Council leaders on devolution at Hull Paragon Interchange
Council leaders on devolution at Hull Paragon Interchange
Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council and Councillor Anne Handley, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, talk about the impact devolution could have on transport and rail electrification in the region.
You can find out more about the Hull and East Yorkshire devolution proposals by visiting heydevolution.com.
Holocaust Memorial Day 2024
Holocaust Memorial Day 2024
Holocaust Memorial Day 2024 was held on 27 January, allowing thoughts to turn to the 6 million Jews and the millions of other people murdered by the Nazi regime.
Those killed during more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur are also remembered.
Holocaust Memorial Day is held on the 27th of January ever year. It marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.
Watch our memorial video to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 2024. The video features the Lord Mayor (Councillor Kalvin Neal), Raphael Cohen-Almagor, Ian Sugarman, and Bishop Eleanor Sanderson.
Visit the official Holocaust Memorial Day website to learn more.
How Hull City Council supports Whoopie Bakery
How Hull City Council supports Whoopie Bakery
Whoopie Bakery is just one of lots of businesses in Hull receiving grants and support from Hull City Council.
Kate Cunnah, from Whoopie Bakery, spoke about how they have used grants to develop and grow their business:
“We sell cakes that are made of sponge. They’re a 100 year old dessert tradition from the US and have either a cheesecake or marshmallow filling and we’ve been running for a year now.
“We use the skills funding to fund a professional food photography course in London with a photographer called Kimberly Espinel. She’s an
absolutely fantastic food photographer with real flair.
“We wanted to elevate our website, social media, digital and print media with fantastic food photography that stood out.
“It’s so important. It’s such a key part of why customers choose to click on your advert or your website rather than somebody else’s, and we really recognise that need.
“I had already been doing photography for and I had the equipment, but I just wasn’t quite getting the food photography that I wanted to get that I felt was suited to the business and where we wanted to take it.
“The funding enabled us to undertake that training and really elevate what we’re doing. We got the UK shared Prosperity funding to support the purchase of equipment and marketing and design provisions.
“We’ve purchased a piece of equipment called a depositor. That will really help us to improve our workflow, increase our capacity and be ahead of ourselves as well.
“It’s there to support growth at a time when small businesses might find it difficult to have capital upfront. Cash flow is always a challenge and especially in the current climate it’s a real challenge to just have the money in the bank to do these kinds of things.
“As a new business, credit isn’t always easy to access and when it is accessible, it’s expensive.
So having access to this funding has enabled us to buy top quality equipment that will future proof the business.”
How to register for the myHousing App
How to register for the myHousing App
A new myHousing app now offers Hull City Council tenants a wider range of options.
Tenants who currently use My Housing Online for things such as managing their rent accounts, requesting repairs and bidding for homes are encouraged to sign up to the app, which offers an improved user experience.
The myHousing app will be accessible from digital devices, and will be downloadable from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store from Wednesday 17 January.
myHousing is also be available as a website here.
New re-use shop opens in Hull
New re-use shop opens in Hull
A new Re-Use Shop run by Dove House Hospice in partnership with Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and FCC Environment opened in January 2024.
The shop aims to reduce waste by selling good quality second-hand items, which have been donated for reuse from household waste and recycling centres across Hull and East Riding.
Liam Bould, Area Manager of FCC Environment, said:
“We’re opening a brand new reuse shop in partnership with Dove House Hospice, Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
FCC operate the network of household waste recycling centres across Hull and the East Riding and are responsible for identifying
the items that have got a second potential useful life in them when they come from residents into the household waste recycling centre.
“We separate them and store them in an ISO container shipping container. They then get delivered into the two shops that we’ve now got across the Hull and East Riding area.
“Ultimately for residents, it provides a new shop on the High Street well positioned in Hull. It gives residents access to buy items at a much lower price which again is critical in a cost of living crisis.”
Carly Trickett, Area Manager of Dove House Hospice, said:
“Obviously it benefits Dove House in the same way as our other shops. The money from here will contribute towards supporting the people that have life limiting illnesses, at our hospice.
“And it benefits the residents in this area. We’re offering lots of items that are useful to them at a very affordable price, compared to going and buying it new.
“Reuse is preferable in terms of sustainable waste management and recycling. The more we can divert for reuse and keep goods in circulation for longer, the better.
“If you’ve got things at home that you don’t necessarily want anymore but are in perfectly good condition, then you can donate them for reuse at the three household waste recycling centres in Hull at Burma Drive, Wiltshire Road and Sutton Fields. There’s also a reuse electrical white goods store on Hessle Road.
