Regional News
A young single mother shares her story of juggling love, education, motherhood, work, and mental health, all under the weight of society’s judgment. For her, becoming a mother at 19 didn’t mean life had to stop. It meant learning to fight for the future she still deserved. At the age of 18 when her friends […]
The government has given the green light for a further £4million investment to tackle anti-social behaviour and violence across the North East. This funding will support ‘robust targeted policing’ and early intervention initiatives to help tackle anti-social behaviour and serious violence. Susan Dungworth, Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, welcomed the news that funding has been […]
Preparatory works have now begun for the development of the new Crown Works Studios on the banks of the River Wear. The plans were initially granted approval back in May 2024, with Sunderland City Council describing the project as a “once in a generation development.” Diggers have now begun to clear the land on the […]
March 12 was National Plant a Flower Day and, to celebrate, a gardening and planting event was held at A Space 2 Grow, by the Sunderland University sustainability team. A Space 2 Grow is a community garden run and maintained by volunteers, and there are regular sessions at weekends. Kyoka Omori, from Spark, went along […]
Sunderland Winter Gardens has been awarded a hefty repair grant from the Arts Council, with the city council also planning a significant investment in the repairs from it own funds. The Winter Gardens is a much-loved landmark in the city, and home to more than 2,000 species of plants. Spark’s Kyoka Omori went along to […]
Thousands of small businesses across the country will have more opportunities to win valuable contracts with public sector organisations, supporting local economic growth and innovation under a new government plan. Under the National Procurement Policy, complicated government buying processes will be simplified to make it easier for small businesses to create more jobs. The idea […]
As more than 500 crime fiction fans descended on the Playhouse, Whitley Bay for Bay Tales 2025, Spark‘s Eleanor Tait spoke to award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland book series, Ann Cleeves, about the writer she’s supporting at this year’s festival.
Schools across Gateshead went into lockdown following a threatening email this morning. A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “Just before 9am today (Thursday, March 6), we received a report of malicious communications directed towards a number of primary and secondary schools across Gateshead.” The emails are understood to have been sent overnight. Cardinal Hume Catholic School […]
Sunderland City Council has been awarded up to twenty million pounds in funding to regenerate Washington, through the governments Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme. The scheme aims to give councils money to invest in the most deprived areas of the country, with many of the targeted areas being in the north. Housing, Communities and Local Government […]
Sunderland Restaurant Week is set to return this month (March 2025), with many eateries across the city preparing for a much-needed hospitality boost. The popular event will take place between March 15-23, and have £10, £15 and £20 offers for diners to visit old favourites or try new cuisines. Almost 50 venues – including venues […]
