One Darlington Autumn 2025

Autumn 2025
S&DR200 festival SPECIAL EDITION
pages 4-7

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Welcome to One Darlington
As the leaves turn and autumn settles over Darlington,
it’s the perfect moment to reflect on a truly remarkable
few months for our borough.
The S&DR200 festival brought our community together
in a way that will be remembered for years to come.
From the spectacular parade of the Ghost Train to the
fascinating exhibitions and hands-on workshops, the
festival was a vibrant celebration of our proud railway
heritage. It was wonderful to see families, friends and
visitors from near and far sharing in the excitement and
learning and hear the laughter that filled our streets and
parks. See pages 4-7 for a round-up of our favourite
images from S&DR200 in this special souvenir edition.
The energy and creativity on display during S&DR200
were a testament to what makes Darlington so special:
our sense of community, our willingness to embrace
new ideas, and our pride in our history. Thank you to
everyone who took part - whether you volunteered,
performed, or simply joined in the fun. You helped make
this milestone anniversary a resounding success to
remember.
In the coming months there's even more to look forward
to. The festive season is just around the corner, and
Darlington is already preparing to sparkle. Plans are
underway for our Christmas lights switch-on, festive
markets, the Hippodrome pantomime and a host of
community events that promise to bring warmth and
cheer to the winter months. It’s a time to come together,
support local businesses and make memories with loved
ones.
Elsewhere in this edition, we’ve got an update on the
Local Government Boundary Commission's review of
Darlington’s council wards, and a reminder to keep an
eye out for how you can have your say on the 2026/27
budget plans.
We’ve also got a special four-page feature on the new
food waste recycling collections, which are due to start in
spring 2026.
For now though, as we approach a new year, let’s carry
forward the spirit of togetherness and optimism that
defined S&DR200. Whether you’re making resolutions,
setting new goals, or simply looking forward to what’s
next, keep in mind that Darlington is a place that thrives
on community spirit and shared ambition.
Here’s to a joyful autumn, a magical Christmas, and a
bright new year ahead for everyone in Darlington!
Ghost Train at Hopetown
Inside this issue
16 Blue badge enforcement
____________________________________
24 Green libraries
____________________________________
28-29 What’s on
____________________________________
31 Breaks for carers
____________________________________
38 Housing latest
____________________________________
One Darlington, Room 106, Town Hall, Darlington.
Email – editor@onedarlington.org.uk
Design and production – Xentrall Shared Services.
Distribution – Smart Distribution Solutions.
Front page 1825 image by Dobbin. 2025 image by
Chris Booth
The next issue will be out in late January.
If you haven’t received your copy by early February,
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

It has been an historic year as we have marked the
200th anniversary of the first passenger journey
on the Stockton & Darlington Railway.
The climax to the celebrations was a re-enactment of that
original journey with a replica Locomotion No.1 crossing
Skerne Bridge – the world’s oldest railway bridge still in use.
Thousands of people watched the replica pull the Experiment
carriage along the route of the original journey.

As part of the S&DR200
Festival, Ghost Train:
The Departure brought
performance, music and
lights to the town centre
ending with a spectacular
procession to Hopetown.
Commissioned by S&DR200, created and produced by Avanti
Display Ltd and Walk the Plank, Ghost Train: The Departure
represented important inventions from the last 200 years
which coupled up with a reimagining of Locomotion No.1 for the
journey through North Lodge Park to the museum.
Thank you to everyone who braved the terrible weather to enjoy
this amazing event.
S&DR200 is delivered by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. Major
funders include Tees Valley Combined Authority, Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England
and Heritage Railway.
S&DR200 runs until 2026 in various locations across County Durham and Tees Valley. For details, visit www.sdr200.co.uk

Roll up, roll up –
The circus is coming to town this year as Goldilocks and the Three Bears arrives at the
Darlington Hippodrome from Friday 5–Wednesday 31 December.
The show tells the story of two rival circuses and the dastardly efforts of baddy ringmaster,
Baron Von Bolshoi, to capture the three bears and make them the stars of his show.
The festive extravaganza is packed with comedy, special effects, hair-raising stunts and
international circus acts! Book your tickets by visiting
www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk or call 01325 405405.
We met up with some of the cast to find out more
about the show:
Jamie Jones, Dame Betty Barnum
Returning for the third time to the Hippodrome panto, Jamie is
starring as this year’s dame – the ring mistress of the good circus.
Wearing more than a dozen fantastic costumes, Jamie is looking
forward to getting back on stage in front of a Darlington audience.
He said: “I always have such a good time here. The audiences
really get behind you – they know what they like and after so many
years I feel I know what they enjoy. Panto is my first love – it’s so
different to other theatre as the show evolves over time and you are
always reacting to the audience. This year it’s a real variety show
bringing the circus and panto worlds together and I can’t wait!”
08

it’s panto time!
Taziva-Faye Katsande, Goldilocks
Starring in her second professional pantomime, Taziva-Faye
is a third year student at the prestigious Bird College for
performing arts. She has previously performed in the West
End and on national tours.
She said: “It may sound odd but I find panto really relaxing.
Obviously, there’s a script but there is also the freedom to
interact with the audience, and it is a real laugh because
it is so over the top. My family are at home in Essex but
they will be coming to see the show and that’s when I
will get nervous! I had never been to Darlington before
but it seems really friendly and I am looking forward to
celebrating Christmas here. Christmas is my favourite time
of year and it will be fun to spend it on stage before I
head back to college in January to finish off my studies.”
Brendan Cole, Baron Von Bolshoi
Professional dancer and former Strictly Come Dancing star, Brendan is looking forward
to returning to the Darlington stage.
He said: “I have visited Darlington with my dance shows but this is my first time since
the theatre was renovated, and it is such a beautiful place. This is my eighth panto and
my fourth time as the baddy - it’s the best role because as soon as the audience hears
my music they start booing which gives you a great energy to feed off. Panto is such
a great British tradition and I love being part of it. I am following in the footsteps of so
many legends – I am actually wearing one of Paul O’Grady’s old costumes which is so
inspiring. Panto is so important to keep new audiences coming to the theatre. For some
children it’s their first experience of live entertainment and, for many who come with their
schools, it’s the only time in the year they will come to the theatre. I hope lots of families
will come along – it’s such a great, feel good show and I can guarantee you will come out
smiling!”
Josh Benson, Joey the clown
Joey the clown is part of Dame Betty Barnum’s circus and is on hand to help
Goldilocks and defeat the Baron! It’s the third consecutive year that Josh has
played in the Hippodrome panto.
He said: “In many ways this isn’t just a traditional pantomime - its circus-themed
which gives me a great opportunity to show off my non-transferable skills like
juggling and walking a rope! I love panto because every day is different - at
the start you have an excitement that you share with the audience and then
as the run goes on you feel more relaxed with the material and can enjoy the
ad libs. Every performance presents different opportunities for the cast and
obviously, for every audience, it’s the first time they have seen the show. It’s
great because the audiences are so supportive and want you to do well –
they just want to laugh and have fun so it’s a brilliant atmosphere. This is
such an amazing show bringing the best of panto and circus together. It’s a
real spectacular which I hope everyone will come and see.”

