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From the WMDC Press and Communications Office
Major Award
Retained by Coroner's Service
20 May 2004
West
Yorkshire Coroner's Service (Eastern District), who are based in
Wakefield, have retained their 'Investors in People' Standard,
making them still the only Coroner's Service in the country to get the
prestigious award.
The service
has dealt with some of the most prominent and high profile cases in the
region including the Selby rail crash, and more recently, the death of
Harold Shipman.
Investors in
People is a national quality standard which sets a level of good practice
for improving an organisation's performance through its people.
The respected
status was first awarded to the Coroner's Service in February 2001.The
Investors in People re-assess organisations after three years and recently
the team were told they had maintained the high standards required to
retain the award.
Representatives
from the West Yorkshire Coroner's Service were presented with their
Investors In People certificate at a meeting of the full council by
Councillor Graham Stokes and Wakefield Council, Chief Executive John
Foster.
The staff
- who say they have benefited over the last three years by working to the
Investors in People standards, which in their view has improved their
organisation - were congratulated on their success and praised for their
hard work by the Council.
The West
Yorkshire Coroner's Office is a relatively unique organisation to be
assessed by the Investors in People because of the mix of employers
involved in the team. The Coroner is an independent judicial
officer, whose administration staff are employed by Wakefield Council and
the officers are West Yorkshire Police employees.
Contents
Adult holders
of a Wakefield Council Activate leisure card will soon be able to get
discounts at a number of Sports and Leisure facilities in neighbouring
Barnsley and Doncaster, following an agreement which has been reached with
the two councils.
From 1st June
students in full-time education, people on benefits, and over 60's will
now be able to visit the venues and qualify for between 20 and 25%
discounts on a range of sporting activities, including swimming, squash,
and golf.
The venues
are:-
Doncaster: Adwick Leisure Centre 01302 721447
Armthorpe Sports Centre 01302 834268
Askern & Campsall S.C. 01302 701595
Dearne Valley Leisure Centre 01709 589761
Edlington Sports Centre 01709 862625
Elmfield Park & Cantley Park 01302 321918
Hatfield Water Park 01302 841572
Rossington Sports Centre 01302 868500
St James Pool & Health Club 01302 323000
Thorne Sports Centre 01405 812898
Crookhill Park Golf Course 01709 862979
Barnsley:-
Dearnside Leisure Centre 01709 880040
Hillies Golf Course Wombwell 01226 754433
Hoyland Leisure Centre 01226 744063
Wombwell Swimming Pool 01226 753896
For more
information about the Activate Leisure Scheme telephone 01924 302378 or
visit the Council website at www.wakefield.gov.uk.
Contents
On
Your Bikes for Active Week
19 May 2004
Wakefield
Council and the Wakefield Cycle User Forum have teamed up have organised a
number of events to mark National Bike Week from 12 - 20 June.
The week aims
to promote cycling for people of all ages and abilities, and will include
a Bike To Work day for council employees on Wednesday 16 June.
A public bike
ride will leave Wakefield Town Hall at 5.30pm on the same day for adults
and families and consist of a 15 mile circular route bike ride.
Other events
include both on and off road bike rides starting at various locations
within the district, family cycle training sessions, family mountain bike
pleasure ride and quiz and a 20 mile sponsored bike raising money for your
own charity or for National Bike Week's partnership charity, Leukaemia
Research.
All
participants in the cycling events will receive a Bike Week or Bike2Work
certificate and are invited to enter a free prize draw to win an Exodus
adventure holiday for two people worth £2,000, a pair of Brompton folding
bikes, a limited edition new Raleigh Chopper or one of 50 pairs of tickets
to the Cycle Show.
More
information on cycling activities being held in Wakefield District or for
a cycle map please contact Clare Bishop, Cycling Officer, on 306060.
Contents
Postal
Ballot Papers Arriving Soon
17 May 2004
Citizens
across the Wakefield Metropolitan District will be receiving their ballot
papers at the end of May to enable them to vote by post in both the local
and European Parliamentary elections, as part of the Yorkshire and Humber
pilot scheme.
Everyone
eligible to vote should complete and return their votes as soon as
possible to the Council's Elections Office, or hand deliver them to
the Assistance and Delivery Point in County Hall, Wakefield from 1-10th
June. Voting closes on June 10th.
The ballot
packs will also contain a single declaration of identity which covers both
elections, and which needs to be completed and witnessed to make the votes
valid.
This year all
63 Wakefield Council seats are up for election, instead of the usual 21,
because ward boundaries have changed.
The postal
ballot is being widely publicised through the Council's newspaper, The
Citizen, at cinemas in Wakefield and Castleford and at the District's
libraries and Council information points.
Anyone
wanting more information about voting can contact postalvotes@wakefield.gov.uk
or ring the helpline on 0845 8 506 506.
Contents
A recent
survey has revealed that 96 per cent of people who took part were happy
with the results of a new review into the environment and care received by
their elderly relatives in residential or nursing homes funded by
Wakefield Council.
Over 300
families took part in the survey that was produced by the local
authority's newly established Review Team.
The team of
two were formed in February last year to carry out reviews of every older
person, funded by the council, in residential or nursing homes. As part of
this process they carried out 1078 face-to -face interviews and surveyed
over 740 families.
The reviews
examined individual Care Plans looking at areas like physical and mental
health as well as environment, lifestyle and financial issues.
Elaine McHale,
Director of Social Services and Health said:
"The
Review Team worked very hard to ensure we achieved our 100 per cent review
target for 2003/4. As well as assessing the care and situations of all the
people in our care we have been able to make real positive changes to some
peoples lives. On one occasion the team identified a situation where
a person was due £30,000 of unclaimed pension benefits. The lady and her
family did not know that she was entitled to these benefits and had
returned her pension book to the Department of Health. As soon as we
established the situation we immediately made them aware of this and
helped the family take action to rectify it."
The team have
also made important differences to people's lives in smaller ways. One
review revealed that a resident who wasn't eating merely wanted more spicy
and tasty meals, and so the team were able to make the necessary
arrangements.
Elaine McHale
added:
"The
work done by the review team has been an essential and valuable step in
improving the care and environment of all older people in local authority
funded facilities. We are constantly striving to improve our service
and this has enabled us to take on board new recommendations and we are in
the process of addressing all the issues that have been raised. It is a
real and positive move forward in providing care for older people in the
region."
Contents
Green
Space and Woodland Documents go to Public
17 May 2004
Documents
looking at provision of green space and trees and woodland have been put
out to public consultation to allow people to have their say.
