One Darlington summer 2025

Summer 2025

S&DR200 Festival: Join the journey

pages 4-7

Stay safe.

Be water

aware.

For useful water safety tips visit

www.ddfire.gov.uk/water-safety

Welcome to One Darlington

Welcome to your summer edition of One Darlington

– and what an exciting read we have in store for

you.

After years of anticipation and planning, the 200th

anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway –

the world’s first steam-powered passenger railway –

is almost upon us.

There’s loads happening to mark this milestone – not

just in Darlington, but the entire length of the line.

Turn to pages 4 to 7 for full details of what’s in store as

S&DR200 steams down the line.

Elsewhere, on pages 8 and 9, we bring you the full

story of the council’s adult social care inspection –

which has been rated as ‘Good’ by the Care Quality

Commission. You will also meet one of the many

dedicated social care professionals who work so hard

to look after some of our most vulnerable residents.

On pages 12 and 13, you’ll find details of some of the

town centre’s finest al fresco eateries, if you’re looking

forward to a spot of café culture this summer.

For those with more active pursuits in mind, we’ve got

a full preview of the Darlington 10k road race, which

is coming up in August and is set to be bigger and

better than ever this year! See pages 22 and 23.

Our team’s favourite story this edition has to be that

of twins Rosie and Molly, who were looked after in the

special care baby unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital

when they were born prematurely.

Now aged 24, the twins made an emotional return to

the unit to meet some of the staff who looked after

them as babies. Find out why on page 15!

As the days stretch longer and the town buzzes with

summer energy, there's no better time to enjoy all

Darlington has to offer.

Whether you're stepping back in time to celebrate the

birth of the modern railway or enjoying the vibrant

café culture of our town centre, this edition is packed

with inspiration.

So, grab a cuppa, find a sunny spot, and dive in.

Here's to a summer filled with discovery, celebration,

and community spirit. Enjoy this edition – thank you

for reading.

South Park in summer

Inside this issue

16 Books that bloom

____________________________________

19 Peer mentor awards

____________________________________

20-21 What’s on

____________________________________

24 Benefits check

____________________________________

29 Home improvements

____________________________________

One Darlington, Room 106, Town Hall, Darlington.

Email – editor@onedarlington.org.uk

Design and production – Xentrall Shared Services.

Distribution – Smart Distribution Solutions.

Front page photography – Graeme Rowatt

The next issue will be out in late October.

If you haven’t received your copy by early November,

please call 0800 160 1552.

An audio and online version of One Darlington is also

available at www.darlington.gov.uk/onedarlington

www.onedarlington.org.uk

one Darlington 03

Excitement is building for two spectacular, free

events being held across consecutive weekends

in September as part of the bicentenary of the

Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR).

You are invited to get involved in Ghost Train – a

carnival celebration of engineering feats - and

Anniversary Journey – a recreation of the first

passenger train journey across sections of the

original S&DR line.

Ghost Train will arrive in the town centre on Saturday

20 September. Commissioned by S&DR200, Avanti

Display and Walk the Plank will co-produce the

spectacle, based on an original idea from artists

Andy Plant, Bill Palmer, Bryan Tweddle and Chris

Squire.

A giant sculpture of Locomotion No.1 will appear on a

plinth in the Market Square on Friday 19 September.

The next day it will be joined by five train carriages

positioned around the town centre. These carriages

will carry huge art installations of some of the world’s

most important inventions from the last 200 years,

including the combustion engine, the microscope

and the lightbulb. Performers will interact with the

pieces of art and passers-by to bring these famous

inventions to life as they move around the town

centre.

As darkness falls, the steam engine and carriages

will come together to parade from the town centre,

through North Lodge Park to Hopetown. Everyone

is invited to join this amazing procession of lights

and music as it makes its way through the town.

Residents living close to North Lodge Park have been

working with artists to make their houses part of the

experience.

Once the parade arrives at Hopetown, there will be a

host of free, fun, Night at the Museum activities for

all the family. Hopetown

will stay open late, giving

you another chance to

see the amazing artistic

carriages up close.

In the build-up to this exciting show, Avanti Display

and Walk the Plank are working with students and

community groups to celebrate the bicentennial of

the journey that changed the world forever. Students

from the Northern School of Art in Hartlepool have

been creating models of Locomotion No.1, which will

be on display in Binns’ windows in the week leading

up to the event. Pupils from local primary schools are

also working with artists to create ‘Fuel of the Future’

– a coal-inspired work of art which will power Ghost

Train on its journey.

Photo credit: Graeme Rowatt

On Saturday 27 September, a very special train

journey will take place to mark the 200th anniversary

of the birthplace of the passenger railway.

A newly renovated replica of Locomotion No. 1 and

the passenger carriage Experiment will travel along

the Skerne Bridge recreating the original journey in

1825.

The full journey along sections of the original S&DR

route will run from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 September.

Spectators will be able to see the train at designated

locations across the town centre and enjoy a

programme of specially commissioned events for all

the family, including in the Market Square.

We are expecting visitors from around the world to

come to Darlington for this very special event.

S&DR200 is working with partners Network Rail as

well as one of our sponsors LNER on Anniversary

Journey.

We will be releasing more exciting details in the run

up to these amazing events so you can be sure to get

involved. Please keep an eye on the Enjoy Darlington

and S&DR200 websites (www.enjoydarlington.co.uk

and www.sdr200.co.uk), local press and the council’s

and S&DR200 social media pages.

Delivered by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council

& Stockton Borough Council

Major Funders: Tees Valley Combined Authority

Sponsors: LNER, Amazon UK, Hampton Group

With thanks to Network Rail

A new, free exhibition is opening at Hopetown

Darlington in July as part of S&DR200 Presents:

STEAM to the Future.

The exhibition will run from Friday 11 July – Sunday

5 October. Following the story of the early railways,

STEAM to the Future is a playful look to the future,

using commissioned art pieces to showcase the

science behind how locomotives and steam works.

Coming to Hopetown Darlington’s Exhibition Hall in

July, the exhibition reflects on the history of steam

railways and how the railway industry is gearing up

for a second revolution driven by the growing green

technology sector in Teesside.

It will feature an immersive installation by

A.A.Murakami (AKA Studio Swine) inspired by steam

as a source of power, as well as the chance for visitors

to create their own train for the 22nd century using

virtual reality software. As part of this, LNER, Hitachi,

Cummins and Network Rail are taking a look to the

future of transportation and train travel.

STEAM to the Future is a glimpse into just some of

the work that is underway to ensure the railways

continue for another 200 years.

Book your free tickets at

www.hopetowndarlington.co.uk/steam/

Hopetown Darlington’s Exhibition Hall is sponsored by

Darlington Building Society.

In partnership with

LNER, Hitachi, Cummins & Network Rail

Delivered by: Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council,

and Stockton Borough Council

Major Funders: Arts Council England, Tees Valley Combined

Authority

A touring exhibition, showcasing S&DR’s momentous

history, is steaming into Darlington Library, Crown

Street in June.

Whistle Stop gives visitors the chance to step back

200 years in time to see important documents and

images from the birth of the modern railway. The

exhibition is an introduction to the very start of the

S&DR story.

The documents have been brought together

from archives across the UK and include engineer

drawings and rarely seen maps, as well as cultural

paintings, poems and cartoons depicting the

adventurous and strange inventions of the age!

The free exhibition runs from Saturday 14 June to

Thursday 24 July at Darlington Library, Crown Street.

A selection of documents, photographs and artwork

exploring railway heritage from the Darlington

Borough art collection and Darlington local studies

collection will be displayed alongside the Whistle

Stop exhibition.

The exhibition will move on to Shildon Library

(31 July- 20 August) before returning to Darlington to

the Friends Community Hub on Skinnergate

(25 August- 3 September) and Locomotion, Shildon

(6 September- 4 October).

Visitors to Darlington Library can also see some of

the peg dolls made for A Memory of a Journey, a

mass-participation

story-telling art

project taking place

across Tees Valley

and County Durham

which sees community

groups and residents

decorate peg dolls

representing their

favourite train

journey. They will

be showcased in an

exhibition at Preston

Park Museum in the

summer.

As we continue our bicentenary celebrations of

the S&DR, we were delighted to receive these

amazing photos from Maurice Horner of his father,

Eric, helping to prepare locomotives for the 1925

celebrations.

After leaving school at 14, Eric took many casual roles

on the railways, largely with track laying gangs, until

getting a permanent job at North Road as a stripper

- taking locomotives to pieces before they were

repaired and refurbished.

His father, Mathew, was a blacksmith at Shildon

wagon works and for a time they lived in Timothy

Hackworth’s house in Shildon.

The photos show Eric preparing the locomotives for

the S&DR centenary celebrations in 1925. In the first

photograph he is standing on the railway lines, in the

next one he is in the middle.

Maurice also told us about his Uncle Cyril who was a

fireman on a locomotive in Hull during the Second

World War. He was on duty during a German bombing

raid.

Maurice said: “The engine driver sought cover.