2026
£
Coming soon...
Have your say
on budget
plans!
A consultation will begin in
December on the council’s
budget plans for 2026/27,
as well as its medium-term
financial plan (MTFP).
We are keen that as many
people as possible are able
to tell us what they think of
the plans, which are due to be
finalised in the new year.
Look out for details of the
consultation – including how
you can have your say – on
the council’s Facebook and
Instagram pages, as well as
on our website.
10 www.darlington.gov.uk/consultations

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
5 November and 7 January, 5-6pm; The Darlington RA, Wednesday 3
December, 5-6pm. Scott Durham (C) Tel: 07805 505156. The Brinkburn,
Monday 3 November and 5 January, 7-8pm; The White Heifer That Travelled,
Tuesday 2 December, 7-8pm.
COCKERTON
Jan Cossins (L) Tel: 241124; Jim Garner (L) Tel: 241384; Neil Johnson (L)
Tel: 07504 227351. Cockerton Methodist Church, Friday 14 November, 12
December and 9 January, 10-11am.
COLLEGE
Bryony Holroyd (G) Tel: 07570 776553; Matthew Snedker (G) Tel: 07780
807059. Abbey Junior School, Monday 10 November, 8 December and 12
January, 6-7pm.
EASTBOURNE
Joe Dillon (L) Tel: 07939 221166. The Wheatsheaf, Tuesday 25 November,
6-7pm. Jonathan Dulston (C) Tel: 07775 555251. Firthmoor Community
Centre, Wednesday 5 November, 3 December and 7 January, 3-4pm. Kevin
Nicholson (I) Tel: 07791 807629. Firthmoor Community Centre, Wednesday 19
November and 17 December, 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 13 November, 11 December and 8 January, 6-7pm; Elim Pentecostal
Church, Monday 24 November and 29 December, 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 1 November, 6 December
and 3 January, 10-11am.
HEIGHINGTON AND CONISCLIFFE
Paul Crudass (C) Tel: 374537; Gerald Lee (C) Tel: 314622. Brafferton Village
Hall, Saturday 1 November, 10-11am; St Edwin’s Church Hall, 6 December,
10-11am.
HUMMERSKNOTT
Kate Mammolotti (G) Tel: 07949 222733. Salutation Hall, Monday 24
November, 6-7pm. Thomas Robinson (I) Tel: 07735 310357.
HURWORTH
Lorraine Tostevin (C) Tel: 333382; Paul Walters (C) Tel: 722097.
By appointment only, Tuesday 4 November, 2 December and 6 January, 5.30-
6.30pm.
MOWDEN
Pauline Culley (C) Tel: 250482; Alan Marshall (C) Tel: 359138 or 07807
523106. Mowden Junior School, Monday 3 November, 1 December and 5
January, 6.30-7.30pm.
NORTHGATE
Sajna Ali (L) Tel: 405998; Sonia Kane (L) Tel: 486754. Ward Surgery
appointment only via (The Mayor) 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.
Morrisons Café (North Road), Wednesday 12 November, 10 December and 14
January, 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 11 November, 9 December and 13 January, 1-2pm;
Dolphin Centre, Thursday 13 November, 11 December and 8 January, 5.30-
6.30pm; Skerne Park Community Centre, Tuesday 4 November, 2 December
and 6 January, 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 5 November, 3 December and 7 January, 6-7pm.
RED HALL AND LINGFIELD
Mandy Porter (L) Tel: 07962 363855; Amanda Riley (L) Tel. 07764 759554.
Heathfield Primary School, Thursday 20 November, 18 December and 15
January, 3.30-4.30pm; Red Hall Community Centre, Thursday 13 November, 11
December and 8 January, 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 7 November and 5
December, 10.30-11.30am; Middleton St George Cricket Club, Tuesday, 25
November and 30 December, 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 29 November and 27 December, 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

CLUBS AND COM
To feature your community group or club, email editor@onedarlington.org.uk
On track for rail heritage
It’s been a year of celebrations as the Stockton and
Darlington Railway marked its 200th anniversary.
Did you know there are several local clubs and groups
that work year after year to preserve and cherish our
rail heritage – even creating new engines that will
steam into the future?
Perhaps you want to help keep Darlington's heritage
alive by volunteering or supporting these clubs' work?
The Darlington Railway Preservation Society (DRPS)
is run entirely by volunteers to preserve Darlington’s
railway heritage and restore significant locomotives
and artefacts for the enjoyment and education of
future generations.
The DRPS is home to Darlington’s biggest
collection of locomotives. Most of these
locomotives have a strong Darlington,
connection being built or operated in the area.
Among these locomotives is the famous British
Rail Standard 2-MT, 78018, featured in the film
Snowdrift at Bleath Gill.
The group meets every Tuesday night in the
Old S&D Goods Shed, North Road (next door
to Hopetown Darlington) at 6pm. Please feel
free to drop in.
For more information and additional opening
times and dates visit drps.synthasite.com.
12 www.darlington.gov.uk/clubs

MUNITY
North Eastern Locomotive Group (NELPG)
NELPG was formed more than 50 years ago to
preserve examples of the last remaining classes
of North Eastern Railway locomotives operating
on British Railways.
Over the years, this small group of enthusiasts
has managed to purchase and preserve several
locomotives, many of which operate today on the
North Yorks Moors service (NYMR) with occasional
loans to other heritage lines including the Jacobite
service in Scotland.
The aim is to keep the locomotives operational
and to be actively enjoyed by the public, rather
than as static museum pieces. The group has
volunteer bases at NYMR in Grosmont, North
Yorkshire and in Darlington at the Hopetown
1861 Shed, and, from time to time, at Carnforth,
Lancashire.
New members and volunteers are always
welcome. Members and patrons receive regular
newsletters and updates of meetings and social
events as well as the opportunity to see the
locomotives in action.
Volunteers can also get hands on experience of
maintaining the locomotives or helping the charity
in other ways.
To find out more, including how you can get
involved, visit the website www.nelpg.org
Steam still rolling on
The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is a group
dedicated to building and operating LNERdesigned
locomotives to ensure the future of
steam on the main line.
Darlington Locomotive Works is open to the public
on the first and third Saturday of each month
between 10am and 3pm and is free of charge.
See the 2007 Prince of Wales under construction
up close and get the chance to ask the engineers
all about it.
For information, email enquiries@a1steam.com,
visit the website www.a1steam.com or call 01325
460163.
www.darlington.gov.uk/clubs one Darlington 13

Electoral
review of
Darlington
Borough
Council
The Local Government Boundary Commission for
England (LGBCE) will be carrying out a consultation
on new council wards for Darlington Borough
Council and wants to hear from people living in
Darlington or who have ties to the area.
What’s happening to local council
wards in my area?
The commission is an independent body, accountable
to Parliament, which reviews the electoral and
boundary arrangements of councils in England. It is
currently reviewing the arrangements for Darlington.
The commission wants to know what you think about
how Darlington Borough Council should be split up
into wards. It wants to make sure that each councillor
represents about the same number of electors and that
the wards they represent reflect your local community.
How you can get involved
By telling the commission about where you live and
where you access local services, you can help it
understand more about your local area and your
communities.
It might be something as straightforward as where you
go for shops, schools or a sporting venue, or whether
you see a road, park or river as a dividing feature or
the heart of a community.
This information will help create boundaries that reflect
local community identities.
The consultation will open on 25 November and you
will have until 2 February 2026 to give your views.
Next steps
After the initial consultation has ended, the review
officer will use the submissions provided to draw up
a set of draft recommendations for the council area,
which will be published. There will then be another
period of consultation, where you will be invited to
comment on the proposals. This consultation is due to
launch on 5 May 2026 and will run until 13 July 2026.
More information on the electoral review process can
be found on the commission’s website at:
www.lgbce.org.uk/changing-wards-numbercouncillors-council-has.
Get involved
Once the consultation is live you can give your views
on your local area by visiting:
www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/darlington
Alternatively, you can email reviews@lgbce.org.uk or
send your comments by post to:
Review officer (Darlington), LGBCE, 7th Floor,
3 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8YZ.
14 www.darlington.gov.uk

