Get one step closer to a luxury summer holiday with the newly launched Cynthia Spencer Hospice Step into Summer Raffle.Support the hospice by purchasing tickets in the raffle for just £1 each to be in with a chance of winning the top prize of a seven-night getaway in Lanzarote.The week-long luxury trip will include self-catering accommodation and airport transfers, as well as an extensive tour of the island and a choice of numerous fun activities including snorkelling, wine tasting, surf lesson, escape room or swim coach.Second prize is a huge £1,000 and five runners up will take away £100 each.Tickets...

20 March, 2024

The Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards are back for a sixteenth year of shining a spotlight on local culinary excellence. Recognising and celebrating the county’s brilliant people, places and producers, the Awards fly the flag for buying and supporting local, and as spending pressures continue, that support for independent and local is more important than ever.With a sensational set of sponsors, and eighteen categories, this year’s Awards are a toast to all that is great about the county’s experiences, produce and drink; a reward for those who work so hard locally – rising to not insignificant challenges facing the...

20 March, 2024

A local community theatre company is providing a unique opportunity for young people aged 10-16 to participate in the arts this summer.Northamptonshire based Laugh Out Loud Theatre Company is bringing back their popular Summer Drama Camp for a second year running.  The week, which runs from 29th July - 2nd August 2024, will be packed full of drama games, techniques and activities that encourage creativity and social interaction, build confidence, improve communication, public speaking and team building skills, and benefit mental and physical health and wellbeing. The group of young people will also get to perform with professional actors in two public performances...

19 March, 2024

Stories of Abbey Farm is one of 56 new projects that Historic England will be funding across the next two years through its Everyday Heritage grant programme, celebrating working class histories.A grant of £8211.50 will help uncover and celebrate the hidden histories of those who lived and worked at Abbey Farm on the Delapré Abbey estate, during the 20th century. Spearheaded by local volunteers, the project will result in a series of exhibitions - created with and by members of the local community - which illuminate the lives and contributions of individuals whose stories remain largely untold.The project will accompany...

19 March, 2024

A recent announcement in the Spring Budget that Landfill tax will rise, whilst a positive step towards continue to support the Government’s environmental objectives, could inadvertently also slow development, says commercial property specialist Prop-Search.The Landfill tax is an economic measure to drive waste streams up the waste hierarchy to avoid the environmental consequences of landfill emissions and is charged by weight: standard and lower.  Chancellor Jermey Hunt has announced that the standard rate of Landfill tax is set to rise in April 2025 from £103.70 per tonne to £126.15 per tonne and the lower rate will rise from £3.30 per...

19 March, 2024

North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) will receive a funding boost from central Government to help deliver a network of publicly available electric charging points across the local area.The council were provisionally allocated £2,895,000 of funding and had to provide a business case on how the funding would be spent. This business case has now been approved and NNC will receive all of the allocated funding.The funding will be used to deliver a network of publicly available electric vehicle charging points to all 12 towns across North Northamptonshire, with a particular focus on supporting residents who are not able to charge an electric vehicle...

18 March, 2024

Royal & Derngate’s Artistic Director Jesse Jones has announced the remaining programme for its 2024 Made in Northampton season which sees co-productions this autumn with Paines Plough and the Rose Theatre, both presenting new work, and a world premiere production of Janet and Allan Ahlberg’s much-loved classic The Jolly Christmas Postman.A weeklong festival of new work from regional artists, GenFest, complements the theatre’s ongoing Generate artist development programme, along with its work with children and young people. The theatre also continues to present a range of the very best touring shows.Following the emergency closure of the building due to the...

18 March, 2024

The Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and Sara Penrose Ltd are delighted to be holding a practical skill development workshop to help business boost operational efficiency on Wednesday 10th April 2024. 0930 – 1230 at the Vulcan Works in NorthamptonJoin us as for a three hourly highly interactive in-person workshop where we will focus on the key business objective of operational efficiency.Operational efficiency focuses on how you better manage resources effectively. If resources are used more effectively, you save money.In the workshop delegates willBe introduced to why operational efficiency is important Learn the skills to achieve better operational efficiency e.g....

18 March, 2024

Northamptonshire Community Foundation has raised over £137,000 so far through the Shining a Spotlight on Rural Community Needs appeal, which has enabled the launch of the Rural Community Needs Fund.The Rural Community Needs Fund is the foundation’s first to focus solely on rural Northamptonshire and will award grants of up to £10,000 to charities, community groups and volunteer-led organisations working to address urgent needs within rural communities, such as access to community transport, fuel poverty, refurbishment of community building and equipment, access to wellbeing and health services, activities and education services for young people and support for older people.Rachel McGrath,...

18 March, 2024

A team of occupational therapists from Northamptonshire are using their skills and experience to help schools and families in the county and surrounding areas.The team at Thrive Occupational Therapy Services, which is based in Sywell, Northants, has been providing independent occupational therapy services for children and families in Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire since 2010.Now, the company is broadening its impact by extending training opportunities through teaching networks and school academy trusts. This includes hosting sessions featuring national and international speakers, who bring diverse perspectives and expertise to the table.Company director and occupational therapist, Jennifer Barrow, said: “Thrive Occupational...

17 March, 2024

Ballyhoo PR, a public relations and copywriting business in Lamport, has added to its team with a familiar face – or should that be voice?!Daisie-Belle Downer joins Ballyhoo PR after years of working in radio and TV, working on shows for BBC Radio Northampton, BBC Three Counties and Capital Radio, as well as voiceovers for television adverts and Nickelodeon. She has also established her own successful podcast - Daisie Dates - and amassed a following of 20,000 on Tik Tok.Daisie-Belle will continue her freelance presenter and voiceover work as well as working part-time for Ballyhoo PR as a PR and...

15 March, 2024