However, my uncle, together with the shunter he was

working with, became alarmed about a train filled

with ammunition that was sat in the sidings. If it was

hit, they suspected half of Hull would be devastated.

“So, they manoeuvred the locomotive onto the train,

hooked up and took it to a safer place where it was

protected by an embankment. The railway company,

for reasons best known to itself, didn’t want to

acknowledge that the locomotive had been driven by

a fireman!

“Accordingly, the driver received all the accolades

for saving Hull and my uncle was transferred to

Darlington where he was promoted to driver and

given a railway house in Brinkburn Avenue.”

Thank you to Maurice for sharing these fabulous

historic photos and stories. If you, or someone you

know, has a story to tell about life on the railways

please email feedback@darlington.gov.uk

Adult Social Care rated ‘Go

The council’s adult social care services has

been awarded a 'Good' rating by the Care

Quality Commission (CQC) – the national

body responsible for checking the quality

of health and social care services across

England.

The rating follows a thorough assessment of

how well the council supports adults in need

of care and support.

The inspection, carried out by CQC in

January, is part of a new national framework

designed to assess local authorities and

ensure that people are receiving high-quality

care and support. The report, published

this spring, recognises the strengths of

Darlington’s approach, which focuses on

independence, choice, dignity and community

support.

The inspectors highlighted several key areas

of good practice:

●

A strong emphasis on personalised,

strength-based care that puts people at

the heart of decisions about their lives.

●

●

●

Effective services that help people regain

independence after hospital stays, with no delays

in discharge and above-average outcomes in

reablement.

A responsive front door service with the adult

contact team providing early help, advice and

swift support.

Positive feedback from residents and carers,

with many saying they feel listened to, safe and

supported.

The report also noted Darlington’s success in areas like

safeguarding, hospital partnerships, advocacy, and its

commitment to continuous improvement.

While there were some areas where improvements can

still be made - such as increasing access to accessible

information, reducing waiting times for certain

assessments, and gathering more equality data - the

CQC praised the council for recognising these issues

and taking action.

Adult social care in Darlington supports thousands

of residents, from older people and those living with

disabilities, to carers and people facing complex needs.

08 www.darlington.gov.uk

od’ in national inspection

Whether it’s helping someone adjust to life at

home after hospital, supporting carers to get a

well-earned break, or making sure people feel

safe and connected in the community, the aim is

always the same: to help people live the life they

choose.

The CQC also noted how well Darlington works

in partnership with the NHS, voluntary and

community organisations, and local care providers.

The council’s approach to prevention, including

early support and practical help at home, was

praised for keeping people independent for

longer.

You can read the full report on the CQC website

at www.cqc.org.uk or visit the council’s website to

find out more about adult social care support in

Darlington.

CASE STUDY

Clair Wallis, manager of the safeguarding adults, deprivation of

liberty safeguards team, talks about her role with the council:

“I was inspired to become a social worker after being

supported by a social worker myself since I was 15 due to

my disability. She made such a difference to my life in my

transition to adulthood. I was unsure what I wanted to do

for a career, I guess you could say she was my role model.

Several years later we then became colleagues. I qualified

as a social worker in 2010 and worked in many different

social work roles before joining Darlington in 2022 as an

agency senior practitioner. I was appointed to the post of

team manager in 2024.

“I love that in my role no two days are ever the same and that

due to the unpredictable nature of the safeguarding work we

never know how the day will go. It’s impossible to be bored! I

love working with my team members who are very resilient and

tenacious in supporting the adults they work with to feel safer and

achieve their outcomes, this is what motivates the team.

"The council is a great organisation to work for, and this

positive CQC inspection outcome is a testament to

the vitally important work our teams do to look after

people who need our help.

“I am responsible for all aspects of the operational

management of the team, including providing

supervision to team members, chairing strategy

meetings and working with other multi-agency

partners.

“To anyone thinking about taking this career

path, I’d say: give it a go - there are so many

roles to chose from!”

www.darlington.gov.uk one Darlington 09

A summer to celebrate

Council leader Steve Harker looks forward

to an exciting summer in Darlington

“Now that summer is here, I hope

you’re all finding the chance to enjoy

some of the sunshine, whether that’s

planning a family getaway, relaxing

in one of our beautiful parks, or

simply making the most of the

longer evenings. I'm proud to say that, once

again, we have a packed programme of events

coming up in the town centre this summer.

“One recent piece of news I’m especially

pleased to share is the outcome of the latest

Care Quality Commission inspection of our

adult social care services. The report rated our

services as ‘Good’ – with one of the highest

scores in the North East. It’s a real testament to

the dedication, compassion and professionalism

of the teams who support some of our most

vulnerable residents every day. Their hard work

often happens behind the scenes, but it makes

an enormous difference to people’s lives, and I

want to publicly thank everyone involved.

“Looking ahead, we have a lot to be

excited about this summer. The town

centre is buzzing with activity, with

a packed calendar of events that

promises something for everyone, from

family-friendly days out to live music,

food festivals and more. It’s a brilliant

opportunity to enjoy everything Darlington has

to offer, support our local businesses and spend

quality time together.

“Of course, this year marks a major milestone in our

history: the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and

Darlington Railway. This isn’t just a local celebration

- it’s a moment of national and even global

significance. We’re proud of our place in the story

of the railway, and the upcoming S&DR200 festival

will be a fantastic showcase of Darlington’s heritage,

innovation and community spirit.

“So whether you’re discovering something new or

enjoying a familiar favourite, I hope this summer

gives you a chance to relax, reconnect, and

celebrate everything that makes Darlington special.”


Contact your councillor

Key: (C) Conservative

(G) Green (I) Independent

(L) Labour (LD) Liberal Democrats

Your councillor is there to listen to you and find out about the issues that

are affecting life in your ward. Scheduled ward surgeries are detailed

below, but you can email or call your local councillor.

Find out more at www.darlington.gov.uk

Emailing councillors

To email your councillor, their email address is

firstname.lastname@darlington.gov.uk

For example, if you want to email Stephen Harker, type

Stephen.harker@darlington.gov.uk

The only exceptions are Anne-Marie Curry (North Road), Andrew Anderson

(Bank Top and Lascelles) and Rebecca Baker (Brinkburn and Faverdale)

whose email addresses are shown with their contact details.

BANK TOP AND LASCELLES

Andrew Anderson (L) Tel: 07837 225041, Andrew.G.Anderson@darlington.

gov.uk; Helen Crumbie (L) Tel: 07743 191014; David Ray (L) Tel: 07966

048647.

BRINKBURN AND FAVERDALE

Rebecca Baker (L) Tel: 07805 806420, Rebecca.E.Baker@darlington.gov.

uk; David Beckett (L) Tel: 07982 847837. West Park Academy, Wednesday

3 September, 5-6pm; The Darlington RA, Wednesday 2 July and 1 October,

5-6pm. Scott Durham (C) Tel: 07805 505156. The Brinkburn, Monday 1

September, 7-8pm: The White Heifer That Travelled, Tuesday 1 July and 7

October, 7-8pm.

COCKERTON

Jan Cossins (L) Tel: 241124; Jim Garner (L) Tel: 241384; Neil Johnson (L) Tel:

07504 227351. Cockerton Methodist Church, Friday 12 September and 10

October, 10-11am.

COLLEGE

Bryony Holroyd (G) Tel: 07570 776553; Matthew Snedker (G) Tel: 07780

807059. Abbey Junior School, Monday 14 July, 8 September and 13 October,

6-7pm.

EASTBOURNE

Joe Dillon (L) Tel: 07939 221166. The Wheatsheaf, Tuesday 22 July, 26

August, 23 September and 28 October, 6-7pm. Jonathan Dulston (C) Tel:

07775 555251. Firthmoor Community Centre, Wednesday 2 July, 6 August,

3 September and 1 October, 3-4pm. Kevin Nicholson (I) Tel: 07791 807629.

Firthmoor Community Centre, Wednesday 16 July, 20 August, 17 September

and 15 October, 6-7pm.

HARROWGATE HILL

Roz Henderson (G) Tel: 07967 213584; Richard Lawley (G) Tel:

07779 993336; Anna-Maria Toms (G) Tel: 07954 719211. St Mark’s Church

Hall, Thursday 10 July, 14 August, 11 September and 9 October, 6-7pm; Elim

Pentecostal Church, Monday 30 June, 28 July, 25 August, 29 September and

27 October, 1.30-2.30pm.

HAUGHTON AND SPRINGFIELD

Chris McEwan (L) Tel: 07947 016598; Dawn Storr (L) Tel: 07543 159224;

Nick Wallis (L) Tel: 07960 247554. Asda foyer, Saturday 5 July, 2 August, 6

September and 4 October, 10-11am.

HEIGHINGTON AND CONISCLIFFE

Paul Crudass (C) Tel: 374537; Gerald Lee (C) Tel: 314622. St Mary’s Church,

Piercebridge, Saturday 5 July, 10-11am; St Edwin’s Church Hall, Saturday 6

September, 10-11am; Summerhouse Village Hall, Saturday 4 October, 10-11am.