Homeless or at risk
of homelessness?
We’re here to help
The council is working with partners to tackle
homelessness. Help is available for those who
need it.
Earlier this year we launched a new Preventing
Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-
2030, which was developed with the support of local
partners and organisations including commissioning,
adult and children’s services, health, probation, police,
social and private landlords and the voluntary sector.
Everyone in Darlington should have a secure,
affordable place to call home, but such are the
challenges at present this is not something we can
manage on our own. We need to build upon the
relationships we already have, and the new strategy
sets out how we aim to do that.
Early intervention is vital to try and prevent
homelessness where at all possible, so if you find
yourself homeless or at risk of becoming homeless,
please contact the housing options team as soon as
possible.
Solving homelessness is about more than putting a
roof over someone’s head - it’s about the individual
and their situation, understanding their needs and
ensuring appropriate support is in place to enable
them to manage a tenancy and live independently.
We’re working hard to increase the number of
affordable homes, a key part of the Council Plan. We’re
building more council homes and are working with
charities and local private landlords to help tackle the
issue.
We also work with partners to help provide the
relevant support, these include:
700 Club – hostel, substance misuse support, drop-in
hubs, early intervention outreach, temporary and move
on accommodation
Way Through – mental health support, temporary
accommodation, drop-in hubs
Inspire North – young vulnerable parents and
offender accommodation
Family Help and Harbour – accommodation and
support for victims of domestic abuse
YMCA – hostel and support for young people (18-24)
From April to June this year, the housing options
team helped 483 people, placed 113 households in
temporary accommodation and prevented or relieved
homelessness for 262 households.
In the past year, we have received 41 reports through
Streetlink of individuals rough sleeping. All of the
people were visited and support offered.
The council is also part of a pilot scheme using the
Ending Rough Sleeping Assessment Toolkit (ERSAT) to
reduce rough sleeping. It places any single homeless
person who meets the criteria in accommodation and
puts a support package in place. Since January, we
have offered accommodation to 73 people under this
scheme.
If you are concerned about a homeless person or
rough sleeper, contact:
Housing options team – 01325 405333 or email
housingoptions@darlington.gov.uk (during office
hours)
Report it online
www.darlington.gov.uk/doitonline scroll down and
click on ‘rough sleeper’
Outside office hours – 01642 524552 – the team
can provide advice for rough sleepers who want
accommodation
If someone is unwell, unresponsive or distressed,
please call 999.
www.darlington.gov.uk/homelessness
one Darlington 15

Clamping down on
disabled bay and
blue badge misuse
The misuse of disabled car parking spaces and abuse
of blue badges causes real harm.
These provisions help people with disabilities or health
conditions live independently, access employment,
attend appointments and participate in community life.
Despite clear signage and penalties, misuse remains
widespread including able bodied drivers using
disabled bays, people borrowing a relative's blue
badge without the badge holder being present, using a
deceased person’s badge, or using fake or counterfeit
badges.
These actions are not only selfish, they are illegal.
In the financial year 2024/25 over 1,000 penalty charge
notices (PCN) were issued for improper use of disabled
bays or blue badges in Darlington.
Tina Lambert is one of nearly 7,500 people in Darlington
who have a blue badge and understands only too well
the daily struggle people with disabilities face and the
impact inconsiderate and unlawful parking can have.
Tina said: "Five years ago I had an accident in the
garden which resulted in having my leg amputated. I
now need to use a wheelchair and require the use of
disabled bays so that my adapted car has space to
lower my wheelchair into position. This can be quite
challenging anyway, but people misusing designated
disabled bays creates another obstacle which makes it
more difficult to do the things I need to do.
“Constantly thinking about how and where I can park,
having to drive around to wait for limited suitable spaces
or needing to use kerbside spaces, which are difficult
to manage with my disability and leave me at risk of
falls, cause me daily anxiety and put additional time
pressures on my day. I tend to avoid going out during
busy periods and often decide to do without things so I
don’t have to deal with public parking.
“Before my accident I didn’t consider the challenges
people with disabilities face – like you, I never expected
to be in this position, but it can happen to anyone at any
time. Your actions have the potential to make people’s
lives a little bit easier. Choosing not to misuse a blue
badge or disabled parking bay is a simple thing you can
do to make a difference.”
To report misuse of a badge, please email
customerservices@darlington.gov.uk or contact 01325
405222 (option 5).
16 www.darlington.gov.uk

Hidden dangers in
dairy-free drinks
If you have a dairy allergy, please take care when
ordering drinks using dairy-free milk alternatives.
Whether it’s a cappuccino on the go, or a milky drink
bought in a café, bar or restaurant – it’s important to be
aware of the hidden risks.
By law, food business operators are required to handle
and manage food allergens effectively, and to ensure
that staff receive appropriate training. However, routine
sampling undertaken by the North East regional food
safety group highlighted issues with cross contamination
in the production of hot drinks using dairy-free milk
alternatives.
Cross contamination is when an allergen or bacteria is
unintentionally transferred from one item or surface to
another. This can be an issue if the same equipment is
used to steam or mix drinks using dairy milk, as what is
used for dairy-free alternatives.
To minimise risks, freshly cleaned or separate
equipment and utensils should be used for people with
allergies. This should involve using a separate steam
arm on coffee machines. Simply wiping these down is
not enough to protect someone with an allergy as even
a microscopic trace of an allergen can have serious
consequences and in some cases can be deadly.
Environmental health manager, Brian Whelan, said:
"If you have an allergy, when you order, please make
sure to inform staff of this at the time of order. The
vast majority of businesses take the management of
allergens seriously and implement measures to keep
their customers safe, including letting them know when
cross-contamination cannot be avoided.
“However, there is still work to do. We are undertaking
additional sampling with local businesses to identify
where more support may be needed and will continue
to monitor this over the coming months.
“If you have experienced an allergic reaction after being
exposed to a known allergen please report it online to
North East Allergic Reaction at bit.ly/NEAllergicReaction.
This is an online platform hosted by Redcar & Cleveland
Borough Council which supports local environmental
health teams to investigate concerns and act where
necessary.
“General concerns about the management of allergens
in Darlington-based businesses can also be reported
via email to environmentalhealth@darlington.gov.uk and
we will look into these.”
www.darlington.gov.uk
one Darlington 17

