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Gedling MP Vernon Coaker joins pupils at Carlton Academy for Google event which aims to make youngsters better ‘digital citizens’

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Gedling MP Vernon Coaker joins pupils at Carlton Academy for Google event which aims to make youngsters better ‘digital citizens’

Gedling MP Vernon Coaker visited a school in Carlton taking part in a pioneering Google scheme to help pupils become good digital citizens.

The event at Carlton Academy was hosted by the internet search giant and aimed to teach 13 to 15-year-olds about online safety, being aware of fake news and emotional manipulation online.

Google are using these events to highlight their Be Internet Citizens programme.

As well as improving online behaviour, the programme also helps young people to use platforms like YouTube to share their stories and create great content.

Be Internet Citizens consists of five key stages, which students in Carlton Academy were taught today:

1. Three sides to Every Story – Participants will be able to develop a good understanding of fake news, echo chambers and filter bubbles, as well as becoming more confident in forming their own opinions in online contexts.

2. Emotional Manipulation – This stage presents video examples of emotional manipulation, prompting a discussion around what emotions these videos stimulate. It seeks to develop an increased critical awareness of the use of emotional manipulation.

3. Us vs Them – Enables participants to understand how powerful ‘us vs them’ divisions can be, encouraging them to think of where they have seen this rhetoric used before online. Participants will understand how divisive arguments can lead to problems in society, as well as be wary of the consequences of labelling individuals and also understand how certain online social environments can shape opinions.

4. Haters Gonna Hate – Designed to help participants understand what acceptable and unacceptable online behaviour is, and how to distinguish between hate speech and free speech. In addition, it explores how to react to hateful content online, including the use of various online tools such as reporting, flagging and blocking.

5. Creators For Change – a creative video exercise that allows participants to showcase their learning across the previous four lessons, and offers them the opportunity to get creative through using video equipment.

Mr Coaker praised the new Google initiative.

He said: “I am delighted that the Be Internet Citizens programme visited Carlton Academy today as the issue of digital citizenship is now extremely important to young people.

“Programmes which educate and encourage positive participation in the online world are very welcome, especially as more and more young people use online platforms on a daily basis.”

Elijah Lawal, online safety communications manager at Google, said: “The internet is a creative space where young people can have a voice, be imaginative, and express themselves.

“With Be Internet Citizens, we want to help young people with their media literacy and encourage them to use their voices and creativity to have a positive impact online.”

Be Internet Citizens is delivered in partnership with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) and its teaching resources are approved by the PSHEAssociation.

Educators can also order free teaching resources for the Be Internet Citizens here (through the ISD website). These resources are accredited by PSHE.

Elaine Bond: Listen to your dreams because they are trying to tell you something

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Elaine Bond: Listen to your dreams because they are trying to tell you something

We all dream and sometimes they are vivid or lucid but sometimes we just don’t remember them.

The analysis of dreams is known as dream therapy and can be a really good way to look at what our subconscious is trying to tell us. It’s also a really useful tool in therapy.

Throughout history, dream therapy has existed. The Mesopotamians looked at dreams as messages or symbols, whilst ancient Egyptians created dream temples as places of healing, where the answer to a person’s emotional and physical ills could be found. The Greeks and Romans had sleep temples which were dedicated to healing.  Indian and Tibetan text tell of using dreams to gain spiritual enlightenment and the ancient Chinese believed the soul separated from the body to communicate with spirits during dreaming.

Even Hippocrates believed that during sleep the soul produces images that are prophetic, diagnostic and psychologically revealing in dreams. He strongly felt that bad dreams indicated there was some form of somatic or psychological issue. He used his own dreams on many occasions to diagnose illnesses!

Dreaming take place during REM (Rapid eye movement) sleep, this is the point when our closed eyes are rapidly and randomly moving. This eye motion is not constant but intermittent.  Our brain activity during REM sleep is a variety of low-amplitude mixed-frequency brain waves, quite similar to those experienced when we are awake.

For us to understand our dreams is not an easy task as dream dictionaries from any shop or in any format are ineffective because they do not take into account our culture. The symbols and objects in dreams will have different meaning dependant on our upbringing and surroundings. They also do not take into account our life experience so far, for example, for some of us a clown is a scary thing whereas for others it is a symbol of happy childhood times.

