May and June are full of things to do as thankfully the weather turns warmer. Of course, the Hoppings, the UK’s largest travelling fun fair will be here in June, and watch out for a celebration of Spanish and Portuguese speaking cultures with the Vamos! festival, as well as the annual EAT! festival with lots of gorgeous goodies.
Also in June there’s the Newcastle Community Green Festival with all sorts of activities for the family. Find out how you can do your bit for the environment on pages, including an article about our decreasing bee population.
Before that, of course, we’ll all be posting our votes or visiting our local polling station on 6 May to make our decisions about local councillors and MPs in the local and national elections. You can find out more insde so make your vote count! Remember, if you forget to post your vote, you can drop in the forms at your local polling station until 10pm on 6 May.
Some of you may be on the edge of our seats in June while the World Cup is on, hoping England can bring back the trophy. And the World Cup is the perfect excuse to show your support for our bid to bring the tournament to England in 2018, for the first time in 52 years! Securing Newcastle as one of the English host cities for the 2018 World Cup could bring huge benefits to everyone in the city.
So all in all, another packed edition. We hope you enjoy it.
You can also read a PDF version of this edition.
You can listen to our podcast too.
Don’t miss your right to voteA local election and a UK general (Parliamentary) election will both take place on Thursday 6 May 2010
First female Freemen sworn in An important new chapter in Newcastle’s history was written recently when women were sworn in as Freemen of Newcastle for the first time in 900 years.
Pedestrian paradise on Northumberland RoadWork to transform Northumberland Road into an attractive, tree-lined pedestrian thoroughfare has begun
New look to council websiteOver the past few months we’ve been busy working on our website to make it easier and more pleasant for you to use.
Showing racism the red card, the Newcastle wayPupils from Heaton Manor School recently had an exciting opportunity to go to Newcastle United’s training grounds and meet two footballing heroes – Fitz Hall and Mike Williamson.
Theatre Royal unveils its anniversary restoration plans In readiness for its 175th birthday, restoration work will take place on the Theatre Royal between March and September 2011.
Another royal visit to the cityHer Royal Highness, The Princess Royal officially opened the new Haymarket Metro station in Newcastle on Monday 29 March.
Dancing for a fairer worldWhen you think of a tea dance, you don’t tend to think of breakdancing, Irish dancing or an Argentinian tango.
Commonwheels Car ClubNewcastle residents and businesses are making the most of the opportunity to live a more ecofriendly way of life, thanks to the Commonwheels Car Club.
Make the most of Newcastle’s markets this SpringFind out what Newcastle markets have on offer this May and June
Have your say on local bus links in NewcastleA major review of the buses in Newcastle is taking place to improve local links, and you have until 4 June to give us your views on these changes.
Envirocall onlineWe are always looking for ways to improve the services we offer you. You have been able to ask for Envirocall services online for some time.
Foster a Future - celebrating our foster carersFoster carers play a vital role in caring for and supporting looked after children alongside our team of care professionals
Get the bike outWith the smell of summer in the air, many of us are dragging our bikes out of the shed, checking the tyres and making sure the brakes work. But where are you going to go?
Fill your boots – the EAT! festival is backOnce a year, Newcastle and Gateshead focus on the best that the region has to offer in food. Foodies will be in food heaven as they get to embrace all sorts of delicacies in all sorts of settings.
Back the Bid!Show your support for England and ‘Back the Bid’ now!
‘Adults caring for adults’ Newcastle Carers Conference 2010A conference for carers is to be held this summer on Monday 14 June at the Assembly Rooms in Newcastle. The event, organised by Newcastle Carers Strategy, is part of the Wellbeing and Health Partnership.
City toursTake a guided walk with our City Guides
All the fun of the fairThe Hoppings is an institution in Newcastle. This year it’s taking place between Friday 18 and Saturday 26 June.
Trading Standards – Helping to make your house safeFind out how you can make sure your children stay safe around blind cords.
Step into the futureThird Ring Out will be giving you a disaster movie experience between 26 and 29 May
Phil finds fun with learningLook out for events taking place Adult Learners’ Week at study centres and libraries all over the city, 15 to 21 May.