The Draft
Green Space Strategy and the Draft Tree and Woodland Strategy both aim to
develop policies on increasing landscape value and recreational areas in
the District, while creating well designed and safe community woodlands
with easy access and promoting healthy living.
The
strategies also fit in with the Community Strategy aims of improved green
space provision, strengthening communities, enhancing the environment and
promoting regeneration and renewal.
Cabinet
members said the documents would play a major part in deciding how
Wakefield will look in the next decades.
Head of
Neighbourhood Services Jerry Spencer said:
"The
public consultation phase is an important aspect of developing the overall
policies for these two important areas. We aim to include opinions
from as wide an area as possible, from individual members of the public
and all interested groups. The strategy will inform the management of our
assets leading to protection and improvement of the local
environment."
The public
consultation will last from May to August before the revised documents are
returned to Cabinet to approve the strategies.
Contents
Continental Style
Street Cafe Consultation Opens
17 May 2004
Members of
the public are invited to comment on whether they would like to see
continental style street cafes in the District.
The Council
Cabinet agreed to put the proposals to consultation to come up with
suitable regulations. Over the past two years there has been a
significant increase in the number of cafes, restaurants and bars
operating pavement seating, but the facilities need approval to operate
legally. The Council has already consulted West Yorkshire Police and
other local authorities in Leeds, Scarborough, Darlington and Derby where
the matter has already been considered.
The applicant
is likely to have to pay a fee to cover administration costs when they
apply for permission to put tables and chairs outside. The public
consultation phase is likely to last around six weeks.
Head of
Enforcement Sam Warmington said:
"This
public consultation is an important phase in drawing up the final policy
covering eating and drinking outside. There is a balance to be struck to
enhance the environment so that people are able to sit outside, but having
chairs and tables there does not prevent, for example, emergency vehicle
access or cause difficulties for people in wheelchairs or pushing prams.
We aim to make the consultation as wide as possible before we take the
report back to the Cabinet for final approval."
Further
information on this will be available in libraries and Council offices.
Contents
Coach
Education Programmes Starting Soon
12 May 2004
Local people
wanting to become involved in sport and recreation activities either as a
coach, leader, volunteer or administrator are being invited to enrol on a
low-cost programme of nationally recognised sports qualifications and
courses.
The courses
have been organised by Wakefield Council's Sports Development Team in
partnership with a host of local organisations, run from now until
September this year.
A wide
variety of courses are available to encourage people with little or no
experience to take the first steps to helping develop sport and recreation
in their own community. Courses covered include: swimming, football,
sports leadership awards, Sportscoach UK educational courses and even
courses offering guidance on the organisation and running of local
community sports clubs.
Several
courses are also on offer which are designed for teachers and adult
helpers to assist them to develop and improve the PE and sports curriculum
and to organise after school sports clubs.
Jayne Dowding
Coach Education Officer said:
"The
programme is designed to take these opportunities into the heart of the
district's communities and neighbourhoods rather than expect people from
those areas to travel great distances to take part in courses as in the
past. The programme offers a tremendous chance for local people to
learn new skills and knowledge and to discover talents they didn't know
they had. We have organised the courses with various partners,
including Sport England, Sports Coach UK, and The Department of Education
and Skills and kept the cost to an absolute minimum, so that as many
people as possible will be encouraged to take part."
A brochure is
being circulated across the District containing details of all the courses
available at elementary and higher levels with the message that enthusiasm
is more important than experience or talent.
Anyone
wanting to find out more can pick up a brochure from all sports and
recreation facilities and civic buildings. The brochure is also
available in large print. Details can also be found on the Council's
website at www.wakefield.gov.uk
or from Jayne Dowding, at the Town Hall, High Street, Normanton on 01924
302481, email: jdowding@wakefield.gov.uk
Contents
Wakefield
Launches Area's First Online Funding Support
10 May 2004
A funding
support website, which is unique to this area, has been launched this week
by Wakefield Council.
The website,
which can be found on the funding pages at www.wakefield.gov.uk
is designed to provide comprehensive community funding support for groups
and individuals in the Wakefield area.
Kathy Allen,
Community Engagement Manager for Wakefield Council said:
"The
website is a real breakthrough in funding support for the area. People are
often put off applying for funding because it can appear to be bogged down
with baffling application processes and relevant information can be
difficult to find. This website is a one stop shop for funding
information, help and advice which we hope will enable many more groups
and individuals in the Wakefield area to access the valuable funding
resources that are out there."
The new
website sheds light on 'Trust Funding' providing help on how to
explore funding from thousands of charitable trusts. It includes top tips
on how to apply, advice on writing applications, and on developing a
fundraising strategy as well as providing a jargon busting section to help
understand funding terminology.
It also
enables users to access information on local schemes, and discover all
government, Lottery and trust funding relevant to their own unique
organisation.
Contents
Wakefield
Council is celebrating the freedom to continue its own improvement
following recognition of its 'remarkable progress' by the Office of
the Deputy Prime Minister.
This means
Wakefield is the first council in the country to be released from
Government engagement.
The Council
was rated at the top of 'fair' in the Audit Commission's Corporate
Performance Assessment last month - two categories higher than its first 'poor'
rating in the 2002 council assessments.
The 'poor'
rating meant that the authority's recovery and improvement plans were
subject to supervision and monitoring by the ODPM.
But today a
letter from ODPM Local Government Minister Phil Hope to Council Leader
Cllr Peter Box, says:
"I write
to congratulate both the leadership and the staff of Wakefield Council on
the significant and rapid progress you have made over the last 18
months. I am very impressed with the remarkable progress your
council has made towards recovery and I encourage you to continue working
together to drive through further improvements in the future."
The letter
says that, given the Council's progress and commitment to sustained
improvement, the authority is now free from any statutory involvement and
stated that formal engagement with the ODPM should cease.
Leader
Councillor Peter Box said:
"This is
excellent news for the Council. We have appreciated the support of
the ODPM and this letter is recognition of how far we have come in a short
time. We are now one of the fastest improving councils in the
country and intend to demonstrate further improvement when we are assessed
again next year."
Chief
Executive John Foster said:
"This
letter frees us from the formal arrangements put in place when Wakefield
was rated as a poor council. We have indeed made great progress in
the last 18 months and I am very pleased that the commitment of both the
leadership and our employees and partners in achieving this has been
recognised by the Minister. We now look forward to continuing with
our improvement planning, delivering high quality services to the citizens
of the district and moving forward with confidence."
