Friday, August 26, 2011

Two Council employees will be cycling to work – on their day off

Kathryn Robinson and Rebecca Ashton will be cycling from Elswick to the Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Exchange building on Bank Holiday Monday, August 29.

Their 60 mile ride will cross the Fylde then through Longridge and Ribchester before arriving in Blackburn.

Kathryn and Rebecca are both educational psychologists and their sponsored cycle is in aid of Derian House, a hospice for children with terminal illness and life-limiting conditions.

Rebecca said: “We chose Derian House to raise money for as they support many of the children we work with in Blackburn with Darwen.

“Children's hospices receive very little Government funding, so Derian House relies on donations to keep them going.”

Kathryn and Rebecca both cycle for fun but this ride will be their biggest challenge yet as neither of them have cycled this far before.

Councillor Maureen Bateson, executive member for children’s services said: “It is always nice to hear of employees doing something positive for charity, especially for such a worthy cause.

“I wish Kathryn and Rebecca good luck and hope they reach their sponsorship target.”

If you would like to sponsor Kathryn and Rebecca then please visit:
http://www.justgiving.com/blackburncycletowork/

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Scootlife, Darwen - Scooter Sales, Parts, Service & Repair

Scootlife, Darwen, Lancashire

Scooter sales, parts, service & repair, clothing & more.
Scootlife, based in Darwen, Lancashire, provide products & services from our shop in Darwen - scooter sales, parts, services & clothing etc



Address
157 Duckworth St
Darwen, Lancashire BB3 1AT

Information
Phone: 01254 447946
Mobile Number: 07918025928
More Information (inc website/email etc)

'Fantastic' GCSE results in Blackburn with Darwen

Students across Blackburn with Darwen are celebrating their GCSE results.

Early indications show that results have improved again in the borough - with several schools showing a big boost compared to previous years.

Blakewater College saw an amazing 11% rise in its results compared to 2010, and Pleckgate Mathematics and Computing College's GCSE results jumped by 10%.

Councillor Maureen Bateson, Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for children’s services, said the results were worth celebrating.

Cllr Bateson added: “These results are testament to the hard work and determination of our young people and their teachers in this borough and they have a right to be proud of themselves.
“Our schools have risen to the challenge of continuing improvement and in some cases exceptional improvement and that is something that really needs to be celebrated.
"The reputation of young people across the country has been damaged due to recent events - however, today has shown our young people have what it takes to fulfil their future hopes and aspirations."

Alan Chambers, head teacher at Blakewater College, said everyone at the school was "completely thrilled" with the results: "We are absolutely delighted with the results and I think it is a tribute to the hard work the staff and students have put in, and the support of the parents, governors and the local authority.

"I am thrilled that the students are really starting to believe they can achieve wonderful things and we have some particularly outstanding individual results. The maths results in particular were absolutely outstanding and we have really turned the results around in this area. We have far more of the higher grades this year than we have ever had in the past and this is a great stimulus for when we move into our fantastic new BSF school in 2012."

Robin Campbell, head teacher at Pleckgate, added that the GCSE results were a great start to a new era, as students and staff prepare to move into the very first BSF school in the borough next month: "I am both delighted and proud of this outstanding level of achievement as it demonstrates the commitment of both staff and pupils during an exceptionally busy year as we prepared for the new school," Mr Campbell said.

"Our aim has always been to ensure that the education of our pupils did not suffer during the BSF process and these results are testament to that. Within these results are some exceptional individual pupil results but the key message is one of overall pleasure that we have set such a superb foundation on which to build as we enter the new school."

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Hollins Grove Con Club, Blackburn Rovers Bus

HOLLINS GROVE CON CLUB MATCHDAY BLUES
Rovers v Wolves Sat 13th Aug K.O. 3pm Ewood Park

A bus down to Rovers will leave Hollins Grove Conservative Club, Blackburn Road, Darwen an hour before kick of.

EVERYONE WELCOME

£3.50 return

Residents warned on Council tax scam

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is warning residents about a new telephone scam involving Council tax refunds.

The Council has received a report from a resident saying they had received a call from a man with a foreign accent.

The resident was told as she had been a good council tax payer, she was entitled to a £2,000 refund.

Fortunately, she put the phone down after realising it was not a legitimate call and contacted the Police.

The Council is concerned that some ratepayers may be tempted to pass on their bank details if requested - this would risk their account being accessed and money removed by the scammers.

Councillor Andy Kay, Executive Member for Resources said: “This was a worrying exchange for the resident. I urge people to be vigilant. You should never give out your bank details not even your own bank will ask you for your pin number.”

“If you were entitled to a refund, you would receive an official letter from any proper organisation. You would not receive a phone call out of the blue. Please remember that If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.”

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Council sells off surplus equipment to raise funds

In an effort to generate some money, the Council is selling off pieces of equipment that is no longer needed.

The items range from snow chains to large skips, from woodwork machinery to large planters.

As a result of losing £33m from its budget as part of the Government cuts, the Council is continually looking at new ways to raise money.

Council officers have been clearing out storerooms and all the surplus items are all being offered for sale.

They are no longer needed for a number of reasons including the fact the Council no longer provides a skip service or carries out large scale carpentry work for instance.

Councillor Faryad Hussain, Executive Member for Environmental Services and Sustainability, said: “In these tough economic times, we need to do what we can to raise money. These items are no longer needed and are all in a good or excellent condition. We have to work smarter and better with the limited budgets we have and this is a great way to raise money which can be then reinvested into services.”

For the full list of items and how to bid, log onto www.blackburn.gov.uk/equipmentsale

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Blackburn with Darwen Football Festival

The best football festival in the North West is back is returning to Blackburn with Darwen this summer.

The two day event will be held over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 and will see over 120 junior football teams compete in one of the largest football festivals in the country.

The festival will attract over 5,000 visitors, including Premier League scouts and well over 1,000 juniors competing to be the best in the North West.

More than 320 games will take place, both mini soccer and 11 aside and over 60 referees will control things on the field of play.

As well as all the action on the pitches, Blackburn Rovers coaching staff will be running taster sessions and a penalty shoot out challenge.

There will also be Water Walkers and the Army will be providing some action packed activities.

Tournament trophies will be presented the on the Sunday afternoon by the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Karimeh Foster.

Councillor Damian Talbot, executive member for culture and leisure, said: “The football festival has grown year on year and has become a real highlight in the football calendar.

“I’d like to thank Forbes Solicitors for once again supporting the tournament; we couldn’t do it without them.”

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