Protecting your
family’s health
VACCINATIONS
Having recommended vaccinations is one of
the best things you can do to protect you and
your family’s health – make sure you respond
to invitations for immunisations from your
GP, child health services or child’s school,
including requests for consent.
Measles, Mumps and Rubella can quickly
spread between young people and local figures
show that in recent years fewer children are
being vaccinated. The safe and effective MMR
vaccine offers life-long protection against
the disease. Two doses are needed for full
protection.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination
is offered to all children in year 8. This
provides protection against cervical cancer
and other serious cancers which affect both
men and women. By adulthood most people
will have been exposed to HPV which is why
it is important that both boys and girls are
vaccinated while they are young, before they
become sexually active and when the vaccine is
most effective.
Flu can be particularly dangerous for some
groups including pregnant women, children
and older adults, as well as those with certain
long term health conditions. Flu typically peaks
in December and January - getting vaccinated
early provides optimal protection during the
highest risk period.
COVID-19 can be a serious or life-threatening
illness for some people. Older people and those
who are immunosuppressed will be offered a
vaccination in early winter. It's important to top
up your protection if you're eligible because
viruses change and protection fades over time.
COMBATTING
DENTAL
DECAY
By the age of five, one in four children in
Darlington has visible dental decay and
tooth extraction is the leading cause of
hospitalisation for local children.
Schools in Darlington are being invited to take
part in a supervised toothbrushing scheme
during the school day to help combat this. This
is recommended in addition to twice daily tooth
brushing at home. Remember - brush for two
minutes, twice a day, spit don't rinse and don't
have too much sugar.
HELP TO BUY
HEALTHY
FOOD AND
MILK
More than a quarter of children in Darlington
are living in poverty.
If you are in receipt of certain means tested
benefits, are pregnant or have parental
responsibility for at least one child under the
age of four, you could be eligible for a Healthy
Start card. The card gives you access to
healthy start vitamins and help to buy healthy
food and milk. Visit www.healthystart.nhs.uk to
check if you are eligible and to apply.
18 www.darlington.gov.uk

FOOD WASTE
RECYCLING
IS COMING!
Preparations are underway for the
introduction of household food waste
recycling collections in April 2026.
By law, all councils must introduce food waste
collections. In Darlington, this will also mean some
changes to simplify the way general recycling is
collected.
All recycling, including food, will be collected
weekly from April 2026 with general household
waste still collected fortnightly.
Before the food waste recycling collections start, a
small five litre food waste caddy to be kept in the
kitchen, a larger 23 litre food waste bin for outside
and a roll of 52 biodegradable caddy liners will be
delivered free to every household in Darlington.
You will be asked to put food waste such as
peelings, leftovers, out of date items (out of
packaging) and tea bags, in the lined caddy and
when it is full, tie the bag and put it in the outside
food waste bin.
The food waste bin will then be collected once
a week along with the general recycling bin and
green box for glass.
The food waste will be taken to a waste processing
facility that combines sorting waste with a
treatment that turns it into a gas which can be
used to generate electricity, heat or transport fuels.
It also creates a nutrient-rich substance that can
be used as a fertiliser for agriculture and in land
regeneration.
General recycling will also be simplified from April
2026, with cardboard, paper, tins and plastic
all put together in the existing recycling bin, with
cartons (Tetra Paks) which can now be recycled.
Glass will continue to be put in the green box.
This means the cardboard and paper caddy inside
the bin is no longer needed, so you can keep it and
reuse for something else.
The changes do not affect garden waste. The
simplified recycling rules, the new items that can
be recycled, and the introduction of food waste
recycling will make it easier for you to recycle right
more often.
More information will be available as we get closer
to the launch date. Information leaflets, including
your recycling collection day, will be delivered with
your new food waste bins and we will be visiting
venues across the borough to tell residents about
the new service and answer any questions.
Full details on the new recycling service, including
frequently asked questions and tips on reducing
food waste, can be found at
www.darlington.gov.uk/foodwaste
www.darlington.gov.uk/foodwaste one Darlington 19

FOOD WASTE EQUIPMENT
Every home will get a free five litre
caddy to keep inside, a free 23 litre
food waste recycling bin for outside and
a free roll of 52 biodegradable caddy
liners.
We will deliver the new equipment to your home
with information leaflets. If you don’t receive it by
the end of March 2026, please visit
www.darlington.gov.uk/foodwaste or call 01325
405111.
You can keep your caddy under the kitchen
sink, next to the kitchen bin or on your worktop.
Remember you can use your own container if you
prefer something more stylish or it fits better in your
kitchen.
The new outside bin is smaller than your other bins.
If you don’t want to use the caddy you can just put
your food waste straight into the new food waste
outside bin.
We will provide you with a roll of 52 biodegradable
caddy liners. There's no need to empty your liner,
just put the whole thing in your outside food waste
recycling bin.
Your recycling collection day may be changing.
You will be told what your collection day is in the
information delivered with the new food caddy and
bin. The time of your collection may also change
so please put your food waste bin out for collection
alongside your recycling bin and green caddy by
7am and bring them back in as soon as you can.
EXISTING EQUIPMENT
* Those properties with no access for wheeled bins will
continue to use the green box and blue bag for recycling.
Bin with green lid – recycling
(cardboard, paper, aluminium
and plastics all together)
Bin with grey lid –
household waste
Bin with brown lid –
garden waste
NEW EQUIPMENT
FOR FOOD WASTE
Large green caddy –
glass
(outside)
Big grey, sealable caddy –
food waste
(outside)
Little grey, sealable caddy –
food waste
(inside)
20 www.darlington.gov.uk/foodwaste

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Q. Why are you introducing food waste
collections?
A. The government’s ‘simpler recycling’ reforms mean
all councils must provide weekly food waste recycling
collections from April 2026. Recycling material can
be turned into something else which is better for the
environment. Other ways of disposing of waste cost
a lot more so recycling can lead to savings which can
be invested in essential services.
Q. Why should I recycle food waste?
A. Around 9.5million tonnes of food are thrown away
in the UK every year which equates to an average
of £470 a year of food per household. Food waste
that is sent to landfill doesn’t harmlessly breakdown.
It has a big impact on the environment as it rots and
releases methane – a harmful greenhouse gas that is
25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Q. What happens to my food waste once its
collected?
A. When recycled, food waste can be turned into
something useful. Your food waste will be taken to a
waste processing facility that combines sorting your
waste with a treatment that turns it into a gas which
can be used to generate electricity, heat or transport
fuels. It also creates a nutrient-rich digestate that
can be used as a fertiliser for agriculture and in land
regeneration
Q. How do I recycle food waste?
A. It’s easy, all you need to do is follow the instructions
on the leaflet which will be delivered with you caddy
or visit www.darlington.gov.uk/foodwaste. We
recommend putting food waste in the small caddy in
your kitchen and when it’s full, tipping it into your new
outside food waste bin.
Q. I live on my own and produce hardly any
food waste – what’s the point of recycling?
A. No amount of food waste is too small for us to collect,
and everyone will produce some waste that can be
recycled. It’s not just uneaten food - banana skins,
potato peelings, tea bags, eggshells, meat bones and
uneaten and out of date food not in packaging can
all be recycled.
Q. How often will food waste be collected?
A. We will be collecting food waste, along with all other
recycling once a week. General rubbish will continue
to be collected fortnightly
Q. When is my collection?
A. Your collection day will be the same as your recycling
collection day but all recycling will now be weekly. You
can check your collection day on our website. Please
put your bins out by 7am on the day of collection and
bring them back in as soon as you can.
Q. What equipment will I get?
A. You will receive a free five litre caddy to keep inside, a
free 23 litre food waste recycling bin for outside and a
free roll of 52 biodegradable caddy liners.
Q. What happens if I haven’t received the
equipment?
A. We will deliver the new equipment to your home. If
you don’t receive it by the end of March 2026 please
call customer services on 01325 405111 or visit
www.darlington.gov.uk/foodwaste to let us know
online.
Q. I don’t have space for the caddy or extra
bin - what should I do?
A. A lot of people will keep their caddy under the sink,
next to the kitchen bin or on the worktop. Remember
you can use your own container if you prefer
something more stylish or it fits better in your kitchen.
The new 'food waste bin is smaller than your other
bins. If you don’t want to use the caddy you can just
put your food waste straight into the outside bin.
Q. I have limited mobility and can’t lift the
caddy or outdoor bin – what should I do?
A. If you already use our assisted collections service, it
will automatically be extended to include your food
waste bin. You can arrange a new assisted collection
online at www.darlington.gov.uk/assistedcollection or
by calling 01325 405111.
Q. Do I need to use both the food waste
caddy and food waste bin?
A. No, if you prefer you can put your food waste straight
into the new food waste bin. You must put the
outside food waste bin (rather than the caddy) out for
collection.
Q. Will the food in my bin smell?
A. Not if you empty your kitchen caddy weekly into the
outside food waste recycling bin and tie up the liners.
Your outdoor bin and caddy also both have sealable
lids which will stop smells getting out better than most
normal kitchen bins.
Q. Will keeping food waste outside attract
rats and flies?
A. If the lid on the outdoor food waste bin is kept closed
and sealed it is unlikely to attract rats or flies. We are
also collecting food waste every week so there won’t
be weeks' worth of food waste outside your house.
www.darlington.gov.uk/foodwaste one Darlington 21

