News from the Choppington area is now covered by a revamped Bedlington community website from The Journal.

Visit www.journallive.co.uk/bedlington to take a look at the improved pages, including a new layout, more useful local information, an events calendar, news from the wider county and an interactive map.

These pages are no longer being updated.

Community Wildlife is for projects that help people discover, enjoy and protect wildlife in their local area.

Now open to organisations including voluntary and community organisations, schools, town and parish councils, and statutory health authorities. Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are available.

There is up to £2 million available across the UK and organisations can submit applications before the three deadlines of 21July, 22 September and the 24 November 2010.

For further details and to get an application form visit our website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/communitywildlife, or call our helpline on:
0845 367 0610.
For more ideas for projects visit www.bbc.co.uk/wild

Wansbeck-based community transport charity & social enterprise WATBus are pleased to announce that they will be running a series of organised cycle trips along the Northumberland Coast.

WATBike was launched in February and is aimed at opening up Northumberland for cyclists. By linking up a minibus with a bicycle trailer, WATBike will provide easier and affordable access to the National Park and Northumberland's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Age Concern Northumberland are holding a Recruitment Fair on Friday 12 February at The Round House, Lintonville Parkway, Ashington (oppostie Lidl's).

We are running two presentations at 11.30am and 1.30pm, followed by the opportunity to discuss, with our experienced staff, the job vacancies and career prospects in further detail.

For further information on our Recruitment Fair and our other opportunities available or for an application pack call the HR & Training Team on 0845 140 00 88.

Local charity WATBus Community Transport are to benefit from funding to provide cycling in Northumberland.

Manager Lynn McIntosh explained: ''The funding will allow us to provide 3 free trips into Northumberland from Blyth, Ashington and Newbiggin areas for 36 customers who want to cycle the beautiful coastline.

Transport will be provided free of charge so all names will go into a hat and winning groups drawn from each area."

Sleekburn Renewable Woodfuel Initiative have won a £5000 award from Newcastle University to develop ways of reducing energy costs by recycling waste heat.

Manager Neil Hedley explained;- ''We are part of Blyth Star enterprises, mental health charity and make logs and oven dried kindling for wood burning stoves and fires. Our waste wood products are used to produce heat for the factory and we realised that we may be able to put this to better use and cut our energy bills. We contacted Newcastle University and they were very enthusiastic to help and we are delighted that we have been awarded £5000 to develop our energy saving ideas...

The next meeting of the North Bedlington Parish Council has been arranged for Thursday 16th July 2009 at the Choppington Social Welfare Centre starting at 7pm.

A Public Meeting has been arranged by Northumberland County Council, following proposals to close the Foundry House day-care centre in Bedlington, one of seven council-run day care centres in Northumberland which are under threat of closure.

These centres are described as providing a lifeline service for hundreds of elderly people.

Foundry House provides full day-care and respite services to elderly people and their families. People from Bedlington, Choppington, Stakeford, Ashington, Pegswood and Morpeth use this service. This will be lost if Northumberland County Council go ahead with their proposals to close this day care centre.

Please come along - this is your opportunity to ask questions and to have your voice heard.