From Monday, August 9 to Friday, August 13, between 9am and 4.30pm, Rock Barracks in Sutton near Woodbridge will have 60 new recruits taking on fun-filled survival, crafts and sporting challenges.

“This is the third year the week long activity camp has been running and each year even more activities are taking place giving young people a chance to have fun, meet new friends and try something new,” said Cllr Doreen Savage, Cabinet Member for Young People and Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Board Member.

This year will see recruits put through their paces taking on rock climbing, bush craft skills, a raft challenge, laser quest, an Army challenge course and many other sporting and craft activities.

“All of the spaces for this year’s camp have been filled and it promises to be the highlight of the summer for the young people taking part, getting to experience something exciting and different this summer holiday,” added Cllr Savage.

At the beginning of the camp young people are issued with kit bags including basic supplies of a t-shirt, compass and a hat. Young people will be working with others of different ages across the week with a strong emphasis on team building and working together.

With the help of the soldiers from Rock Barracks young people will also be working alongside community safety officers, police officers, volunteers and members of the active communities team benefitting from working with a number of positive role models from across the community.

“There should be no chance for boredom to creep into the action packed week and I look forward to seeing how the young recruits get on with the many different activities on offer, especially the Army challenge course, specially designed by the soldiers of the 23rd Engineers Regiment,” added Cllr Savage.

The event is organised by Suffolk Coastal with support from the Suffolk Coastal Community Safety Partnership, the Suffolk Coastal LSP, the Army Welfare Service and the Ministry of Defence. The activity camp costs £70 for each of the young people to attend covering all activities and kit for the week.

Up to 200 people a year for the last 10 years have been taking the one-day CIEH Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering for food handlers run by Suffolk Coastal’s food safety team and the course is now being offered in Waveney as well.

Industry guidance recommends that food handlers who prepare open high risk foods should attend this level of training as part of their core training. The new expanded training programme has more dates and venues providing more choice.

“This is a great example of how closer working between our two councils can lead to an improved service. Our food safety training courses have played an important role in bringing home to anyone who works with food the special responsibilities they have for safeguarding the health of consumers and ensuring that the food they serve is safe to eat,” said Cllr Marianne Fellowes, Suffolk Coastal’s Cabinet Member for Community Health.

“We have been able to share our expertise and experience with Waveney’s food safety team so that they can put on courses in Lowestoft for people in their district and indeed for some of our businesses who may find it easier to get there rather than Woodbridge. Simple joint-working is once again helping to deliver an improved service to our businesses and the communities they serve” added Cllr Fellowes.

“Food businesses are an important part of the local economy and we are pleased to offer them access to cost effective training that will directly benefit them and their staff. The experience from Suffolk Coastal is that these courses are both useful and popular, and play a key role in helping businesses keep their staff fully trained in food hygiene,” said Cllr Ken Sale, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Waveney.

“These courses are now offered at the Councils’ offices in both Woodbridge and Lowestoft, giving businesses a wider choice and helping them ensure that the food they serve is meeting the necessary safety standards,” added Cllr Sale.

The cost of the training is £57 per person and includes tea and coffee. For more information or to reserve a place at either of the two venues call 01394 444357 or email foodsafetyteam@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk or visit www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourbusiness/foodsafety/training/

Lowestoft course dates are:

•Monday, September 6 2010
•Monday, November 1 2010
•Monday, January 10 2011
•Monday, March 7 2011
•Monday, May 9 2011
•Monday, July 11 2011
Woodbridge course dates are:

•Tuesday, August 17 2010
•Wednesday, September 22 2010
•Tuesday, October 26 2010
•Wednesday, November 17 2010
•Tuesday, December 14 2010
•Wednesday, January 19 2011
•Tuesday, February 15 2011
•Wednesday, March 23 2011

Alongside John were people from all walks of life including several service personnel wounded in recent conflicts, they set out on 25^th May from HMS Victory in Portsmouth to cycle 325 miles across France from Le Havre to Dunkirk. 

