Middlesbrough Council

A dedicated literacy hero who has cultivated a love of reading in Middlesbrough’s children has been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours List.

Allison Potter, Manager of the National Literacy Trust in Middlesbrough, has been awarded an MBE for her services to education, the community and literacy.

Over a 30 year career in teaching and education and for the past decade working with the National Literacy Trust, Allison's unwavering commitment has transformed local lives through literacy.

Under her leadership, thousands of local pupils have had the chance to discover poetry and literature through an annual Poetry Slam and the Big Boro Book Bash.

Allison has also led pioneering projects to support new parents, so young children get the best start in life.

In James Cook University Hospital’s neonatal unit, parents are helped to read to their premature babies, helping neurological development and parental bonding.

Allison has also created a growing network of volunteer Literacy Champions who support families directly.

This Cervical Screening Awareness Week (15 – 21 June) we are highlighting the importance of attending your cervical screening.

Did you know around 12,000 people in the UK attend cervical screening every day and most results show no abnormal changes?

Cervical screening is free and usually takes around 5 minutes.

Whether it’s your first appointment, a follow-up, or you’re overdue now is the perfect time to book.

Who should get screened?
✅ People aged 25 - 64 are invited for cervical screening.
✅ Screening is now every 5 years, but if HPV or cell changes are found, you may be invited more often (every 1–3 years).
✅ Even if you’ve had the HPV vaccine, you still need screening.

Why is it important?
Cervical screening can prevent up to 75% of cervical cancers by detecting HPV and abnormal cells early.

How do I book?
✅ You’ll be invited by letter or text, or you can contact your GP practice to book.
When your invite arrives, don’t delay – book your appointment that day.

✅There is also walk-in appointments available at the Live Well Centre through the Teesside Together service. Find out more 👇
https://livewell.middlesbrough.gov.uk/get-involved/quick-guide-to-services/

For more information, visit the Public Health South Tees website 👇
https://www.publichealthsouthtees.co.uk/cervical-screening

The Community Living Room in Hemlington hosts the Practical Support Hub every other Monday, providing a welcoming space for local residents to access support and advice.

Open to everyone, the hub offers a range of essential items through the multi-bank, ensuring residents can access practical help to meet their individual needs.

Alongside this, the team works collaboratively with partners to offer guidance on registering for social housing and connecting people with local services.

More than just a support service, the hub provides a friendly environment where residents can come together - whether they need advice, assistance, or simply a chat over a cup of tea.

The Practical Support Hub runs fortnightly on Mondays from 1pm to 2.30pm. The next one is held on June 22.

🚗✨ Every love story deserves a grand entrance...

The Middlesbrough Register Office team are with you every step of your journey to 'I do.'

They can guide you through the options available for ceremonies and explain the legal formalities you'll need to know for your unforgettable day.

Picture yourself stepping out at the venue? Get in touch on:
📞: 01642 729004
📧: [email protected]
💻: https://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/births-deaths-and-marriages/middlesbrough-register-office/your-ceremony-in-middlesbrough/

Credit: Andrew Davies Photography, Joe Connor Photography, Ria Mett Photography and Rick Masters Photography.

Children from Thorntree Academy are loving a new baking club launched by 0ur Community Development Officer Jess from the east neighbourhood team.

During their first session, Jess worked closely with the Year 6 students to bake fairy cakes, guiding them through each stage of the process - from mixing and decorating to tidying up afterwards.

The activity provided a great opportunity for the group to build skills while working together as a team.

Once their cakes were ready, the students visited residents at Tudor Court, where they warmly engaged with the community and sold their bakes.

The fairy cakes proved extremely popular, selling out and raising £20 to support future sessions.

Thanks to positive feedback and a special request from Tudor Court residents, the group will be continuing their partnership by baking Maid of Honour tarts in their next session.

Our south neighbourhood team has completed the penultimate week of action in the 'E' estate as part of its Hearts and Minds campaign in Hemlington.

Throughout the week, the team worked closely with residents and partner organisations to provide practical support and improve the local environment.

Activities included community litter picking, distributing personal safety equipment, and hosting a pop-up support hub on Wednesday, offering residents access to advice and assistance.

On Tuesday, Waste Engagement Officer Charlotte joined the team, speaking with residents about upcoming recycling changes and helping to resolve bin-related enquiries.

The team was also supported by Kelly and Connor from Middlesbrough Environment City’s Affordable Warmth Team, who provided valuable guidance on managing energy bills.

This collaborative approach has been key to engaging with the community and ensuring residents receive the support they need.

The campaign will continue in the 'F' estate from July 14, with a celebration event taking place at Hemlington Lake on 21 August to mark the conclusion of the programme.

During Loneliness Awareness Week, Middlesbrough’s Central Library is opening its doors for a friendly drop-in session where everyone is welcome.

Taking place on Monday 15 June, between 10am – 12pm there will be coffee, conversation and company on offer.

Our Staying Included Officer will be on hand to share information about the free social groups which you can join in the local area.

Free to attend, no booking required.

On Tuesday 16 June, people can head to the Discovery Space in Central Library between 2pm - 4pm to find out more about using 'Slack' a free online community space where everyone can join. Call 01642 729 092 to book a place.

❤️ Please share this with anyone you know who may benefit for attending these sessions.

♻️ Starting soon

If you use bins for recycling, our crews will put a yellow 'Starting soon' tag on your current bins around two weeks before your new collections are due to begin.

You should also look out for your handy guide to waste and recycling and a sticker with some instructions for your blue-lid bin. These will be delivered to your home soon.

You can sign up for personalised weekly reminders about which bins to put out. Just visit www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/bin-collection-dates and click 'Get a reminder'.

Get ready for the new collections - start using your food waste caddies and your red-lid bin about a week before they'll be collected.

Thank you! 💚

Middlesbrough residents were able to find out where a career in care could take them at a special jobs fair.

Hosted in The Crypt at Middlesbrough Town Hall this afternoon, the Adult Social Care jobs fair was a big success.

Those attending were able to find out more about the different careers - and training and development opportunities - available at Middlesbrough Council and in the wider sector.

Staff from our amazing teams were on hand to give real life stories and advice, and were on hand to help those interested get started on their application.