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18 December 2023
Women that inspire inclusion in businesses and communities across West Northamptonshire are to be recognised in the 12th Annual Inspirational Women Awards.
West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) Women’s Forum organises this award to publicly recognise and promote the women who have a real and inspirational impact in their communities and workplaces.
Members of the public are invited to nominate the women in their lives who inspire them, with the nominations opening today (18 December) and running until Sunday 4 February 2024.
The two categories for the 2024 awards are:
- Business Award
- Community Award
Potential nominees for the Business Award could include someone who has inspired through their paid employment, an inspirational business owner or someone who has inspired you in your career.
For the Community Award, it could be a family member who has supported you through a difficult time, a neighbour who has set up a community group to support local children and families, a friend who has campaigned for a cause close to their heart, or a colleague who fundraises for charity. There will also be a Community Special Recognition Award sponsored by our highways partner Kier.
Last year’s winners, Sally Jordan from Ecton Brook Residents Association and Becky Bradshaw from the University of Northampton, are invited back to help judge.
Shortlisted finalists will be announced the week commencing 19 February and invited to an awards ceremony hosted by the WNC Women’s Forum at the Guildhall on International Woman’s Day (IWD), Saturday 9 March 2024.
This year’s theme for IWD is Inspiring Inclusion, with the premise that if we can inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion then we can forge a better world – one where women feel a sense of empowerment and belonging.
International Women’s Day is an excellent opportunity for us to highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of women.Cllr David Smith, WNC’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement, and Regulatory ServicesWe are lucky to have so many women playing vital roles in our communities and workplaces across West Northants, and this award gives us the opportunity to congratulate them on their achievements and say thank you.
For more information about the 2024 Inspirational Women Awards and to nominate an inspirational woman in your life, please visit our Inspirational Women Awards webpage.
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18 December 2023
Strike action from junior doctors is expected to have a serious impact on NHS services across Northamptonshire in the run-up to Christmas and into the new year.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced that junior doctors will strike from 7am on Wednesday 20 December until 7am on Saturday 23 December, and then again from 7am on Wednesday 3 January to 7am on Tuesday 9 January.
Local people are being urged to be ready for the impact of the industrial action – which is likely to result in longer waits or delayed treatment – and follow the advice of the NHS to ensure care is available to those who need it most.
Junior doctors are qualified doctors with up to eight years’ experience working in hospitals or up to three years in general practice.Dr Imogen Staveley, Interim Chief Medical Officer for NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care BoardThey make up around half of all doctors in the NHS, so while staff will continue to work hard to provide patients with the best possible care during this latest strike action, there is likely to be a significant impact on local services at a time when the NHS is already under severe pressure.
During these upcoming periods of industrial action, we will be prioritising emergency care, critical care, acute mental health care, neonatal care, maternity and trauma.
The NHS is asking patients to choose services appropriately and take simple steps to help ensure care is available to patients who need it most. This includes using 111 online as the first port of call for health needs, and only using 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency.
At this time of year when vulnerable people are particularly at risk from ill-health, we also ask that people do what they can to look after loved ones and check in on family members and neighbours.
We apologise to local people who are impacted by this action and thank them for their continued co-operation, patience and understanding.
Options available to patients during strike action
Patients with urgent health concerns
Anyone who needs urgent care (aged five and over) should use 111.nhs.uk to be assessed and directed to the right care for them. If needed a healthcare professional will call you back and this option can save you time in waiting areas. If you do not have internet access or you are contacting 111 about a patient aged under five, please call 111 instead.
Corby Urgent Care Centre is open every day between 8am and 8pm and can help with minor injuries/ illnesses such as lacerations, sprains, strains, minor burns or scalds.
GP practices will also continue to be open, including the enhanced access service (out of hours) but are also likely to be extremely busy. Please continue to contact your GP practice if you need GP services and the out of hours service can be reached via 111.nhs.uk.
Remember you can also book appointments and order repeat prescriptions online or by using the NHS app.
Patients with minor illnesses and injuries
Your local pharmacy can help with minor illnesses like coughs, colds and red eye. They are open late and no appointment is needed.
Patients who need medical help or advice but are unsure where to go
Patients who need medical help or advice (aged five and over) but are unsure where to go, should contact NHS 111 online unless it unless it is a life-threatening emergency when you should still call 999. If you do not have internet access or you are contacting 111 about a patient aged under five, please call 111 instead.
Patients who have an appointment on strike days
Everyone who has an appointment should attend as planned unless your local NHS provider has contacted you to reschedule. If they have not contacted you, please attend your appointment.
Patients should continue to call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
For more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E, you can visit the NHS UK website.
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19 December 2023
We all know that singing is fun – when our favourite song starts playing, many of us would agree that it’s impossible not to sing along, dance or at least tap our feet. Now, research has revealed that singing with others by joining a choir can have a positive impact on mental health and other health-related outcomes, regardless of age, gender or ability.
Several studies have found that group singing improves both physical and psychological wellbeing in people with and without chronic health conditions, with the range of health benefits including strengthening the immune system, increasing pain threshold, improving lung function, and enhancing memory in people with dementia.
In 2016, researchers from Oxford Brookes University carried out an online study, titled ‘It’s better together: the psychological benefits of singing in a choir’, which asked 375 people who sang alone, in choirs, or were members of a sports team about their experience of these activities. All three activities reported high levels of psychological wellbeing – but choristers stood out as experiencing the greatest benefit.
