Newcastle City Council

From Confidence to Career: Ben’s Connect to Work Journey 🌟 Since joining Connect to Work a few months ago, Ben has been building the skills, confidence and experience needed to take his next step into employment. With support from his mentor Nazrul, he has worked on CV development, job applications and interview preparation while gaining hands on experience through his placement and working towards his Food Hygiene qualifications. 💬 Nazrul says: “Ben has grown in confidence and independence. He’s become more proactive, developed strong practical skills and engages well in work-related activities.” 💬 Ben says: “It has helped me build confidence and learn new skills. My favourite part is working as part of a team and preparing food.” Like many people stepping into the world of work, Ben has faced challenges such as adapting to a fast-paced environment, but since being on the placement, Ben’s already seeing improvement and progress. The next step? Securing paid employment and Ben is already actively applying and attending interviews 👏 Programmes like Connect to Work play a vital role in helping people gain real-world experience, develop practical skills, and prepare for long-term employment in a supportive environment. We’re proud of the progress Ben has made and excited to see what’s next for him 🙌

Forever 7 – a special place to remember Archie York 🌿 💙 Today, on what would have been his 9th birthday, family, friends and the community came together to mark the opening of Forever 7 – a Nature Trail created in memory of Archie. Archie tragically lost his life in October 2024 following an explosion at his home in Benwell, caused by illegal drug production. Archie’s parents, Katherine and Robbie, wanted to create a special place where they could go to remember him. Working with Newcastle City Council and Woolsington Parish Council, they chose to create a nature trail in the Parish Ponds – an area they often visited together as a family and where Archie loved to walk, explore and enjoy the outdoors. 💭 Katherine said: “This is a place where we can come as a family and remember him… Our boy will be Forever 7, but his memory will live on here forever.” The opening was marked with a simple and heartfelt moment, as Archie’s younger brother, Finley, cut the ribbon alongside a bubble release. Katherine and Robbie brought together Archie’s family and friends to share in the occasion, creating a special moment of remembrance – made even more meaningful with a visit from Archie’s favourite superhero, Spiderman. If you visit, please take a moment to reflect and respect this much-loved space 💙 If you’d like to find out more about the trail, follow the link in the comments 👇

Never a dull day in the Grainger Market 🦖 The newly installed doors will keep chilly draughts at bay... not so good at keeping out a t-rex 🫣

Newcastle runs on people like you 🫵 Find your perfect job with us. ✅ Residential Care Officer - £32,597 - £35,412pa ✅ Assistant Surveyor - £32,597 - £35,412pa ✅ Health & Social Care Officer - £29,064 - £31,022pa pro-rata ✅ Market Operative - £25,949pa

Meet our Lord Mayor and Sheriff 👋 Cllr Henry Gallagher was yesterday selected to continue as Lord Mayor of Newcastle and the city’s ‘First Citizen’. He represents the Dene and South Gosforth ward and begins a second year in post after his appointment was confirmed at yesterday’s Annual Meeting of Council. Cllr Gallagher’s first year as Lord Mayor had a number of highlights capped by presenting Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe with Freedom of the City. The Lord Mayor is an important diplomatic role leading certain commemorative events and celebrations, hosting civic functions and chairing meetings of the council. Henry will be supported by newly appointed Sheriff and Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Alistair Chisholm, who is accompanied by his assistance dog Umber. We wish the three of them the best of luck in the year ahead 🖤

United in support of people affected by dementia 💙 During Dementia Action Week, the newly refurbished Grainger Market opened its doors for a fantastic day bringing together people living with dementia, their families, carers, organisations and communities from across Newcastle. The event highlighted how Newcastle continues to grow as a Dementia Friendly City creating welcoming, inclusive spaces where people can connect, access support and feel part of their community. Visitors enjoyed singing, dancing, a lively ceilidh, boccia, virtual reality experiences and plenty of opportunities to chat over a cup of tea while learning more about dementia and the support available across the city A huge 27 organisations and services took part, including charities, universities and statutory services, speaking to more than 580 people throughout the day and helping connect residents to the right advice, activities and support, making sure nobody faces dementia alone. Special thanks to Newcastle Carers for the incredible support they provide to unpaid carers across our city, and to the Mayor for speaking about the importance of dementia awareness and community support. It was wonderful to see Grainger Market being used exactly as intended, as a safe, welcoming and vibrant community space at the heart of Newcastle. And this work doesn’t stop here. Dementia friendly support and activities continue every day across our neighbourhoods. Find out more about Dementia Friendly Newcastle and ongoing support through InformationNOW 👇

Reducing waiting times and supporting our residents 👏 A new approach to reducing waiting times for support services in Newcastle has been praised by Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors. We have already told you about Adult Social CarePoint. A new front door for anyone looking to adult social care services in Newcastle. The integrated, partnership approach is having an impact. Reducing waiting times from months, to weeks, and ensuring people get the right support more quickly. Now you don’t need to just take our word for it, inspectors from the CQC have praised the service too, and how we are working with partners to give adults independence. This recognition reflects the dedication of staff and partners working every day to improve outcomes for residents and make services more responsive and effective. But we are not complacent. Inspectors also said there are areas we can improve and we are putting plans in place to deliver even more for those who use our service. Read more using the link in the comments 💻👇