“We’ve got those in the city now, so we’ve got a really good base for reuse across Hull.”
About the Beverley Road Townscape Heritage Scheme
About the Beverley Road Townscape Heritage Scheme
Since 2015, Hull City Council have been delivering the Beverley Road Townscape Heritage Scheme to protect, restore, and celebrate the rich heritage of Beverley Road and those who have lived, worked, and enjoyed time there over the centuries.
The Townscape Heritage Scheme is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.
The scheme has included repair and restoration grants to local property owners, public realm improvements, and a wide-ranging community engagement programme which includes heritage walks and talks, work with local schools, the creation of a new heritage trail and collaborations with community organisations.
Now Hull City Council have commissioned local film company NOVA Studios to create a miniseries of films with the local community about the history and heritage of Beverley Road.
The first film features three key partners in the scheme, Summit Education Society, Pearson Primary School, and the Station Inn, talking about community, diversity and belonging in the area.
Upcoming films will explore the blitz, entertainment and culture, and heritage restoration works.
People can learn more about the Beverley Road Townscape Heritage Scheme on Facebook and X (Twitter).
Donations Needed for Christmas Jumper Day 2023!
Donations Needed for Christmas Jumper Day 2023!
Hull City Council is asking residents to donate unwanted children’s Christmas jumpers for Christmas Jumper Day 2023 to help local families.
All jumpers donated are for Christmas Jumper Day on Thursday 7 December.
Jumpers can be donated at The Wilson Centre, The Orchard Centre, Bransholme Health Centre and any Beercocks estate agents.
Elizabeth Dillon, Policy & Partnership Manager for Hull City Council, said:
“We’ve joined in with Beercocks and the council’s customer service centres, who are acting as our donation points. People from across the city can have a look through their wardrobes, through their children’s wardrobes.
“Children come in all different shapes and sizes, so small adult’s would be suitable. But any size Christmas jumper we’d be interested in having donated at all the different collection points.
“People that haven’t got transport or aren’t able to get to the customer service centres, we will collect them from you. So if you can act as a collection point, give us a ring and we’ll nip across and our Love Your Street team will pick them up.
“We’ll make sure they get to children for Christmas Jumper Day which is at the beginning of December.
We all know how expensive Christmas is, so by having collections of these jumpers and redistributing those, it just means that families aren’t having to pay out to buy those jumpers for their children.
“It enables everyone to get involved, when you’re a child, these sort of things are important to you.
“I think that is just a really nice thing to be able to support. Textile recycling isn’t just about at Christmas, it’s an all year round activity. There’s lots of opportunities in Hull to be able to reuse your textiles.
“That’s through the council’s textile banks that are right across the city, or use your local charity shop.”
Albert Avenue Giant Hook-a-Duck
Albert Avenue Giant Hook-a-Duck
To celebrate the official opening of Albert Avenue Lido, children in Hull took part in a competition to decorate rubber ducks that were then used as centerpieces for a giant game of hook-a-duck.
With Hull Fair taking place at the same time, just around the corner, it was the perfect way to celebrate the new lido.
Albert Avenue Pools and Fitness Reopens
Albert Avenue Pools and Fitness Reopens
Albert Avenue Pools and Fitness has reopened following extensive investment and transformation works. The facility includes a new outdoor lido and splash pad, as well as a fitness gym and class studio.
Speaking at the opening, Councillor Rob Pritchard (Portfolio Holder for Culture & Leisure) said:
“It’s the public’s first opportunity to have a look at these phenomenal facilities. An £11 million investment from the council is for the pool, the outside lido has been extended and now has a heating system in it.
“Within the leisure centre itself there’s been an extension and that’s got in two parts as a leisure centre, a gym that’s got all the equipment in and then there’s the gym for classes.
“These are great facilities. There is a need for people to see what is on their doorstep, to get involved, get fit and improve their health as well.
“Even if you just come once and be a bit nosy to say actually, I remember last time I came was with school. Come and see how it was probably and actually get involved.”
James Prest (Project manager, Esteem Hull) said:
“It’s quite bittersweet really, this has been our baby for the past couple of years.
“There’s been a massive effort from the major projects team at Hull City council, Hull Esteem, Hobson & Porter and also the local supply chain.
“It’s been a tough challenge working in the confinements of a building that you’ve already got here.
It’s not a brand-new build where you can change things. You’ve got the space that you’re working with, which is logistically difficult.