Collide: A Choirfest Experience is a specially commissioned show which celebrates the joys of group singing whilst providing an opportunity for local community choirs to sing alongside Karen Gibson MBE, famed for leading the choir at the Royal wedding of the Sussexes, Harry and Meghan.
Taking place on 30 March 2024, at Northampton’s historic Royal and Derngate Theatre, the event will include 200 voices performing all genres of music together, boasting a mix of ages, demographics, and cultural backgrounds, proving that singing can connect individuals that may never have ordinarily crossed paths.
One of the organisations performing in the show is Northants Sings Out (NSO), which has over 10 years’ experience creating local choirs across the county and beyond, incorporating over 450 voices across adult and child-based choirs.
One of these choirs is One Voice Choir, which is made up of Northants based Foster Carers, Adoptive Families and their support networks, Family Link workers, Children's Key Workers, Social Workers, and everyone involved in fostering and adoption.
The choir provides members with support and a safe place to have some time away from the ups and downs of foster caring and adopting, as well as the opportunity to learn to sing.
As a social worker, this choir connects me to our wonderful Carers and Adopters. It supports my well-being. It really is joyful, full of laughter, lots of fun and a circle of love and kindness. I always feel energised after our sessions and have amazed myself at how much we have achieved together. Performing on stage will always be a precious memory. It has kept me sane, smiling and through lockdown helped me truly value the power of community.Choir Member
One Voice Choir is simply amazing to be part of. As an Adopter and Mum of a big family there is not much time to feel yourself. The choir gives you the boost that you need to keep going when things are tough – it’s the best form of self-care and I look forward to and cherish the weekly sessions so much. Not only does the singing simply bring pure joy but the support and laughter with like-minded, wonderful people just gives us all a lift and our wellbeing is improved as a result. Thank you, One Voice.Choir Member
The benefits of joining a choir are not limited to any specific age group, gender, or demographic, as Music Director of the Northampton Male Voice Choir, Stephen Bell confirmed. As a long-established award-winning choir with around 90 singers from across Northamptonshire, the impact of singing together for men has been powerfully demonstrated.
I’ve noticed many solid friendships form in the choir over the years. There’s a real sense of ‘can do’ too, a team working together for a common goal: great singing performances! Singing brings tremendous benefits for participants. There’s the camaraderie for starters but best of all is the mental stimulus and sense of well-being that comes from rehearsing and performing together.Stephen Bell
And over 2.8million people who have joined choirs in the UK alone, clearly agree. Common mood-related issues such as loneliness, anxiety, depression, anger, low mood, and isolation can all be addressed through participation in a choir. Learning a new skill and the confidence built in doing so has also been considered a key reason many are seeking out all ability choirs across Northamptonshire.
In West Northamptonshire we have a diverse range of local and community choirs which play an important role in improving many people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing.Councillor Adam Brown, WNC’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture and LeisureAs well as generally being a cost-effective way to socialise and learn a new skill, choirs provide the perfect space to relieve stress and combat loneliness – and you don’t have to be the greatest singer to get involved.
Collide: A ChoirFest experience provides the perfect opportunity for people to discover the unique talent we have in West Northamptonshire and discover the benefits of choir singing for themselves while coming together to enjoy a showstopping musical production.
For those interested in experiencing the benefits of group singing there are many across the local area including ChoirFest performers Northants Sings Out, which operates across Northamptonshire and includes a range of community choirs for all abilities and musical genres, as well as The Queen Eleanor Choir, Northampton Male Voice Choir and the NMPAT community choir.
Tickets for Collide: A ChoirFest Experience are on sale now, available from the Royal and Derngate website.
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15 December 2023
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) will be introducing enforcement to prevent and reduce people from ‘double parking’ and from parking in front of dropped kerbs.
Double parking means leaving your car next to a row of cars that have already been parked which can be dangerous and poses a danger to pedestrians and other road users including impeding emergency services vehicles.
Similarly, parking alongside a dropped kerb can cause considerable inconvenience and put vulnerable road users at severe risk and also impacts drivers trying to enter or leave a premises.
As a result of numerous complaints, WNC has made the decision to commence enforcement and will issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) to any vehicle observed contravening these restrictions. The Government deem this a higher-level contravention which is £70, discounted to £35 in the first 14 days only.
Obstructive parking can cause a real nuisance for residents and road users, especially the disabled and people with pushchairs. These measures will help to alleviate double parking and obstructive access to dropped kerbs. We hope that people will listen to these measures and be considerate when they’re parking in a restricted area.Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste at WNC
To find out more about parking across West Northamptonshire visit: https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport
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15 December 2023
West Northamptonshire Council has today notified the public about a councillor vacancy in its Northampton ward area of East Hunsbury and Shelfleys following the resignation of Cllr Suresh Patel.
The Council has published a Notice of Casual Vacancy. A by-election is expected to take place in the new year.
Suresh Patel was a member of WNC since its inception in April 2021, having previously been a member of Northamptonshire County Council since 2009 and Northampton Borough Council since 2011. He also held the role as Chairman of WNC’s Democracy and Standards Committee and until a successor is appointed, the vice-chairman will serve as Chairman.
The vacant seat is one of three West Northamptonshire council seats covering East Hunsbury and Shelfleys ward, which covers areas including Shelfleys, Merefield and Blacky More.
To view the Notice of Casual Vacancy and further information visit Election notices and future elections | West Northamptonshire Council (westnorthants.gov.uk)
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