Love Corby

20/11/2024

WIN an exclusive book talk with best selling author Chris Smith by taking part in the Cransley Hospice Trust Schools Challenge!

Calling all local schools! Would you love to secure an exclusive book talk for your school from bestselling children’s author Chris Smith – and all just by raising money for local hospice care and services? Well now’s your chance to do just that... Introducing the Cransley Hospice Trust Schools Challenge!

Getting involved is SO EASY! All you need to do is FUNDRAISE as much as possible, in any way you choose. Whether it’s a dress down day, a bake sale or taking part in one of our existing schools fundraisers, there is a simple idea that will be perfect for your school to get involved with.

Short on time? No problem! The Cransley Hospice Trust Schools Challenge runs from NOW until World Book Day on the 6th March 2025, so there is plenty of time to get involved.
Schools that have already signed up to support the charity by taking part in the annual ‘Frosty Fun Run,’ or the ‘Dress Up and Dance’ fundraiser during the campaign period are also eligible to get their hands on the prize!

Cransley Hospice Trust are delighted to be supported with the Schools Challenge by author Chris Smith, who is kindly supporting the charity by providing the grand prize for the winning school.

Chris Smith is a bestselling author and the joint recipient of the 2024 Ruth Rendell award for his work promoting literacy and campaigning for school libraries. Chris created the Kid Normal series with his friend Greg James and recently the pair published The Twits Next Door which became an instant bestseller.

In January 2025 he’ll be bringing back Enid Blyton’s classic characters in The New Famous Five: Five and the Forgotten Treasure. Before he was an author Chris worked as a newsreader and presenter on radio stations including Xfm and BBC Radio 1. Chris was born in Kettering and is proud to be supporting local hospice care and services for patients and their families in North Northamptonshire.

Any school wishing to participate simply needs to register their interest on the charities’ website at www.cransleyhospicetrust.org.uk/schools-challenge

20/11/2024

Celebrating the Impact of IFtL Youth Parliament at the Conclusion of UK Youth Parliament Week

As UK Youth Parliament Week comes to a close, Inspiring Futures through Learning (IFtL) takes pride in recognising the outstanding work carried out by its Youth Parliament. This year’s cohort, comprising a diverse and passionate group of pupils from all sixteen IFtL schools based in Corby and Milton Keynes, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to addressing key issues that resonate with their communities.

Meeting six times throughout the academic year, the IFtL Youth Parliament has focused on three pivotal themes: sustainability, democracy, and exploring “Who are IFtL?” Each theme highlights the pupils' drive to effect meaningful change within their schools and beyond.
The first meeting of this year’s Youth Parliament took place at one of the IFtL's schools ST Mary St Giles church of England school in Stony Stratford, setting the stage for a year of innovative ideas and lively discussions. The enthusiasm among pupils was palpable, as representatives expressed excitement about returning to their schools to engage their peers and drive community involvement.

Sustainability has been a key focus, with pupils developing creative initiatives to promote environmentally conscious practices in their schools. Projects have included enhancing recycling programs and launching awareness campaigns about energy conservation.
Democracy has also been a fundamental part of their mission, with members learning about the importance of representation and voice. By advocating for their peers and organising activities that encourage pupil participation, they have ensured that everyone has a voice in school and community matters. while exercising their rights, Pupils exercised their democratic right to vote on a measure aimed at promoting energy efficiency within their schools. The resolution they collectively endorsed was that digital display screens in their respective classrooms shall automatically transition to an inactive state after a period of 15 minutes of idleness, thereby contributing to the conservation of energy resources.

The theme of “Who are IFtL?” has encouraged pupils to deepen their understanding of the organisation’s core values, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose across all IFtL schools. Through collaborative efforts and open communication, pupils have reinforced the principles and IFtL values aligning them to those of their schools.

The commitment of the IFtL Youth Parliament to these themes not only enriches the educational environment but also prepares students as young leaders ready to champion important causes far beyond their school years. Their enthusiasm and determination to bring about positive change exemplify the very essence of student leadership.

“I am incredibly proud of the work done by our Youth Parliament,” said Sarah Bennett, CEO of IFtL. “Their dedication to creating a positive, lasting impact within their schools and communities embodies the spirit of leadership and collaboration that we strive to nurture in all our pupils, as an organisation we are committed to our responsibility in shaping and influencing the lives of future generations.”

Phili Jones, an employee involved in these initiatives and a passionate advocate for reducing food waste, added, “Seeing the pupils take the lead in sustainability projects, especially those focusing on reducing food waste and promoting mindful consumption, has been truly inspiring. Their creativity and commitment provide hope for a more sustainable future.”