Contents
Balloon
Launch Marks Start of Foster Care Fortnight
7 May 2004
Foster carers
from across the Wakefield Region are to release 100 balloons on Monday to
mark the launch of Foster Care Fortnight.
During the
next two weeks, Monday 10 May to Friday 21 May, Wakefield Council will be
holding events throughout the five towns to help the public find out more
about fostering and becoming a foster carer.
There are 359
Wakefield children living with foster families and these children need to
be able to live with carers carefully chosen to meet their individual
needs.
Cabinet
Member for Social Services Councillor Peter Loosemore said:
"Foster
carers have a vital role to play in helping children to thrive, by giving
them the best possible start in life. In Wakefield we need more new
foster carers to meet the needs of children of all ages, including
teenagers. Anyone can apply to become a foster carer, and there are
many different ways to get involved - it is even possible to foster on a
part-time basis. We urge people to come forward and find out
more" .
More
information on fostering is available by contacting 01924 302160 or by
logging on to www.wakefield.gov.uk
Contents
District Set
For Dance Attack Competition
4 May 2004
A freestyle
dance competition will be held for teams as far afield as Scarborough,
Hornsea, Manchester and Sheffield in Knottingley this weekend.
The event has
been organised by Sandra Beaumont, who runs the Dance Attack Dance School
based at Pontefract Squash Club. The competition is open to all
dance schools with age categories ranging from under eights, under 12s,
under 14s, under 16s and up to 18-year-olds.
It takes
place from 10am to 7.30pm at the Knottingley Sports centre on Sunday 9
May.
The dance
competition is open to boys and girls and in each group there are
different levels at which the competitors have earned the right to dance
from beginners through to champions in Rock & Roll, Doubles Freestyle,
Solo's Freestyle, Slow (Solo) and Team.
Tickets are
available from Sandra Beaumont on 01977 792742.
Contents
Council Aims
to Shop Local
28 April 2004
Wakefield
Council is aiming to put millions of pounds into the local economy by
buying good and services from local and regional businesses.
The Council's
Cabinet has agreed a programme of activity to promote the local economy by
increasing the Council's level of spend with local and regional companies
and by making it easier for those companies to do business with the
authority.
The programme
includes producing a guide to doing business with the council, working
with business support and advice agencies and continuing its successful
programme of seminars and events to build effective working arrangements
with local and regional companies.
Councillor
Graham Stokes, Cabinet Member for Resources, said the authority is the
district's biggest buyer of goods and services and was committed to
boosting the local economy by increasing the amount spent in the region by
£14 million over the next two years. This will be achieved by a range of
activities including approved lists of suppliers and improving the
information available about council tenders.
"The
procurement programme is about a more modern and competitive way of
working which boosts the local economy while maintaining value for money.
In 2003/4 we spent around £135m on goods and services, but only 16% of
that went to companies within the district, while a further 24.4% went to
West Yorkshire companies," said Cllr Stokes.
"We need
to put more effort into making sure a significant amount of our spending
on goods and services goes into the local economy and benefits our
communities. We are setting ourselves a challenging target of
increasing the level of spend within the region by some £14 million. By
promoting a dynamic local economy and playing our part in making that
happen, I am confident that target can be achieved."
The Council
is also playing an important role in the West Yorkshire Procurement
Partnership, which is bringing together the buying power and expertise of
the West Yorkshire councils, promoting online procurement and actively
engaging with local and regional companies.
Contents
Wakefield
Disability Rights Network is holding a major event in Wakefield Town Hall
to help people to tap into services and information to improve the quality
of their lives.
The Awareness
Day on Friday, April 23, has morning workshop sessions, which are already
booked up. It opens its doors to the public at 1pm for stalls and an
information and advice session.
Councillor
Peter Loosemore, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Services and
Health and chair of the District’s Health and Wellbeing Partnership, is
opening the Awareness Day to which local groups and organisations have
been invited.
He said:
"This is an important event to help people tap into information and
services. It is about improving access and about meeting specific and
different needs. We can all learn from each other and our services will
improve and grow the more we talk to each other."
Among the 12
stalls displaying information for people who are involved with or have in
interest in disability are Social Services for Disabled Children, West
Yorkshire Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Support
Group, Down’s Syndrome Group and Wakefield Parent Partnership.
Wakefield
Disability Rights Network is a consultative body of professionals, local
groups and individuals with an interest in disability. Its main focus is
sharing information and informing and addressing concerns among local
organisations.
Contents
Council
Promotes Fairtrade
21 April 2004
Wakefield
Council is unanimously supporting Fairtrade and urging other organisations
and groups in the district to follow its example.
Councillor
Bob Mitchell (Lab, Wakefield East) moved a motion at today’s Council
meeting calling for the Council to use its partnerships to effectively
support Fairtrade and to use its administration and organisational
resources, public buildings and publications to publicise that support.
The Council will also open discussions with the Fairtrade Foundation on
recognition as a Fairtrade City.
Fairtrade is
an international organisation, started ten years ago, which does what it
says - it guarantees a better deal to producers in the developing world.
This means a stable price which covers their production costs, along with
a premium that their organisation will be able to reinvest either in the
business or social and environmental schemes among the wider community.
Councillor
Mitchell said:
"As a
Council we are already committed to the general principal of fair trade.
The issue now is to find ways and means of giving practical effect to the
determination we have already made. Producers in developing
countries are not asking for hand outs. They are universally hardworking
and resourceful people who, but for Fairtrade, would be frustrated in
finding a livelihood by the working of world markets. All they ask
is a livelihood with enough left over to ensure their enterprise is
substainable with a little for community development. Clean water, public
health and education go hand in hand with Fairtrade."
Cabinet
Member for Resources, Councillor Graham Stokes, said:
"Fair
Trade is a recognised way of guaranteeing that food producers in poor
countries receive a fair price for their goods or their work on
plantations. It also means they are paid a price which reflects the true
cost of production and allows for investment in their communities or
businesses. We are proud as an authority to support Fairtrade. We are
already using Fairtrade tea and coffee in the Town Hall and County Hall
and we will be looking at ways of publicising that we are a Fairtrade
Council to our staff, citizens and local businesses."
Further
information: WMDC Press & Communications tel (01924) 305295; fax
(01924) 305144; e-mail: pressoffice@wakefield.gov.uk
Contents
Join in a
Glimpse of the Past at Clarke Hall
21 April 2004
Families
across the district are being invited to revisit the 17th Century for a
historical re-enactment event on Sunday 9th May at Clarke Hall in
Wakefield.
