The Chief Executive of a telephone advice service is urging anyone from Blyth struggling with legal or financial problems to pick up the phone and join the hundreds of people from the town who have already turned their lives around by asking for help.
The Northumberland Single Telephone Advice Line, which was launched in autumn 2010, is now receiving on average 400 calls a month with around 50 calls being referred to the Blyth Citizens Advice Bureau(CAB) for further assistance.
The curtain is ready to rise for the Scouts performing in the Blyth Valley Gang Show, which is taking place between Tuesday 14th to Saturday 18th February at The Phoenix Theatre in Blyth.
The family variety show features sixty four talented Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Leaders performing a wide range of musical numbers, packed full of song and dance, along with the traditional comedy sketches. This year the show includes a sunny and upbeat 'holiday' section, along with a majestic 'Fire' number. There is also a number based on eighties music and the scouts very own take on the Dr Who theme. The young people have been rehearsing and perfecting the show since October last year and can't wait to hit the stage at the Phoenix.
Game Two of the Aspire 2 Achieve Northumberland Basketball League featured the same two teams as game gne, but the similarities ended there.
The Northumberland Knightflyers, who struggled during the first half of game one, came out strong at the start of the game, took a quick lead and then never gave up the pace. The game ended with a 62 - 22 point final score.
'We have struggled in the first half for the last year' said Knightflyers Head Coach, Alan Hoyle 'Our main focus for this game was to apply the defensive pressure early and let the offence come to us. We normally over think our strategies early and let our nerves take over, but today's game marked a huge improvement in our performance, we just need to keep it up for the rest of the season.'
2010-11 MVP Callum Wingfield lead all scorers with 13 points, while picking up his second triple double of the season with 11 assists and 10 rebounds to go with 6 steals.
League scoring leader, Adam Coxon scored 7 points to lead the injured and flu ridden Renegades, who all struggled from the field shooting a total of 31% as a team, while the Knightflyers shot 69%.
The duo of Ian Moffat and Simon Pound gave the Knightflyers a boost on the inside as the two combined for 12 points, 7 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks and 29 rebounds, while the Renegades struggled rebounding with a team total of 19.
Next up for both teams is LTU who have the largest line up in the league.
For more information about the Aspire 2 Achieve Northumberland Basketball League please visit http://www.aspire2achieve.org.uk
Heading into Game Two of the Aspire 2 Achieve Northumberland Basketball League, feedback continues to flow in after the impressive season opener which took place at Blyth Sportscentre on Sunday 27th November.
Game Two is a rematch between the Northumberland Knightflyers and the Blyth Renegades, the teams who took to the court in Game One and saw the Knightflyers coming away with the 63 - 44 win.
While the action on court impressed all who attended the game, the reception the game received left a mark on all the players who took part, along with everybody in attendance.
'I was surprised with the level of talent playing in the game' said John Stelton, a parent who had came along to the game to support his daughter who was part of the cheer leading group 'I had very little interest in the sport, but found myself really getting into the game, by the end, I was asking around when the next game will take place!'
'It was the perfect opener to our season' said Aspire 2 Achieve Co-Founder, Alan Hoyle 'Everybody who took part in the game did fantastic, both teams and the cheer leaders put on a great show for everybody, a parent compared the game as something he witnessed whilst in America, which is a huge compliment to us all.'
'After finishing the game, the team and I just couldn't wait for the next match! It was an amazing turn-out; something I really wasn't expecting as basketball in this country isn't nearly as big as it's home nation, or in some parts of the southern hemisphere.' Added Ben Deakin, forward for the Northumberland Knightflyers 'Both teams played really well and did a great service for raising the profile for basketball England - which we at the Northumberland Knightflyers are very proud to be part of. Basketball is a very fun and energetic game, not to mention a great way to get out and socialize with people of similar interests. I would implore people of all ages to give it a go, whatever your fitness level.'
'The first game of the season was a great game with a great crowd who got behind both teams and seemed to enjoy the game.' Chris Lewis, Blyth Renegades center added 'Hopefully games like this will become a seasonal event.'
Game Two looks to bit quite different from Game One, with both teams looking at different tatics to start the game, during Game One the Renegades came out strong in the first but appeared to struggle with the fast tempo in the second half, whilst the Knightflyers started slow and had to play catch up before dominating in the forth quarter.
'This has been our main issue over the last couple of seasons' said Northumberland Knightflyers coach, Alan Hoyle 'We always seem to start the game slowly then have a strong second half, we cannot keep doing this, we need to come out strong and play at a high level from tip off to the final buzzer. We played near perfect Basketball in the second half of our last game, but we really need to get something going early on this time.'