RECYCLING
MADE EASY!
As well as introducing food waste
recycling, we are simplifying general
recycling.
Collections will be weekly from April 2026 so
you should put your green-lidded recycling bin
out for collection each week alongside your
food waste bin.
Thanks to new processes at the treatment plant,
you now only need to separate glass from your
other recycling. Glass goes in your green caddy
and paper, cardboard, aluminium and plastic
all go together in the recycling bin. This means
you will no longer need the card and paper
caddy which fits inside your bin. You can keep
this caddy and reuse it for something else.
From April 2026, we will also
accept Tetra Paks/cartons for
recycling. Just put them in your
main recycling bin (and/or box
and blue bag if you don't have
a wheeled bin) along with the
rest of your recycling.
We hope this new system will make it easier to recycle
so we can all do more to help the environment and
boost recycling rates.
Here are some examples of what can and can’t be
recycled - there is a full list on our website – if you put
something in the wrong bin it can contaminate a whole
wagon load meaning everyone’s efforts in your area
are ruined, so please recycle right.
FROM APRIL 2026
:
YES PLEASE NO THANK YOU
Paper and cardboard
Newspapers and magazines
Gift wrap and greetings cards
Online delivery boxes
Drinks and food cans
Chocolate tins
Clean aluminium foil and trays
Aerosols
Glass bottles and jars
Plastic bottles
Empty plastic food tubs and trays (including
black trays)
Plastic plant pots
Polystyrene
Nappies
Tissue and paper towels
Coat hangers
Batteries (any type in any bin)
Pizza boxes
Cookware
Mirrors
Light bulbs
Plastic bags
Bubble wrap
Remember your recycling collection day may be changing.
You will be told what your collection day is in the information delivered with the new food caddy and bin.
Please put all your recycling out for collection by 7am.
22 www.darlington.gov.uk/foodwaste

BEAT your
finance blues
Contact the Benefit Entitlement Action Team
(BEAT) at Citizen's Advice, Darlington, for help
and support to claim money you are entitled to.
“I wasn’t confident on the computer so Citizen’s Advice
helped me with my change to Universal Credit.”
“Citizen’s Advice helped me to claim Disability
Living Allowance (DLA) for my son and we now
receive the payment we are entitled to.”
“They helped me to claim Pension Credit,
I now qualify for help with my rent, council
tax and warm homes payment.”
“We didn’t realise we were entitled
to higher Pension Credit because
we are disabled.”
Call: 01325 266888
Visit: www.citizensadvicedrc.org.uk
Email: beat@citizensadvicedrc.org.uk

Join The Big North East Read
As part of Green Libraries Week (27 October–2
November), Darlington Libraries are joining forces with
other library services across the region to encourage
people to join The Big North East Read by borrowing
the eBook or eAudio copy of The Golden Mole.
Written by Katherine Rundell, the book is a Sunday Times
bestseller and features extraordinary facts about some of
the planets most astounding animals.
Adults with creative ambition can also join one of two
needle felting workshops, to learn how to needle felt a
creature from the book, including a sea horse, narwhal
and the golden mole.
Workshops dates:
Tuesday 28 October, 1-4.30pm at Darlington Library on
Crown Street
Wednesday 19 November, 6-9.30pm at Cockerton Library.
Booking required via Eventbrite.
Download to read or listen to The Golden Mole free via
Borrowbox through the Library app.
If you aren’t already a library member, you can join free via
the website www.darlington.gov.uk/library
Social Worker of the
Year Awards finalists
The council’s Experts in Practice Project (EXIP) in
children’s and adults’ social care has been announced
as a finalist for the practitioner-led research award at
the prestigious Social Worker of the Year Awards.
EXIP is a research-based initiative that supports staff
development and progression, combining national
and international research with local knowledge and
expertise to create training, tools, information, and
resources that assist peers, multi-agency partners,
service users, and communities.
Congratulations to social workers Amy Waterfield, Amy
Townson, Anna Yoxall, Deborah Parker, Linda Austin,
Jacquelyn McNulty, Charlotte Swainston, Sharon
Crossen, Andrew Robson, and Natalie Bell; therapeutic
practitioner Danielle Farley and occupational therapist
Louise Colley. The winners were announced as One
Darlington went to print.
24 www.darlington.gov.uk

Help for
homeowners to
make properties
warmer
Homeowners and tenants in privately rented
properties are set to benefit from the latest
government scheme to provide free energysaving
upgrades to their homes.
The upgrades which include new insulation, solar
panels or air source heat pumps, will not only
have a positive impact on your bank balance,
they will help tackle climate change by lowering
emissions from homes.
The council is part of a Tees Valley consortium
that secured more than £13m from the Warm
Homes: Local Grant fund to improve energy
efficiency in homes.
Open to homeowners and landlords, you
could be eligible if your home has an Energy
Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or
G and you meet one of the following criteria:
● Your combined annual household income is
under £36,000 (gross), or
● You receive a means-tested benefit and/or are
vulnerable to the cold, or
● If you are a landlord: your tenant(s) have a
combined annual household income under
£36,000 (gross), receive means-tested
benefits, and/or are vulnerable to the cold.
Once you apply, you will be contacted by our
contractor, who will advise you of the process and
arrange for a home assessor to visit your home.
For more information on this and other schemes
available visit www.darlington.gov.uk/homeenergy
or email energyefficiency@darlington.gov.uk or go
to www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency.
Beware of rogue companies posing as official
council contractors or from contractors
offering additional work not funded by
energy schemes.
If you are a homeowner and are asked to pay
something, it is not a council scheme.
You may see officers at local events promoting
the scheme or receive a leaflet, but our staff will
not be cold calling addresses. We are aware of
companies doing this - they are not doing this
on behalf of the council.
www.darlington.gov.uk
one Darlington 25