Visitors will
have the chance to wander around the house and grounds to watch and listen
as the Clarke family, the original owners of the house, go about their
daily business but with a twist to the tale when one of the household
falls ill.
As well as
showing seventeenth century daily life in a gentlemen’s house, including
a fully working and busy kitchen, the re-enactment will also show how
families coped with sickness when modern medicines and methods were not
available.
The event
takes place between 10am-3pm with admission at £3.50 for adults,
concessions £2.00 and children £1.00 with free car parking, café and
shop. There is no need to pre-book and anyone wanting further information
can contact the Hall on 01924 302700, by email at info@clarke-hall.co.uk
or by visiting the website at www.clarke-hall.co.uk
Background
Information:
Clarke Hall
is owned and administered by Wakefield Council's Education and Cultural
Services. Over the last 28 years, children from all over the region have
been using Clarke Hall for educational visits to experience life in the
seventeenth century at first hand. The Hall is furnished just as it would
have been in the 1680s when Benjamin and Priscilla Clarke lived there.
Further
information: WMDC Press & Communications tel (01924) 305295; fax
(01924) 305144; e-mail: pressoffice@wakefield.gov.uk
Contents
Council to
Launch Pitch Online Booking System
19 April 2004
Football
managers throughout the District will soon be able to use a new online
system to make booking Council pitches and facilities much simpler.
Bookapitch, a
system made by Corporate Computer Consultants (CCCL) is being piloted over
the summer to speed up booking for residents trying to organise both
indoor and outdoor football games.
Bob Foster,
Wakefield Council's Sport and Recreation manager, said:
"The
system will make the administration of football facilities much easier and
straightforward both for the local community managers and our own staff as
well as being in keeping with e-government initiatives. The system
will be available on the internet, which can be accessed at home or free
of charge through the district's libraries. Managers can also register
their players so that they can easily notify them in the event of
cancellation, instead of having to ring round individually.
'Bookapitch' is already being successfully used by a number of
local authorities across the country as well as being endorsed by a number
of national amateur football associations and we are confident that it
will be a welcome development."
Once the
software is installed, residents will be able to access the new system
through the Council's website at www.wakefield.gov.uk
Further
information:
WMDC Press & Communications tel (01924) 305295; fax (01924)
305144;
e-mail: pressoffice@wakefield.gov.uk
Contents
Wakefield
Council Launch Food Hygiene Promotion At Home
15 April 2004
Wakefield
Council's Health Development Unit is to use a cash grant of £10,000 from
the Food Standards Agency to raise the importance of food hygiene
awareness at home.
The Food
Standards Agency recently invited applications for grant aid to support
local food hygiene initiatives as part of its national food hygiene
campaign and Wakefield was 1 of only 15 across the country.
Starting
when? , the aim of the Wakefield project is to raise the level of food
hygiene awareness in the home by focusing on the 4 c`s -
-
cooking,
-
cooling,
-
cleaning
and
-
cross
contamination.
The first
areas to be targeted will be Airedale, Ferry Fryston, South Elmsall, South
Kirkby, Hemsworth and Wakefield East.
The food
hygiene campaign will work with existing community, schools and voluntary
groups and other health professionals to provide training and increase
food hygiene awareness of members of the public. Publicity in the
form of a display and leaflets will be provided at various venues,
including Surestart and Healthy Living Centres, in the designated areas.
Further
information about the project is available from contacting Barbara Sands,
Senior Health Development Officer, on tel. 01924 305974 or email; bsands@wakefield.gov.uk.
Contents
Community
Cohesion Commitment from Council
15 April 2004
All party
leaders and councillors in Wakefield could be asked to sign a commitment
to making community cohesion a top priority.
Members of
the Cabinet have been asked to agree to the community cohesion protocol to
demonstrate the desire to promote good relations between people of
different racial groups. The protocol also seeks an agreement that any
literature produced will not aim to create or emphasise divisions in
communities.
The existing
Corporate Equality Plan commits the Council to promoting equality while
working with partners to promote positive relations between different
groups. It is hoped that party leaders and councillors will take
this one step further by signing the protocol and demonstrate their
commitment in writing to equality, diversity and community cohesion.
Council
Leader Peter Box, who will sign the protocol, said:
"This is
an important step as it demonstrates our commitment to a community based
on the principles of inclusion and equality of treatment. As
councillors we are elected to serve all people in our wards and we all
have a shared interest in making our community a safe, strong and
harmonious place to live. Importantly, we are also declaring a will
to challenge behaviour which could create division, while campaigning
proactively for better community relations and to keep racism and other
forms of prejudice out of elections."
The protocol
will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 13 April.
Contents
Innovative
Scheme for Home Improvement
15 April 2004
A new
interest free loan scheme has been developed with the White Rose Credit
Union (WRCU) to help householders improve their homes.
House Proud
is a partnership between Wakefield Housing Services and the local credit
union based at Cheapside, Wakefield to offer loans to vulnerable
householders to improve and repair their homes.
Grants from
the Council for home improvements are only available for low income
applicants living in Council Tax Band 'A' homes. Demand for the
grants always exceeds the money that is available. As a result there
are many households who cannot access a grant or afford the works or are
unable to access loans from reputable lenders.
To address
this, the House Proud initiative will make funds available for vulnerable
households for improvements and repairs which will help them to maintain
an independent life-style in their own homes.
Cabinet
Member for Regeneration Councillor Denise Jeffery said:
"Everyone
can benefit from the House Proud scheme. People who might not have been
able to improve their homes can borrow the money to do so. Better homes
improve the neighbourhood and, under the new scheme, the Council can
enable more homes to be improved for the same amount of money as
before."
Contents
Wakefield
Council Tax Ranking
7 April 2004
In the
Metropolitan ranking for Council Tax 2004/05, Wakefield Council have
regained their place as the second lowest Metropolitan District, after
losing it to Leeds in 2003/2004
View
The Council Tax Rankings Table
Contents
Face
to Face with Local Councillors
7 April 2004
Wakefield
Council is coming Face to Face with its citizens this month with a
programme of events around the district to test public perception on
improvements to environmental services.
Councillors
and officers will be out in markets and shopping precincts with short
questionnaires on the effectiveness of Neighbourhood Action and other
environmental issues, giving people the opportunity to meet them Face to
Face and give their feedback.
The Council
launched Neighbourhood Action - its biggest-ever clean-up and community
safety programme - in July last year. As the project
approaches its first anniversary, it is being developed through the
appointment of neighbourhood patrollers, the introduction of fixed
penalties for litter-dropping and pilot schemes in specific areas
involving cleansing services and ground maintenance staff working more
closely with Neighbourhood Action to form new Neighbourhood Environment
Teams.