As UK Youth Parliament Week concludes, IFtL looks forward to seeing the continued influence and achievements of the Youth Parliament throughout the academic year and beyond.

18/11/2024

New Speed Cameras to Improve Road Safety

Corby Town Council is supporting the installation of new speed cameras throughout key areas in our community, aimed at reducing speeding and enhancing road safety for all residents.

This initiative is in partnership with North Northamptonshire Council and is part of an ongoing commitment to creating safer streets and protecting pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.

The new advanced speed camera systems will be strategically placed in high-traffic zones, and in areas frequently flagged for speeding violations.

These state-of-the-art cameras utilise technology to accurately monitor vehicle speeds from both directions and capture speed of violators, ensuring that everyone complies with the posted speed limits.

Cllr Simon Rielly (Oakley) said: “Safety is our top priority, and these new speed cameras are a crucial step toward achieving that goal. By enforcing speed limits more effectively, we can reduce the number of dangerous incidents on our roads, making our neighbourhoods safer for families and children.”

Data shows that speed-related incidents account for a significant percentage of injuries and fatalities on our roads. By implementing these new cameras, the local authorities are working in partnership by taking proactive measures to deter speeding and promote responsible driving behaviour.

When the cameras’ locations are moved, Corby Town Council will look to inform the community through social media.

The speed cameras began monitoring earlier this month and the data collected will be regularly reviewed to assess their effectiveness and further improve road safety measures.

15/11/2024

🎄 Get Christmas-ready with ! 🎅

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Find thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list - from special presents for nearby loved ones to perfect surprises for family and friends far away.

Shop our complete range of home essentials including:
Stylish home decor
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Bathroom accessories
Kids' furnishings
Pet accessories
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🎁 Exclusive for Love Corby followers - Use code LOVECORBY15 for an amazing discount!

✨ Visit our outlet section for incredible deals 🚚 Free delivery on orders over £50 🏪 Free local collection available from our Corby warehouse ⚡ Same-day dispatch for orders placed before 1pm

Visit us at: lovecorby.co.uk/listing/darthome/ or go direct to our website https://darthome.co.uk/

15/11/2024

🚨NETWORK SOLD OUT🚨

Next week's 'Meet the Member' at is now SOLD OUT!!

Make sure you secure your place for the January 2025 meeting with our guest speaker - Lee Baron, which we are sure will be a busy one.

https://lovecorby.co.uk/love-corby-networking/

14/11/2024

🖤 UP NEXT….. 🖤
XMAS PARTY NIGHTS 🍬 🎄
Get £10 off your ticket price for the selected dates below. 💃🏻
Book before offer ends!! Book and pay deposit to secure your space. 💨
Subject to availability 🫶🏼

14/11/2024

Just under 50 people are booked in for our networking event this Thursday at Kettering Park Hotel & Spa and it's not too late to come along!

All you need to do is book your space here - https://nnbn.co.uk/events

14/11/2024

🚨 NEW MEMBER ALERT - 🚨

QA was started by actress Pauline Quirke MBE and her producer husband
Steve Sheen in 2007, when they couldn't find anything that ticked all the boxes
for their son, Charlie. They wanted to be able to provide performing arts tuition
that was enjoyable, fun and would build children’s confidence. More importantly, they wanted to help young people to pursue their life's dreams, whatever those dreams may be, using the performing arts to help children realise their potential and blossom into confident young people. And to this day, helping children and young people discover their amazing self is at the core of what we do.

13/11/2024

💚🎁Christmas Appeal🎁💚 (Please Share)

Christmas is coming fast and we need your help putting together and donating boxes of goodies to support local families.

Home-Start Corby and their volunteers currently provide a variety of support to over 430 children & parents in Corby. They do great things for these families, often helping to prevent family crises and breakdown.

They need your help this Christmas. Your gift box will create a moment of positivity for a local family and help provide much needed practical support.

The poster explains most things but do message us if you have any questions.

💚Team up with family, friends, work colleagues & neighbours.

💚Half boxes are equally welcome and will be combined so no family loses out.

💚Donate by purchasing something from our amazon gift list. https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/P54YNFDVB52P?ref_=wl_share

💚Download and print our poster, display it on a noticeboard.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-1ZPIhbKy8oqeNHMPoir20RIWHHNahJt/view?usp=drive_link

💚Share our appeal across social media.

