02 December 2022

Education providers are now invited to bid for contracts to help West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) deliver numeracy courses to meet a wide range of needs.

In September, the Government confirmed the area will receive £575k for the current financial year to help improve maths skills for adults.

This is the first tranche of a £1.9m bid submitted by the council to introduce support over three years, benefiting more than 3,000 people.

A wide range of schemes are proposed including:

• Helping those who have low skills and are unemployed
• Improving career chances by helping people boost their numeracy in the workplace
• Bite-sized maths workshops for families
• Working with the self-employed to ensure they have skills to run their businesses
• Short courses to help people with household budgeting
• Bridging the gap to GCSE for those who don’t have the qualification
• Online learning platforms
• Helping parents who wish to support their children with numeracy
• Taking the programme to audiences, particularly in rural areas
• Supporting ex-offenders through the Probation Service
• Development of numeracy champions
• Supporting care experienced young people to access education, employment and training

Primary aims of the scheme will include improved life chances, access to better career options and greater personal wellbeing.

“We’re now looking for exceptional educational providers to help deliver this incredibly important work.

"Evidence shows that better numeracy can improve people’s opportunities in life, whether that be better management of household finances or improved career prospects – both of which are fundamental during the ongoing cost of living crisis.

"We understand that for many people, handling numbers is daunting and can cause great anxiety, so we’re keen to put different options in place that cover a range of needs."

Cllr Dan Lister, WNC’s Cabinet Member for economic development, town centre regeneration, and growth.

Educational providers are encouraged to review the tender documents and submit their tender submissions before the deadline of 3 January 2023.

To access the specification of requirements and all other relevant documents please visit In-Tend Electronic Tendering Site (and create an account, or login and search for reference WNC00000213.

This opportunity can also be found by visiting Contracts Finder Multiply Investment Proposals - Contracts Finder.

02 December 2022

Ways of how digital technology can help transform the lives of vulnerable people have been showcased at an event.

Bridging the Digital Divide demonstrated how tech – including virtual reality – can create solutions for identified issues, resulting in positive outcomes for people

Support Northamptonshire in partnership with Café Track, VR Therapies, The University of Northampton and Digital Northants hosted the event. 

Talks included:

• Support Northamptonshire showed how digital technology can enable collaborative case management and wellbeing outcomes for vulnerable people.
• Café Track discussed how they are using digital technology to help create employment opportunities for autistic people.
• VR Therapies demonstrated how virtual reality has been used to transform the lives of people with mental health issues and physical disabilities.

This event aimed to inspire delegates from the voluntary sector to further their own digital strategies and their use of digital technology to provide better outcomes for the people and groups they support.

"Our Bridging the Digital Divide event was inspiring and showed the value of collaboration.

"Attendees from the voluntary sector felt really inspired and there were great conversations about working together and working differently.

"We want to take the energy in the room and look to follow this up with potential bids for future projects together."

Pratima Dattani, Chief Executive of Support Northants.

"The pace that technology is developing is breath-taking and as new ground is broken, it is inspiring to see just how these advances can be applied to bring positive change to peoples’ lives.

"This event showed the many benefits that are available to help vulnerable people and how projects could be expanded to help even more in the future."

Cllr David Howes. North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Rural Communities and Localism and who has responsibility for Digital.

"The Centre for Active Digital Education at the University of Northampton was proud to support such an important event for the community. 

"The issues and potential solutions covered during the event impact most of the population and we need forums such as this to bring people together to provide support and solutions."

Rob Howe, Head of Learning Technology at The University of Northampton.

The event was part of the Digital Northamptonshire initiative, a collaboration between North and West Northamptonshire Councils and the University of Northampton which aims to build a community of people interested in how digital technology can help to transform their organisations.

"Spectacles were once a breakthrough technology which opened the world to countless people.

"Virtual Reality will break down even more barriers and I’m pleased that along with some great partners, we can play a role in nurturing grass roots innovation which will find ways for this technology to serve us as a community."

Cllr Jonathan Nunn, Leader of West Northants Council.

01 December 2022

Key representatives for those who make a living by walking dogs are being invited to meet with Council and service leads at West Northamptonshire Council following the implementation of new rules relating to public open spaces.

On Tuesday, 1 November a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) was formally adopted across the Daventry and South Northants areas.

Requirements of the PSPO aim to keep members of the community safe while enjoying public spaces, and included banning people from smoking in children’s playgrounds, as well as requiring all dog walkers to pick up after their pets and not walk more than four dogs at once in public spaces.

More than four dogs can be walked on private land with permission of the landowner, and dedicated dog walking areas.

Promotion of the proposed new rules started in August, with further publicity around the decision-making at a Council meeting on 11 October.

However, since the Order came into force on 1 November, professional dog walkers have contacted the Council to request alternative options are considered to allow the walking of more than four dogs in public open spaces.

"In response to queries around the  PSPO requirements, we are listening to the concerns and queries highlighted by professional dog walkers.

"In order to understand these queries, Executive Director for Place, Stuart Timmiss and I are in the process of arranging a meeting with representatives for professional dog walkers to discuss the options going forward to support these groups.

"Until these talks have taken place, the Council will not be taking enforcement action where more than four dogs are being walked in public open spaces, as long as dog walkers adhere to the other requirements of the PSPOs."

Cllr David Smith, Cabinet Member for regulatory services at WNC.

For more information, visit the WNC webpage on PSPOs.

To keep update with Council business, including public consultations and big decisions, sign-up to the WNC e-newsletter via the link below.