School transport
Triathlon challenge
Councils must publish arrangements and
policies for home-to-school travel and
transport for school-age children.
We are consulting on our home-to-school
travel and transport policy which can be found
on our website.
Have your say on the policy by Friday 19
December by emailing
schooltraveltransport@darlington.gov.uk or
write to the Schools Admissions & Transport
Manager, People Services, Town Hall,
Darlington, DL1 5QT.
Staff from our adult social care team have
completed a unique triathlon challenge for
charity.
The team set themselves three fitness
challenges over three months to raise money
for St Teresa’s Hospice.
They attended a spinning class at the Dolphin
Centre in June, swimming 100 lengths in July
and hiked over the Cleveland Hills in August.
Their hard work has raised hundreds of
pounds for the charity.
It’s not just any job
– this is an L&S job
Learning & Skills
Darlington provides free
employment academy
courses for people
looking for work.
The one week
courses guarantee
a job interview upon
completion.
They not only help people into work, they offer
the chance to start careers with great benefits
and real prospects for the future.
Companies including Arriva, EE and Nobia
are involved, as well as several local care
providers. An introduction to hospitality with
Blackwell Grange is also available.
Find out more by visiting
www.darlington.gov.uk and searching
‘employment academy’. You can also call
01325 405601 or email l&s@darlington.gov.uk
Carers needed
Could you help people
with a learning disability
and additional needs to
achieve their maximum
independence?
We urgently need caring
and compassionate people
to join our team and work within care settings
to help promote positive outcomes and
enhance peoples lives.
No two working days are the same.
Do you want to feel proud of the work you do,
working flexibly as part of a team supporting
individuals to meet their physical, emotional,
health, well-being and social needs?
To find out more about the role, email louise.
robinson@darlington.gov.uk or call 01325
469707.
To apply for a vacancy, visit
northeastjobs.org.uk and search ‘support
worker’.

A safe place in town
If you’ve ever felt threatened, distressed or
vulnerable when out and about you
will be pleased to know partners
and businesses across the town
have signed up to a special
scheme offering you a safe place.
The Safe Place scheme is a national
initiative which encourages venues to register as a
Safe Place and agree to offer help and support to
those who need it.
The council’s community safety team joined forces
with Darlington Association on Disability (DAD) and
Darlington Connect to launch the scheme earlier
this year with 18 venues signing up and displaying
the Safe Place sticker. The scheme has proved
so popular the number of Safe Place venues is
now more than 30 across the town centre and in
Cockerton.
The Safe Places National Network brings together
all the Safe Place schemes, with information in one
place. You can find out more at www.safeplaces.
org.uk or you can download the Safe Places app
to check where your nearest Safe Places are.
Partners in the Safe Place scheme outside
Darlington Connect in Northgate.
Winter water safety
During the winter months, children and pets
are more at risk of drowning as they may be
tempted to play on ice formed on open water.
You could also find yourself in danger if you
attempt to rescue someone as it is all too easy to
slip and fall into the water.
Follow these steps to help keep yourself and
others safe.
● Stay away from the edges of rivers and ponds,
they may be slippery
● Take extra care walking home after a night out
– don’t drink and drown
● Never walk onto ice covered ponds or rivers
● Keep children within reach and teach them not
to go onto ice
● If someone falls in water don’t go in after
them. Half of all ice-related drownings involve
attempted rescues
● If someone falls in, ring 999 immediately. Try to
reach them from the safety of the bank using
a piece of clothing, a pole, a long branch or
throw a life ring or throw rope
● Keep dogs on leads when near water
● If you fall in, stay calm, float on your back and
call for help.
● Download the what3words app so you can
pinpoint your location - simply read the three
words to the 999 service when making the call.
For more information visit www.ddfire.gov.uk/
water-safety or the Royal Life Saving Society UK
website at www.rlss.org.uk
www.darlington.gov.uk
one Darlington 27

ENJOY WHAT’S ON IN
From festive family fun to cosy community gatherings, there’s
something for everyone looking to Enjoy Darlington this
autumn and winter…
____________________________________________________
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.
____________________________________________________
Live & Local – Fridays, Darlington Market, 6pm, free.
____________________________________________________
Jazz Collective – Saturdays, Darlington Market, 7pm.
____________________________________________________
October
Restaurant Week – Saturday 25 – Friday 31, various locations. See
www.enjoydarlington.co.uk for details.
____________________________________________________
Virtual Haunted Reality – Friday 31, The Hive, Darlington Library,
2-2.45pm, £2.50 per child, recommended for children aged 7+.
Booking required via Eventbrite.
____________________________________________________
Halloween Family Fun Day – Friday 31, Hopetown Darlington,
10am-5pm, free.
____________________________________________________
Spooky Fun Run – Friday 31, Hopetown Darlington, arrive from
8.45am, run starts at 9.30am, £7 for children, £8 for ages 7+.
____________________________________________________
Into the Wild! A Halloween Bushcraft Experience – Monday 27
and Wednesday 29, Hopetown Darlington, 10.15am, 11.30am, 1pm,
2.15pm, £6 per child.
____________________________________________________
Big Science Spooktacular Show – Tuesday 28, Hopetown
Darlington, 10.30am, 11.45am, 1pm, 2.15pm, £6 per child.
____________________________________________________
Rhymetime Adventure Play Halloween Spooktacular – Tuesday
28, 9.15-10.15am (0-1 years) and 10.45-11.45am (1-4 years) at
Cockerton Library. £5 per child, booking required via Eventbrite.
____________________________________________________
Mystical Mugs – Tuesday 28, The Hive, Darlington Library, 10-
11.30am. £5 per child, recommended for children aged 8+. Booking
required via Eventbrite.
____________________________________________________
Trick, Treat, Move Your Feet – Wednesday 29, Hopetown
Darlington, 10.30am, 11.10am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, £6.
____________________________________________________
Halloween Spooky Signs – Wednesday 29, The Hive, Darlington
Library, 10-11.30am, £3.50 per child, recommended for children
aged 8+. Booking required via Eventbrite.
____________________________________________________
Big Science Workshop – Wednesday 29, 10-11am at Darlington
Library and 1.30-2.30pm at Cockerton Library. £5 per child,
recommended for children aged 4+. Booking required via
Eventbrite.
____________________________________________________
Wild Science Halloween Animal Story Show – Thursday 30,
Hopetown Darlington, 10.15am, 11.15am, 12.15pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm,
3.30pm, £6 per child.
____________________________________________________
The Clashed – Friday 31, The Forum, Borough Road, 7pm, £12.
____________________________________________________
November
The Misfit Market – Sunday 2, Hopetown Darlington, 10am-4pm,
Free.
____________________________________________________
After Party – Friday 7 and Saturday 8, The Hullabaloo, £7 per
person.
____________________________________________________
Moretallica – Saturday 8, The Forum, Borough Road, 7.30pm, £13.
____________________________________________________
Dave Acari – Thursday 13, The Forum, Borough Road, 7.30pm, £12.
____________________________________________________
Steampunk Weekend – Saturday 15 and Sunday 16, Hopetown
Darlington, Free.
____________________________________________________
Guns’n’Roses Experience UK – Saturday 15, The Forum, Borough
Road, 7.30pm, £14.
____________________________________________________
28 enjoydarlington.co.uk