13/11/2024

*** OPEN TO ALL BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYERS ***

Now, more than ever, is the time to add your voice to the Quarterly Economic Survey and help me to help you.

In my role as Head of Policy for the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and the Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce as well as leading NNBN it's time to hear your business voice via the Quarterly Economic Survey so I can take this to policy makers, Ministers, MPs, stakeholders and gauge the economic picture locally here in Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes.

We've had the Autumn Statement, but how is this going to impact you ?

The Quarterly Economic Survey takes just two minutes to complete and is vital to gather this data and is open for input TODAY.

You can complete the survey by visiting here: https://zurl.co/Mkev and it's open to everyone so get involved and I'll be publishing the results in early January.

13/11/2024

SUPPORT THE CRANSLEY HOSPICE TRUST
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLE

The Cransley Hospice Trust Community Christmas Tree Recycle is back again, taking place on the 10th – 12th January 2025 to raise essential funds for hospice care and services in our community.

This year, the incredible team of volunteers – or the Cransley Elves as they are now affectionately known - will be collecting from postcode areas NN8, NN9, NN10, NN14, NN15, NN16, NN17, NN18, NN29 7, as well as Earls Barton, Mears Ashby and for the first time, the village of Oundle.

Bookings are open NOW! By registering for collection, you are not only responsibly recycling your tree but you are also supporting Cransley Hospice Trust to ensure they make ‘every moment matter’ for patients and their families with a life-limiting illness in North Northamptonshire. Your donations make an incredible difference and this year, the charity hopes to raise in excess of £20,000 and collect over 1,000 trees from the local area.
Not only that, but 10% of all the money raised after costs will be donated to the Northants 4x4 Emergency Response team – as their incredible support with the collection is a major factor in the continued success of the initiative.

Once collected, trees are chipped and taken to support local community projects, including initiatives at Sywell Country Park and Boughton House Estate, meaning that those registering their trees for collection are not only supporting essential local charities, but also making an environmentally conscious choice to dispose of their tree once festivities are over.

Rebecca Patenall, Community & Corporate Fundraiser for Cransley Hospice Trust commented: “We’re so excited to be back for another year with our popular Tree Recycle initiative. It’s something that really brings our community together, with volunteers from all walks of life joining forces to collect over 1,000 trees and help to start the year on a positive note by raising an incredible amount of money for hospice care and services for local patients and their families.

“We are once again expanding our collection area and hope that as many real-tree enthusiasts as possible will sign up to register their tree for collection this year. Every donation counts and together, we hope to raise over £20,000 from this year’s collections – enough to pay for almost a month’s worth of specialist care for one patient in our in-patient unit!”

Supporters are encouraged to register their tree for collection as soon as possible. Tick something off your pre-Christmas to-do list and support a local charity today! Simply register for collection via the Cransley Hospice Trust website here [Insert Link Here] and donate what you can.

Trees need to be registered for collection by 23:59 on Sunday 5th January to enable the Cransley Hospice Trust Tree Elves to plan their collection routes.

The charity are also still on the hunt for volunteers to support with collections from the 10th – 12th January 2025. If you’d be interested in finding out more about becoming part of the please get in touch at [email protected] or on 03000 274040.

11/11/2024

Don't miss the local choir and musicians at on the 11th December

11/11/2024

Please dig deep to make someones Christmas this year by helping Home-Start Corby and Corby Greens wit their reserves advent calender ?!!

💚🎁Christmas Appeal🎁💚 (Please Share)

Christmas is coming fast and we need your help putting together and donating boxes of goodies to support local families.

Home-Start Corby and their volunteers currently provide a variety of support to over 430 children & parents in Corby. They do great things for these families, often helping to prevent family crises and breakdown.

They need your help this Christmas. Your gift box will create a moment of positivity for a local family and help provide much needed practical support.

The poster explains most things but do message us if you have any questions.

💚Team up with family, friends, work colleagues & neighbours.

💚Half boxes are equally welcome and will be combined so no family loses out.

💚Donate by purchasing something from our amazon gift list. https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/P54YNFDVB52P?ref_=wl_share

💚Download and print our poster, display it on a noticeboard.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-1ZPIhbKy8oqeNHMPoir20RIWHHNahJt/view?usp=drive_link

💚Share our appeal across social media.

08/11/2024

Local estate agent supports Corby Homeless Project during National Homelessness Awareness Month

An estate agent in Corby is collecting much needed goods for Corby Homeless Project throughout November to mark National Homelessness Awareness month.

