Latest news with #AndrewFletcher
ITV News
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
New Youth Zone could be 'the next Salford Lads Club' says bosses
ITV News' Andrew Fletcher went along to the opening of Salford Youth Zone. A £13m youth zone could become a modern-day Salford Lads Club for the city's young people, bosses say. Salford Youth Zone, on Belvedere Road in Pendleton, held a launch party to mark its opening on Saturday 5 July. Eddie Hearn, Fred Done, and Salford's mayor, Paul Dennett, all attended the event to support the project. Salford Youth Zone is now the largest youth club in Greater Manchester, and located in one of the city region's poorest area. It's hoped it will be a place in the city where young people can feel safe and enjoy themselves while learning new skills and taking part in new activities. Those aged eight to 19 are welcome to get involved, and those up to 25 with additional needs. Membership for young people is free, with a 50p charge per session. More than 2,500 people have already joined up and shared their thoughts on how the Youth Zone should operate. Lacey Wrightson and Carter Gregg, both aged 16, have been part of creating Salford Youth Zone through a development group. Lacey said: 'I think it's going to help everyone, not just this generation but future generations as well. "We helped design the logo and how the place would look... like the interior of the building and the colour of the walls." Carter added: 'It's a challenge for young people being in this generation because of Covid hitting and being locked away from everything. 'This is a new way for them to explore, find who they want to be and what they want to do, and keep away from being on the streets, with crime, drugs and all that.' Adam Farricker is leading the work as chief executive of Empower Youth Zones, the charity overseeing the project. Adam said Salford Youth Zone could have as big an impact on the city as the historic Salford Lads Club. He said: 'We hope to be able to say that in 100 years we look back and look at the same heritage and impact that Salford Lads Club has had. 'I know there will be thousands and thousands of children benefitting from this place.' Salford Youth Zone was brought to life with the backing of the Betfred founder Fred Done family along with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and Salford council. Fred Done was born in Salford, near where Salford Youth Zone stands. He said: 'Everyone has got behind it, this is for the kids of Salford, they need a break and this is what we've done for them, I'm just so proud to be here and being able to do this for them. 'The most important thing in all this is giving kids a break, the country is on its knees at the moment politically and financially, but this shows hope, hope is the future for these kids, that' what we're trying to do for them.' Salford Youth Zone members can use facilities including an outdoor football pitch, fully equipped gym, climbing wall, dance studio, music and recording studio, training kitchen, and art workshop. There will also be access to free meals, employability skills workshops, and trusted adults to talk to. Funders include local authorities, individuals, the business community, and grants. Joe Amos, 40, is the head of youth work at Salford Youth Zone. He said young people in the city are facing several barriers, including a lack of opportunities and struggles with mental health. He said: 'It's going to make a massive difference to young people in Salford, it's providing somewhere for them to go that's safe with a trusted person to talk to. 'It's gonna make sure young people stay off the streets, engage in positive activities, and really look at improving their opportunities for life and their future.' Salford Youth Zone leaders hope the site will help thousands of young people in Manchester and Salford to find their passion and purpose. The site will be open seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year, for young people to access in their leisure time whenever schools are closed, including during school holidays. Salford mayor Paul Dennett said: 'An investment in young people is an investment in a community's future, and Salford Youth Zone is a fantastic addition to both the city of Salford and Greater Manchester as a whole. 'Empower's success with HideOut Youth Zone has shown how life-changing youth work is, and we're extremely proud to support the team as they create a future where every young person can grow and succeed.' Adam Farricker added: 'In a city where too many young people lack access to a safe, supportive environment, this facility will be a hub for these young people to grow and break down barriers. 'Having been to youth services myself, I know first-hand how life changing they can be – I'm proud to be extending this opportunity to thousands more young people. 'Every young person deserves the chance to thrive, and Salford Youth Zone will help make that possible.'
