Spark Sunderland
Patients in need of maternity services within the North East of England are “at risk”, according to a watchdog, in January 2024. In a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital, staff shortages are causing midwives to be overstretched on shift. They are struggling to give mothers and babies the care […]
From North Shields to Billingham, here are the North East’s ‘under the radar’ non-league derbies. The North East is host to some great rivalries, with the likes of the infamous Tyne-Wear derby between Sunderland and Newcastle and the Tees-Wear Rivalry between Sunderland and Middlesborough. With the Tyne-Wear derby happening last January for the first time […]
The UK government stated it plans to introduce a new tax on vapes and vaping products alongside a plan to ban disposable vapes to try and tackle the epidemic of children vaping. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt stated in the 2024 Budget that a new duty for vaping products will come into action by October 2026. The […]
A group of university students are passionately reaching out to empower refugees and asylum seekers through the gift of education – a tale of hearts bridging the gaps created by borders and backgrounds. North East Solidarity and Teaching (N.E.S.T), a student-led volunteer initiative centred at Newcastle University Students Union, is dedicated to offering educational support […]
Sunderland’s Fire Station hosted the BBC Reith lecture on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. Seeing a number of students, lecturers, and local VIPs in the audience. Hosted by Professor Ben Ansell, ‘The Future of Solidarity’ is section 3 of the BBC’s 4-part special. It travels internationally as a show chaired by television presenter and journalist Anita […]
Starting November 13, England’s top football leagues will experience a temporary pause, as players jet off to represent their national teams. Fans will have to wait until November 24 for the Championship to resume and November 25 for Premier League football. Eleven days without football may be too much for some fans, luckily there are […]
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for heavy rain associated with Storm Ciarán which could bring disruption to North East England. The warnings, which last from 6am on Thursday to 6am on Friday, come just two weeks after Storm Babet wreaked havoc around the region, causing severe delays, flooding and structural damage […]
Spark is celebrating its fourteenth birthday on October 26. Over the years, the station has brought listeners from all around Sunderland (and beyond) thousands of shows, plenty of presenters and so many stories that shape our city. The award-winning station has always strived for excellence over its fourteen years and will continue to for many […]