PICTURED: Gedling counsellor Elaine Bond

We have approximately 100 minutes of important dreams every night. These take place when our body temperature is at its lowest. These periods have an average duration of 6 minutes and occur every 25 minutes during sleep.

A scientist called Michel Jovet believed that dreams had five functions –

  • The dream sentinel: an ancient reaction that periodically reduces depth of sleep to allow survival in a possible hostile environment
  • Dream transforming: the short-term memory to long term memory
  • Dream facilitating or inhibiting: the transfers between the right (feeling) and left (thinking) hemispheres of the brain
  • Day Dreaming: moments without interest (ghosts of waking time)
  • Obligatory Dreaming: dreams to delete information without interest

From a counselling point of view, every dream is trying to tell us something about ourselves, especially if we remember them. There are certain dreams that seem to have a universal meaning: –

  • Angel. Guidance. Wisdom. Truth.
  • Bathing. Spiritual cleansing. Need to “clean up” one’s life.
  • Cat. Universal symbol for woman. May refer to gossip; beware of gossip. The mysterious. Independence.
  • Church. The realm of Inner Awareness. Higher Self. Spiritual need.
  • Desert. Spiritual thirst. Emotional barrenness. Sterility.
  • Falling. A natural fear and common to children. Falling from grace or higher spiritual realms. Defeat.
  • Island. Seclusion. Desire to get away from it all. Security. A place of inhibitions.
  • Judge. Authority figure. One who views objectively and fairly. Need for Self-discipline. Hidden guilt.
  • Lake. Water symbol for spirit. Peace if placid or smooth.
  • Mirror. Reveals one’s true Self. good, bad, or indifferent. A reflection of the truth. Can also Ocean. Spirit, God, Higher Self. Peace, unless a rough sea, then turmoil, strife, etc.
  • Suitcase. Prosperity. Desire to travel. Prestige. Subconscious desire for someone else to go away.
  • Sun. Spiritual light and awareness.

In therapy, dreams can often help us to open up issues that have so far been hidden but are being processed in our dreams. In Gestalt theory, the dream is told by the client form themselves and all the other characters in the dream, often finding that is one of the other characters portraying real issue. This is not something that is easy to do on your own but recording your dreams and looking for themes is.

Take a notebook and pen to bed with you, then when you have a dream that you remember you can write it down straight away and then go back to sleep. Over a period of a month you will find a whole list of dreams, and then any themes and people that turn up in your dreams will be clearer.

There are several things that can affect or inhibit our dreams, such as the use of drugs and alcohol, sleeping disorders, the food we ate and when we ate it, what is happening in our life and environment, pregnancy and the smells and sounds around us when we sleep. So, a note of what was happening to us at that point also helps us to review what we are dreaming about.

East Midlands Trains announces services to Carlton, Netherfield and Burton Joyce during strike action

Gedling Eye Reporter
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East Midlands Trains announces services to Carlton, Netherfield and Burton Joyce during strike action

Some train services in Gedling borough will be disrupted during three Saturdays of strike action by the RMT union.

RMT members working as Senior Conductors on East Midlands Trains will strike at the end of July and the beginning of August.

The union has said the dispute is over EMT management’s ‘failure to bring a meaningful resolution to members’ concerns’ over pay discrimination and contract issues. East Midlands Trains denies this.

Today, East Midlands Trains confirmed what services it will be running for customers in Gedling borough on Saturday, July 20, Saturday, July 27 and Saturday, August 3.

There will be revised timetables and replacement coach services on some routes and customers are advised to check before travel. 

Timetables are available at eastmidlandstrains.co.uk. 

Adam Piddington, customer experience director for East Midlands Trains said: “We’re disappointed that the RMT is intent on going ahead with this strike action. 

East-Midlands-Trains

“We’re pleased we’ll be able to still run a good service for our customers on the three dates involved.

Our timetables are now available at eastmidlandstrains.co.uk for customers to check ahead and plan their journeys.”

Summary of services running on Saturday 20 July, Saturday 27 July and Saturday 3 August:

Services to and from London

Services will continue to run as normal.