The 300 riders completed their challenge in Dunkirk, to coincide with the 70^th Anniversary of the evacuation of British Troops where the riders will joined the memorial ceremony in Dunkirk, before being transported back to the beaches of Dover by the Royal Navy in landing craft, similar to those used 70 years ago.

The challenging cycle-route traced some of the region’s most significant First World War and Second World War battle sites including Thiepval on the Somme.

John decided to take part in the challenge after watching the BBC documentary “Wounded”, last September and signed up for the challenge in October.

Last year’s bike ride went on to raise £800, 000 for initiatives that support British troops wounded in current conflicts.  This year, H4H cyclists are aiming to raise £1 Million which will take the Charity’s fundraising to date over the £50m mark.  The £50m raised to date has supported over 25 grants, from £4000 to Deptherapy for a rehabilitation diving scheme, to the £20million appeal to build a series of Personnel Recovery Centres across the UK. The charity policy of ‘money in, money out’ means that all of the money donated over the past two years is spent or allocated to a range of vitally important range of specific projects.

The challenging route of the bike ride was a great physical challenge for both able bodied and disabled participants alike.  From wounded soldiers to families cycling for friends, families or fellow Brits, there were many stories to be told on the way.  It was an amazing, emotional journey culminating at Dunkirk, then a memorable arrival back on British shores, like those who went before them 70 years ago.

Bryn Parry, H4H Co-Founder says, “Help for Heroes is all about ordinary people ‘doing their bit’ to help men and women wounded in the current conflicts. There are now over 3500 events organised by volunteers across the country, with people cake baking, running, climbing, parachuting, leg shaving, swimming, in fact anything legal, decent and honest to raise money for our wounded heroes.”

“This is our signature event, which last year raised over £800,000. Now in its third year, the ride will involve 300 cyclists, including a team of Service personnel injured in the line of duty, riding 325 miles across Northern France to raise money.  These funds will enable us to keep providing direct, practical support to our boys and girls, we need every penny to give them the very best they deserve.”

First elected to Bucklesham Parish Council in 1984, Cllr Falconer became Parish Chairman enjoying getting involved in grass roots politics and helping the local community.

“It is a great privilege and honour to represent the Council and to become Chairman is beyond anything I could have imagined. I look forward to taking on the role of chairman and will carry out its ambassadorial duties with tremendous pride and to the best of my ability,” said Cllr Veronica Falconer, the new Chairman of Suffolk Coastal District Council.

“I have been both a district and parish councillor during my involvement in local politics and I am keen to take on my new role as Chairman using my experience and initiative to get stuck in,” added Cllr Falconer.

Born in Windsor and growing up spending time both in Britain and abroad Cllr Falconer moved to Suffolk in 1978 with her family and quickly fell in love with the district. Over the past 32 years Cllr Falconer has been involved in many local projects and charities including Cancer Research, The Red Cross, NSPCC, Maritime Ipswich ’82, St Matthew’s Society Home in Felixstowe and Amberfield School.

Cllr Falconer has had a busy and varied work life starting with The Economist and taking on roles with Cape Insulation, Unilever, GKN London and Koppers Inc, CQC, and Waldringfield Sailing Club.

Cllr Falconer cut her teeth in local politics working with former Ipswich MP Michael Irvine as constituency secretary. This has helped her gain a great deal of experience of political life and provided an invaluable background into local politics and issues.

“I enjoy meeting, talking and listening to local residents finding out what issues they are passionate about. In my new role as Chairman I hope to continue to be at the heart of the community as well as carrying out my new duties,” added Cllr Falconer.

Cllr Joan Sennington will take over as the Vice Chairman working alongside Cllr Falconer. Cllr Sennington has been a district councillor representing Felixstowe South since 2004. It will be only the second time at Suffolk Coastal that the roles of Chairman and Vice Chairman have been filled by women and Cllr Falconer will be the seventh woman Chairman since 1973.