DARLINGTON
Christmas Lights Switch-on – Sunday 16, town centre, from 4pm,
Free.
____________________________________________________
Whitesnake UK – Friday 21, The Forum, Borough Road, 7.30pm,
£22.
____________________________________________________
School Disco – Saturday 22, The Forum, Borough Road, 7pm, £17.
____________________________________________________
Christmas Wreath Making – Sunday 23 and Saturday 29,
Hopetown Darlington, 1pm–4pm, £48 per person.
____________________________________________________
Santa’s Grotto – Hopetown Darlington, every weekend from
Saturday 29 November to Sunday 21 December, plus Monday 22
and Tuesday 23 December, 10am–4pm, £20 per child.
____________________________________________________
Christmas Lights – Friday 28 November – Sunday 7 December,
The Hullabaloo, £10 per person.
____________________________________________________
A Season to Sing & A Christmas Story – Saturday 29, Dolphin
Centre, 7.30pm, £15.
____________________________________________________
Festive Rag Wreath Workshop – Sunday 30, Hopetown
Darlington, sessions between 10.30am and 4pm, £12.50 per
person.
____________________________________________________
The Elves’ Giftworks – Saturday 29 November – Wednesday 24
December, Hopetown Darlington, 10am-5pm, £5 per child, £1 per
adult (free for under 1s).
____________________________________________________
December
History Wardrobe Presents: A Very Victorian Christmas –
Wednesday 3, Hopetown Darlington, 7pm-8.15pm, £15 per person.
____________________________________________________
Green Days – Friday 5, The Forum, Borough Road, 7.30pm, £10
(14+).
____________________________________________________
Santa's Grotto – Wednesday 10 - Friday 12 December, Darlington
Library. £10 per child, recommended for children aged 0-4 years.
Booking required via Eventbrite (time slots available throughout
the day).
____________________________________________________
Singer of the Lakes | White Christmas – Tuesday 9, The Forum,
Borough Road, 7.30pm, £10.
____________________________________________________
The Paper Dolls – Thursday 11– Wednesday 24, The Hullabaloo,
£12 per person.
____________________________________________________
Roxy Magic – Saturday 13, The Forum, Borough Road, 7.30pm,
£13.
____________________________________________________
The Mrs Claus Experience – Saturday 13 – Sunday 14, Hopetown
Darlington, 10am–3.15pm (bookable sessions), £5 per child.
____________________________________________________
Rhymetime Adventure Play Festive Fun – Monday 15, 11am-noon
at Darlington Library and Tuesday 16, 9.15-10.15am at Cockerton
Library. £6 per child, recommended for children aged 0-18 months.
Booking required via Eventbrite.
____________________________________________________
Bon Jovi Forever – Friday 19, The Forum, Borough Road, 7.30pm,
£13.
____________________________________________________
Christmas Carousel – Friday 19, The Forum, Borough Road,
7.30pm, £13.
____________________________________________________
Festive Fun with Santa – Sunday 21, Darlington Market, Noon-
3pm, free.
____________________________________________________
Grinch and Cindy-Lou Party – Monday 22, 11am-noon at
Darlington Library and 2.30-3.30pm at Cockerton Library. £7.50
per child, recommended for children aged 4-7 years. Booking
required via Eventbrite.
____________________________________________________
Festive Fun Run – Saturday 20, Hopetown Darlington, arrival from
8.45am, run starts at 9.30am.
____________________________________________________
Children's Party – Wednesday 31, Darlington Market, 4-7pm, free.
____________________________________________________
Contacts
Eventbrite – www.eventbrite.co.uk
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 29

Anne Smith's picture of a village which shelters its residents.
Jennifer Smith drew her picture of a castle sheltering a horse
and rider, then painted it with watercolours
Cheryl Cordier's picture of a lion taking shelter in a tree
Artwork
chosen
for a
national
exhibition
Four local artists from the
council’s Community Art
Project (CAP) have been
included in a National Open
Art Exhibition at Christies in
London!
All 15 CAP service users
submitted entries to the Outside
In National Open Exhibition,
‘Shelter’, which provides people
who encounter significant
barriers to the art world due
to health, disability, social
circumstances, or isolation an
opportunity to take part.
A group of 79 artists were
selected from over 600
submissions, four from the
council’s CAP, to display their
artwork as part of the exhibition
at the New Art Gallery, Walsall,
during the summer, before
moving to Christie’s in London
from 12 to 22 January 2026.
Congratulations to everyone
who took part.
For more information about the
Shelter exhibition visit
www.outsidein.org.uk
Emma Watson drew a
picture of herself sheltering
in a telephone box

Caring can
take its toll
When you are caring for
someone, it can be difficult
to look after your own health
and wellbeing.
Your wellbeing matters to us.
We care about our carers.
The benefits of taking a break
and time for yourself to do
something you enjoy and to
recharge your batteries should
not be underestimated.
Whether reading a book,
spending time in your garden,
going to the theatre or cinema,
enjoying a spa day, seeing
friends or taking a trip away,
finding ‘me’ time to relax and
unwind is so important.
Support from the council’s
adult social care service
may be available, following
a carer's assessment or
assessment of need for the
person being cared for.
Support includes the provision
of respite services to the
person cared for, such as day
opportunities, sitting services
or short stays in residential
care. Carers may also receive
support. To find out more, call
or email – details are at the
bottom of this page.
Organisations that offer support and help to take a break are listed below:
Darlington Carers Support
Tel 0300 0301215 email admin@darlingtoncarers.org web dccarers.org
Offers flexible respite options, which may include spa days, gardening
vouchers, theatre or cinema tickets, arts and craft supplies, funding for
sitting services, and, in some instances, short overnight breaks.
Age UK North Yorkshire and Darlington
Tel 01325 362832 web ageuk.org.uk
Provides respite breaks, meals at home deliveries, and day care sessions,
including the comfort and care haven service, which offers pre-bookable
sessions.
Family Action Young Carers Darlington
Tel 01325 794888 email youngcarersdarlington@family-action.org.uk
web family-action.org.uk
Offers bespoke provision to young carers and young adult carers, from
the age of five up to 25. May include cinema vouchers, selfcare activities,
paying for club memberships and opportunities to reduce the caring role
and provide a break.
St Teresa’s Hospice
Tel 01325 254321 email hello@darlingtonhospice.org.uk
web darlingtonhospice.org.uk
Supports carers of people with a life-limiting illness, provides a volunteer
visiting service, hospice at home, family support service, complementary
therapies, wellbeing groups and in-patient care. In addition, there is a
carers’ support group, wellbeing days for carers and counselling for adult
and young carers.
Darlington Association on Disability (DAD)
Tel 01325 489999 email mail@darlingtondisability.org
Can provide holiday play and leisure opportunities for children and young
people, weekly sessions for young people during term time and carers'
breaks for adults.
Mobiliseonline.co.uk provides online support for carers.
Benefit Enablement Action Team (BEAT) at Citizens’ Advice
- check if you qualify for financial support, see page 23 for details.
www.darlington.gov.uk/adult-social-care one Darlington 31

NO EXPERIENCE?
NO PROBLEM.
Build your skills with help
from local employers.
18-21 in Darlington – try a free work taster
or apply for a paid work placement.
Scan to find
out more!
If you’re aged 18-21, not currently in education, employment, or training, and are living in Tees Valley
(Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees), then you are
eligible to apply.