Derby to Matlock

A reduced service will run on this route with a rail replacement coach running on the last services of the day. 

Nottingham/Grantham/Skegness

A near normal service will run on this route including the additional summer Saturday 8 coach HST services.

Nottingham/Newark Castle/Lincoln

A near normal service will run on this route. Nottingham to Newark Castle will be served by one train per hour instead of two.

Leicester to Nottingham (serving intermediate stations)

Replacement coaches will run calling at Syston, Sileby and Barrow Upon Soar. Please note that direct trains will still run between Leicester, Loughborough, Beeston and Nottingham on the London/Nottingham route.

Derby to Nottingham and Newark Castle

East Midlands Trains services will not run on this route. Rail Replacement coaches will run to Attenborough.

Nottingham to Norwich

East Midlands Trains services will not run on this route.

Bee-friendly road verges planned across Gedling borough

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Bee-friendly road verges planned across Gedling borough

Road verges across Gedling borough are set to become more ‘bee-friendly’ with less aggressive verge trimming, more trees planted, and current trees left to grow.

It is hoped the scheme could save money for the cash-strapped Nottinghamshire County Council, while also encouraging biodiversity and greener spaces.

The council also believes they should be doing their bit to boost the bee population across the area.

The move comes after a small-scale trial last year to cut grass less often, but due to the heatwave last summer the uncut grass grew less than expected and the results of the trial have been deemed inconclusive.

Now, a wider trial will be held this year with more environmentally-friendly policies trialled, and then a review will be held next year.

If deemed successful, it could be rolled out in more places across the county council’s 2,600-mile road network.

The county’s highways boss, Councillor John Cottee, said the review would look in-depth at this.

“If that review concludes that it is safe to cut vegetation less extensively, or less often than it is now, then this will be a win-win policy, easing pressure on the budget, while increasing the opportunity for wildflowers, and small wildlife to flourish on our roadsides.”

As well as the wildflower planting, the trial is also going to look at whether weed control could be done less frequently. 

Glyphosate, a controversial weed killer which was linked to cancer in a high-profile US court case last year, is currently used by the council on its land.

Councillor Cottee, who represents Keyworth for the Conservatives said: “I suspect many of us in this chamber would agree in principle to minimising the amount of chemicals we use in our local natural environment. It can only be a good thing.

“Therefore I’m seeking the support of members to carefully review products we use for weed control, and investigate whether there is scope to reduce the amount of chemicals we apply, and the frequency with which it is applied.

“This is really the first step of this, and while there may be savings in cutting grass there will be other costs involved. So I’m not expecting to make a load of money in this.”

Labour councillor John Peck, who represents Sherwood Forest, said: “We are playing our part in reversing the decline of bees, other insect life and butterflies, but I think more of this can be done.

“Just not cutting grass by itself doesn’t encourage that much in the way of wild flowers, and without proper management the result is just very long grass.

“We are strongly in favour of the suggestion of planting more trees on county council land.”

The motion was unanimously passed at a meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council yesterday, Thursday, July 11.

Councillors dig deep to support project at Bridle Lodge in Burton Joyce

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Councillors dig deep to support project at Bridle Lodge in Burton Joyce

Two recently-elected councillors are digging deep to help a good cause in their local ward.

Cllrs Sam Smith and Michael Adams, who recently won election onto Gedling Borough Council, have donated £220 to support a project at a local residential centre in Burton Joyce for people with autism and learning disabilities.

The two responded to a plea from Bridle Lodge who are appealing for funds to refurbish their garden and polytunnel so young people at the centre can learn to grow, harvest and cook their own vegetables.

The project is called Seed to Feed.

The facility now has around half of the funds needed to repair the polytunnel.

But a day is now being organised where volunteers can help dig up the gardens at Bridle Lodge and transform them into vegetable patches.

Both Cllr Smith and Adams will be among volunteers taking part in the event on July 13 between 11am and 2pm.

The facility is now appealing for others to take part in the dig.

A spokesman for Creative Care, which runs the centre, said: “Although we do not yet have the funds to repair the polytunnel the young people have been plating seedlings for the garden, which is great news.