Reuters
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Canaletto painting, once owned by first British prime minister, heads to auction
LONDON, June 6 (Reuters) - A painting by Italian artist Giovanni Antonio Canal, best known as Canaletto, which was once owned by Britain's first prime minister, heads to auction next month, with a price estimate of more than $27 million. "Venice, the Return of the Bucintoro on Ascension Day", from around 1732, has only been offered for auction twice before and will lead the July 1 "Old Masters Evening Sale" during Christie's Classic Week in London. It is listed with an "estimate on request, in excess of 20 million pounds" ($27.09 million) price tag. The painting depicts the Bucintoro, the official barge of the Doge of Venice, returning to the quay side on the feast of the Ascension. "It's a ten out of ten on every measure... This is the grandest view you could possibly conceive of Venice at its grandest moment, Ascension Day, with all of the pomp and ceremony," Andrew Fletcher, Christie's global head of the Old Masters Department, told Reuters. "It's in unbelievably beautiful condition, partly because it's passed through so few collections over its lifetime." The painting looks towards the entrance of Venice's Grand Canal as the Bucintoro returns to the Doge's Palace. "Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about this painting is that it is possibly the picture which set off the craze for works by Canaletto in the United Kingdom, which of course was the country and the people who were his greatest patrons," Fletcher said. It once hung at 10 Downing Street, the official residence of British prime ministers. It was first recorded there in 1736, in the collection of Sir Robert Walpole, generally regarded as Britain's first prime minister. It was sold at auction after his death and bought by the financier Samson Gideon. It remained in Gideon's family until 1930 and last came to auction in 1993. "It is painted in the early 1730s, which is generally considered the apex... of Canaletto's output," Fletcher said. "This is the time where he had left behind the sort of ultra atmospheric views of the 1720s, had found this formula on which his fame would then ride - this sort of very detailed but actually quite limited palette, but focusing very much on the detail of, and the beauty of, the Venetian architecture and people." ($1 = 0.7382 pounds)
ITV News
01-06-2025
- ITV News
Friends take on Western Front Way to honour old primary school's First World War heroes
ITV Granada Reports journalist Andrew Fletcher has been speaking to the cyclists preparing to take on the Western Front Way. Three childhood friends are undertaking an "epic" charity cycle challenge to visit the war graves of fallen soldiers from their old school. Colin Higham, Kevan Ball and Rob Taylor will cycle 634 miles along the route, with Russell Jones providing support, to pay their respects to 16 of the 24 former pupils who died in the First World War. Their names are etched on a remembrance stained glass window inside Rivington and Blackrod School's chapel in Horwich, near Bolton, where the friends, now aged 65, once attended. The retirees have been preparing to take on the Western Front Way - a 620 mile trail that follows the historic frontline of World War One, stretching from the Belgian coast to the Swiss border. Colin was struck by the idea after reading The Path of Peace: Walking the Western Front Way, which describes the footpath on No Man's Land - the perilous strip between opposing trenches where many soldiers lost their lives. He said: "We have done a lot of research into these boys. The last grave we're going to visit on the way is a boy whose brother also died on the Western Front and his father was the headmaster at this school. "We're hoping the children in the school now will relate to these stories and we can all learn a lesson of what happened during that terrible time." The cyclists say they are committed to ensuring that their local heroes are remembered and honoured. "This challenge is about more than just a cycle ride," said Kevan Ball, a veteran who served for four decades in the British Army. "It's a journey of remembrance, honouring the memory of local heroes and supporting vital charitable causes that continue to make a difference in our community." The entire expedition will be self-funded and all donations will be distributed between a several charitable organisations including The Royal British Legion, Children In Need and St Ann's Hospice. They will leave home on Monday, 2 June, before beginning the ride in Basel on Wednesday, 4 June.
