Tag Archives: Hull City Council

Community, Council News, News, Other News

Maritime Community Grant Benefits For Hull

Photo Credit: Festival Of The Sea with Mambo Jambo by Paul J Cunningham.

Hull Maritime has handed out more than £20,000 in grants to support local community groups to deliver maritime themed projects to communities across the city.

The second round of Hull Maritime Community Grant Scheme launched in October and received a record number of applications from community groups and residents in Hull and surrounding areas.

Micro grants of up to £500 and small grants of up to £2,000 were available in three categories: Heritage, Environment, and Wellbeing, reflecting important and timely themes and drawing links between our maritime past, present and future.

The first round in 2022, awarded eight projects with funding and included a new sculpture by Art You Experienced, created from community litter picks along the river Hull; helping the Beverley Barge Preservation Society to bring the historic Syntan to Hull Marina and take part in the Queen’s Jubilee Flotilla; and funding to provide information boards to accompany the Lost Trawlermen’s Memorial which is being installed on St Andrew’s Quay.

The latest round has awarded thirteen grants and includes:

  • Tamar and Jo for a community dance project culminating in performances at Edinburgh Street Community Centre in July 2023.
  • Mambo Jambo to co-create a podcast with young people at Ron Dearing UTC and West Hull Community Radio, focused on maritime issues.
  • Twelve Tribes of Yorkshire for a community history project and exhibitions exploring the stories and experiences of local African and Caribbean seafarers.
  • Lauren Saunders for a creative wellbeing course focused on our relationships to water and the maritime environment, to be delivered in partnership with NHS Humber Recovery and Wellbeing College.
  • Three Ways East for a project exploring maritime identity and storytelling through tattoos, using photography, creative works, and exhibitions.
  • Rooted in Hull for a maritime-themed arts, music, and culture event (and associated workshops) in June 2023.
  • Hull Bullnose Heritage Group to support their research on fishermen and trawling histories, focused on the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
  • Fantastic Faces for a collaborative maritime mural to be created within Pearson Park.
  • The People Project for a photography exhibition of sixty portraits and stories relating to Hull’s fishing heritage communities.
  • St Giles Scout Group for a maritime-themed day trip to Hull city centre, taking place in April 2023.
  • The Headscarf Revolutionaries Statue Management Committee to hold four consultation workshops across the city in July and August 2023.
  • Friends of Garrowby Orchard to create interpretation panels for Setting Dyke Community Greenspace, exploring the site’s historic role in flood defences and the future of blue-green spaces.
  • Alex Hunt to work with young people to co-create a mural dedicated to women’s histories of maritime Hull, in partnership with Bankside Gallery.

Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “The latest round of the Hull Maritime Community Grant Scheme has had an exceptional response, with a range of creative projects led by our residents covering a vast range of themes including storytelling, dance and music, art, exhibitions, and exciting events.”

“The selected projects will connect our communities with our maritime past, present and future, support skill development and improve wellbeing, as well as helping people to learn more about our city.”

Lauren Saunders, one of the recipients of a community grant, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have been awarded this community grant, to be part of the Hull Maritime story and to be working with Recovery College students.”

Future rounds of the Hull Maritime Community Grant Scheme will take place later in the year.

Hull Maritime is funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, it encompasses the redevelopment of five historic sites in Hull city centre.

Health & Wellbeing, Hull, News

Free Adult Swimming Is Back!

Free adult swimming sessions are back for residents as part of the Hull Big Swim campaign which aims to help adults get active.

The free sessions will be on offer during February and March at Ennerdale Leisure Centre, Woodford Leisure Centre and Beverley Road Baths.

And those feeling anxious about returning to the swimming pool can also take advantage of confidence sessions to ease their transition back into the water. A women’s-only swim confidence session will also be on offer at Beverley Road Baths.

Councillor Alison Collinson, chair of Hull Culture and Leisure, said: “This is a fantastic initiative that encourages Hull residents to be more active for free and have always proved incredibly popular.”

“Swimming is a great all-round activity that is brilliant for keeping your mental and physical health in check.”

There are ten free sessions on offer each week at various times across the city’s pools, with five swim confidence sessions running every week with a qualified instructor.

More information and application forms can be completed at here or registration can be completed at the receptions of the participating centres.

Community, Council News, Health & Welfare

New Competition Launched To Celebrate Neurodiversity

Hull City Council will be marking Neurodiversity Celebration Week by inviting young people in Hull to take part in a creative competition that celebrates neurodiversity.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week takes place from 13-19 March. It’s a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about autism and learning disabilities.

