JONNY TAKES TOP AWARD

Erewash Borough Council apprentice mechanic Jonny Davies has won the Apprentice of the Year award at Chesterfield College for the Level 3 Heavy Vehicle Systems Maintenance and Repair course. Jonny was presented with his award on Tuesday 27th June, the same day he successfully

completed his three year apprenticeship with the council. Jonny (19) is based at the council’s Merlin Way site in Ilkeston and helps to maintain and repair the council’s entire fleet – working on everything from lawn mowers to 26 tonne refuse vehicles. Councillor Garry Hickton, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Environment, says: “Very many congratulations to Jonny, who really has proved himself to be an outstanding apprentice here at the council – his award is well deserved. Alongside his college studies, hehas worked hard with our team to get the complete experience and skills involved in fleet maintenance.”

Jonny has enjoyed the apprenticeship and is now looking forward to further developing his skills: “I am really grateful to the council for giving me this opportunity. I have learnt so much and so many new skills. The team has been really supportive and I have had the chance to work on something different just about every day. I’m now looking forward to learning even more so that I can play an even bigger role for the council.”

His next step will see him learn how to prepare vehicles for MOTs, while he will also be put through his HGV driving test soon. His role will also be extended so he can attend and deal with any council vehicle breakdowns. Jonny has been supported throughout his three year apprenticeship by Fleet Services supervisor Joe Kirby and all his fleet maintenance colleagues.

APPEAL FOR MOBILITY SCOOTER

HEARTS Of GOLD

I have an On-Line appeal here

http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/second-hand-mobility-scooter

Crowd Fund

I am asking for kind "Hearted Human Being" to pledge, so I can get myself a second hand "Mobility Scooter". To get about without the need to solely rely on my "Angel" for everything.

STAGE ONE POOL LEAGUE

Disco Dave with the white hat on and his mates

In this weeks games John Thompson was playing Craig Gapper. Craig dominated the game from the start but could not finish, this gave John Thompson one chance and he took it very well with some excellent pots. All Craig Gapper could do was look on and when John potted the black ball to win the game all Craig could do was stand there and shake his head knowing he had thrown away a vital game.
Richard Derbyshire had a brilliant win over Mick Archer and all Mick  could say to Richard was well played. In one of the doubles matches you had champions of two years ago Dave Price and Craig Gapper playing Tonie Barry and John Smith. This game was a very tactical affair and went down to the last two colours one red ball and one yellow ball and with Dave Price and Craig Gapper on the yellow balls Craig Gapper stepped up and took his shot and put the yellow ball half way over the corner pocket with the the red ball twelve inches directly behind. John smith walked over to Tonie Barry and said I can pot that yellow ball by coming off the top cushion if I do it will leave you a long black ball to pot John Smith got down to take his shot and potted the yellow ball and left a long black ball for Tonie Barry. Tonie Barry got down eyed up her shot took her time and yes she potted a brilliant black ball. What a big cheer went up but the look on Craig Gapper and Dave Price was doom and gloom to know that losing could cost them a place in the final of the doubles.
Mr lady Luck Rob Powell did not play lady's due to being on Holiday again. Yes Holiday again this time he had gone to Whitby so with Disco Dave being on his own he bought some of his pals down to support him hoping he could win his game but the problem was he was playing John Smith who is in top form. In this game Disco Dave Broke off and potted a red ball from the break as the ball went down the pocket a cheer went up but that was the one and only cheer he got all that game due to him not getting another shot. Yes Disco Dave lost his game against John Smith, so Disco Dave you cannot win when Mr Lady Luck Rob Powell is not there and you cannot win when you bring your mates down to support you, what's next then.