It’s estimated that over 300,000 people in the UK – almost half of which are children – are sleeping on the streets, living in their cars or are using other forms of temporary accommodation. In Northamptonshire, at least 1,327 people were homeless in 2023.

In order to help support those who are most vulnerable, estate agent Belvoir Corby has created a collection point for food and household items at their George Street office.

All items collected during November will be donated to Corby Homeless Project who offer support to those facing the most challenges when it comes to housing. Providing 24-7 support for its residents, who can stay for up to two years, the Project also helps them access outside services and address any concerns they have for living a happy, independent life while encouraging them to excel and achieve their personal goals.

“Corby Homeless Project is delighted to be supported by Belvoir,” said Georgina Henson, Homeless Project Lead.

“Their generous support will help ensure that none of our residents go hungry. One of our newer residents is a budding chef so he will enjoy being able to get creative with the donations.

“We often support rough sleepers with small food parcels or other donated goods such as clothes or sleeping bags. Any surplus goods are also shared with the local community, so the impact of Belvoir’s collection will spread far and wide across Corby.”

Keen to support such a worthy cause that will benefit those in need, Martine Crawford, branch manager at Belvoir Corby, said: “As an estate agent, every day we help people move into their new homes. But we are fully aware that there are people that do not have somewhere to call home.

“That’s why we are proud to be supporting Corby Homeless Project by using our offices as a donation station during National Homelessness Awareness month in November. Please do pop in with any donations that you are able to give. It will be very much appreciated.”

Items in need include:

TINNED HOUSEHOLD
Rice, Pasta Laundry tablets
Sugar, Coffee/tea Toothbrush/paste
Pasta sauces Cereal Washing up liquid
Tinned meals Oil Toilet rolls
Meat, UHT Milk Shampoo
Fish, Beans Body wash
Vegetables, Soup Bleach
Tomatoes, Biscuits Deodorant
Custard, Rice pudding
Jelly, Jam/spreads

06/11/2024

Inspiring Futures through Learning Celebrates 25 Years of Service

Inspiring Futures through Learning (IFtL) recently held an afternoon tea to celebrate with colleagues who have served 25 years of service across its schools. The event, which took place at The Dining Room, Derngate, in Northampton, recognised over 12 IFtL employees for their dedication to education.

Staff members were treated to a special afternoon of inspiring conversations, a walk down memory lane and heartfelt thanks from Sarah Bennett, CEO of IFtL, and Marilyn Hubbard, Chair of Board of Trustees. The recipients included teaching assistants, teachers, and professional services, who all shared stories of their time working in IFtL schools, with some having served for over 30 years. Many spoke positively about the beneficial transformations they had observed subsequent to schools joining IFtL, including implemented strategies that led to improved Ofsted ratings, upgraded facilities, and new opportunities for professional development.

Moira Hinson, a midday supervisor who retired just last week, worked at St Mary and St Giles Church of England School said, "Over the past 33 years, working as a midday supervisor has been more than just a role – it's been a chance to be a part of so many children's lives, watching them grow, laugh, and learn. Each lunchtime brought something new, from sharing small, silly moments to helping a child feel safe and supported. Today was an especially beautiful reminder of all the wonderful memories and the joy that each child has brought into my life. Thank you to IFtL for the recognition – it's truly been a privilege to be a part of St Mary and St Giles Church of England school and IFtL." Other attendees praised IFtL for providing a supportive working environment and career progression.

Kelly Cursley, the Headteacher of Fairfields Primary School said “I am delighted to receive this recognition of 25 years' service within education. During this time, I have had the privilege of working alongside esteemed colleagues and leaders who fostered an environment conducive to our collective success. This has enabled me to serve the families and children across our school communities. I am proud to have played my part. Thank you to IFtL for your continued support and for this meaningful tribute.”

The full list of colleagues providing 25+ years’ service are:
• Kelly Cursley, Headteacher, Fairfields
• Linda Kelly, Headteacher, Whitehouse
• Kimberley Kemp, Head of Quality Assurance, IFtL
• Linda Wilson, FS1 Key Person, Woodnewton A Learning Community
• Anne Russell, Title, Woodnewton A Learning Community
• Jane Cole, TMA ITT Partnership Co-Ordinator
• Ray Smith, IT Manager, IFtL
• Moira Hinson, Midday Supervisor, St Mary and St Giles Church of England School

Sarah Bennett, CEO of IFtL, said, “Our colleagues are the foundation of our schools’ success and the reason why we can inspire futures and change lives. We are privileged to have so many dedicated people as part of the IFtL family, some for many years, and today was an opportunity to express our gratitude for their service and commitment to education.”