The competition has been held in partnership with Hull Culture and Leisure Ltd and the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank. It will be judged by a panel including Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Kalvin Neal, local artist and entrepreneur Robert Briggs, student author Luke Garner and entrepreneur Tony Robinson OBE.

The initiative aims to encourage schools to recognise the strengths and talents of young people who are neurodivergent, who think and learn differently, including students who are autistic, dyslexic, or have dyspraxia, dyscalculia or ADHD. It also hopes to help recognise the contribution made by people who are neurodivergent in the workplace and those running their own businesses.

People who, for instance, have dyslexia can be good at problem-solving and focusing on the wider picture, so many people who have dyslexia make great business leaders. Many entrepreneurs consider themselves neurodivergent and it is reported that 20% of the UK’s business self-starters are neurodivergent and 35% of company founders in America consider themselves dyslexic.

The competition challenges young people aged 25 and under in Hull, to produce an image to illustrate at least one of the conditions that come under the neurodiversity banner. Young people and schools can then submit them to Hull City Council and post them on their social media accounts, using the hashtags #NeuroDiversityWeek and #HullNDW23 #NCWeek #NCWeek23.

Last year’s winners came from Northcott School, Chiltern Primary School, St Mary’s College, Oakfield School, as well as a young entrepreneur Georgia Wormald of Fairytale Face Paints.

The judging panel will be chaired by Councillor Rob Pritchard, who will choose the individual three winners. They will receive cash prizes and the educational establishment with the overall best entries will receive £250 from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank to go towards celebrating next year’s Neurodiversity Celebration Week.

The winners will have afternoon tea with the Lord Mayor and have their images exhibited.

Councillor Rob Pritchard Cabinet Member for Communities said: “As a person with dyslexia myself, I am delighted to be chairing the judging panel for this competition to celebrate Neurodiversity Week 2023. I’m looking forward to seeing some great entries from the young people of Hull.”

“At Hull City Council, we believe it is important to raise awareness and encourage openness around neurodiversity. We recognise that as an employer ourselves, we must create an awareness as to the benefits and strengths of neurodiversity in the workplace. We are also delighted to be working with Neurodiversity in Business so that we can become a neurodiverse-friendly employer and service provider.”

Tony Robinson OBE, Microbusiness Champion and Patron of John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank said: “As a person with dyspraxia, I am delighted that the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank are sponsoring this competition to honour Neurodiversity Celebration Week, especially as the founder is neurodivergent.”

“Many leading entrepreneurs including Richard Branson, Bill Gates, Lord Sugar, Anita Roddick, Jamie Oliver and IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad are neurodiverse, clearly showing that it is no hindrance to success. “

“Together we can celebrate all those in our community who are neurodiverse, after all we are human as well and deserve reasonable adjustment.”

Neurodiversity Celebration Week has over 1,400 schools and 685,000 students worldwide signed up to celebrate through themed events, guest speakers and raising awareness. The week is endorsed by over 20 charities and hundreds of businesses and organisations also take part, including the Stock Exchange, the U.K. Ministry of Defence, the Royal Navy, Deloitte, Savills and AstraZeneca, as well as local authorities like Hull City Council.

Entrants can email their submissions to charles.cracknell@hullcc.gov.uk.

Alternatively, they can be posted to:

FAO Charles Cracknell
Neuro Diversity Celebration Week Competition
Hull City Council
Guildhall (Room 22D)
Alfred Gelder Street
Hull
HU1 2AA

The competition will close on Tuesday 14 March and judging will take place on Friday 17 March.

Business Headlines, Other Technology News

Levelling Up Funding For Hull’s Digital & Tech Sectors

Levelling Up Funding to help Hull’s digital and tech sector prosper
A dilapidated building is scheduled to go under a full building renovation to create a technology training and upskilling innovation hub thanks to support from Hull City Council.

A grant of £186,153.50 from the council’s Levelling Up Funding scheme will be given to help bring back into use Kingston House at 41 Myton Street, opposite Bonus Arena.

The applicant is The Edge Hub which plans to use the three-story premises as a technology training and upskilling innovation hub.

The funding is to support modernising the building with interior fits for office space and training rooms, as well as the purchasing of computer equipment.

Other proposed grant aided works include new flooring, lighting and the readjustment of walls and interiors for greater accessibility and making the building front more presentable and modernised, as well as installing new bathrooms, kitchens and communal areas. It is projected to create at least nine full-time equivalent jobs.

Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “This Levelling Up Fund grant for The Edge Hub will again help breathe new life into an empty, redundant building in the city and support an exciting project to help deliver skilled professionals to Hull’s burgeoning digital and tech sector.”

“The Levelling Up Funding scheme continues to benefit many buildings and businesses in the city and this is another great example of this.”
Kingston House is part of Myton Retail Park in Hull city centre which was purchased by the council’s capital programme in 2020.”

An outstanding change of use planning application from Class E officer to mixed use Class E office and Class F1 training centre is in place and Kington House’s restoration would provide a better carbon outcome.
The total project cost is £372,307, with the grant of £186,153.50 coming out of the council’s £19.5m Levelling Up Funds received in November 2021 from the government’s Department of Levelling Up, House and Communities.

Charity, Community, Council News

Urgent Call Out For Food Bank Donations

As the cost of living crisis continues to affect families locally and nationally, Hull food banks are in desperate need of donations. Every week foodbanks help hundreds of people across the city – and they are reliant on the generosity of donors to keep going.

Organisations including Hull 4 Heroes, North Bank Forum and Hull City Council work together to help with collection and distribution of goods. Donation points have been set up throughout the city, to make it as easy as possible to drop items off.

Donations of items which have a long shelf-life and do not need to be refrigerated, such as long life milk, tinned and packet goods, cereals, soup, pasta and cooking sauces are particularly needed. Toiletries and personal care products, including shampoo, toothpaste, soap, lip balm, deodorant, baby essentials and sanitary products are also very welcome.

Cllr Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: “The council and its partners are continuing to do all we can to help people through this crisis. Many people have received help already through the package of measures we put in place last autumn, and many more continue to seek support.”

“It is more important now than ever to pull together and help each other when we can. The rising costs of food, utilities and other essentials is something that is hitting many hard and many people will not have the budget for extras right now. However, I would ask anyone who can to add an extra item or two in with the weekly shop. Everything helps and the sort of items the food banks need really do make a difference.

“We have been clear whenever we have spoken about the cost of living crisis that what’s happening is completely unacceptable. We should not be in a position where it is necessary to call for donations to food banks. There is so much more that central government could and should do to address what is happening – that is where the power to effect real change lies”.

Paul Matson, CEO and Founder of Hull 4 Heroes, said; “In hard times the people of Hull have always pulled together and supported anyone who may be less fortunate than themselves. I believe they will do so again now.”

“Our local food providers are unfortunately needed now more than ever and are struggling to source the essential items they need. If the Hull community can help in any way, no matter how small, they could make a huge difference to someone else’s life.”

Donation points include:

North Bransholme Community Centre
The Paul Ingle Boxing Academy
Lothian Way
Hull HU7 5DD
Opening hours: 10am-12pm, Monday to Friday

East Lodge
Pearson Park
Beverley
Hull HU5 2TQ
Opening hours: 10am to 3pm, Tuesday

Hull KR
Craven Park
Poorhouse Lane
Hull HU9 5HE
Opening hours: 10am to 2pm, Monday to Friday

St Stephens Management Suite
Ground floor level (near Tesco car park)
110 Ferensway
Hull
HU2 8LN
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 9am to 7pm
Sunday, 10.30am to 4.30pm

Freedom Centre
97 Preston Road
Hull HU9 3QB
Opening hours: Monday and Thursday, 8.30am to 5pm
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8.30am to 6pm

Hull 4 Heroes Drop in Centre
3rd Floor, Princes Quay
Hull
HU1 2PQ
Opening hours: 10am to 2pm, Monday to Friday

Hull Guildhall
Main reception desk,
77 Lowgate,
Hull City Council HU1 2AA
Opening hours: 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday

All the food donation points and the locations for food providers in operation across the city can be found on interactive map here and you can get more information here

Community, Council Headlines, East Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull, News Headlines, Property & Construction News

Huge Investment Boost For Former Burton Building

Two grants have been awarded to Wykeland Group Ltd to help restore and bring back into use the former Burton building, 34-35 Whitefriargate, in Hull city centre.

As one of Hull’s most significant Art Deco buildings, it will benefit from funding from Hull City Council’s Levelling Up Funding grant scheme and the Whitefriargate High Street Heritage Action Zone, with full planning permission now approved.