HUMMERSKNOTT

Kate Mammolotti (G) Tel: 07949 222733; Salutation Hall, Monday 30 June,

28 July, 25 August, 29 September and 27 October, 6-7pm Thomas Robinson

(I) Tel: 07735 310357.

HURWORTH

Lorraine Tostevin (C) Tel: 333382. Paul Walters (C) Tel: 722097.

By appointment only, Tuesday 1 July, 5 August, 2 September and 7 October,

5.30-6.30pm.

MOWDEN

Pauline Culley (C) Tel: 250482; Alan Marshall (C) Tel: 359138 or 07807

523106. Mowden Junior School, Monday 7 July, 1 September and 6 October,

6.30-7.30pm.

NORTHGATE

Sajna Ali (L) Tel: 405998; Sonia Kane (L) Tel: 486754. Ward Surgery

appointment only via Councillor Kane’s number.

NORTH ROAD

Hilary Allen (LD) Tel: 480277; Anne-Marie Curry (LD) Tel: 07531 304050,

annemarie.curry@darlington.gov.uk. James Coe (I) Tel: 07828 178276. The

Well, Wednesday 25 June, 23 July, 27 August, 24 September and 22 October,

1-2pm; Morrisons Café, Wednesday 9 June, 13 August, 10 September and 8

October, 6-7pm.

PARK EAST

Libby McCollom (L) Tel: 07910 369887; Michael Nicholson (L) Tel: 07493

247327; Matthew Roche (L) Tel: 07403 208120. Clifton Centre Community

Association, Tuesday 8 July, 12 August, 9 September and 14 October, 1-2pm;

Dolphin Centre, Thursday 10 July, 14 August, 11 September and 9 October,

5.30-6.30pm; Skerne Park Community Centre, Tuesday 1 July, 5 August, 2

September and 7 October, 11am-noon.

PARK WEST

Bob Donoghue (C) Tel: 07767 294194; Heather Scott (C) Tel: 468547. By

appointment only through Cllr Donoghue’s number.

PIERREMONT

Stephen Harker (L) Tel: 380039; Mary Layton (L) Tel: 491802 or

07460 980776; James McGill (L) Tel: 07964 670793. Reid Street Primary

School, Wednesday 2 July, 3 September and 1 October, 6-7pm.

RED HALL AND LINGFIELD

Mandy Porter (L) Tel: 07962 363855; Amanda Riley (L) Tel. 07764 759554.

Heathfield Primary School, Thursday 17 July, 21 August, 18 September and

16 October, 3.30-4.30pm; Red Hall Community Centre, Thursday 10 July, 14

August, 11 September and 9 October, 5-6pm.

SADBERGE AND MIDDLETON ST GEORGE

Deborah Laing (C) Tel: 07747 863297; All queries to be directed to Councillor

Laing’s contact number. Yvonne Renton (I) Tel: 07486 617516; Colin Pease

(I) Tel: 07738 422776. Bishopton Village Hall, Friday 4 July, 1 August, 5

September and 3 October, 10.30-11.30am; Middleton St George Cricket Club,

Tuesday 24 June, 29 July, 26 August and 30 September, 7-8pm.

STEPHENSON

Ian Haszeldine (L) Tel: 07807 381613; Mohammad Mahmud (L) Tel: 07828

898799.

WHINFIELD

Jamie Bartch (C) Tel: 07716 680109; Andy Keir (C) Tel: 07597 297654. Asda

Foyer, Saturday 28 June, 26 July, 30 August, 27 September and 25 October,

11am-noon.

MPs’ SURGERIES:

Lola McEvoy (Darlington MP)

can be contacted by email at

lola.mcevoy.mp@parliament.uk or via her

constituency office at 35-36 Blackwellgate,

Darlington, DL1 5HW or call 01325 526655 during

opening hours, Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm.

Matt Vickers (Stockton West MP)

can be contacted by email at

matt.vickers.mp@parliament.uk

or call his constituency office on 01642 956526.

Ben Houchen – TEES VALLEY MAYOR

can be contacted at Office of the Tees Valley

Mayor, Tees Valley Combined Authority,

Teesside International Airport, Darlington,

DL2 1NJ. Call 01325 792600 or

email mayor@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk

www.darlington.gov.uk/your-council

one Darlington 11

Al fresco dining

Now that the summer months are here and the sun definitely has its hat on, the town centre is open

and filled with plenty of places to enjoy some al fresco dining. Whether you want brunch, dinner or

some evening drinks as the night draws in, there’s something for everyone.

The Imperial Quarter

Ramp up the riviera vibe and take your tastebuds on a

trip around Europe with delicious continental dishes at

The Imperial Express, whose pavement café is at the

centre of activity on Grange Road.

Enjoy a slice of big city living and grab breakfast, lunch

or evening drinks on Hash’s rooftop terrace or partake

in afternoon tea (or a boozy brunch) in Dr. Inks’ private

garden.

Call into family favourite Uno Momento for a pizza and

pasta or bring your pooch to Hatch Luncheonette,

where you can enjoy delights like smashed avocado

and eggs in its pavement café.

You can also enjoy casual drinks in pavement cafés

along Consicliffe Road, like glasses of vino outside

Number Twenty 2 or a pint of real ale from Orb.

The Cherry Tree Kitchen and Cocktail bar on

Blackwellgate also boasts a huge, newly refurbished

beer garden bringing Ibiza feels to the heart of the

town and Zuu on Grange Road has a vibrant garden

space that’s ideal for small plates and drinks in the sun.

The new terrace at the Hummingbird is also a great

spot to grab a bite while basking in the rays (they offer

Sunday lunch too!).

The Market Square

and High Row

16 Horsemarket provides the perfect spot

to grab a bite to eat when you need a break

from shopping in the town centre. With a huge

space for outdoor tables right in the heart of

the Market Square, it offers a fantastic pitstop

for lunch.

Just across the way, The Pennyweight invites

you to bring the pub vibes outside, with a huge

selection of drinks and hearty food. Or visit

the lively Boot & Shoe for a space in their beer

garden overlooking the beautiful St. Cuthbert’s

Church.

If it’s a sweet treat in the sun that you’re looking

for, look no further than Deli-cious on High

Row. From milkshakes to cakes, and ice creams

to pastries, its treats will taste even better when

eaten al fresco.

A Banqo breakfast is best enjoyed in its

pavement café, but you can also enjoy its lunch

dishes too. You’ll find this spot in Darlington

Market with a huge menu to browse through.

12 www.enjoydarlington.co.uk

in Darlington

Duke Street and

Skinnergate

Named as the best café in County Durham, Maggie’s Coffee

& Kitchen on Duke Street is a hotspot for incredible brunch

and lunch, but did you know they have a pavement café

too? You’ve got to try its delicious Eggs Royale with cheese!

Influence Café is the ideal place for coffee, cake and a

sandwich, and to watch the bustling Skinnergate go by, and

The Corner House further down the road can help you start

the night with real ales and ciders al fresco.

Bondgate

The Old Yard Tapas Bar will transport you to

the cobbled streets of Spain or Greece with

its tapas and meze menu. When infused

with the sun, it’s just like being on holiday!

Bondgate also offers pubs with outdoor

drinking spaces including Rosie’s Tavern,

The Old English Gentleman, The Slaters

Arms and The Turks Head – so you don’t

have to look far if you want a drink in a beer

garden.

And there's more

The list doesn’t end there! Popular sandwich shop,

Fresh on Victoria Road, gives you completely

customised butties and a place to eat them when

the weather is warm.

If you’re looking for familiar high street names, Costa

Coffee on Northgate and Caffe Nero in Horsemarket

are great for hot and cold food and drinks. Costa has

tables for you to enjoy your food and drinks outside.

If you want more ideas about places to eat and

things to do in the town, check out Enjoy Darlington

at www.enjoydarlington.co.uk

www.enjoydarlington.co.uk one Darlington 13

Sun powered fun at the

Dolphin Centre

NET ZERO 2040

Fun, leisure and sports activities in the Dolphin

Centre have been given an energy boost by

almost 400 solar panels installed to convert the

sun’s rays to power. A new combined heating

power unit is also being installed to reduce the

carbon footprint of the building and reduce

running costs.

The work has been carried out thanks to a

£526,000 grant from phase II of the swimming pool

support fund through Sport England.

The Dolphin Centre is keen to work with customers

to increase energy efficiency and to help the

council’s journey to be carbon neutral by 2040.

Small steps can make a big difference.

If you use the Dolphin Centre, you can help by:

● recycling what you can

● using reusable drinks bottles

● limiting showers to three minutes

● going barefoot on the poolside rather than

wearing plastic overshoes

● walking, cycling or taking public transport to visit

the centre

● downloading information leaflets via QR codes

rather than requesting a paper copy.