“We’re delighted by the brilliant support from Trent Councillors Sam Smith and Michael Adams for the funds and offering to volunteer at Bridle Lodge on Saturday. We now hope the weather is kind to us.

“Please join us if you are able to. Bacon butties and a cuppa will be thrown in.”

The councillors said: ” We’re delighted that we could donate to Bridle Lodge’s Seed to Feed project and look forward to helping out with the digging on Saturday.”

Please contact the manager of Bridle Lodge, Louise Jones, if you wish to take part in the event. You can find details here: http://www.creativecare.org.uk/contact-us/

Man appears in court charged with historic child abuse at Mapperley children’s home

Gedling Eye
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Man appears in court charged with historic child abuse at Mapperley children’s home

A man appeared in court today (July 11) charged with historic child sexual abuse at a children’s home in Mapperley.

Robert Watchorn, of Broomhill Road, Bulwell, has been charged with three counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 16 years at the former Beechwood Children’s Home in Woodborough Road between April 19, 1998 and July 1, 1998.

He appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court today where he was granted bail to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on August 8.

The investigation is part of Operation Equinox, a long-running investigation by Nottinghamshire Police into historical abuse at care homes.

Taken Too Soon event at Carlton Town on Sunday will raise funds to fight youth knife crime and also remember its victims

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Taken Too Soon event at Carlton Town on Sunday will raise funds to fight youth knife crime and also remember its victims

An event to raise funds to help fight youth knife crime and also remember its victims is taking place at Carlton Town this Sunday (July 14).

The Taken Too Soon event will take place at the club’s ground on Stoke Lane and starts at 10am.

The main event will be a charity football match which will see an AC13 ALL Stars (Pro Celebrity) XI take on a Nottinghamshire Police All Star XI

As well as the match, a soccer skills school, rides and bouncy castle and food and refreshment will also be on offer.

There will be music from a number of artists including Trinity Square, who recently on BBC Radio 1Xtra and Hollie Fallon.

Some of the city’s top talent will also be taking to the stage to battle it out on the day to win the Nottingham’s Got Talent competition.

A number of guest speakers have also been lined up to speak. These include knife crime campaigner Trish Bergan and Channel Wallace from hit BBC documentary ‘Life After My Brother’s Murder’.

Taken Too Soon is the brainchild of Roger Henry who has been campaigning for many years on a better future for the youth of Nottingham.

He told Gedling Eye: ” Our aim through the Taken Too Soon campaign is rid the gang culture and youth violence that surrounds the city to make it a better place for all of us to live in.

“The Taken Too Soon event is a full day of activity, celebration and remembrance of loved ones whose lives have been taken too soon either through illness or through violence.

Carlton-Town
VENUE: The event is taking place at Carlton Town

“It’s also a day of action to prevent this happening to others in future.”

Tickets for the event, which runs until 8pm, cost £10 for adults or £5 for children. A family ticket is available for £20.

Monies raised from the event will be awarded to the Nottinghamshire Ending Youth Violence Network and help support organisations that tackle serious and violent crime across the region.

You can get information about tickets by emailing takentoosoonbookings@gmail.com

To get updates about the event visit the Taken Too Soon Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/takentoosoonevents/

These Gedling girls have become Southwell Minster’s youngest ever female choir singers

David Bratton
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These Gedling girls have become Southwell Minster’s youngest ever female choir singers

Meet Isabella, Sophia and Katie – Southwell Minster‘s newest choristers and the youngest ever to be accepted into the prestigious girls’ choir.

The three talented singers all hail from Gedling borough and were officially signed up at a service on Sunday.

The three girls – Mapperley sisters Isabella (8) and Sophia (11) as well as their friend Katie (age 11) of Burton Joyce – have spent the last academic year in training to join the renowned Minster Choir and became fully fledged Minster choristers on Sunday, in a wonderful service full of family and friends.

The girls are now the youngest to ever sing in the girls’ choir at the minister – which was built back in the twelfth century.

Isabella has enjoyed the journey to becoming a full-time member of the choir.

She said: “Being a chorister is really good fun and I like practising with my friends. I’ve learned a lot in the last year.”