"The annual Long Service Awards celebrate those employees who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to IFtL’s mission of providing high-quality education and enriching pupils' lives," said Marylin Hubbard, IFtL Board of Trustees Chair. "Their hard work and passion have been instrumental in enabling IFtL to grow and evolve. It is an honor to recognise these individuals who have committed so much of themselves to make a difference in our pupils' lives and to our community as a whole."

06/11/2024

Local foodbank launches councillor surgery to help further support its users
Corby foodbank, which provides three-day emergency, non-perishable food parcels to local people in food crisis, has launched a new councillor surgery to help provide additional support and advice to its users.

Held between 1.30pm-3pm on the last Friday of every month, the surgery has been introduced to help provide support and answer queries or concerns regarding council policies and procedures. It will be available exclusively for users of the Foodbank.
Local councillors will attend on a rotational basis to help build relationships, with councillors Lyn Buckingham and Jean Addison welcoming clients during the first surgery which took place on Friday 25th October.

“It can sometimes be difficult for people to understand what the council do, and with many council transactions moving online, we recognise that it can be difficult for people to find the information that they need,” explained councillor Jean Addison.

“These surgeries allow people to raise any concerns they may have, whether that be an issue regarding rent, council tax, school places or they just need advice regarding services that are available, we will do our best to help.

“If we don’t have the answer, we will make sure that we will signpost them to the right person.”

Councillor Lyn Buckingham agrees and says that she hopes that seeing a friendly face will help build relationships: “The new sessions are there to help provide any support that we can give and to be a friendly face for someone, particularly if they are frustrated at not being able to find the answer they need.

“It’s a walk-in service for those using the Foodbank, so there is no need to book an appointment to speak to us.”

Of the new monthly councillor surgery, Martin Langford, Corby Foodbank’s manager, said: “Here at Corby Foodbank, we already provide emergency food parcels to local people in food crisis.

“However, food poverty is not the only issue that our users face. Often, they also find themselves in need of support in other aspects of life and our new monthly councillor surgery aims to provide that additional support.”

The next councillor surgery will take place on Friday 29th November, 1.30pm-3pm.

23/10/2024

Photography exhibition gives a snapshot of hospice impact

A collection of images taken by a local photographer have been used to highlight the impact of a Northamptonshire hospice.

Nick Freeman, of Freeman Photography, was originally commissioned by Cransley Hospice Trust to take photographs of the team for a new website earlier this year. However, when the Cransley Hospice team were thinking of ways to mark Hospice Care Week in October, they realised they could use the striking images to highlight the different emotions felt by staff who worked at or for the hospice.

Speaking at the official opening of the ‘Because Every Moment Matters’ photography exhibition, Jenine Rees, marketing manager at Cransley Hospice Trust, said: “Events like this are so important for raising awareness of the hospice and what it does. There are so many good causes all doing great things and we needed to do something different to break through the noise.

“We used Nick’s images in colour on our website but realised just how striking they were in black and white. Each face tells a story and showing them helped us to tell our stories of working in palliative care.”

Nick chose a collection of 25 black and white portraits of nurses, volunteers, therapists, consultants, doctors and support staff. These were whittled down to the final 12 displayed at the exhibition, which took place at the Rooftop Arts Centre in Corby from 9th – 19th October.

Nick said: “I was really flattered when the Cransley Hospice Trust reached out and told me their plans to use the images I had taken in a photographic exhibition.

“After more than 30 years of being a photographer, I am used to telling stories through photos and capturing candid facial expressions and body language. It has been an enormous privilege to use this exhibition as an opportunity to lift the lid on the realities of hospice and palliative care through raw, dramatic portraits of tired doctors, friendly volunteers and the smiles of the vital support staff.”

For more information on Nick Freeman and his photography, visit https://nickfreemanphotography.co.uk. To find out more about the work of Cransley Hospice Trust, see https://www.cransleyhospicetrust.org.uk.

22/10/2024

Hi, would it please be possible to add the attached post and image?

⭐️Adult Netball Players Wanted⭐️

We are looking to grow our senior club and so are looking for adult players of all ability levels to join our training on Wednesday evenings

We are a friendly and inclusive club and welcome everyone to attend a free taster session to see if we’d be a good fit for you

🗓️ Wednesdays during term time
📍 Oundle School Sports Centre
⏰ 18:30-20:00

Please email Maddy on [email protected] for more information