If you have any ideas or suggestions on how the

centre can be more environmentally-friendly, please

email healthydarlington@darlington.gov.uk

Teams tackling

climate change

Our work to tackle climate change and achieve

our ambition to reach carbon neutral by 2040, is a

real team effort. You can find out more about what

our teams are doing to help us reach our target in

a series of new, short videos.

The videos detail some of things we are doing

to reduce our carbon emissions, improve energy

efficiency, reduce energy bills and help tackle

climate change. Look out for them on our social

media channels or catch up with them on our

YouTube channel.

Find out more at

www.darlington.gov.uk/sustainable

14 www.darlington.gov.uk/sustainable

Grandmother’s gift leaves lasting

legacy for Special Care Baby Unit

A touching donation of £2,000 has been made to

the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Darlington

Memorial Hospital, thanks to the generosity of a

grandmother.

The late Elisabeth McOwen included the unit in

her will after her twin granddaughters were born

prematurely and cared for by the dedicated SCBU

staff.

The twins, Rosie and Molly, are now grown up, but

spent their earliest days in SCBU under the care of

the unit’s specialist team.

“This donation is a lovely way to honour a

grandmother’s love and appreciation,” said Richard

Jones, County Durham and Darlington NHS

Foundationʼs Trust Charity Manager.

“Her gift will help us continue providing vital care

for our tiniest patients and support for their families

during some of the most challenging moments of

their lives.”

The funds will contribute to enhancements in the

unit, including specialist equipment and comfort

items for families staying close to their babies.

The SCBU team and the hospital trustʼs charity have

expressed their heartfelt thanks to the family for

choosing to support the unit in such a meaningful

way.

Gail McAllister, SCBU Sister and Michelle Nesbitt,

Neonatal Practice Educator, cared for Rosie, Molly

and their family following their early arrival and were

honoured to meet with them again and reminisce.

Gail said: “Legacy gifts like this have a lasting

impact and will support the work we are doing to

provide a comfortable and welcoming environment

for families to stay during their baby’s admission.

Parents being able to stay with their baby is vital to

their progress and long term emotional and physical

development. This generous gift will help ensure that

future generations of babies and their families have

an environment that supports this high-quality and

compassionate care.”

Alison Clarke, Rosie and Molly’s mother, said: “I

was honoured to fulfil this last wish on behalf of my

mother.”

To find out more about leaving a gift in your will

or supporting County Durham and Darlington

NHS Foundation Trust Charity, please visit www.

cddftcharity.co.uk or contact Richard Jones on 07787

3555 593 or email richard.jones98@nhs.net.

To donate, scan this QR code:

To find out how to get involved

visit our charity website at

www.cddftcharity.co.uk/get-involved

www.cddft.nhs.uk Find us on social media! @CDDFTNHS

one Darlington 15

Books

that

bloom

Have you spotted the library's colourful Books that

Bloom postcards around town?

They highlight how easy it is to access the library’s

digital services which open up a host of books,

magazines, newspapers and audiobooks for free via

your smartphone, tablet or other digital device from

wherever you are.

The postcards include details of how to sign up to

the digital services and get access to an extensive

catalogue via the Library App and Borrowbox simply by

scanning a QR code.

That’s not all, the Books that Bloom postcards have

wildflower seeds embedded in them – so once you’ve

downloaded your digital library, you can plant the card

and watch it bloom!

More than 33,500 people are now library members

- that's nearly 3,500 more people than at the end of

March last year.

L-R: Suzy Hill, library manager and Cllr Libby McCollom,

cabinet member for local services

There has also been an increase in digital loans this

year. Nearly 10,500 digital items were borrowed in

March which was up from 9,360 in February and 9,986

in January.

Hundreds of new magazines and newspapers have

recently been added to the digital collection, so it’s a

great time to join. If you’re not already signed up, pick up

a postcard or go to the website.

Remember your library boasts so much more than just

books with events and activities for all ages throughout

the year. Check out the website or the Library App for

details.

To find out more about Darlington Libraries, the fantastic

range of resources it offers and details of activities log

onto the website at www.darlington.gov.uk/library or

download the Darlington Library App. You can also find

them on Facebook @DarlingtonLibraries.

Awards success

Darlington Library has won the EDGE Award for digital

transformation and Innovation. The awards recognise

outstanding library initiatives. The judge’s comments

included: “The Hive's digital transformation has been

extraordinarily successful,” and “they've made digital

resources and activities of so many kinds available to

groups who really need and appreciate them. In doing so

I'm confident they redefined the idea of what a public library

is for their local community and have converted scores of

youngsters into lifelong library users.”

The library was also a finalist for digital accessibility,

and The Hive’s Simon Moore was a finalist for digital

ambassador at the Digital Culture Awards.

L-R: Suzy Hill, library manager, Cllr Val Walker (City of

Edinburgh Council), Laura Pattison, library operations

manager and judge Ned Potter, University of York.

16 www.darlington.gov.uk/library

Summer Reading

Challenge

This summer, Darlington Libraries are inviting

children and young people aged 0–16 to Keep Your

Reading on Track with the exciting Summer Reading

Challenge!

Every time a book is borrowed from Darlington or

Cockerton Library, you can scan a QR code to enter a

free prize draw — choosing from an amazing selection

of prizes.

The top prize? A brand-new Nintendo Switch 2! Other

fantastic prizes include a Lego set, a Jellycat soft toy,

pantomime tickets, and many more surprises. The fun

doesn't stop there, there's a wide range of activities

on offer throughout the summer, from Rhymetime

Adventure Play for babies to creative sessions like tote

bag and mug making for older children in our vibrant

Hive area.

Whether you're a tiny tot or a teen, there's something

for everyone. Do come and join the fun at Darlington

Libraries this summer!

Are you ready to stop?

Up to two thirds

of smokers who

don’t quit will die

of a smoking

related illness.

We can help

you kick the

habit for good.

Scan the

QR code

or visit the

website

below

https://www.darlington.gov.uk/

public-health/stop-smoking-services/

County Durham

and Darlington

NHS Foundation Trust

0800 802 1850

Summer

Uniform Appeal

We’re collecting donations of

pre-loved summer school uniform,

plain T-shirts, school bags,

PE kits, shoes, caps

and sun hats suitable

for school-aged

children.

WHERE YOU CAN DONATE

Uniform Shop, Feethams Multi-Storey Car Park – Monday - Friday 10am - 1pm

Dolphin Centre – donation box in reception, during opening hours

In a Spin Laundry Services, North Road – Monday - Friday 8.30am - 5.30pm, Saturday 8.30am - 12.30pm

Cockerton Club – donation bin outside the club

Eastbourne Park Community Hub – during opening hours

Firthmoor Community Centre – Monday - Friday 9am - 1pm

Dolphin Centre – during opening hours

Peer mentors support

young people in care

Back row l-r: Chris Bell, assistant director, children’s services, peer mentors; Danny Atkinson, Danny’s daughter,

Caitlin Davis, Abbie Allen, Megan Johns, Jordan Hodgkinson, Shamima Majchrowicz, Kristin Noble.

Front row l-r: Peer mentors; Robin Stein, Ara Kohi, Faye Marsh, the council’s young people's involvement &

opportunity worker and peer mentor Bethany McDowell

Young people who have lived with a foster carer or

family possess a wealth of experience from their

time in care, allowing them to provide support and

guidance to other children and young people.

Last year, we launched our peer mentor service to

support young people in care.

Peer mentors meet with children and young people in

care, if they wish, to support their social and emotional

needs, improve their wellbeing, provide access to

activities and opportunities, offer advice and guidance,

and to be positive role models for younger people

needing support.

Peer mentors share their experiences, stories, and

skills and provide understanding and help. This creates

trust and supports emotional wellbeing, helping young

people build resilience and identify and connect with

important people in their lives, to enhance their sense of

identity and create and sustain consistent, stable, loving

relationships.

Currently, 11 peer mentors provide a caring and

responsive mentoring and befriending service to 97

individuals in care. They also support unaccompanied

asylum-seeking children who have encountered

multiple traumas and are working to cope with

separation from family and friends while navigating the

complexities of the asylum-seeking process.

All young people have strengths and talents, but

instability and disruptions at home can make it more

challenging for those in the care system to succeed.

Our peer mentors are dedicated to helping every young

person, empowering them to gain the confidence to be

their best.

Feedback from parents, carers, and social workers

about the service has been overwhelmingly positive.

Children look forward to peer mentor visits, challenges

are addressed, and trusting, positive relationships are

established.

Peer mentors cherish the opportunity to give back.

Robin and Kristen, both peer mentors since the service

was introduced, have commented:

“Supporting

children in care will

help them to thrive,

build their confidence

and self-belief, and

improve their lives

and everyone around

them.”

The service continues to

grow to support more children in our care.

“This is a fantastic

opportunity for children

and young people in

Darlington. I always

rebelled against staff as

they didn’t understand

what I was going

through.”

We urgently need foster carers for local children.