Council
Leader Councillor Peter Box said:
"In the
past we have held Listening Days around the district. These new Face
to Face sessions are continuing and developing that idea. We are
engaging with the people we represent, finding out what they think and
using that information to continuously improve our services. People
tell us that Face to Face contact is what they want and we are responding
with this programme of events, getting out to meet people, rather than
expecting them to come to us."
The programme
will see councillors in Pontefract Market on April 14, Ossett Market
(April 16), Normanton Market (April 20), Featherstone Market (April 22),
Wakefield Precinct (April 23), Castleford Carlton Lanes (April 26) and
South Elmsall and Hemsworth markets (both April 30).
All sessions
run from 10am, apart from Hemsworth, which starts at 12 noon.
Contents
New
Youth Parliament Members Elected
6 April 2004
Wakefield's
two new members of the UK Youth Parliament were unveiled at the weekend
after the first ever 100 per cent internet election in the District.
Horbury
School pupil Ian Asquith and Cathedral High School pupil Stewart Torrance
won most votes in the biggest ever poll of its kind in Wakefield.
They will now represent the District on the national Youth Parliament for
12 months, and take a lead role in the local Involving Young People group.
The third and
fourth placed candidates, Ossett School pupils Victoria Railton and Joe
White, will act as deputies.
Leader of
Wakefield Council Peter Box, who opened the results evening on Friday,
said:
"Young
people are a vital group and it is important we listen to their views. All
the record number of 25 candidates did superbly well to reach the election
stage and demonstrated a commitment they should be proud of. I hope
Ian and Stewart will now be able to carry forward the views of their peers
to the Youth Parliament and also take part in the progress we are making
here in Wakefield through the Community Strategy."
Contents
Wakefield
Council Welcomes Postal Vote Go-Ahead
2 April 2004
Wakefield
Council today welcomed the decision to trial all-postal voting in
Yorkshire and the Humber for the June 10 local council and European
elections after a prolonged political debate.
Corporate
Director for Resources John Pitt said:
"I am
glad the uncertainty is over. We will now concentrate on organising a
well-run election. There will be significant information and publicity
issued to ensure the voters are informed about, and engaged with, the
election process. We hope the elections on June 10 will now see a
significant increase in turn-out."
The Council
newspaper, the Citizen, will carry a 'Post It' election pull-out,
which includes information on both council and European elections and a
map of the new ward boundaries being introduced in this year's elections.
All 63 seats
in Wakefield are up for election this year due to the ward boundary
changes introduced by the Boundary Commission for England to make sure
that where possible each councillor is representing a similar number of
electors. The results of the council elections will be announced on June
11 and the results of the European Parliamentary elections are expected to
be announced on Sunday, June 13.
Further
information: WMDC Press & Communications tel (01924) 305295; fax
(01924) 305144; e-mail: pressoffice@wakefield.gov.uk
Contents
Entries
Needed for Care for Your Town / Village Competition
31 March 2004
Wakefield
Council is once again supporting the annual Care for your Town/Village
Competition and Environmental Competition for Youth being organised by
Wakefield District Environmental Action Forum (WDEAF).
The
competitions, now in their 31st year, aim to encourage local communities,
as well as local schools and other youth groups to take a pride in
the area in which they live from shopping areas to quiet lanes across the
District. Projects need to be based on environmental improvements
with a greater emphasis this year on litter removal and reduction as well
as general cleanliness of the area entered.
Competition
entry forms with details are being sent out in the next few weeks to
community groups and schools or can be obtained by e-mail . The
closing date is at the end of May. Prizes in the main
competition range from the First prize of £250. to £25.00, and the Youth
Competition, first prize is £150 and £50 for third place.
Cllr Betty
Rhodes, Wakefield Council's Cabinet Member for Environment said:
"We are
pleased to support this initiative which has produced some excellent
results in the past few years, and raised awareness of the need for local
communities to take responsibility for cleanliness in their area. I
particularly welcome the fact that WDEAF organise a separate competition
for young people to generate a respect for the environment and show them
that they can have an effect by taking action themselves. Last year
we had entries, and we hope that this year we will get an even
greater response from residents in joining with us on trying to make the
District an excellent place to live."
Anyone
wanting to find out more about the competitions can contact Ben Greenwood
on 01977 722090 or email him on bgreenwood@wakefield.gov.uk
Contents
Webcast
For Biggest Ever E-Vote Results
31 March 2004
Results of
the Wakefield election for the UK Youth Parliament will be webcast this
year for the first time.
The
announcement of the two successful candidates in the first 100 per cent
internet vote will be made on Friday evening and will be available to view
on the www.wakefield.gov.uk
website from Monday morning.
More than
25,300 11 to 18-year-olds are eligible to vote in the election, the
biggest of its kind to be held in the District. A record 25
candidates are contesting the two places on the UK Youth Parliament.
John Tollick,
of the Council's Young People's Service, said:
"This
has been an exciting election and the first time we have ever tried
internet only voting. We have tried to make the whole process as
inclusive as possible and have attracted a record number of candidates
from all parts of the District. And while only two people can be
successful, we hope all the others will continue to play a role through
the Involving Young People group to make sure their voices are
heard."
Contents
13th
April Deadline for Electoral Registration
30 March 2004
People who
have moved into the area, or moved house recently, are being asked to
check that they are registered on Wakefield's electoral register.
Completed registration forms must be received by 13 April to be valid for
the elections on 10 June. If this deadline is missed residents may
not be able to vote.
Christine
Mason, Wakefield Council's Electoral Services Manager, said:
"All 63
District Council seats are up for election this year on 10 June. In
addition to this the European Parliamentary elections will be held on the
same day. Residents need to ensure their details are correct on the
register. It is very easy to overlook changing electoral details
when moving house and, although we have rolling registration throughout
the year, the deadline for qualifying to vote this year is only just over
a week away."
Anyone
wanting to check their details with the Electoral Services Team can
telephone them on 01924 305023 or email elections@wakefield.gov.uk
Contents
Prevention
Better Than Cure for Tackling Youth Crime in Wakefield
29 March 2004
Wakefield's
Youth Crime Prevention Service, an innovative scheme funded by Wakefield
Children's Fund designed to step in and prevent 8-13 year olds at high
risk of committing crime was launched last Friday, 26th March, in
Wakefield by Bob Ashford, Head of Prevention for the Youth Justice Board
for England and Wales.