Vamos! Let’s go Latin!The Vamos! Festival, running from Friday 2 to Sunday 11 July, celebrates the vibrancy of our Spanish and Portugese speaking cultures.
Park right first timeCareless parking can be a serious hazard to pedestrians, so always try to park right first time.
Local History Month at Newcastle LibrariesMay is local history month and we’re hosting a packed programme of events to celebrate
Direct debit - the easy way to pay council taxDid you know that you can sign up to pay your 2010 to 2011 council tax by the direct debit on the date of your choice?
Wylie by name…He’s a clever bloke is John Wylie.
Social care startersChoosing a career in social care at 19 may seem like quite an odd decision, but Natalie Perf is revelling in it.
Competition winnersFind out who won prizes from the March to April edition of Citylife
Our Newcastle - Home composting and recyclingDid you know that around 20% of the contents of an average household wheelie bin are made up of food waste that could be composted?
Our Newcastle - Imagine a world without coffee!Do you enjoy a morning cup of coffee to set you up for the day, or a nice freshly squeezed glass of orange juice? Well they could disappear unless we stop the decrease in numbers of bees. Bees pollinate many of the plants we eat such as fruits, nuts, and oil crops.
If you’re struggling to make ends meet we can help lighten the loadNewcastle’s Debt Coordination Team provides financial advice and support to people living in Newcastle. They can help you understand your rights and obligations around housing and debt problems.
Our Newcastle - green events this May and JuneNewcastle Community Green Festival, npower Power Hour, festival of architecture, conference on climate change
News from Bridging NewcastleGatesheadBridging NewcastleGateshead (BNG) is working to create great places to live in parts of Newcastle and Gateshead. Want to know more? Visit www.bridgingng.org.uk, email info@bridgingng.org.uk or phone 0191 277 2666.
Our Newcastle - Brighter Futures website launchedA new website that helps local groups and people to take action on sustainability issues in their area has been launched by The Sustainable Communities North East Initiative.
Everyone’s tomorrow - Spring into springPut a spring in your step with these new outdoor programmes aimed specifically at people aged over 50.
News from Newcastle PCTFind out about help cards, a new health centre in the west end and the PCT's five year plan.
How to get grants for community projectsAre you involved in a community or voluntary organisation that needs money for a project or specific activity?
Celebrating 20 Years of MESMACMESMAC North East celebrates 20 years of service to the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transexual community in April.
It’s the big five – oh for Gosforth and District Mixed Voice ChoirGosforth and District Mixed Voice Choir has a special birthday this year. The choir started in Coxlodge Miner’s Welfare Hall in 1960 and are still going strong in 2010!
You're invited to Active Newcastle’s birthday party!Active Newcastle - the campaign to get more people, doing more exercise, more often – is celebrating its first birthday on Saturday 22 May, and you're invited to the party!
Rowing to fitnessIf you are free Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday mornings, why not give rowing a go? A reasonable level of fitness helps, though we can help you build your fitness up over time. Age is no barrier!
Focusing on a futureNCB Volunteer Leadership, Scotswood Area Strategy
Spice up your skillsSpice FM (98.8FM) is Newcastle’s only multilingual community radio station and gives our airwaves a bit of a change.
On your marks…get set…go for the UK Student Games!Olympic gold medallist Jason Gardner visited the Quayside this spring to officially launch the 2010 UK Student Games – taking place this year right here in the North East!
Making sure we’ve got enough childcareUnder The Childcare Act 2006, we have to do a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA), to get a clear idea of what local childcare is available to parents.
Finding lots in commonAlmost 140 young people from across Newcastle found out what teamwork is all about when they took part in Newcastle’s second Commonwealth Youth Summit in March.
At school for 60 years!181 Newcastle students have celebrated 831 years without missing school! The great attenders, who have not missed any school for at least three years, and five students who racked up 12 years each, had their attendance honoured by Newcastle Education Welfare Service’s annual celebration at St James’ Park on Thursday 11 March 2010.
Outstanding schools recognised by OfstedThree of our schools have been honoured at an event recognising England’s outstanding schools.