If you can help, for information, visit

www.darlington.gov.uk/fostering. To apply to foster with

the council, visit www.fosterwithnorthneast.org.uk.

www.darlington.gov.uk/fostering

one Darlington 19

ENJOY WHAT’S ON IN

Longer days, sunny skies (we hope!) and plenty of reasons

to head outdoors – summer has arrived in Darlington. We've

pulled together a selection of events happening across the

town to help you make the most of the season.

If you’ve got an event happening in October, November or

December that you’d like to include in the next edition, please

email details to communications@darlington.gov.uk

____________________________________________________

Parkrun and junior parkrun – weekends, South Park. A free,

weekly, timed run, walk or jog. The 5km event is on Saturdays at

9am. The 2km junior event, for those aged 4-14, is on Sundays at

9am.

____________________________________________________

Quiz nights – Thursdays, 7.30-9pm, Darlington Market.

____________________________________________________

Live & Local – Fridays, 6pm, Darlington Market. Free.

____________________________________________________

The Jazz Collective – Saturdays, 7pm, The Vault. Free.

____________________________________________________

Hopetown Summer Con – Saturday 5 and Sunday 6, 11am-5pm,

Hopetown Darlington. 0-5 - free; 6-17 - £3.50; 18+ - £5.

____________________________________________________

Vegan Market – Saturday 5, 10am-4pm, Darlington Market. Free.

____________________________________________________

Proms in the Park – Sunday 6, 3pm start. South Park bandstand.

Free.

____________________________________________________

RnB: Jimmy Regal & The Royal – Friday 11, 7.30pm, The Forum,

Borough Road. £14.

____________________________________________________

Steam to the Future – Friday 11 July to Sunday 5 October,

Hopetown Darlington. Free.

____________________________________________________

June

The Whistle Stop – Saturday 14 June - Thursday 24 July,

Darlington Library. Touring rail exhibition. Free.

____________________________________________________

Summer Vibe Saturday: Mamma Mia – Saturday 28, 7.30pm,

Darlington Market. Free.

____________________________________________________

Community Carnival – Saturday 28, All day, Stanhope Park with

procession through the town centre. Free.

____________________________________________________

Creation Station: Kids Crafts – Sunday 29, 11am-3pm, Darlington

Market. Free.

____________________________________________________

July

Dave Bainbridge & Sally Minnear – Tuesday 1, 7.30pm, The

Forum, Borough Road. £15.

____________________________________________________

Beatles tribute – Thursday 3, 7.30pm, Darlington Hippodrome.

From £18.50.

____________________________________________________

Alanis Morissette tribute – Friday 4, 7.30pm, The Forum, Borough

Road. £13.

____________________________________________________

Darlington Orchestra Summer Concert – Saturday 5, 7.30pm,

Dolphin Centre, £7 (£5 concessions).

____________________________________________________

Northern Soul-cial – Friday 4, 6.30pm, The Vault. Free.

____________________________________________________

Brick Show – Saturday 12 & Sunday 13, 10am-4pm, Dolphin Centre.

LEGO fun created by fans, for fans. £5-£20. Book online at

www.brickalleylug.co.uk/events/darlington-brick-show

____________________________________________________

Vintage Vehicle Rally – Saturday 12, 10am-4pm, Market Square.

Free.

____________________________________________________

Big Bird Artisan Market – Saturday 12, 10am-4pm, Darlington

Market. Free.

____________________________________________________

World Cultural Day – Sunday 13, 11am-5pm, town centre. Free.

____________________________________________________

Farmers Market – Sunday 13, 10am-4pm, Darlington Market. Free.

____________________________________________________

GOLD Tea Dance – Wednesday 16, 11am-3pm, Market Square.

Free.

____________________________________________________

Who’s Next? – Friday 18, 7.30pm, The Forum, Borough Road. £13.

____________________________________________________

Darlington by the Sea – Saturday 19 to Wednesday 23, 11am-

5pm, Market Square. Free.

____________________________________________________

Summer Vibe Saturday: Taylor Swift – Saturday 26, 7.30pm,


____________________________________________________

Creation Station: Kids Crafts – Sunday 27, 11am - 3pm, Darlington

Market. Free.

____________________________________________________

Wedding Showcase – Sunday 27, noon-4pm, town centre. Free.

____________________________________________________

Living the Life of Riley – Wednesday 30, 7.30pm, Darlington

Hippodrome. From £16.

____________________________________________________

20 enjoydarlington.co.uk

DARLINGTON

August

Northern Soul-cial – Friday 1, 6.30pm, The Vault. Free.

____________________________________________________

Discography 80s band go back to the Studio 54 era – Friday 1,

6.30pm, The Vault. Free.

____________________________________________________

Sweet Treat Market – Saturday 2, 10am-4pm, Darlington Market.

Free.

____________________________________________________

Move More Monday – Monday 4 and 18, 11am-3pm, Market

Square. Free.

____________________________________________________

Big Bird Artisan Market – Saturday 9, 10am-4pm, Darlington

Market. Free.

____________________________________________________

Pride Festival – Saturday 9, noon-6pm, Market Square. Free.

____________________________________________________

Pride Picnic – Sunday 10, noon-3pm, Hopetown Darlington. Free.

____________________________________________________

MonGAY Pride – Monday 11, 6pm-late, Town Centre. Free.

____________________________________________________

Ice Cream Festival – Saturday 9, 10am-5pm, Hopetown

Darlington. Free.

____________________________________________________

Farmers Market – Sunday 10, 10am-4pm, Darlington Market. Free.

____________________________________________________

Making Sense Together – Thursday 14, 11am-3pm, Market Square.

Free.

____________________________________________________

Susie Dent – Word Perfect – Wednesday 20, 7.30pm, Darlington

Hippodrome. From £19.

____________________________________________________

Fairytales & Legends – Thursday 21, 11am-3pm, town centre. Free.

____________________________________________________

British Produce Festival – Saturday 23 & Sunday 24, 11am - 5pm,


____________________________________________________

Total Stone Roses – Saturday 23, 7.30pm, The Forum, Borough

Road. £16.

____________________________________________________

Northern Soul-cial – Sunday 24, All Day, The Vault. Free.

____________________________________________________

Razorlight, plus special guests – Saturday 23, Noon, Darlington

Arena. From £37.50. Visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk to book.

____________________________________________________

80s Calling! The Human League, plus very special guests –

Sunday 24, noon, Darlington Arena. Visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk

to book.

____________________________________________________

Dinosaur Day – Thursday 28, 11am - 3pm, Darlington Market. Free.

____________________________________________________

The Kill – Friday 29, 7.30pm, The Forum, Borough Road. £12.

____________________________________________________

Creation Station: Kids Crafts – Sunday 31, 11am - 3pm, Darlington

Market. Free.

____________________________________________________

September

Roxy Magic – Friday 19, 7.30pm, The Forum, Borough Road. £13.

____________________________________________________

Def Leppard tribute – Saturday 20, 7.30pm, The Forum, Borough

Road. £13.

____________________________________________________

Ghost Train: Darlington – Saturday 20, town centre. Free.

____________________________________________________

Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash – Friday 26, 7.30pm, The Forum,

Borough Road. £20.

____________________________________________________

Anniversary Journey – Saturday 27, town centre.

____________________________________________________

Contacts

Hopetown Darlington visit

www.hopetowndarlington.co.uk call 01325 405060,

or email hopetown@darlington.gov.uk

Darlington Hippodrome visit

www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

or call 01325 405405

Theatre Hullabaloo – call 01325 405405 or visit

www.theatrehullabaloo.org.uk

Darlington Libraries – call 01325 349610 or visit

www.darlington.gov.uk/library

Dolphin Centre – call 01325 406000 or email

healthydarlington@darlington.gov.uk

The Forum Music Studios – visit

www.theforumonline.co.uk

Learning & Skills – call 01325 405601 or visit

www.darlington.gov.uk/learningandskills

enjoydarlington.co.uk one Darlington 21

Getting Darlington

Darlington 10k returns to the town centre on

Sunday 3 August. Book your place now!

The annual race day is a key staple in the town's

event calendar and this year will include a shorter

5k circuit, ideal for people who are new to running

as well as those starting a fitness journey. The

popular junior 3k for runners aged 9-14 will also

be back and families are invited to take part in a

short, circular fun run along High Row, Bondgate,

Skinnergate and Blackwellgate.

Race numbers have steadily been increasing over

the last few years and over 2,000 runners are

expected to take part in what promises to be a

fantastic event.

Thanks to a new partnership, runners can also

now access expert advice and guidance from the

knowledgeable team at Up & Running on High

Row who will be sharing information on products,

training, exercise and nutrition via the event’s

Facebook page, as well as in person with those

visiting the store.

All runners will receive a t-shirt and a range of

different prizes will be presented to race winners.

Registration closes on 30 July.

Visit www.enjoydarlington.co.uk

Three reasons

to take up

running:

1. It can increase your life span by helping

you maintain a healthy heart

2. It can help you achieve or maintain a

healthy weight by burning calories and

reducing stomach fat

3. It can support your mental wellbeing by

improving your sleep and reducing stress.