'Both teams have been training hard for the game' added Alan 'Both teams understand what they did right in Game One, what they did wrong in Game One, and have worked on correcting the wrongs each session since, it shall be an interesting game, with an important outcome.'
With a win on Friday, the Blyth Renegades could even up with the Northumberland Knightflyers at the top of the league, however if the Knightflyers come away with the win it will give them a dominating two win lead above the rest of the teams in the league.
The Aspire 2 Achieve Northumberland Basketball League is the first local Basketball league to record all statistics electronically, which has became a great hit, with over 8,000 unique visitors heading over to the league section of the Aspire 2 Achieve web site within a week of the statistics going live.
'Unfortunately I missed the first game of the season' said Aspire 2 Achieve Co-Founder Isobelle Gibson 'But I could catch up on all the statistics online'
Game Two of the Aspire 2 Achieve Northumberland Basketball League takes place Friday 16th December, 7pm at James Calvert Spence College, in Amble. Spectator entry costs £1.
The Blyth Renegades will be back in action on January 8th, as they host LTU at Blyth Sportscentre. The game tips off at 4pm. The Knightflyers will then take on LTU on January 14th, with a 7pm tip off time.
For more information about any of the teams, the league in general or Aspire 2 Achieve, please visit http://www.aspire2achieve.org.uk.
Reader Ian Watkins sent this great picture of dawn over Blyth's south beach.
Send your pictures in to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk
Reader Ian Watkins sent this great picture of dawn over Blyth's south beach.
Send your pictures in to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk
With the unfortunate situation of a number of local Extended Services now closing, Aspire 2 Achieve are now offering an ever growing range of After School activities, which aim to provide students in Northumberland with a number of different opportunities to learn whilst having fun.
Aspire 2 Achieve is a Northumberland based organisation whose prime purpose is to raise the awareness, confidence and productivity of youths in the area via the medium of sport and other various fun and challenging activities.
All Aspire 2 Achieve activities are tailored specifically to meet the needs and abilities of the participants. The overriding theme of each activity is to provide a healthy, positive activity that encourages each individual to learn whilst having fun.
After School activates offer a wide range of benefits to the participants, including increased level of confidence, self esteem and discipline, socialising with pupils from different classes and year groups, trying out different activities, to name just a few.
'We are really excited to offer this range of activities to schools and community groups in Northumberland.' Said Aspire 2 Achieve Co-Founder Alan Hoyle 'Every activity is exciting, fun and will really get the people involved thinking and working together as a team.'
Currently Aspire 2 Achieve are offering ten after school activities, details of which can be found below :
Basketball Coaching - With Alan Hoyle and Isobelle Gibson.
Take to the Basketball court with our unrivalled Basketball Coaching programme! Both Alan and Isobelle have experience with coaching basketball in Northumberland and other areas in the UK. Their unique experience of training with the six time world champions, the Chicago Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves allows them to offer an unmatched and unique training programme to people of all ages and abilities.
Recommended Age : All Ages.
Basketball Statistics Course - With Alan Hoyle.
Take in the sights and sounds of some of the greatest games in Basketball history! Learn how to recognise, record and store Basketball statistics in this interesting course. Watch and analyse some of the greatest players in the world, whilst learning valuable skills to be used on and off the court, including Mathematics and English.
Recommended Age : 12+
An introduction to Video Game Design - With Alan Hoyle. (Free Software included.)
Use Mathematics, English, ICT and Graphic design to create your very own Video Game! This introduction course will teach young people the basics of creating video games using a simple click and create interface. This course will take participants from a blank canvas to an actual, fully playable gaming creation, the possibilities are endless!
Recommended Age : 6+
Fine and Gross Motor Skills Development - With Isobelle Gibson.
Gross Motor Activities are an essential part of every child's life. Through play, children should be developing their gross motor skills to prepare them for the demands of school such as handwriting, concentrating, following instructions, sport skills and team work. Staying active through gross motor exercise can also help children avoid the pitfall of obesity that can come through inactivity.
Recommended Ages : 3+
An introduction to Indian Cuisine - With Jasvinder Dehil.
Experience the exciting sights, tastes and smells of authentic Indian Cuisine! Learn how to create your very own authentic Indian cuisine.
Recommended Age : 6 +
Greenwood Work - With Simon Rippon.
Greenwood Work is the exciting craft of making useful and beautiful objects from green or newly cut wood.
Greenwood Work links the children to a pre-electricity, pre-plastic and largely self sufficient world where life's necessities were supplied locally using the materials to be found near at hand.
Recommended Age : 6+
Brazilian Soccer - With Tony Threlfall.
