Regional News

Page: 30

Libraries around the UK are dropping fines for overdue books – and Sunderland may yet adopt a similar policy. Following a national trend commenced in 2018, which has seen around 60 UK authorities scrapping fines for overdue books, Sunderland City Council has confirmed it is monitoring the situation. A council spokesman told Spark: “We are […]

The Bank of England had raised rates even further from 2.25% to 3%, bringing it to the highest level since November 2008 marking also the highest single increase since 1989. These high interest rates could have a great impact on the cost of living, affecting those with mortgages, credit card debt and loans, drastically changing […]

40% of the North East say they have no religion, new census data shows. New data from the 2021 Census reveals that whilst 40% of the North East is not religious, an average of 50.6% of the region identifies as Christian, and 2.9% as Muslim. Whilst demographics do seem to be changing, a large amount […]

Falling leaves and ageing trains are being blamed for delays to Metro services but solutions are on the way, says service operator Nexus.  “Low rail adhesion” due to the change in seasons and a 43 year-old train fleet have been identified as reasons for a rise in delays on Metro services. But despite the on-going […]

Schools across the country have had their outstanding ranking removed following revised inspections. The schools watchdog removed the highest ranking from a staggering 83% of outstanding schools after legal exemptions meant some schools had not been visited in more than 10 years. In the findings, Ofsted said: “Whilst we did inspect schools where we had […]

The Christmas post faces major disruptions after postal workers announced strikes set to continue. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has called its members to take part in a national strike action as an agreement with Royal Mail is still to be reached. The postal workers strike action is over pay and conditions. The Royal Mail […]

Homelessness is on the rise across the UK with 227,000 people sleeping rough in 2021. This led to 741 deaths across the UK relating to homelessness. North East Homeless is a charity that looks to support vulnerable and homeless people in the North East of England. Brian Burridge, the founder of North East Homeless, decided […]

Constituency boundary changes are on the horizon, with some proposed modifications set to dramatically transform the political landscape of the North East. New plans set out by the Boundary Commission show how constituencies in the region will change before the next General Election. Locally, Washington and Houghton & Sunderland South constituencies are set to be […]

With everyone getting excited for the festive season and looking forward to the big day next month, Spark have rounded up some Christmas workshop events going on all over the North East. Whether you love outdoor trails with a festive theme, or prefer staying warm with some crafts and hot chocolate, there is something for […]

Spark has been named Best Student Radio Station at the 2022 Student Radio Awards in London. 


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