We will
remember
them
The town’s Remembrance Sunday
service will be held on Sunday 9
November.
There will be a service in Holy
Trinity Church, Woodland Road, at
10am.
The service will be followed by
a procession from the church to
the Cenotaph in the grounds of
Darlington Memorial Hospital.
An act of remembrance will be
held, including the Last Post, two
minutes silence and the laying of
wreaths.
There will also be a service of
remembrance at the war graves
in West Cemetery, Carmel Road
North, at 2.30pm on Sunday 9
November.
The Mayor, Councillor Sonia Kane,
will lead a one-minute silence on
High Row at 11am on Remembrance
Day, Tuesday 11 November.
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
www.darlington.gov.uk one Darlington 33

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
www.darlington.gov.uk/stop-smoking
County Durham
and Darlington
NHS Foundation Trust
0800 802 1850

Fantastic Great North Runners raise
thousands for CDDFT charity
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation
Trust (CDDFT) charity is celebrating the incredible
efforts of its 33 Great North Runners, who took on
the iconic half marathon in September and raised
thousands of pounds to enhance patient and staff
care across the Trust.
From first-time runners to seasoned halfmarathoners,
each participant dedicated months
of training and fundraising to support their local
hospitals and community teams. Together, their
efforts will help fund projects and initiatives that go
beyond what the NHS can provide – making a real
difference to patients, families and staff.
Rich Jones, charity manager said: "We are so proud
of every one of our runners. Taking on the Great
North Run is a huge achievement in itself, but to do it
while raising funds that directly benefit patients and
staff in our hospitals and community services is truly
inspiring."
Crowds lined the streets from Newcastle to South
Shields, cheering on Team CDDFT every step of the
way.
Many runners took part in memory of loved ones,
to thank staff for care received, or simply to give
something back to their local NHS.
The funds raised will support a wide range of
projects – from specialist equipment and patient
comfort items, to wellbeing initiatives for NHS staff.
CDDFT charity is now looking ahead to the 2026
Great North Run, and anyone inspired by this year’s
achievements is encouraged to get in touch about
running for the charity next year.
For more information on how to support CDDFT Charity or to sign up for future fundraising events,
visit: www.cddftcharity.co.uk or email cddftcharity@nhs.net
www.cddft.nhs.uk Find us on social media! @CDDFTNHS
one Darlington 35

Winter Sun
Escapes
from
Escape the chill and fly straight to sunshine with Teesside
Airport’s winter flying programme – with flights to Alicante
and Malaga, now with five extra Alicante dates!
SCAN TO VIEW
FLIGHT SCHEDULE

CHRISTMAS AT
THE HULLABALOO
28 Nov - 7 Dec
Ages 1-4
Tickets £10
11 - 24 Dec
Ages 3-8
Tickets £12
Magical things to
see, make & do!
The Hullabaloo | Darlington | DL1 1SG | theatrehullabaloo.org.uk

Bringing the
community
together
Housing services staff joined forces
with North Star Housing and Darlington
Partnership to help bring the community
together for a special event combining advice,
support and family fun.
Skerne Park Community Centre was the venue
and the event provided an opportunity for
tenants to meet the housing services team and
learn more about support available, including
advice on fire safety, home alterations and
adaptations, welfare benefits and Lifeline
services. Local police and members of the
council’s community safety team were also
on hand to answer questions and discuss any
concerns within the community.
There was also plenty of fun with balloon
modelling and facepainting, while the Scouts
and Move More team hosted a range of
activities.
It proved such a success, with many tenants
commenting on how valuable it was, that more
joint events are planned for other areas across
the borough. Look out for more details on the
DBCHousing Facebook page.
Help us develop a new
community safety plan
We want to hear your views as we look to
develop a new community safety partnership
plan for Darlington.
Members of Darlington Community Safety
Partnership (CSP) are keen to encourage
residents, businesses and organisations across the
borough to share their views and ideas on what
should be included in the new plan for 2026-2029.
The CSP is made up of representatives from
Darlington Borough Council, Durham Constabulary,
County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue
Service, Health, Probation, Youth Justice, the
Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, voluntary
and community sector organisations.
Its overriding aim is to make Darlington a safe
place to live, work and visit.
Let us know what you think by completing the CSP
plan survey which can be found at www.darlington.
gov.uk/consultations or by scanning the QR code
below. You have until 24 November.
Paper copies are also available for those who do
not have internet access and can be picked up at
Darlington Libraries
in Crown Street and
Cockerton.
38 www.darlington.gov.uk

The Education Village Academy Trust
Springfield
Academy
Gurney
Pease
Academy
Whinfield
Primary
School
Reid
Street
Primary
School
Admission authorities are required to consult with local residents by 31
January of any year where there are proposed changes to admissions
arrangements, or following seven years since the last consultation, for
schools they are responsible for, in line with regulations made under the
School Standards and Framework Act 1998.
The Education Village Academy Board of Trustees (the admissions
authority) are consulting on the mainstream primary admissions policies for
the academic year 2027-28. This consultation is in line with the requirement
to consult every seven years. It should be noted that no changes are being
made to the policies.
Details of the consultation are available at
www.educationvillage.org.uk/information/policies-and-procedures
Comments on the proposed admissions policy are welcomed before Friday
30 January 2026. Please email governance@educationvillage.org.uk or
send written comments to - The Trust Head of Governance & Assurance,
The Education Village, Salters Lane South, Darlington, DL1 2AN.
All comments will be considered.
700 Club’s Winter Appeal - Forever Homes
The number of families facing homelessness is increasing and behind every statistic is a child without a bed, a
parent forced into impossible choices, a family’s future on hold.
This isn’t just a housing crisis. It’s a crisis of hope, security, and opportunity.
Forever Homes changes that. We give families in Darlington more than just a roof—we provide safe, affordable
homes, and the wraparound support to help rebuild lives.
With your help we can create more Forever Homes and give local families the stability they deserve.
Donate today
Be the reason a family finds their forever home
Stop the clock on Darlington
families becoming homeless
www.700club.org.uk 01325 366397

Christmas waste and
recycling collection
There will be some changes to recycling and
waste collections over the festive season.
Please make sure your bins are ready for
collection at 7am as collection times may vary.
Garden waste collections will end the two
weeks beginning Monday 24 November
and will start again in April.
Look out for more details on social media
and at www.darlington.gov.uk/gardenwaste
Usual bin collection date
Revised collection date
Thursday 25 December 2025 Monday 29 December 2025
Friday 26 December 2025 Tuesday 30 December 2025
Tuesday 30 December 2025 Wednesday 31 December 2025
Wednesday 31 December 2025 Friday 2 January 2026
Thursday 1 January 2026 Saturday 3 January 2026
Friday 2 January 2026 Monday 5 January 2026
!
!
!
!
!
!
Don’t forget to find out all about the
introduction of food waste recycling and
changes to recycling coming next year
– see pages 19-22.