The Suffolk Coastal business energy advisor is holding a free Carbon Reduction Breakfast Workshop on Wednesday, July 7 at The Moorish Lounge, 3 Quay Street, Woodbridge from 7.30am to 10am, with a complimentary breakfast provided by The Moorish Lounge.

“The workshop is a great way for local businesses to make sure they are getting the most out of the energy they use, cutting back on any unnecessary usage and improving their green credentials,” said Cllr Andrew Nunn, Cabinet Member for the Green Environment.

After calculating their carbon footprint, delegates will be able to learn about the impact of their carbon footprint on energy management and the performance of their business compared to others similar in size.

Delegates will need to bring along their lap top along with a year’s worth of energy bills for electricity, gas, oil, water and waste to calculate their carbon footprint and work out their energy consumption and performance over the last 12 months.

“With the help of the business energy advisor, local businesses will be able to work out how much they could be saving on their running costs and what their most beneficial energy saving options are,” added Cllr Nunn.

Delegates will have the opportunity to see energy monitoring and saving devices in action at The Moorish Lounge. Devices such as the energy saving heat pump have already been installed and are helping to significantly reduce the amount of energy used.

“The current economic climate is particularly tough for SMEs so any savings in energy costs will be a welcome bonus. The workshop has been specifically designed for SMEs in the Suffolk Coastal area aiming to reduce their carbon footprint and business costs and improve reputation.

“There are over 4,000 local SMEs in the district that could benefit from the help on offer. The chance to reduce energy costs and gain a competitive edge by making their businesses more environmentally friendly will be welcomed by any local business that not only wants to save money but is also conscious of the impact their carbon footprint has on the environment,” added Cllr Nunn.

So far, the business energy advisor has helped over 60 SMEs across the district identify a potential £266,200 worth of savings and a reduction in carbon emissions of up to 1,150 tonnes a year.

The workshop will also include helpful information from the Energy Savings Trust about the best ways to engage employees and encourage them to also take an interest in making their businesses greener and more environmentally friendly.

Places for the workshop are limited and can be booked by calling the Suffolk Coastal Business Energy Advisor on 01394 444257 or by emailing anna.martin@groundwork.org.uk

The workshop and the business energy advisor are funded by the Suffolk Coastal Local Authority Business Growth Incentive Fund, Groundwork East of England and the Suffolk Heaths AONB Sustainable Development Fund.

Wine expert Jude Mullins, from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust in London, began by explaining that there are many good-quality Fairtrade wines on the market. Of the 290 wines listed on the Fairtrade Foundation website, six were sampled:

Four from South Africa

• Co-Op Fairtrade Sparkling Brut
• Thandi Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
• Fairhills Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot 2008
• Thandi Sauvignon/Merlot blend 2008

One from Argentina

• Tilimuqui Torrontes

One from Chile

• Co-Op Fairtrade Carmeniere 2008

One example of the advantage of Fairtrade certification is demonstrated in the Fairhills vineyards of South Africa set up in 2005. The Fairtrade premium has helped build schools, daycare and community centres benefiting the 1,000 Fairhills workers and their families.

 Twenty-five guests supported the event; some were complete novices yet Jude soon had everybody commenting on the wine’s ‘appearance’, ‘nose’ and ‘palate’. They learned that a red wine could be clear, a nose could be clean and that a wine could be ‘long’, ‘medium’ or ‘short’ (this relates to the length of time the taste lingers).

  It was a fascinating evening and Jude commented that there was something suitable for any occasion, barbecue, aperitif or even a wedding in the case of the Sparkling Brut. Wine tasting usually involves seeing, swirling, smelling, tasting and not swallowing but the wines were so good that many ignored that advice!

 Just42 raised over £450 towards their work with young people in and around Woodbridge; they are grateful to Jude for travelling up from London to give her time and to Budgens, the Co-Op, and Wines of Interest (Ipswich) for supplying wines.