Techday NZ
23-04-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
St John applauded, wins award for health data resilience
Hato Hone St John has been named a finalist in the Veeam Data Resilience Awards, in recognition of its efforts to safeguard vital healthcare data and maintain uninterrupted delivery of emergency medical services. As healthcare data increasingly becomes a target for cyber hackers, HHStJ turned to Veeam Software, a global leader in data resilience, to secure its digital infrastructure. According to St John's National Tech Infrastructure Manager, Andrew Fletcher, the move was prompted by a significant rise in cyber-attacks on medical institutions. "There's been an increase in medical data breaches, with health and patient data now more valuable to hackers than financial data," Fletcher said. He explained that healthcare organisations have become prime targets for ransomware attacks, making data resilience essential not only for security, but also for operational continuity. "It's not just about keeping the data safe; it's about making sure the ambulances keep rolling and life-saving services are not impacted," Fletcher said. "If our IT systems go down for too long, it could literally be a life-or-death situation, so having a data resilience powered by Veeam is critical to ensure we keep running." Fletcher emphasised that nearly all of St John's services are reliant on robust digital platforms. This includes emergency paramedic care, first aid training, and remote monitoring through wearable medical alarms. "Whether we are providing emergency paramedic care, offering first aid training or monitoring wearable medical alarms, practically all our services depend on digital technology," he said. "As well as ensuring we are always on with our IT platforms, our organisation needs to be data resilient. If that data isn't secure and accessible, it could impact emergency responses, patient care, and the support people count on every day." The importance of avoiding IT disruptions, Fletcher added, cannot be overstated. "We rely on an extensive IT infrastructure to support our work, and extended periods of unplanned downtime could potentially be fatal." As a result of the proactive work led by Fletcher and his team, St John has been selected as one of three finalists for the Veeam Data Resilience Awards, which are being held in San Diego from 21 to 23 April. In addition to the nomination, Fletcher has been invited to speak at the VeeamON conference, where he will present on the increasing cyber threats facing healthcare providers, particularly ransomware. Beni Sia, General Manager and Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific and Japan at Veeam, noted the severity of the risks associated with cyber-attacks on healthcare systems and praised HHStJ's efforts. "The threat of ransomware demands best-in-class data resilience because without data, businesses grind to a halt," Sia said. "In Hato Hone St John's case, that can be the difference between life and death. It's a privilege to be entrusted to power their data resilience and we're proud to be an integral part of the work required to ensure they can continue to save and protect lives." The recognition highlights the growing importance of cybersecurity in the healthcare sector and the need for constant vigilance and investment in systems that protect critical services.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
St. Johns County neighbors fighting townhome neighborhood proposal near busy road
People living in the Sandy Creek neighborhood of St. Johns County are pushing back against a plan to put 297 townhomes on the undeveloped woods nearby. The developer is wanting to put it just north of their neighborhood, which would end up lying by the intersection of Sandy Creek Parkway and County Road 210, which is right off Interstate 95. The Florida Department of Transportation says around 25,000 cars, on average, drive along the part of CR-210 near the neighborhood site every day. 'It's just a recipe for disaster with traffic,' said Andrew Fletcher, who's on the HOA board for the Sandy Creek neighborhood. Fletcher, along with other neighbors in Sandy Creek, say all the townhomes would make traffic much worse. 'Adding those residences is going to create an absolute gridlock, particularly with rush hour in the morning and after work,' Fletcher said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Action News Jax went by the site where the developer is hoping to build the townhomes and found some of the trees have already been cleared away. The project still needs to be approved, but the developer is promising to pay for some of the $11 million the county says it would cost to widen CR-210 near Sandy Creek Parkway from four to six lanes. But as Action News Jax told you last week, there are already multiple other road construction projects happening along CR-210. Neighbors say they're not opposed to the townhomes being built, themselves, but want road work to finish up before a project like this starts. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 'Our quality of life has been diminished greatly due to this overbuilding and the traffic,' said Carolyn Ward, who also serves on Sandy Creek's HOA. The road project, from county records, would happen to help make traffic smoother in the area. But people living nearby say it's already a problem to deal with and worry it will be made worse, regardless of whatever road work is done. The project was considered Thursday by St. Johns County's planning and zoning agency for a recommendation. The agency voted 3-3, which Deputy County Attorney Lex Taylor said is a technical denial. Taylor said the project is still expected to go to the St. Johns County Board of county commissioners for final approval during their meeting on May 6. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