22 enjoydarlington.co.uk

up and running

Council worker, Sophie, has

always been into running

and regularly took part in

10k races when she lived in

Dubai. She has signed up

to take part in Darlington

10k for the first time this

year and said:

“Running helped me

adjust to living in the UK,

as it was something I

could do on my own

when I didn’t know

anybody. It gave me something

positive to focus on and helped me to

fill my time and feel good about myself.

“Doing physical activity and being

outdoors can really help boost your

mood and creates opportunities to

connect with other people – even if it’s

just saying hello to people you pass

while you’re training or who are at the

gym with you.

“Getting more involved with the local

running community is one of the

reasons I’m signing up for the 10k.

Running also has loads of physical

health benefits and is a free way

to increase your activity levels and

improve your heart health and overall

fitness.

“I’d encourage anyone to take up

running and to get involved with the

Darlington 10k. If you’ve not run before,

the new 5k route provides a perfect

goal to work towards or you can get

the whole family involved and sign up

for the shorter family fun run.

“Training programmes like the NHS

couch to 5k are a great way to get

started or you could join a local

running club who will be able to offer

you support.”

The

Sunday

3 August 2025

Book your place now!

Registration closes 30 July

Bookings also being taken

for the 5k (new for 2025),

junior 3k and family fun run.

Did you know?

Over a quarter of the adult

population are classed as inactive

and almost one-third of children

and young people do less than 30

minutes of activity per day.

Physical inactivity is estimated to

contribute to one in six deaths in the

UK and is linked with worse health

outcomes for people with health

conditions.

www.enjoydarlington.co.uk

one Darlington 23

Is your

family

struggling

financially?

Many families who are on a low income are losing out

on financial support.

The Citizens Advice Benefit Entitlement Action Team

(BEAT) can help check if you are entitled to any money.

Does a child in your household have extra needs because

of health problems or disabilities?

If their needs are greater than children of their age, you

may qualify for Disability Living Allowance and be able

to receive financial support, even if you do not have a

diagnosis yet.

Contact BEAT for a free, confidential assessment.

BEAT your finance blues

Millions of pounds of benefits

go unclaimed in Darlington

Contact the Benefit Entitlement Action

Team (BEAT) for help and support to

claim money you are entitled to.

Visit www.citizensadvicedrc.org.uk

email BEAT@citizensadvicedrc.org.uk

or call 01325 266888

Helping

people

who beg

Begging evokes a wide range of responses, from

compassion and a desire to help, to feelings of

failure as a society or even fear.

There is no one organisation that can tackle

the issue, which is why we have a multi-agency

strategy, with the police, care agencies, council,

justice system and the people concerned working

collectively. Timely prevention is in the best interest

of the person begging, with action centred around

the four Es – empathy, engagement, education and

enforcement.

Empathy – Understanding why people beg, and

making sure that as a community we have the

resources to meet any needs a person may have.

We listen to life experiences and use the knowledge

to adapt our strategy.

Engagement – Regular street walkabouts, with

dedicated workers seeing and speaking to

individuals several times a week, providing access

to wider support options such as addiction services,

help with homelessness pathway and healthcare

services.

Education – Giving money to someone begging can

actually undermine the good work achieved through

engagement. Rather than helping someone, it can

encourage their addiction. We need your support -

let us know when you see someone begging, and, if

you want to give money please donate to a charity.

Enforcement – This is a last resort, where other

options have failed, and is only used if someone

continues to beg and refuses support.

Begging can be lucrative for

those involved. It exploits

public sympathy, and

begging sites are often

‘stage dressed’ to suggest

the person is homeless,

which is often not the case. Most people beg to

feed an addiction and giving them money may well

maintain that addiction.

The best way to help someone begging is to tell us

about it. You can let us know online at

www.darlington.gov.uk/doitoline - click on report

it and begging. There is also an option to report a

rough sleeper.

Let us know if you’re concerned about someone you

think is rough sleeping on the streets:

● Housing options team – call 01325 405333 or

email housingoptions@darlington.gov.uk (during

office hours)

● StreetLink – report online at www.streetlink.

org.uk or download the StreetLink app. You

will receive an update within 10 working days if

requested

● Outside office hours call 01642 524552. The

team is available to support anyone who is

homeless that night

● If someone is unwell, unresponsive or

distressed, please call 999

For more information visit

www.darlington.gov.uk/homelessness

www.darlington.gov.uk/homelessness

one Darlington 25

Supporting young

people to succeed

Some young people struggle within the

education system. Their personal circumstances

and previous experiences can make accessing

further education challenging which can have a

detrimental impact on their adult life and career

opportunities.

Molly Rose Crick, was one such young person.

Back in 2022, when Molly was just 18, she nervously

joined a pre-employment study programme with

Learning & Skills. Her crippling anxiety meant that

she was unable to attend lessons without the

support of her mum and could only manage two

hours of education daily.

Over a two-year period, tutors worked with Molly

to help her increase in confidence, initially offering

one-to-one tuition before progressing to small

group work. Molly benefited from a flexible and

varied timetable and gradually increased her hours

to three full days each week, which she attended

independently.

Molly was able to achieve qualifications in English,

maths and skills for employment, training and

personal development, and was supported to

undertake work placement within the NHS, where

she is now working as an intern as part of the

‘Project Choice’ scheme.

Molly said, “Learning & Skills is a great place to

learn if you have had a tough journey in education.

All the staff are friendly and approachable. They are

willing to answer any questions you may have, and

make difficult topics seem easy.

“When I started learning with them I had low selfesteem

and low confidence. Thanks to their support

I began to believe in myself and look forward to

the future. I got to experience things like helping

the council's environment services team and being

a virtual speaker for schools. I also benefited from

their careers advice and the work experience

opportunities they helped me access. I wouldn’t be

where I am today without the support and help they

have given to me.”

If you, or a young person you know, aged between

16 and 18 (or up to 24 if they have an Education,

Health and Care Plan) want to know about the

support available from Learning & Skills visit

www.darligton.gov.uk/learningandskills or

call 01325 406422.

26 www.darlington.gov.uk/learningandskills

Kickstart your future

with an apprenticeship

Are you finishing school or college this summer?

Have you considered an apprenticeship?

As an apprentice you will learn on the job, work

on real tasks and projects, and earn a salary. You

will also spend part of your working week training

or studying. It is a great way to gain qualifications

without getting into debt and can help you kickstart

your career.

Learning & Skills offers over 26 different

apprenticeships across a range of industries

including, care, construction, customer services,

hospitality, manufacturing and distribution.

Check out our website for more information

(details at the bottom of the page).

Calling all employers

Taking on an apprentice is a cost effective way to build and develop

your team. They can support staff retention by upskilling existing

employees for more senior roles and can help to plug skills gaps.

They can also help boost standards within the workplace and may have a

positive impact on your productivity, profitability and reputation. Find out

more on our website or email l&s@darlington.gov.uk.

Learning & Skills Darlington

FREE adult learning courses

• Improve your maths, English or IT skills

• Study English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)

• Boost your CV with our continued professional development courses

• Get work in just one week with our employment academy

• Take part in hobby-based activities like crafting or creative writing

Enrol now for courses starting in September

DarlingtonL_S

01325

405601

darlington.gov.uk/learningandskills

JOIN OUR

FOSTER

FAMILY

As part of the recent Foster Care Fortnight

campaign, we highlighted some of the amazing

people who open their homes and hearts to

provide local babies and young people with a

safe, reliable, trusting home.

Could you join them?

@darlingtonbc

Darlington Borough Council

Foster carer

for 10 years

Sean fosters because he

loves seeing children

progress as individuals.

Foster carers

for 11 years

Martin and Mel foster

teenagers and say every day

is completely different!

Foster and

home hub carer

Eileen fosters to give children

opportunities that her birth

children had. She is currently

a home hub care for foster

carers, creating a family unit

for children in foster care.

Peer mentor

Caitlin experienced foster

care for most of her life – she

can’t thank her foster carers

enough and hopes people

will open their homes and

support young people to give

them the love and support

they need and deserve.

Peer mentor

Danny is a caring friend to

children in care, after being

in care himself for over 18

years, he can draw on his

experience to help others.

Foster carer

for 8 years

Angie is astounded by the

difference fostering makes

to her life and is reaping the

rewards!

Foster carer

for 13 years

Carole built up lovely

memories from fostering with

the council. She was even a

birthing partner to one of her

mother and baby placements!

Fostering

social worker

Moira supports foster carers

through their journey. She

says the council's fostering

team is extremely committed

and absolutely second to

none!

Vicky, the council’s fostering service manager, would love you to join the council’s foster

care family. You really can make a huge difference to the future of local children.

To find out more, visit www.darington.gov.uk/fostering

To apply to foster with the council, visit www.fosteringnortheast.org.uk

Warmer homes for hundreds

of council tenants

Thanks to funding of £3.55m from the

government, work is set to start on a three-year

programme that will see almost £18m invested

to create warmer and more energy efficient

homes for our tenants.

