions and police response.
- Police Community Support Officers
- CCTV camera location and hire.
- Skateboard Park.
- Parking and disabled parking.
- Late night disturbances and litter/broken glass.
- General litter and dog fouling.
Phil Hope opens the Raunds Infants School Trim Trail
As part of the schools personal development and well being agenda they
have installed a playground 'Trim Trail and Pirate Ship' to provide the
children with an exciting extension to their play provision.
Phil said:
"I really enjoyed being shown the exciting new 'Trim Trail and Pirate
Ship' by the children at Raunds Infants School and having the opportunity
to cut the ribbon at the official opening of the new play area.
The children are rightly proud of the new facility which has been specially
designed to encourage them to participate in more active and imaginative
play to ensure that they get plenty of physical exercise whilst at school.
It is essential that we continue to find every way we can to make sure
that children get enough exercise to build a healthy balanced life style."
Julie Bowles Head Teacher said:
"We believe that the trim trail will encourage children to be more
active in the playground and it will broaden their opportunities for imaginative
and social play.
The Friends Association have raised funds and the governors have allocated
part of the capital grant to enable the project to go ahead."
04/07/08
£2.2m funding from European Regional Development Fund to Corby.
Corby is one of 12 districts in the East Midlands who qualify for funding
to improve the economy by creating an environment that creates aspiration,
empowers and encourages people and in so doing, creates improved opportunities
for employment, wealth and investment.
Phil Hope MP said:
"I welcome this £2.2m funding for Corby which will be used
to create the right financial environment for business and community investment
in Corby.
It is a wonderful opportunity to continue in the regeneration of the town
by encouraging innovative projects that will result in skilled people
working in good quality jobs in a thriving and aspirational community.
I want to urge public, private and voluntary organisations in Corby with
proposals for initiatives that will deliver economic growth better jobs
and greater social inclusion to apply for grants, with match-funding in
place they can make twice the impact."
The East Midlands qualifies as a competitiveness and employment region
under the EU's Cohesion Policy, which aims to meet the EU objective to
become 'the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the
world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs
and greater social inclusion'.
Corby will receive £2.2m over the next three years; with match-funding
this comes to £3.6m to fund for projects that will make a real difference
to Corby's economy. More money may follow if we can prove that we can
spend this.
08/07/08
Phil Hope says "I support more money to train young people"
Phil supports government plans to ensure that young people who don't
go to university are guaranteed support to continue their education and
training.
All 19-25 year olds who do not have at least the equivalent of 2 A levels
(level 3 qualifications), will be entitled to free training worth around
£7,000 to fund training to this level. This will benefit around
100,000 young people nationally.
And, in a further boost to skills and local businesses in Corby and East
Northamptonshire, young people, including those who have A levels, will
be entitled to an apprenticeship credit. This is a voucher for training
that they can use with potential employers who could offer them an apprenticeship.
Phil said:
"This is great news for Corby and East Northamptonshire I fully support
the government putting in place support for all young people who want
to get on in life – as an apprentice, training in work, or at university."
John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills,
said:
"Our aim is to give everyone the opportunity to make the most of
their talents and secure their own prosperity through improving their
chances to get and keep the jobs of the future. The steps we have announced
today are a key part of our plans."
27/06/08
Phil Hope welcomes £807,000 in small grants to Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire Community Foundation has won a Government competition
to distribute funding to grassroots initiatives in the area - and small
community groups and projects in the county are now set to benefit from
a cash injection of nearly £1.7million.
This new pot of funding, a three year programme called Grassroots Grants,
will be made up of £807,000 in small grants. The rest will come
in form of endowment match funding – whereby each £1 donated
by local businesses and philanthropists will be matched by the Government
Office for the Third Sector.
This money is part of a £130 million nationwide drive by the Government
to support thousands of groups and projects across the country, working
to improve their local communities. Phil said:
"This is fantastic news for Northamptonshire. I want to encourage
small local community groups to use this funding to make a real difference
in their local areas. £807,000 will go straight to grassroots projects
in the next three years. People who want to make a charitable donation
will see their gift almost double in value under the endowment matched
challenge part of the scheme."
This week's win means that Northamptonshire Community Foundation will
distribute £807,000 directly to grassroots groups over the next
three years, starting this September. In partnership with Northamptonshire
ACRE, who will be distributing a slice of this funding to rural areas
in the county, the Foundation will be using its expertise and knowledge
of the local area to identify those small local charitable organisations,
best able to use the money to make a real difference.
Under the endowment match challenge part of the scheme, local people and
businesses are being offered the opportunity to more than double the value
of their charitable donations if they do their giving through the Grassroots
Grants fund, which is being set up by Northamptonshire Community Foundation.
The return/yield from the fund will then be used to ensure that further
grants are available particularly once the current round of funding runs
out in March 2011.
To find out more about Grassroots Grants and the endowment match challenge
call Northamptonshire Community Foundation on (01604) 230033 or visit
the website at www.ncf.uk.com
08/07/08
Phil
Hope recently met local children and Corby’s new Play Rangers at
the Ollerton Walk play area in Beanfield. 
As
part of the schools personal development and well being agenda Raunds
Infants School has installed a playground 'Trim Trail and Pirate Ship'.