Eighty
delegates at the launch event heard about the introduction of Youth
Inclusion and Support Panels (YISPs),which will operate under the guidance
of the Youth Crime Prevention Service. YISPs will be made up
of a range of experts including representatives from Social Services,
Wakefield's Children's Fund, Youth Offending Team, Education, Health,
Police, Housing and voluntary groups.
The Panels
will identify and target young people aged 8-13 years considered to be at
high risk of committing crime or anti-social and nuisance behaviour by
ensuring they receive appropriate services at the earliest possible
opportunity. They will focus on putting in place the positive
influences in young people's lives to help them stay out of trouble for
example, education, leisure activities, drugs advice and support for
parents.
Bob Ashford
said:
"This is
an exciting project for Wakefield District's children. Youth Crime
Prevention Services that are established in other areas of the country are
proving to be hugely successful in reducing crime and anti-social
behaviour and changing the nature of local communities' involvement in
addressing victims' needs. The key to the success of the scheme is
the partnership working between the Council's statutory agencies such as
Social Services, Education and Housing, and the voluntary sector
providers such as Barnardos-run Wakefield Children's Fund, NCH as well as
many other smaller voluntary organisations across the District."
Lisa
Hewitt-Craft, Youth Crime Prevention Team Manager, said:
"Nominations
to the YISP are voluntary in that we need the consent and the co-operation
of both the child and their parents. We work closely with parents
and carers to ensure the best possible results for children on the scheme.
We know from research that there are obvious risk factors in a young
person's life which can help to predict the likelihood of their becoming
involved in crime including poor school attendance, associating with known
offenders and misusing drugs. The Panels will intervene at an early
stage so that as they grow up these young people are no longer labelled by
their community or the agencies as 'problem children'. In my
experience many families would welcome support with their children at an
earlier stage before problems escalate, if only it was available and this
scheme provides that service. The YISP will take nominations from
statutory and voluntary agencies and directly from parents or carers who
are concerned about their child's behaviour."
Kitty Ferris,
Wakefield Council's Head of Children's Services, said:
"Intervention
at the moment starts when young people are already involved in crime or
anti-social behaviour whereas this system is intended to be along the
lines of 'prevention is better than cure'. The multi-agency approach
will also help by identifying risk at an early stage and working together
to have an influence on the young person's behaviour. The work of
the Panels will support the District's Crime Prevention and Fast Forward
Community Strategies, as a concrete example of investing in our children
and their futures, tackling youth crime at an early stage, and enabling
citizens to both be, and feel, safer in their community. By
targeting young people who show signs of being at risk, The Youth Crime
Prevention Team is undertaking a valuable piece of work which we
hope will have a positive effect on the numbers becoming involved in crime
or anti-social behaviour."
Parents and
carers who want to find out more can contact the Youth Crime Prevention
Team at Ground Floor, Fell House, Wakefield WF1 lDF, Tel: 01924
304300, or email Wakefield-YOT@wakefield.gov.uk
Background
Information:
The Youth
Inclusion and Support Panels are funded by Wakefield Children's Fund which
sets aside 25% of the fund for preventing offending by children in the
Wakefield District. Wakefield Children's fund is led by Barnardo's,
the UK's largest children's charity, who have played a key role in the
planning of Youth Crime Prevention Services in Wakefield in partnership
with Wakefield Council.
Contents
You're One
of the Lucky Winners of the Spanish Lottery
29 March 2004
West
Yorkshire Trading Standards Service is warning consumers of a Spanish
lottery scam.
Consumers
around the country have been receiving letters stating that they have won
a substantial amount of money, which has been deposited in their name with
a security company.
Consumers are
asked to keep their win a secret until the claim has been processed, which
involves disclosing their bank details. They are also encouraged to
participate in the end-of-year High Stakes International Lottery with part
of their winnings.
Trading
Standards are reminding consumers that UK consumer protection legislation
does not extend to overseas traders, and therefore it is difficult to
obtain redress if consumers are misled or sold goods and services they do
not really want.
Martin Wood,
West Yorkshire’s Chief Trading Standards Officer, says:
"This is
the first lottery scam that we have come across from Spain. Experience
shows however, that once one such scheme develops, others originating from
the same country are likely to follow".
Councillor
Graham Clarke, Chairman of the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Committee
said:
"Consumers
should ignore such schemes and not disclose their bank details, or any
other details. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is, although
such schemes should not be confused with official state lotteries. If you
have any queries regarding such schemes please contact our Helpline on
0113 3848 848 between 8.30am-6.30pm Monday to Friday, and Saturdays
9.00am-1.00pm".
For further
information please contact:
Helen
Andrews-General Media Contact-0113 3836 433
John Field-Consumer Helpline Manager-0113 2898 238
Contents
Illegal
Colour in Food - New Warning
26 March 2004
Following
earlier Food Hazard Warnings issued over the last few months concerning
contaminated chilli powder containing an illegal dye, Sudan 1, a
potentially cancer causing chemical, West Yorkshire Trading Standards
Service and local Environmental Health Departments are issuing warnings to
retailers and consumers about further products, which the Food Standards
Agency has identified as containing Sudan 1.
The affected
products originate from:
Green
Cuisine Food Products Ltd of Watton, Norfolk.
The company
has now undertaken a trade recall. However the distribution of the
products is known to be varied and dependent upon brand. The brands
concerned are:
‘Green
Cuisine’: sold nationally in Weigh and Save shops, cash and carrys,
independent grocers and health food outlets; ‘Healthy Weigh Brand’:
sold in Weigh and Save shops in the North East; ‘Creative Cuisine’:
sold nationally in independent grocers; ‘Heath and Heather’:
sold nationally in health food shops; ‘Suma’: (Suma Wholefoods
is an Elland based wholesaler) sold in health food shops in the North of
England. ‘Green City’: sold in Scottish health food shops and ‘Farmhouse’:
sold nationally through garden centres.
Suma have
liaised closely with both the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service and
the Food Standards Agency to complete an effective trade recall.
TRS
Wholesale Company Ltd Cash and Carry.
Again the
company is carrying out a trade withdrawal of certain TRS branded Tandoori
Masala products. However extensive distribution has occurred throughout
the UK to retailers, cash and carries, other distributors, caterers and
manufacturers.