We were part of a Tees Valley Combined Authority

consortium that successfully bid for funding from

the government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing

Fund Wave 3, which was awarded £43.9m.

Darlington’s share is £3.55m which will be boosted

to £18m from our housing revenue budget.

The scheme represents the largest ever, single

investment in the council’s housing stock and

will see the installation of wall and loft insulation

and double-glazed windows and doors to more

than 1,600 homes, helping to reduce energy

consumption and tackle fuel poverty.

Council properties improved with support

of previous Warm Homes funding

Swapping sunbeds for spray tans -

what your teen needs to know

We are encouraging teens to swap sun beds

for spray tans or bottled fake tan to achieve a

golden glow.

Over the years the use of sunbeds and standing

tanning booths has increased among the younger

population, with teenagers often under the

impression they are a safe short cut to a

bronzed complexion. This is despite it

being an offence to allow people aged

17 years and under to use sunbeds in

commercial premises.

Although there is no such thing as a

safe tan, the UVA rays emitted from

sunbeds are known to penetrate the

skin deeper than the UVB rays naturally

associated with tanning. This can lead

to skin cancers including melanoma, which

is the most serious type of skin cancer and is

responsible for 100 deaths each year in the UK.

Brian Whelan, environmental health manager, said:

“When tanning, the outermost layer of your skin is

harmed and it's the healing process which makes

your skin appear darker.

“Research shows that sunbed use can have a

long-term impact on your health and in some

cases can be deadly; the risk of melanoma is up

to 25% higher in people who have used a sunbed

and 59% higher for those who have done so

before the age of 35.

Did you know

that nasal tanning

sprays are also

harmful and contain

ingredients which

are illegal in the

UK?

“We have been contacting local salons,

leisure centres, gyms and hotels to

highlight these risks and to raise

awareness of government legislation

which prevents people under the

age of 18 using sun beds or from

being in an eclosed area where a

sun bed is located.

“We are also appealing to parents to

help educate their teens on the dangers

sun beds pose and asking residents to

report businesses they suspect are allowing their

underage use which could lead to a penalty of up

to £20,000.”

Report concerns about underage sun bed use

in commercial facilities in Darlington by email to

envrionmentalhealth@darlington.gov.uk


Car park increases

TEA-riffic

Tuesdays!

An increase in charges for council-owned car

parks and on street parking came into force

on Monday 2 June.

The changes mean an increased rate from £1

to £1.20 per hour in short stay car parks, up to

a cap of £5, when it will revert to £1 per hour

and from £1 to £1.20 an hour in long stay car

parks up to three hours, £5 per day or £20 for

a weekly ticket.

On street parking will change from 50p to

70p per 30 minutes. All time restrictions in car

parks will remain the same.

Full details at www.darlington.gov.uk/carparks

Join Darlington Mental Health Network,

outside the Dolphin Centre, in the Market

Square, from 10am until 4pm for a free cuppa,

chat, and to join in the activities on offer.

Sessions are taking place on 2 and 9 July,

and 26 August. For more information, visit

www.healthwatchdarlington.co.uk

Update on PSPO

consultations

Sun safety

Thanks to everyone who took the time to

share their views on powers to tackle antisocial

behaviour as part of the consultations

on renewing the town centre Public Space

Protection Order (PSPO) and creating a new

borough-wide PSPO.

More than 90 responses from individuals,

businesses and organisations were received,

with the vast majority in favour of the

proposals.

Your views will be taken into account before

cabinet members agree on the next steps. If

approved, it’s planned that any changes will

come into force in July.

The sun has got his hat on - hip hip hip,

hooray!

Most of us love sunshine, but please

remember when the sun is shining, stay

hydrated with water, wear sun lotion and a hat,

and avoid the midday sun if possible.

CLUBS AND COM

To feature your community group or club, email editor@onedarlington.org.uk

Darlington Ramblers Group

has walks every Sunday in the Cleveland Hills, North

Yorkshire Dales and village areas within Durham and

North Yorkshire. Sunday walks are 5-10 miles. Until the

end of August they offer Wednesday evening walks of

4-6 miles. Contact David Reed 01325 350997 or Paul

Jackson 07704 930015 for details.

Boost for

boxing club

A boxing club has been celebrating following a

donation of equipment.

Ward Degnans Boxing Club, in Holly Street was

launched in 2011 by brothers Isaac ‘Argie’ Ward

and Francis ‘Frankie’ Ward. The club has proved

popular among young people and adults alike and

works closely with the council’s young people’s

engagement and justice service to support its youth

intervention work.

The club’s efforts were recognised earlier this year

when The Northgate and North Road Community

Cohesion Panel (NNCCP) donated a rowing machine

and skiing machine.

The NNCCP is made up of local residents and

businesses and works closely with the council, and

other partners to tackle issues raised by local people

to improve the area.

They meet bi-monthly at the United Reform

Church, 150-154 Northgate. The next meeting is on

Wednesday 23 July at 6pm. Everyone is welcome to

attend.

Email Janet Bowles janet.bowles2@outlook.com for

more information.

For details of Ward Degnans Boxing Club

visit www.warddegnanboxing.co.uk email

warddegnansboxing@gmail.com or search for them

on Facebook.

Darlington Society of Arts

meets every other Thursday, 7-9pm, Holy Trinity Youth

& Community Centre. They are a friendly group of

artists with around 60 members aged from 14 to 88.

They work with watercolour, pastels, oils, acrylics, pen

and ink, pencil and mixed media. All abilities and ages

welcome. They host two annual exhibitions, one in

Darlington Library, Crown Street and one in Richmond

Station Gallery. Meetings offer the chance to work on

personal projects or enjoy a demonstration/workshop

from visiting artists. First evening is free. Details at

www.darlingtonsoa.co.uk or on Facebook.

Darlington Chrysanthemum

and Dahlia Society

meets at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday of each month

at the Darlington and Simpsons Rolling Mills Club,

Longfield Road, DL3 0HX. New members welcome.

The group hosts a number of shows every year. The

bank holiday show takes place on 25 August at St

Thomas Aquinas Church car park DL1 2PU. Open

to the public 11am-3.30pm. This is followed by the

early show on 13 September and the late show on

8 November – same venue and times as the bank

holiday show. For details visit www.dcds.org.uk

32 www.darlington.gov.uk/clubs

MUNITY

Darlington Branch of Parkinson's UK

The Darlington Parkinson's Support Group meets at

2-4pm on the second Wednesday of each month at

Elm Ridge Church Hall. Open to everyone affected by

Parkinson's: patients, carers, relatives and colleagues.

They host a range of activities and guest presenters.

Free to try and then £2 per meeting. The group

also has a coffee morning at the Hippodrome

every fourth Wednesday of each month at 10.15am.

Call 07702560699, debparobson@gmail.com or

07787385143, shirley557@virginmedia.com or search for

Darlington Parkinson's support group on Facebook.

All change for Chatty Café

The Chatty Cafe meet ups have moved to the Dolphin

Centre bistro, every Tuesday 2-3.30pm. All welcome to

help combat loneliness and social isolation and support

a sense of community in the town.

Darlington u3a

meets at 10am (for a 10.15am start) on the first Friday of

the month (excluding August and December) in the main

hall at the Vineyard Church, Salt Yard. It is a national

organisation for people no longer in full time work, run

by members for members. Meetings usually include a

speaker and the chance to socialise. In addition, there

are separate groups for art, handbells, line dancing and

many more plus a programme of events and days out

planned throughout the year. First visit is free (please

bring cash for refreshments). Email u3adarlington@gmail.

com or visit www. darlington.u3asite.uk

Brick Alley LEGO User Group

An advert in One Darlington (then called Darlington

Together) proved to be the catalyst for this group

which was formed in 2014 by five like-minded

LEGO fans at the Head of Steam (now Hopetown

Darlington).

They have over 140 members and run meetups in

Darlington and the wider region on the third Saturday of

the month, as well as a growing number of shows across

the year.

It Is a community of adult fans of LEGO with a wide

range of interest in LEGO, from architecture to space,

city to trains, Star Wars to botanicals, and many other

themes.

There’s also plenty of time to talk to other LEGO fans,

and trade LEGO sets, figures and parts. In addition, they

also host collaborative LEGO projects and run regular

social events. To celebrate their 10th anniversary the

group will be hosting their first large show in Darlington

at the Dolphin Centre on 12 and 13 July.

The show will feature around 100 tables of members’

LEGO creations plus trade stalls, activities and more.

Tickets are available at ticketsource.co.uk/brickalleylug

For details email secretary@brickalleylug.co.uk or visit www.brickalleylug.co.uk or search for them on social media.

www.darlington.gov.uk/clubs one Darlington 33

Picture Credit: Paul Heasman

Massive Airport Investment

Set to Bring Jobs Boost

A £12.5million package

for infrastructure at

Teesside International

Airport is forecast to

help create 250 new

jobs for local people.