“But what we can see here, it’s the fruit of our labour.”
Kev Harrison & Wayne Cropp (Hobson & Porter) said:
“We started in February last year, the main building itself was originally opened in 1920.
“A lot of the original features there have been covered up over the years. But it’s turned out a fantastic facility really.
“The lido itself was a completely new filtration system as it was at Beverley Road, but with Beverley Road it was fully renewed as it is here.
“We had the addition of the third pole, and that’s got a state-of-the-art filtration system which was a challenge.
“It’s a fantastic facility now with all three pools, the Lido, the new gymnasium, the fitness suites upstairs. There’s so much to get involved with the local community going to love it.
“I learnt to swim here. I’ve trained with Jack Hales brought a lot of memories back for me – it’s great to get involved again.”
Learn more about Albert Avenue pools & Fitness here.
Celebrating 250 years of Amazing Grace
Celebrating 250 years of Amazing Grace
A new exhibition commemorating 250 years of ‘Amazing Grace’ is now on display at Wilberforce House Museum with Hull Maritime.
The exhibition will tell the story of former slave ship captain, John Newton, the writer and composer of Amazing Grace.
Speaking at the exhibition opening, Councillor Rob Pritchard (Hull City Council Portfolio Holder for Culture & Leisure) said:
“This exhibition is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the writing of the hymn, Amazing Grace.
“The exhibition has a recording of local people singing the song. There’s also the story of John Newton and how that affected the abolition.
“These things should be remembered because if we understand our history, it can help inform our future.
“We quite often think that the slave trade is a thing of the past, but there are more people in slavery today than there has been over the years.
“I love Amazing Grace because it’s a hymn about redemption and forgiveness. We all need that in our lives, and that’s why 250 years from it being written it’s still remembered.
“It has such an effect because it is that need for redemption and that people’s faith and needs something to engage with to improve their lives.”
Watch the video commissioned film of the hymn from Hull Maritime on YouTube.
Introducing Pearson Park Community Garden
Introducing Pearson Park Community Garden
Pearson Park Community Garden off Beverley Road is making a difference by bringing people together to grow fruit and vegetables.
The former derelict garden has been transformed as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund with a £3m grant for the restoration.
Andrew Wilson, Streetcare and Open Spaces Strategic Manager for Hull City Council, said:
“The garden initially started as part of the Heritage lottery Fund, restoration of the park in full.
“East Lodge here, connected to it was a derelict garden and as part of the plans was to develop that as a community space, so that people could come and learn how to garden, take part, and possibly grow plants not only for the community but for the park. So, that’s how it started.
“It’s been transformed basically. It was literally overgrown, you couldn’t see it for large overgrown shrubs, so the size of the site wasn’t really known. When we looked at it on the plan it seemed too small for a community garden.
“But now that it has been cleared, as you can see, it is a large space which is very accessible. We have raised beds, graveled paths so that abilities of all ages can get onto the site and use it. So, it has been a great asset.
“Oh certainly, and if it wasn’t for the volunteers that manage it, it wouldn’t be in the shape or form that it is today. The bare bones were provided by the lottery– the fixtures and fittings – but keeping it going, and it is increasing from year to year, all down to volunteers.”
Stacie Bentley, former volunteer, and apprentice at the Pearson Park Community Garden, said:
“I am very proud of how far the Community Garden has come since we started. This is our third summer, and it is proving really, really popular.
“Some people just come for a cup of tea and a biscuit and others come to help garden and escape for the day, I think.
“The garden really does help with people’s mental health. I have been fortunate enough to have been told that it does help with people’s mental health and that they do feel better after being here.
“Plus, you have got the food as well that people can take home and eat, and it is all organic.
“We have got tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce – all the general, normal stuff that people would grow on allotments or in their back garden – but, we also have cauliflower, sprouts, broccoli. There’s also swish chard and kale that a lot of people haven’t really tried, so that is a great thing.
“We try and make sure that we grow things for meals. We will grow potatoes, parsnips and carrots for roast dinners.
“It’s really rewarding seeing what you have grown and being able to use it and have your children involved. It is a space for families, and I do try to encourage that. Kids do love it; they really do love getting involved.
“My hopes for the community garden is to continue growing with the success it has been growing with. Getting more people involved, benefitting the community. To put food on peoples plates, to help people learn that they can this at home, like windowsill gardening.
“It is just being with the community and providing for it.”
For more information about volunteering at the Community Garden, call 07925 361304 or email pearsonpark@hullcc.gov.uk