Each week the boy and girl choristers play a pivotal role in the acts of worship in the cathedral through music-making of the highest standard.  They give many hours of their time and, in return, are developed as the highest quality singers and musicians.  They make frequent broadcasts on national radio, have sung to royalty, make professional recordings and tour other countries. 

Paul Provost, the Rector Chori of Southwell Cathedral said he was immensely proud of the three new recruits.

He said: “These three have worked hard over the last year to develop their skills so we can welcome them into our amazing team. It’s a really exciting time for us here in Southwell.”

If any youngsters are interested in becoming a Southwell Minster chorister, please contact Paul Provost: rectorchori@southwellminster.org.uk.

Children interested in joining can come to Southwell Minster and become a chorister for the day.

This popular free event is open to all children in years 2-4 who wish to sample a day in the life of a Southwell Minster chorister. The event will take place on Saturday, November, 9, 2019

Severn Trent Water’s efforts to protect environment ‘unacceptable’

David Bratton
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Severn Trent Water’s efforts to protect environment ‘unacceptable’

A water company serving Gedling borough has today been slammed by a government agency who described their efforts to protect the environment as ‘unacceptable’

Severn Trent Water were one of the companies highlighted in an Environment Agency (EA) report published today (July 10) with only one of the major water and sewage companies in England performing at the level expected.

The annual report rates each of water and sewerage companies in England as either green, amber or red on a range of measures including serious pollution, pollution per km of sewer pipes, supply resilience, self-reporting of pollution and complying with permits.

The report said Severn Trent Water had dropped from 4 stars to 3 stars – meaning they must improve their performance to reduce their impact on the environment.

This meant the firm had increased numbers of serious pollution incidents compared with 2017.

Gedling_pipe

Overall water company performance has deteriorated which reverses the trend of gradual improvement in the sector since the rating system began in 2011. Serious pollution incidents increased in 2018 causing damage to the rivers and wildlife. 

Emma Howard Boyd, the EA chair, said the Environment Agency will continue to work with Ofwat to look at financial penalties to drive better environmental performance given fines are currently only a fraction of turnover.

She said “Companies should be reflecting on their environmental performance and long-term resilience, if this is poor they should be asking themselves whether dividends are justifiable.”

Northumbrian Water was the only company achieving the highest 4 star rating, showing that it is possible to bring in good environmental practices and limit the impact of operations on nature.

Executive Director of Operations Dr Toby Willison said: “Water companies need to clean up their act. People expect water companies to improve the environment, not pollute rivers and ensure secure supplies of water.

“With only one exception, none of the companies are performing at the level we wish to see, the country expects and the environment needs. We will continue to challenge CEOs to improve company performance and we will take strong and appropriate enforcement action. 

“Companies performing well have a positive ripple effect on the natural environment and communities in their regions. We want all water companies to meet the expectation of their customers, the needs of environment and learn from the best practice that the leading company is demonstrating.”

Severn Trent Water has responded following the report’s findings.

The firm, who still achieved the second highest rating, said “We’re obviously disappointed to be 3* this year but we’re determined to reclaim the top rating next year.

“We’ve been consistently 3* or 4* over the past seven years, with 4*, the top mark possible, in 2013, 2015 and 2017.

“Our figures are largely flat year-on-year but that does mask some real successes that we’ve had. For example, the Severn is now clean enough for a project to reintroduce large numbers of shad, a type of fish sensitive to pollution, into the river to be possible.

“In addition, we’ve set ourselves tougher targets than called for by the EA in certain areas, such as phosphate removal, to further improve the quality of the rivers in our region.”

Distinctive jewellery stolen during burglary in Arnold

Gedling Eye Reporter
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Distinctive jewellery stolen during burglary in Arnold

Photos of jewellery stolen in a burglary in Arnold have been released by police in a bid to trace the culprits.

The burglary took place between June 8 and in Lilleker Rise.

A house was broken into and a number of items of jewellery were taken (pictured) including an engagement ring, gold locket, charm bracelet, a cameo brooch, a silver pendant and five watches. 

A large quantity of John Player Special cigarettes, power tools and a camera were also stolen.

If you have any information which could help our enquiries please call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 469 of 9 June 2019.

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