Details of
all affected products are detailed below:
|
Brand /
Product |
Pack size |
Best
Before End |
|
TRS
Tandoori Masala Barbecue Ground Spice |
100g,
400g and 1kg packs |
All
up to and including July 2005 regardless of batch code. |
|
TRS
Tandoori Masala Ground Spice |
100g,
400g and 1kg packs |
All
up to and including July 2005 regardless of batch code. |
|
Product
/ Brand |
Pack
size |
Best
Before End |
|
TRS
Tandoori Masala Natural Clear Powder |
100g,
400g and 1kg packs |
All
up to and including July 2005 regardless of batch code |
|
Green
Cuisine Ground Chillies |
50g
boxes |
15/03/05,
17/04/05 to 26/04/05 inclusive, 30/5/05 to 3/06/05 inclusive,
17/6/05 to2/7/05 inclusive and 23/12/05. |
|
Green
Cuisine Cayenne pepper |
50g
boxes |
15/3/05,
3/6/05, and 17/6/05 to 2/7/05 inclusive and 23/12/05 |
|
Green
Cuisine Hot Curry Powder |
50g
boxes |
25/4/05
to 17/6/05 inclusive and 23/12/05. |
|
Green
Cuisine Chilli Powder |
60g
jars |
23/12/05
and 24/12/05 |
|
Green
Cuisine Cayenne Pepper |
60g
jars |
12/6/05 |
|
Healthy
Weigh Ground Chillies |
25g
bags |
15/3/05,
18/4/05, 7/6/05, 5/7/05, 11/7/05, 19/7/05 and 22/12/05 |
|
Healthy
Weigh Cayenne |
25g
bags |
15/3/05,
18/04/05 and 22/12/05 |
|
Healthy
Weigh Curry Powder Hot |
25g
bags |
25/4/05
and 23/12/05 |
|
Creative
Cuisine Ground Chillies |
25g
bags |
5/6/05
and 28/6/05 |
|
Creative
Cuisine Cayenne |
25g
bags |
28/6/05 |
|
Heath
and Heather Ground Chillies |
25g
bags |
5/7/05,
16/7/05 and 18/12/05 |
|
Suma
Ground Chillies |
50g
boxes |
24/6/05
and 23/12/05 |
|
Suma
Cayenne Pepper |
50g
boxes |
24/6/05
and 23/12/05 |
|
Brand
/ Product |
Pack
size |
Best
Before End |
|
Suma
Hot Curry Powder |
50g
boxes |
24/6/05
and 23/12/05 |
|
Green
City Ground Chillies |
25g
bags |
24/6/05 |
|
Green
City Cayenne |
25g
bags |
23/12/05 |
|
Farmhouse
Products Ground Chillies |
2.5g
boxes |
12/7/05 |
|
Farmhouse
Products Cayenne Pepper |
50g
boxes |
12/7/05 |
Photographs
of the affected product can be found on the FSA website at www.food.gov.uk.
Officers will be visiting food premises within the county to ensure these
products are removed from sale.
Sudan 1 is
not a permitted food colour and is believed to be a genotoxic carcinogen
and its presence, at any level, is not permitted in any foodstuffs. These
products present a health risk if consumed in sufficient quantity, and do
not comply with the food safety requirements specified in the Food Safety
Act 1990 due to the contamination.
Martin Wood,
Chief Trading Standards Officer of West Yorkshire Trading Standards
Service said:
"Although
there is no immediate threat of illness, those most at risk would be
people eating contaminated products regularly over a long time, anyone who
has these products at home should throw them away. Retailers, distributors
and caterers should not sell or use them. The products should be destroyed
or returned."
Councillor
Graham Clarke, Chairman of the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service
added:
"Despite
the warnings and action taken so far, there is still more to do to ensure
that consumers are not adversely affected. I would like to appeal, via the
media, to retailers, distributors and caterers to check their stock and
remove all contaminated products and to consumers to check their food
cupboards. Anyone with any concerns or who sees any of these product on
sale should contact the West Yorkshire Consumer Helpline on 0113 3 848
848".
For further
information contact:
Carol Hallett
General Media Contact 0113 383 6407
Graham Hebblethwaite Divisional Manager 0113 289 8218
Andrew Bibby Principal Officer 0113 289 8237
Contents
Council's
Boost Their Spending Power
25 March 2004
A series of
seminars have been held across West Yorkshire hosted by the five local
authorities working together to boost their buying power- and at the same
time to support small and medium size local businesses. West
Yorkshire local authorities have an active procurement network and have
already made good progress in developing e-tendering and online ordering
of services and goods.
Joint
contracts for the supply of library books and audio visual equipment for
libraries are proving successful and Wakefield is currently leading on a
number of tenders on behalf of other local authorities. The seminars
aim to "demystify" working for local authorities in West
Yorkshire and give suppliers the opportunity to talk to representatives of
the five councils and to register for the electronic tendering system.
Councillor
Graham Stokes, Wakefield's Cabinet Member for Resources, said:
"We are
very pleased at success of these seminars which have been very well
attended. We recognise the importance of small and medium sized businesses
to the local economy and we are working closely with other authorities and
agencies in the region to engage with local companies. The Council
is keen to improve its relationship with local suppliers and to increase
opportunities for local companies to do business with the Council."
The seminars,
which started in January and finish next month, are supported by West
Yorkshire Business Link and have all been well attended. They provide
opportunities for local small businesses to work with councils, show how
online tendering can benefit businesses, help to remove trade barriers and
look at how councils and small businesses can help each other.
Wakefield's
Head of Partnering and Procurement Alan Kirkham said:
"The
seminars are part of the West Yorkshire Procurement Partnership which is
focusing on sharing common systems, developing e-tendering and online
ordering and supporting small and medium size businesses. These
seminars are way of bringing all the interested parties together so that
we can explore business opportunities support small and medium enterprises
and at the same time ensure that the Council gets value for money. We look
forward to developing the network even further to achieve benefits for all
concerned."
Contents
Longer
Opening Times for District's Libraries
25 March 2004
Many
libraries across the District will open longer on Saturdays from 1st April
in to offer improved access for the public.
Colin
MacDonald, the Council's Head of Cultural Services, said:
"We have
recently invested a lot of money in new facilities in the libraries,
particularly in computer technology which provides free Internet access.
This has proved to be a big success with people of all ages. We hope that
opening longer on Saturdays will be more convenient and that it will
provide a greater opportunity for people to visit libraries and make use
of the services they have on offer."
Details of
the new opening hours and the facilities available at each library can be
obtained from the Culture and Leisure section of the Council's website on www.wakefield.gov.uk,
from leaflets on display in all libraries or by telephoning library
headquarters at Balne Lane, Wakefield, on 01924 302210.