The funding, recently signed off

by the Tees Valley Mayor and

Combined Authority Cabinet –

is helping key tenants Draken

Europe, Willis Aviation Services

Ltd and Airbourne Colours grow.

This, in turn, will unlock £16million

of private sector spending – with

the potential for more to come.

Hot on the heels of the announcement,

progress is roaring ahead on creating

a huge new twin-bay hangar for

international aviation company Willis.

The 50ft-high facility is taking shape

on the airport’s north side to cater for

the company’s growing operations,

expanding on the company’s existing

base at Teesside.

Meanwhile, flight inspection company

Thales has signed a five-year

agreement with the airport as part

of a deal which also includes

improvements to its home hangar.

The company provides safety

assurance for navigation systems

and radars at Ministry of Defence

sites all over the globe – with an

ever-growing portfolio of civil

airfields now also on its books.

The agreement means the company’s

operation will retain Teesside as its

base until 2030 at the earliest.

Elsewhere on the site, work is now

under way to create a cuttingedge

digital testing ground to make

trade even easier for businesses.

The new 5G-enabled “Teesside Digital

Trade Test Bed” on the airport’s north

side will see a private network cover

a large stretch of the site to help carry

out a wide range of trade, goods

movements, and digital processes.

Building work is under way to

create a facility to test freight

scanning software technologies.

The collaboration between

Teesside University and Tees Valley

Combined Authority aims to ease

practical problems which hamper

operations in customs zones.

Finally, it’s good news for

passengers across Tees Valley as

Ryanair has announced its Malaga

flights are now running all year

round, taking off twice a week.

These were originally due to last

until October but thanks to their

popularity, even more Spanish sun

will be available on flights jetting

off on Wednesdays and Sundays

after the summer season ends.

info@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk

teesvalley-ca.gov.uk

New

Winter Flights

to

Malaga

Ryanair flights operating year-round

twice weekly to the Costa Del Sol

from Teesside

SCAN QR

CODE TO FIND

OUT MORE

www.darlington.gov.uk/recycleright

Beware of dangerous phone

adapters and chargers

The allure of cheap electrical goods can be difficult to resist but

buying products which do not meet UK safety standards can be

costly and have disastrous consequences.

Online shopping platforms and social media are littered with non-UK

compliant and counterfeit products using low quality components

which pose fire hazards and carry a risk of electric shock.

Following a recent incident involving dangerous phone adapters and

chargers, our trading standards team is reminding people to only buy

electrical products from reputable retailers. Other simple steps you

can take to protect yourself and your family, particularly if you are

buying online, include:

● being wary of extremely low prices - these are a red flag that a

product might be fake, poorly manufactured or unsafe

● paying careful attention to product descriptions and specifications

● checking that products have CE and UKCA markings (please be

aware that some counterfeit products may also feature these)

● looking to see if the product has been tested and certified by recognised bodies

● reading reviews and ratings from other customers

● reporting suspicious goods to tradingstandards@darlington.gov.uk.

Donate £2.00 today to sponsor a Happy

Hamper for an elderly person in Darlington

Our Volunteers Help to Change

Elderly Lives in Darlington

Donate Today & Make a Life Happier This Christmas

Support your local elderly community by raising funds to fill

our Happy Christmas Hampers with festive foods all bought

from local suppliers.

It’s easy to donate, go to

localgiving.org/appeal/happyhampers/

or scan the QR code.

Win Your Own Festive Hamper

Everyone who donates is entered into our Supporter’s draw.

Please send an email to marketing@darlingtontownmission.org.uk

with “Happy Hampers” in the subject line with your name and

contact Apply details. Now The and draw Make will take a place Real on Difference 7 in 2025

th December 2024.

This article is kindly sponsored by

Vurv Estates & Property Management

“We became friends

through the Mission”

Visit our website to buy

original affordable paintings

by local artist Rev. John Bower.

e. marketing@darlingtontownmission.org.uk

/Darlingtontownmission

www.darlingtontownmission.org.uk

Registered t. 07825

Address 586113

2 Davison Road, Darlington, DL1 3DR - Reg.charity no. 235572 A local charity

A local charity trusted since 1838

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Registered Address 3 Idaho Gardens, Darlington DL1 2RG - Reg.charity no. 235572

Could you open your

heart and your home?

We are urgently looking for new foster carers to join us and help make

a difference to Darlington children’s lives. In return, you will receive:

●

●

●

●

●

weekly payments and a professional fee

support from an allocated social worker

regular training and advice

invitations to social activities and group events

access to a range of discounts on shopping, leisure and services.

Find out more at www.darlington.gov.uk/fostering

or enquire at www.fosterwithnortheast.org.uk

Lifesaving kits

installed across town

Cabinets with defibrillators and bleed kits have been installed

across the town to help save lives in an emergency.

Three new bleed kits, funded by Durham Police and Crime

Commissioner, have been installed alongside existing defibrillators

at The Turk’s Head, Market Hall and Rosie’s Tavern.

Funding from the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) has also

enabled the council to install seven combined cabinets, containing

both defibrillator and bleed kits, in and around the town centre,

including the two red phone boxes in Skinnergate and Market

Square.

The Northgate and North Road community cohesion panel has

also bought six combined cabinets, which have been installed at

various locations including the YMCA in Chesnut Street, Hopetown

Darlington, the Arthur Wharton Foundation in Northgate, and in the

North Road area at the Salvation Army, The Well, and North Road

Retail Park.

All the locations have been chosen to enable easy access for

people to help save a life before an ambulance arrives at the scene.

For more information or to report any issues relating to the trauma

cabinets contact Richard Garrett, community safety manager on

01325 403261 or email richard.garrett@darlington.gov.uk or Les

Dunn, business support officer, on 01325 403297 or email les.

dunn@darlington.gov.uk

You can find useful tips and information about planning ahead for

safe night out at www.enjoydarlington.co.uk/stay-safe

Les Dunn and Uche Ezekwueme,

from the community safety team.

Following a recommendation from

the public inquiry into the Manchester

Arena attack, the council has taken

delivery of 50 trauma kits so people

can offer first aid to casualties while

awaiting the arrival of emergency

services following a large-scale

incident.

Funded by the TVCA, these have been

distributed to various town centre

locations including the Dolphin Centre,

Number 40, CCTV office at the Town

Hall and the Darlington Economic

Campus.


New grant to strengthen

voluntary sector

Darlington’s voluntary and community groups are set

to benefit from a major funding boost. Tees Valley

Community Asset Preservation Trust (TVCAPT), a

Darlington based charity, has secured a £298,320

grant from the National Lottery Community Fund to

deliver a two-and-a-half-year pilot project designed

to support and empower smaller grassroots voluntary

and community groups in Darlington.

The initiative will encourage volunteering, unlock

new funding opportunities, and strengthen the local

community infrastructure, ensuring sustainable growth

and support for those making a difference at the

grassroots level.

Supporting Darlington’s

Voluntary & Community Sector

The service aims to equip both new and existing

community and voluntary groups with the tools they

need to grow and thrive. It will provide:

● Expert advice on setting up a new group or

expanding an existing activity or services

● Support for individuals seeking volunteering

opportunities or organisations looking for volunteers

● Guidance on grant funding and help with writing

successful applications.

Additionally, a new community support network will be

established in partnership with Healthwatch, creating a

space for voluntary organisations to collaborate, share

best practices, and explore new opportunities in a fun

way. The initiative will also support Darlington’s Local

Youth Partnership alongside the YMCA, strengthening

youth engagement in the town.

A game-changer for Darlington

By bringing more funding into the town, encouraging

volunteer engagement, and supporting community

groups, this service aims to create lasting impact. It will

be externally evaluated to measure its effectiveness and

contribution to Darlington’s voluntary sector.

Launch event!

Join us for the exciting launch of our new service on

Thursday 4 September at Red Hall Community Centre,

starting at 7pm.

Come along to meet the team, discover what we have to

offer, and enjoy a delicious buffet. Everyone interested

in the new service is welcome — we’d love to see you

there!

How to access the service

Groups of individuals can access the service by emailing

support@dvcsss.org or via Facebook messenger via

Darlington Voluntary & Community Sector Support

Service, Facebook page.

Choose Darlington

Recently engaged

or planning to

get married?

Choose Darlington for your

big day, with ceremonies starting

from just £81.

Find out more about

booking your wedding:

www.darlington.gov.uk/weddings

Fight food

waste

Food waste costs the average household £470 a year, so reducing

what you throw away is good for your pocket and the environment.

Most food waste is avoidable and by following four easy steps you

can stop literally throwing money away!

• Use your

Shopping list

• Don’t shop

hungry

• Avoid impulse

purchases

• Portions

• Eat what

you cook

• Leftovers

• Batch cooking

4 steps to save

Plan

Check what you have

Shop

Buy what you need

Store

in the best way

Eat

what you have

• Check your

cupboards

• Meal plan

• Shopping list

• Keep fresh

for longer

• Freeze/air tight

• Fridge temp

• Know your dates!

www.darlington.gov.uk/foodwaste

One Darlington summer 2025

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