Progress underway on the Central Motorway 🚧 We are making good progress on a £9 million investment into the A167(M) Central Motorway with engineers carrying out critical concrete repairs and expansion joint replacements to help keep the route safe and reliable for the future.  We are advising drivers to plan ahead as the essential improvement works continue on the elevated viaduct section between Great North Road and the New Bridge Street roundabout. ⚠️ From Monday 1 June, the next phase of works will begin on the northbound carriageway between the Jesmond Road and Great North Road junctions. This phase is expected to last around two weeks and will likely cause delays for: • Northbound traffic on the A167(M) • Drivers joining northbound from Jesmond Road (A1058) Current traffic management already means the motorway is reduced to one lane in each direction during the daytime, alongside various overnight closures while works take place. 🚗 Drivers are encouraged to: • Allow extra time for journeys • Consider alternative routes where possible • Avoid travelling through Newcastle city centre if possible • For cross-river journeys, motorists are advised to use A1, A19, Tyne Tunnel and Scotswood Bridge Thank you for your patience while these vital improvements are carried out.

Meet the council’s new Cabinet 🤝 Earlier we told you how Cllr Colin Ferguson had been confirmed as Leader of the Council at the Annual Meeting of Council today. He will lead a minority Liberal Democrat administration and has now confirmed his Cabinet. All Cabinet members are Liberal Democrat councillors 👇 🤝 Cllr Colin Ferguson, Leader: Strategic Coordination, Devolution & Partnerships 💰 Cllr Mark Mitchell, Deputy Leader: Finance and Resources 🛣️ Cllr Peter Lovatt MBA FCMI: Neighbourhoods and Local Services 🏘️ Cllr James Coles: Sustainable Housing & Green Investment 💼 Cllr Owen Burbidge: Inclusive Economy and Skills 👦 Cllr Christine Morrissey: Children & Youth Services 📚 Cllr Rob Austin: Culture and Communities 🩺 Cllr Wendy Taylor: Integrated Health & Adult Social Care Speaking on his Cabinet appointments, Cllr Ferguson said his colleagues stood ready to deliver for residents in the city. 🗣️ He said: “We have an unshakeable commitment to the City and ambition for what Newcastle can achieve. That is reflected in members of our Cabinet, their passions, experience and priorities. Each and every member stands ready to work collaboratively across the council chamber to deliver for residents. “These portfolios have been chosen to deliver on the priorities we laid out prior to the elections and the areas we believe are shared by elected members across the chamber. We can’t wait to get started.” At the Annual Meeting of Council, the members and chairs of Council committees were confirmed. Across all committees, the responsibilities for leading key Council business are spread across political parties more than ever before, with the three largest groups all taking key responsibilities. Green Party councillors will chair the four main scrutiny committees, with Reform UK councillors set to be named as vice-chairs. The chairs and vice-chairs of important non-executive committees will be shared on a cross-party basis for the first time in Newcastle. More details on the appointments can be found in the link below 💻👇

Introducing the new Leader of Newcastle City Council 👋 Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Colin Ferguson was today confirmed as Leader at the Annual Meeting of Council at our Civic Centre. The Gosforth-ward councillor will form a minority Liberal Democrat administration following the local elections on May 7. The Liberal Democrats won 25 seats, the most out of any party, but short of the 40 seats needed for a majority. On Tuesday, prior to the Annual Meeting of Council, Cllr Ferguson and Green Party leader Cllr Nick Hartley signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement stops short of a formal coalition but will see the two parties work collaboratively to ensure a stable administration is formed for the good of the city and the people of Newcastle. Cllr Ferguson today spoke of his honour at being named council leader and said he looks forward to working collaboratively with all councillors. He said restoring the city’s parks to their former glory, accelerating house building, fixing broken neighbourhoods, increasing recycling rates, investing in new jobs and tackling inefficiencies are his focus. The father-of-two said: “I am honoured to be selected as Leader of the Council and I am eager to get on with business. People will rightly expect us to work at pace to deliver tangible improvements, and that’s what we expect to do. “I love Newcastle, I love the people, and I love everything our city stands for. I have made a life here in the city and it’s where my two children were born. “During my time as a councillor, and when I have spoken to residents on the doorstep, it is clear that we have work to do to ensure people can remain proud of this city. “I will be leading a minority administration, but I know members of all political colours want what’s best for this city and our residents. “We will work collaboratively across the chamber, not just with the Green Party, and I am confident we can make a tangible difference to those who call Newcastle home.” Cllr Ferguson was first elected to the council to represent the Goforth ward in May 2018, and was re-elected to the same ward in the May 2026 local elections. He has served as the leader of the opposition since January 2023, and chaired a number of prominent committees during his time as a councillor, including Finance & Budget Scrutiny and Corporate Scrutiny. Cllr Ferguson also chaired the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee. He will now sit on the North East MSA’s Cabinet. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Cllr Mark Mitchell was also named as Deputy Leader of the Council at the Annual Meeting. Details of his Cabinet can be found using the link in the comments 💻👇