Contents
Wakefield
Council to Hold Freedom of Information Seminar
23 March 2004
Wakefield
Council is leading the way on implementing the Freedom of
Information Act by holding a regional Seminar next month for the
public sector at the National Coal Mining Museum for England, just outside
Wakefield. Speakers include Phil Boyd, Assistant Information
Commissioner, Jon Hoare, Policy Adviser, Department for Constitutional
Affairs, and Maurice Frankel, Director of the Campaign for Freedom of
Information, Stuart Abraham from the National Archives, Ibrahim Hasan,
ActNow, and Mike Walsh from BT Open Access are scheduled to attend.
Invitations
have been issued to local authorities in the Yorkshire & Humber region
via the Regional Assembly to discuss the implications of the Act, which is
due to come fully into force in January 2005.
The Act,
which was given Royal Assent in November 2000, places a duty on public
authorities to adopt and maintain publication schemes which must be
approved by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). A
survey carried out by the ICO on 52 local authorities in England, Wales
and Northern Ireland last September found that many councils needed to
step up their action in order to be ready to respond when the Act is fully
implemented next year.
Under the new
legislation, citizens will have the right to be told if certain
information exists and then to have access to that information within 20
working days. This will include e-mails, electronic and hard copy
files, plans, and photographs. The FoI also covers information
which may have been archived as well as information held before the Act
comes fully into force.
Councillor
Graham Stokes, Cabinet Member for Resources and Wakefield's FoI Champion,
said:
"The FoI
Act will have a significant impact on all public bodies. We will use
it in Wakefield Council to show our openness and accountability in
our work. The Seminar is an ideal opportunity for the Region's local
authorities and our public sector partners to find out what they need to
do to be ready to comply with the Freedom of Information Act
requirements. The speakers we have invited will cover every aspect
of the challenges and opportunities of the FoI Act, and we hope therefore
that authorities in the Yorkshire and Humber region will respond
positively. Places are limited, so we would urge any potential
delegates to contact us as soon as possible."
Anyone
wanting to attend the seminar can contact Jill Farringdon at Wakefield
Council's Reosurces Services, on 01924 305047 or email jfarringdon@wakefield.gov.uk
Contents
Doorstep
Crime Tops the Agenda
22 March 2004
West
Yorkshire Trading Standards Service will be unveiling their Community
Safety Strategy on Friday 26th March 2004 at a major summit to
be held Wakefield Town Hall. Keynote speakers will include Pudsey MP Mr
Paul Truswell, Councillor David Bond and Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn,
all of whom have a vested interested in doorstep crime initiatives. This
will be the second event to be held in a West Yorkshire authority, more
summits will be held in Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale in the coming
weeks.
The first
summit held at Leeds Civic Hall last week was hailed a great success, and
those attending were inspired by the range of initiatives that the Service
is in the progress of undertaking. Many contacts were made on the day and
this will further enhance the drive to ensure that West Yorkshire
residents are educated and protected against Doorstep Crime.
The whole
concept of community safety is an issue that the Service believes to be
vital in protecting the citizens of West Yorkshire. The strategy covers
key areas; these are doorstep crime, distraction burglary, anti-social
behaviour, underage sales, consumer product safety and safer roads.
The Wakefield
Summit will highlight how the Service works in partnership with private,
local and voluntary organisations to ensure that West Yorkshire is a safer
place to live. The event is all about alerting and engaging those
organisations in Wakefield who are able to support and disseminate
information about this initiative. It is also to raise awareness about the
way partner organisations, along with the media, can become involved and
make a difference.
At the top of
the agenda will be the issue of Doorstep Crime, which is of national and
local concern. Unfortunately the instances of doorstep crime are on the
increase and it is a sad fact that the majority of victims are the most
vulnerable members of the community.
Rogue traders
and distraction burglars use many guises and excuses to gain entry or
obtain work. The introduction of initiatives by the Service and its
partner organisations will help to educate the general public on how to
protect themselves against becoming a victim. One of the fundamental aims
of the summits is to encourage more organisations to become involved, thus
enabling the wider community to benefit.
The success
of the Summit is pivotal in promoting and encouraging strong partnership
links and the Service would like to extend an open invitation to anyone
wishing to attend, who believes that the strategy may be of benefit to
them or their organisation.
Registration
will begin at 9.30am and the event will be opened by the Councillor Graham
Clarke, Chairman of West Yorkshire Joint Services. The summit is scheduled
to end at approximately 1.00pm. Anyone wishing to attend can register
their interest by contacting Angela France on 0113 289 8284 or e-mail afrance@wyjs.org.uk
Contents
Working
in Wakefield
22 March 2004
A new
exhibition, all about the world of work, opens at Wakefield Museum on
Saturday, 3 April.
Working in
Wakefield looks at how employment has changed in the city over the last
200 years.
"In the
1820s Wakefield people worked for local firms and local families"
said Senior Keeper, Christine Johnstone. "Today most work for
the Council or for multinational firms, or commute to jobs in Leeds,
Sheffield and Manchester."
The
exhibition covers a wide variety of jobs, past and present.
The work of a
shop assistant has changed dramatically. Victorian shop assistants
had to weigh and measure almost everything, package it, calculate the
price, and work out the change. Most shops today sell pre-packed
goods and have electronic tills to work out the change.
More and more
people work in more and more offices. 100 years ago the typewriter
took over from handwriting, but in the last ten years the computer has
replaced the typewriter. E-mail is common, but the paper-less office
looks as far away as ever.
"We look
at who wears work uniform and why" continued Christine
Johnstone. "Is it for trust and recognition, like firefighters
and nurses, or for company identity like coach drivers and Coca Cola
employees?"
The
exhibition includes many interesting facts. Did you know that:
-
Victorian
employers thought that women made better 'typewriters' than men,
because playing the piano was supposed to give women nimble fingers.
-
Until
1944, most children left school and started full time work at the age
of 14.
-
Until
1874, children could start full time work aged 8.
-
A
whitesmith makes things from tin, a blacksmith makes things from iron.
-
A
slaymaker made wooden pegs for the textile mills, a staymaker made
corsets.
-
Walton's
Charles Waterton made legal history when he won one of the first court
cases against a polluting industry. He forced Hodgson's soap
works to move away from his pioneering nature reserve at Walton Hall.
The museum
will ask visitors to describe their best job and their most boring job,
and all replies will be included in the exhibition.
Working in
Wakefield opens on Saturday, 3 April at Wakefield Museum, and runs till 18
July. Wakefield Museum is open 10.30 - 4.30 Monday - Saturday and
2.00 - 4.30 Sundays. Admission is free. The Museum is on Wood
Street, next to Wakefield Town Hall.
| 