30 November 2022

Inspiring males from across West Northants were recognised at the West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) Male Role Model Awards, which took place on Friday 18 November.

The awards, now in their 4th year, celebrate individuals who go above and beyond in their daily lives to help others and make a real difference in their communities.

It was a tough decision for the judges with so many inspiring nominees, but Lee Willis was named winner of the ‘Inspirational Man’ award following multiple nominations for his work as an ‘inspirational, caring, patient and enthusiastic’ karate instructor.

Lee received many nominations with one saying: “Lee is a fantastic role model to all of his karate students. He has endless enthusiasm and energy which makes the training enjoyable and encourages the students to keep trying.

“He talks to the students about things that he and others have done to improve their skills which inspires and encourages them and talks about difficulties he has had in training at various stages, so they understand it didn’t always come easily even for their instructor.

“He teaches the younger students essential life skills such as stranger awareness, anti-bullying and building confidence and assertiveness, and inspires and encourages all of his students to strive to achieve the best that they can.”

In addition to the ‘Inspirational Man’ award, a ‘Special Recognition’ award was presented to Emergency Services Cadet volunteer Edward Harvey.

At the age of 20, Edward applied for a Youth Engagement Support Officer role within Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and has since supported and mentored young cadets.

Edward delivers educational sessions to help reduce anti-social behaviour as well as bespoke interventions to help young people with adverse childhood experiences to build confidence, raise low self-esteem and be the best they can be. His nominator said: “He really does make a difference to the community."

Five outstanding males were shortlisted from over 80 nominations for the ‘Inspirational Man’ award including Mark Kennedy, brain injury survivor, author and business owner; Ravuan Jones, founding member of anti-knife crime group Off the Streets; Arthur Newbury, voluntary sector worker; and Aaron Hill, boxing coach at Weedon Boxing Academy.

Councillor Jonathan Nunn, Leader of WNC, who presented the awards said: “We received so many deserving nominations of truly inspirational individuals who have made a huge difference to the lives of others and who all deserve to be honoured. Every single nominee has our thanks for both the way in which they inspire us all, and for the great things that they do in support of our local community.

"Congratulations to our award winners and all of the shortlisted nominees and thank you to everyone who supported this extremely important event, which not only recognises the contribution of local men and boys, but also raises awareness of the very important issue of male mental health."

30 November 2022

Now that the leaves are falling and the colder weather is drawing in, planting season is upon us.

People across West Northamptonshire are being urged to plant trees in memory of honour Her Late Majesty, the Queen II, 1926 – 2022.

Following the wishes of His Majesty The King, The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) initiative has been extended to the end of March 2023 to enable people across the country the opportunity to plant trees in memory and to honour the late Queen Elizabeth II.

West Northamptonshire Council is proud to continue to support this initiative and are inviting our communities to join this programme.

Cllr Pinder Chauhan, who is leading on the Queen’s Green Canopy for West Northamptonshire Council, said: “The Queen’s Green Canopy programme is an important initiative which provides people with the opportunity to honour the great contribution to our nation by Queen Elizabeth II and plant a tree in her memory.

"Planting trees supports our natural environment for residents and visitors to enjoys, and supports key aims within our council’s new Corporate Plan as we work towards making West Northamptonshire a greener and cleaner place to live, with thriving towns and villages.

"We would like to thank everyone who has supported this initiative so far and would encourage communities to participate in this opportunity to share their memories of the Queen."

Planting season takes place from now until March 2023.Schools, community groups and clubs are eligible to apply for free saplings from The Woodland Trust, available on a first come first served basis. Find out more and apply by visiting The Woodland Trust.

Two trees that were included in the Queen’s Green Canopy ‘Tree of Trees’ have been gifted to Brackley Wolf Cub Pack (5th Brackley Scout Group) and Northamptonshire Music & Performing Arts Trust.

The trees, two of 350 that formed a sculpture outside Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, were gifted as a ‘thank you’ for all the valuable and tireless work that volunteers and individuals undertake for the benefit of their communities.

Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Morcea Walker MBE represented the Lord-Lieutenant at the gifting ceremony to Brackley Wolf Club Pack on Sunday, 27 November.

Scout Leader, Anna Mezciems, planted the trees in attendance of Paul Parson, Chairman of QGC for Northamptonshire, Cllr Paul Wiltshire, Brackley Town Mayor and Cllrs Bernie Tiller and Sue Sharp, both councillors from Brackley, Bim Prentice (Group Scout Leader), Clive Morse (Chair) and the Cub Scouts themselves.

The tree is added to those already planted by 5th Brackley Wolves Cub pack who planted trees in early 2020 as part of their Community Impact Badge.

The cubs have enjoyed planting and want to be able to show their children in the future. It also ties in with 5th Brackley Scouts’ Platinum Jubilee in September 2023.

The Lord-Lieutenant, James Saunders Watson, said: “I am delighted that Brackley Wolf Cub Pack (5th Brackley Scout Group) have been selected to receive a Tree from the ‘Tree of Trees’, which form part of the legacy of the celebration of Her Late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee."

A further gifting ceremony is being planned with Northamptonshire Music & Performing Arts Trust.

Have you already planted a tree? Make sure that you register this on the Queen’s Green Canopy website to ensure that this is displayed on the interactive map for West Northamptonshire. You can do this by visiting Queen's Green Canopy.

For more information and how to get involved visit Queen’s Green Canopy or watch the planting advice video from former Northamptonshire High Sheriff, Paul Parsons.