With an investment of £750,000 from the Levelling Up Fund and £450,000 from Historic England through the High Street Heritage Action Zone, the total project will cost approximately £2.4 million and aims to create up to 68 local jobs once the works are completed on the Grade II heritage listed building frontages.

Sitting at the entrance to the Old Town on Whitefriargate, adjacent to Beverley Gate and opposite the Maritime Museum building, the refurbishments will make the spaces suitable for either a retail or restaurant unit on the ground floor and redevelop the second and third floors into high quality office spaces.

Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “I am delighted to be able to award these grants to Wykeland to help repurpose and regenerate what is a magnificent, but currently under-used, building in our city centre.”

“The Levelling Up Fund and High Street Heritage Action Zone have already benefitted many buildings and businesses in Hull and this is another example of the regeneration work it helps to unlock.”

Trevor Mitchell, Director for the North at Historic England, said: “We’re really pleased to be helping to fund the restoration of the former Burton department store through the High Street Heritage Action Zone.”

“The Grade II listed building is a striking and glamorous landmark on Whitefriargate and its rejuvenation will play an important role in transforming the historic street into a thriving and attractive place to live, work, shop and enjoy leisure time.”

Tom Watson, Development Surveyor at Wykeland Group, added: “We welcome this grant, which is essential to the viability of the project we are leading to save the former Burton building from dereliction and the granting of planning permission for our detailed proposals.”

“Having invested in acquiring the property to prevent its further decline, we have worked closely with Historic England, Hull City Council’s Conservation Officer and our own expert consultants to develop a high-quality scheme to revitalise this landmark building.”

“Delivery of this scheme will involve further significant investment on our part to restore this historic building and enable it to have a sustainable, long-term future.”

“As well as bringing one of Hull’s most distinctive buildings back to life, the project will create much-needed new business opportunities and jobs in the heart of the city centre.”

In 2021, the council was awarded £19.5 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to support infrastructure and deliver a package of city centre regeneration works.

£7.5 million of this being used for the Levelling Up Fund grant scheme, which aims to bring unused floorspace of any vacant or partially occupied property back into use.

This follows on from targeted investment into Whitefriargate schemes such as the Humber High Street Challenge Fund which was completed last year, and the current High Street Heritage Action Zone.

Both these schemes have provided grants to businesses and property owners to enable the repurposing of vacant buildings on Whitefriargate.

Historically, 34-35 Whitefriargate was originally purpose-built for Montague Burton, a high-end tailor, first opening back in 1936. The building was artistically embellished with Art Deco features and designed by Leeds architect Harry Wilson.

Community, Council News, East Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull, News

Hull Maritime Awarded £250,000 Grant

Hull Maritime has been awarded a major grant from The Foyle Foundation, a leading UK supporter of learning and the arts. The £250,000 award has been made towards the creation of the new visitor and education centre at the former North End Shipyard, the future permanent home for the Arctic Corsair.

The visitor and education centre will host Hull Maritime’s trawling exhibition and will be the venue for the majority of Hull Maritime Museum’s schools’ learning events.

The Foyle Foundation is an independent grant-making trust that distributes funds to UK charities and is a major funder of the arts and education. The Foundation has a deep commitment to supporting charities which uses heritage and arts as a tool for learning.

The historic North End Shipyard will tell first-hand stories of what life was like working at sea and become a centre for learning and celebrating 800 years of Hull’s maritime history.

The new visitor centre at North End Shipyard. Credit: Hull City Council

Lord Chris Haskins, Chairman of Hull Maritime Foundation, said: “We are delighted to have the support of The Foyle Foundation and my sincere thanks go to them for supporting our endeavours. This funding will help us to develop a space to celebrate and share our amazing maritime heritage, and it will also help to further redefine Hull’s image and reputation, while improving opportunities for all citizens.”

Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “This major funding will support our project, Hull Maritime in creating a centre for future generations and new audiences to connect with, learning more about Hull’s thriving fishing industry and what it was like to work at sea. It’s vital we keep these stories alive.”

Work to transform North End Shipyard is underway and is expected to open to visitors in 2024.

Hull Maritime is a major regeneration project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hull City Council.

Five key maritime treasures will be transformed to create a new maritime experience for Hull. Elements include the restoration of two ships – Arctic Corsair and the Spurn Lightship, the regeneration of the former North End Shipyard, Dock Office Chambers and the Hull Maritime Museum will be refurbished.