SPORT

FUNDING SUCCESS FOR UNITED
Long Eaton United are celebrating after being awarded a £6,000 Grow the Game grant, something that has attracted praise from England manager Gareth Southgate. The grant, which will provide a boost to grassroots football in Long Eaton, has paved the way for Long Eaton United Development Squad and Academy to kit out and equip four new teams in the 16-18 year age groups for the 2017/18 season.
England Men’s senior manager and Football Foundation Ambassador, Gareth Southgate, said: “I’m so pleased that Long Eaton United has secured this Grow the Game grant. The club has worked very hard with the Derbyshire FA and the Football Foundation to get more locals playing football so that they can enjoy the physical and mental benefits that come with playing regular sport.
“Grow the Game is mainly funded by the FA and delivered by the Football Foundation. This is money that’s flowing from the very top of the game down to the lowest levels, to help clubs at the grassroots to bear the cost of starting up new teams, whether it be for new kit, pitch hire or sending volunteers on FA accredited coaching courses.”

Grow the Game is a £2.5m programme funded by The FA and the Football Foundation. It awards grants to grassroots football clubs that wish to create new teams, especially amongst under-represented groups.
For FA-affiliated clubs, £1,500 is available to help with the cost of creating a new team, which might include the costs of FA coaching courses; FA league affiliation costs; referees’ fees; first aid kits; and even football kit and equipment.
Paul Holland, Long Eaton United’s new head of football development, said: “We are delighted with the support afforded us by both the Derbyshire FA and the Football Foundation. We have just started an exciting new Development Squad and Academy project at Long Eaton United and the grant will enable us to ensure that we minimise costs to players and maximise the sporting opportunities for them.”
In 2016, Grow the Game helped to launched 2,159 new teams.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT EREWASH MUSEUM

Calling all cake lovers! Are you passionate about all things scones, tea and cake? Then the Erewash Museum Tearooms want to hear from you! This summer, Erewash Borough Council is looking for volunteers to lend a hand at the award winning Museum’s tearooms. You will be joining a team of dedicated and friendly volunteers helping to raise money for the museum, and in return will receive invitations to social events as well as an honorary membership to the friends of Erewash museum. No minimum commitment is required, and full food hygiene training will be provided. There are a number of events coming up at the Museum, including Swing Back to the Forties day, the return of the Victorian Beach, and much more to keep you busy! Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure says:

 “The tearooms at the Museum are a lovely asset to the great events and exhibitions held there. The team are extremely hardworking and friendly, and volunteers that give their time would only strengthen this.”

For more information, please contact Helen Martinez at the Erewash Museum on 0115 907 1141. Admission is free. Email museum@erewash.gov.uk  or visit the Facebook page /erewashmuseum.

POLICE SWIMMING WARNING

Police are reminding people about the dangers of swimming in lakes, reservoirs, rivers and canals after numerous reports across the county following the recent warm weather.
There have been reports where youngsters have gone into open water since last weekend, with the most recent taking place on Thursday, June 22nd.

Officers in the areas affected have been responding to reports, carrying out patrols, advising swimmers and raising awareness of the dangers. Superintendent Michelle Shooter, said:
“We are urging people not to go in the water to cool down if the weather is hot, as they could endanger their own lives and the lives of others if they get into difficulty and need someone to help. Open water such as lakes, reservoirs and other sites like disused, water-filled quarries can be extremely dangerous even for experienced swimmers. While it might be tempting please remember that there are hidden dangers such as strong currents, sudden drops, steep sides, and things under the water that you might not see from the surface. It isn’t worth the huge risk so please stay safe and out of the water.”

United Utilities, a water company which manages recreation sites in parts of the Peak District, has recently updated a campaign around reservoir safety. You can find more information on their website: www.unitedutilities.com/help-and-support.