Fast paced and fun football sessions! Brazilian Soccer illustrates that the dreams of any football fan, combined with practice and a unique devotion to the ball, can produce players with previously unseen levels of technical and physical ability.
Recommended Age : 4+
Northumberland Countryside Experience - With Kevin Dawson.
Experience the wonderful Northumberland Countryside like never before!
The Northumbrian Countryside Experience is the ultimate countryside experience because it not only provides you a picturesque environment in which to enjoy the activities but this is backed up with excellent tuition which can cater for any level of experience from novice to experienced.
This breathtaking experience will show you the wonders of Northumberland like never before!
Recommended Age : 4+
Freestyle Dance - With Carol Gray
This exciting course offers various styles of dancing combined with gymnastics to create an unique freestyle dance which captures the imagination of everybody taking part.
Recommended Age : 4+
Bowls : It's not just for Grannies and Grand dads! - With Michael Grant
Bowls is a sport for everyone, but is highly challenging and combines not only physical skill but mental strategy. It can be said that the sport can be learnt in minutes and takes a lifetime to master.
Recommended Age : 5+
Whatever activity you may choose, wherever your location is, Aspire 2 Achieve will provide your school or other organisation with exactly what you require.
For more information on Aspire 2 Achieve, or to book an activity, please visit http://www.aspire2achieve.org.uk.
The Aspire 2 Achieve Basketball League tipped off on Sunday 27th November at Blyth Sportscentre. The first game of the new league featured the Blyth Renegades and the Northumberland Knightflyers with cheer leader support from the HTA Cheerleading group.
With over one hundred spectators at the game, the sports hall was buzzing with excitement for the start of the game, the Blyth Renegades won the tip but neither team seemed to be able to score as the game went scoreless for the first 2 minutes.
The Renegades scored the first basket of the game and lead by as many as 12 points in the first quarter, with Adam Coxon leading the way for the Renegades with 8 straight points, including back to back three pointers.
Finally after 14 straight misses the Northumberland Knightflyers finally put some points on the board and turned up the defensive pressure, however the Renegades kept on playing their game and maintained the lead behind a complete team effort on offence.
The 3rd quarter saw the Knightflyers start to take control of the game, behind a fantastic defensive effort, including 9 steals from the 2010/11 Most Valuable Player, Callum Wingfield.
The 4th quarter was the reverse of the 1st, as the Knightflyers took an commanding lead, the Renegades fought back, but the Knightflyers took control of the tempo of the game, with Glenn Armstrong scoring 8 of his 12 points in the 4th quarter alone.
'It was an amazing start to our new League' said Aspire 2 Achieve Co-Founder Alan Hoyle 'The turn out was fantastic, it was the biggest crowd I've seen for a local league Basketball game in a long time, I think we put on a good show for everybody. Both teams were a little nervous at the start, but after the first couple of possessions the game moved up to another level, the players on both teams played fantastic, the cheerleaders did a great job, the referee and official were great, we couldnt have asked for a better start to our league.'
One spectator, Mr Gill, agrees 'The set up of the whole event was something you would expect State side, I have never witnessed such an entertaining Basketball game in England, I cannot wait till the next game!'
Another spectator added 'This is exactly what Basketball needs! I came to the game with my son with little interest in the sport, I have left a fan.'
'It is great to get such positive feedback, we wanted to show people how fun the game of Basketball can be, it is a sport which anybody can play or just come along to watch and enjoy, it was a fantastic experience to see the people of my home town come out and thoroughly enjoy the game. Said Alan '...But just wait till the All Star game!'
The Blyth Renegades train each Sunday, 4pm at Blyth Sportscentre, the Northumberland Knightflyers train each Friday, 7pm at Coquet High in Amble. Players of any ages and abilities are welcome to either session.
Well, I'm about 4 weeks into winter training and I'm still alive and well. To be honest I'm better than alive - I'm happier than a pig rolling around in the proverbial.
So far everything about this winter has been positive, even NUFC are doing scarily well with an almost unbeaten league record (Man City doesn't count as they're cheating with all their spending) and 3rd in the league for the first time in donkeys years - I'm eager to get those statements in my blog before our next two games, although by the time you read this we may well be down to 4th.
Website reader Ian Watkins sent in two great pictures for the Blyth website.
The first, he says, was taken on an "early morning stroll on a windy day at Blyth South Beach".
The second is looking back towards Blyth from Whitley Bay.
Send in your pictures or reports of your events to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk
Blyth Links
Wildlife - With Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara
Ronnie Campbell - MP for Blyth Valley
Blyth Valley Scouts - Stu Bennett
Alan Hoyle - Basketball and local news
Blyth All-Weather Lifeboat - Barry Elliott
Jo Edwards - Local issues and news
John Dawson - History tales
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