Community, Council News, East Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull, News

Primary Pupil Designs Hull City Council Christmas Card

Hull City Council Leader, Councillor Mike Ross and Chief Executive, Matt Jukes, have picked the winning design for the Council’s e-Christmas card, following judging 147 entries from primary school pupils across the city.

Sheneli Matiwala Kumbura Mudunkoth Gedara, age 11, from Estcourt Primary Academy submitted the winning design. Her design will be sent to hundreds of people and businesses, giving Christmas wishes.

Jacqueline Hammond, age 11, from Estcourt Primary Academy was the runner-up, and Isabella Stark, age 10, from Sutton Park came in third place. All three pupils will receive gift vouchers.

Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council said: “Firstly, a big thank you to all those who entered the competition. I’m delighted we had so many fantastic designs and hope the children had lots of fun doing them.”

“We decided this year’s theme should be ‘Together at Christmas’ and for pupils to show what Christmas means to them. We felt Sheneli’s design stood out with a brilliant image of Hull City Hall, a landmark building in the city. I am sure those who get the e-card this year will appreciate Sheneli’s efforts as much as we did.”

Communication Headlines, Council News, Football, Health & Welfare, Kingston Upon Hull, News

New Community Parks Improvement Strategy To Be Heard

A report highlighting a programme of regeneration projects across the city’s parks will be heard by scrutiny councillors next week.

The parks and open spaces report includes a number of schemes that are already underway, alongside proposals for a range of further improvements.

It will seek approval to move these projects forward, funded by the parks and open spaces assets budget.

One of projects already in development is the Football Foundation’s pitches and pavilion scheme at Bude Park. It has been in development since 2020 with a funding bid decision due imminently, kicking off a programme of works.

A further bid to the Football Foundation has already been submitted for the possible development of Playzones – new or refurbished outdoor mini-pitches designed for football and other activities which will focus on making identified priority groups more active.

The city has also been pre-selected by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to receive up to £85,000 with the aim being to improve the quality of a green space for the community. The chosen site is Alderman Kneeshaw Park.

Further proposals that will be heard include possible new water play schemes at Bude Park and Oak Road, recreation of a running track at Alderman Kneeshaw, access reviews at East and Pickering Parks, restoration of the Pickering Park entrance gateway and ‘pocket parks’, a community-led scheme that aims to transform small unloved and neglected areas into safe useable spaces.

Councillor Julia Connor, Portfolio Holder for Environment said:
“Covid reawakened the public’s interest in our parks and proved just what a valuable asset they are to the city and how much the public need them.”

“Therefore, this programme of investment in our parks is to be welcomed but the revenue consequences and detailed management of the schemes will require careful consideration.” As Portfolio Holder I will keep matters under review.”

Comments of Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration said: “Regeneration in our neighbourhoods across Hull is a priority for myself and this administration.”

“This new strategy will for the first time, provide funding for the continual investment into our parks and open spaces that are much loved and greatly treasured by all of our residents.”

The report will be heard first at Communities, Culture and Leisure Scrutiny on Thursday 24 November, then at Cabinet on Monday 28 November.

Communication Headlines, Community, Council News

Annual Memorial Service For Road Victims Planned For Hull

Hull’s 22nd annual memorial service for those who have lost their lives on the city’s roads will take place on Sunday.

For more than two decades, the city has held a service for the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, which is marked on the third Sunday of November every year.

The global event remembers the millions killed and seriously injured on roads, as well as acknowledging the suffering of victims, families and communities.

Anyone who has lost someone on the city roads is invited to attend the service and have their loved one’s name added to the Book of Remembrance.

People can also bring photos of loved ones and light a candle of remembrance.

On Sunday (20 November), Hull’s service will return to its traditional home of St Mary’s Church, after being moved to the Guildhall last year and held online in 2020, because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Councillor Christine Randall, Lord Mayor of Hull, and Councillor Mark Ieronimo, Portfolio Holder for Transportation, Roads and Highways, will be in attendance.

Today, Cllr Ieronimo laid a wreath on behalf of Hull City Council at the memorial stone for road traffic victims outside the Streetlife Museum of Transport.

Cllr Ieronimo said: “Each and every death on our roads a tragedy, which is why we must do all we can to ensure the roads are safe for all who use them.”

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and the World Day of Remembrance sends a powerful message to all road users to take more care.”

“I hope families and friends will find comfort in Sunday’s service as they remember their lost loved ones.”

Sunday’s service begins at 2.30pm at St Mary’s Church on Lowgate.

To find out more about the World Day of Remembrance, visit worlddayofremembrance.org.