STEVE CROTON

Marathon cyclist Steve Croton has completed a gruelling 900 mile charity ride across France – despite being in extreme pain throughout.
  On the first day of the two week venture Steve, 61, collided with a pedestrian only two miles into the ride. Though the walker was not seriously hurt, Steve injured his back and smashed his cycle helmet. The 20-year veteran member and chairman of the Erewash Valley Cycling Club managed to continue the ride, from Caen to Nice, while taking daily pain killers.
  Said Steve: “ The thought of not letting down my many sponsors for Cancer Research drove me on towards the finish.” He hopes to have raised around £1,700 for the charity, ridden in memory of his mother, Jean, who died from disease in 1978 aged just 41.
  “Steve’s determination to finish this marathon ride while suffering from his back injury showed true grit,” said Malcolm Griffin,  the Erewash Valley Cycling Club’s organising secretary. “I’m sure all our members are very proud of him.”
  Steve, from Ilkeston, was sponsored by the local Rotary Club, friends, neighbours, club members and workmates at R. A.  Labone  Co. Ltd. He rode with 18 other cyclists and a support team from the Glossop-based Peak Tours.

JUNIOR SUMMERTIME SWIM IS BACK

Children aged 5 to 16 years can make sure their summer holidays go swimmingly  in Erewash  . . . thanks to the bargain seven-week Junior Swim Membership which is back by popular demand. Erewash Borough Council has again launched the summertime special - a £15 swim membership offer that will be valid for the pools at both West Park Leisure Centre in Long Eaton and Victoria Park Leisure Centre in Ilkeston for the whole of the holiday break from Monday 17th July to Sunday 3rd September.

The junior swim membership can be bought now from the two leisure centres and is expected to be a popular offer, giving youngsters the summer-long school holiday to enjoy unlimited swimming during all casual swimming sessions. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult. The membership also includes the chance to join fun pool parties – on Saturday 29thJuly and Saturday 2nd September at Victoria Park Leisure Centre and on Saturday 5th and 26th August at West Park Leisure Centre. The parties are limited to 100 places on a first come, first served basis on the day. The qualifying age for the membership is between five years and up to the 16th birthday.

NEW CONTRACT CONTINUES RECYCLING DRIVE

Erewash Borough Council has awarded the contract for processing the recyclable waste collected from households to waste management company Casepak. The Leicester-based company has dealt with the borough’s recyclables since 2012 as part of a deal between the council and waste company FCC Environmental, under which Casepak was FCC’s chosen recycling re-processor. The new contract, which started on 1st April this year, is a direct agreement between the council and Casepak that will run until 2022, with the option to extend for a further two years.

Casepak will process around 9,000 tonnes of recyclable waste per year collected from 54,000 homes across Erewash. The waste will be sorted, graded and processed using the latest technology at Casepak’s Material Recycling Facility (MRF) in Braunstone Frith, Leicester. Councillor Garry Hickton, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Environment, says:

“Our recycling rate currently stands at 42% and we are hoping that, with Casepak’s help, we can further improve our recycling performance. It is thanks to Casepak’s cutting edge technology that Erewash residents can recycle a wide range of items and that recyclables can be collected all together – without the need for residents having to separate certain items.”

The council hopes that during the contract term, additional items will be added to the list of waste that can be recycled to make the service even better for residents in the borough.

NEED A GRANT

Community and voluntary groups across Erewash have another chance to apply for grants of up to £2,000 to help them with their work in the borough. Erewash Borough Council has opened a further round of funding through its Community Grants scheme and wants local groups to get in touch and apply for support ahead of the closing deadline of 12.30pm on Monday 24th July. Countless groups have been helped over the last few years through the grants scheme, ranging from Scout groups to charities like Sight Support Derbyshire. Councillor Gerri Hickton, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Community Engagement, says:

“We want to get the message out to groups in all corners of our borough that these grants are on offer to help them. We have helped so many since we launched this scheme but we still want to hear from the many more groups we know are out there working to help people living in Erewash. It doesn’t matter how small the group is, we want to hear. Will a grant of up to £2,000 help you? Then get in touch now!”

The deadline for community grant applications is 12.30pm on Monday 24th July. Full details of the scheme and how to apply for a community grant are available at www.erewash.gov.uk  - via the ‘Community and Living’ tab and the link to ‘Grants’.

Anyone needing help or advice regarding completing the application form can contact the council’s Community Engagement Officer Colin Handley via email colin.handley@erewash.gov.uk or on 0115 907 2244.