Latest news with #British-Norwegian
Miami Herald
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
School becomes first to get new $200,000 skate park
By James Gamble A state school has become the first in Britain to get its own skate park. Folkestone Academy's new $198,000 facility is available to students during school days and to the wider community at weekends. There are also plans to use it for PE lessons in the future. Skateboard GB, the nation's governing body, says Kent is fast becoming the UK's "capital"of skateboarding. A $17m multi-storey F51 skate park, also in Folkestone, is believed to be the first purpose-built, multi-storey skate park in the world. Skateboarding has seen its profile grow in Britain in the wake of teenager Sky Brown's success at last year's Paris Olympics. Neil Ellis, head of engagement at Skateboard GB, confirmed Folkestone's Academy's skate park is the first with a "concrete bowl" at a state school. And he said: "There has definitely been a growth in the number of youngsters turned off by competitive sports. "We are always playing to win, whereas in skateboarding, you are competing against yourself. It's freedom of expression and it's a massive step forward. "There are many more schools bringing in skateboarding; Northern Ireland and Wales are implementing skateboarding into their curriculum. "Kent does really well in skateboarding at schools; Canterbury Academy do a lot as well. F51 is the first, purpose-built multi-storey skate park in the world and also the most expensive skate park ever built in the UK. "Margate is looking to build the biggest outdoor skate park in the country in the next two years." Folkestone Academy also say the skating facilities are encouraging students disinterested in other aspects of education to go to school and have even improved attendance. "That's a definite win," Mr Ellis continued. "Kids look forward to the skateboard sessions as part of their school day. "It's adding value to their days." The opening of the skate park at Folkestone Academy - part of Kent-based academy trust Turner Schools - earlier this month was attended by local families as well as pro skaters who enjoyed live DJ sets, coaching and giveaways. The $198,000 facility, designed by British-Norwegian company Betongpark, was mainly funded by charity Friends of Folkestone Academy (FFA). The post School becomes first to get new $200,000 skate park appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The moving story of family who went to live off-grid in the Norwegian wilderness before being hit by devastating loss
A British-Norwegian couple who went off-grid with their family in the wilderness before suffering a tragedy have been featured in a moving new documentary. Nik and Maria Payne lived an isolated life with their four children, home-schooling them in a self-sufficient home in a forest in Norway where they lived off the land. They had no television in their property on a small farm - with the children instead encouraged to chop wood with an axe, raise animals and sell them for pocket money. But Maria died of cancer aged 41 in 2019 - leaving Nik as a single parent to Ulv, three, Falk, six, Freja, nine, and Ronja, 15, Maria's daughter from a previous relationship. Now, their extraordinary life is being featured in an award-winning new documentary film called 'A New Kind of Wilderness' which is coming to UK cinemas from May 16. The 84-minute movie by director Silje Evensmo Jacobsen has already won awards at the Sundance Film Festival, Seattle Film Festival and Budapest Film Festival. A New Kind of Wilderness is out in UK cinemas from May 16
Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Our family lived off-grid in the forest — then Mum died
Sometimes the smallest stories are the most powerful. In 2014 the Norwegian film-maker Silje Jacobsen started work on a film about Nik and Maria Payne, an unassuming British-Norwegian couple who went off grid with their family in the country's wild and woody north: living off the land, home schooling the younger children, escaping the money-go-round and the digital imprisonment that goes with it. It doesn't hurt that the Paynes are photogenic. An early scene shows the family tapping a tree for syrup as sunlight dapples through the forest canopy. There is no television in the house; instead the children are encouraged to raise animals, hug trees (literally) and commune with nature. The whole vision is idyllic. Then it all changes. In 2019 Maria died of
Local Norway
21-03-2025
- Business
- Local Norway
Everything that changes in Norway in April 2025
ETA rules for travel between Norway and the UK From April 2nd, travellers will need an ETA to travel to the UK from Norway, unless they hold and will travel on a British or Irish passport. The ETA is a two-year visa waiver that must be applied for online before your trip, costing £10. It is important to use the official UK government website rather than unofficial third-party providers. READ ALSO: Do British-Norwegian dual nationals need an ETA to travel to the UK Tax return deadline April 30th is a date most people will already have etched into their calendars, the reason being that it's the tax return deadline. If you don't think you'll have time to hand in your tax return by this date, then you can apply for a postponed deadline. Tax returns in Norway come mostly filled out. However, it is up to residents to check that the information received is correct and add any missing information. Some information that isn't included is the commuter deduction for people who travel into work. Meanwhile, those with fixed-rate loans and mortgages may have incorrect deductions for interest paid. As the Norwegian Tax Administration explains on its website, tax returns not submitted by this year's deadline will be considered as having been submitted with the pre-completed information (sent to all taxpayers in Norway in March). Advertisement This means that you may be missing out on potential deductions, which could mean that the tax administration owes you money. It could also mean that you could end up owing the tax administration money as the information in the partially completed form wasn't correct. READ MORE: What happens if you don't file your Norwegian tax return on time? Wage talks head to the national mediator Negotiations on wages for the 'frontline industry' will head to the national mediator at the start of April, after initial talks broke down. If an agreement isn't reached, a general strike could be called from April 2nd. This year's talks are what's referred to as an 'interim settlement'. In short, this means only wage rises, and not general working conditions, are up for discussion. 'Frontline industry' wage talks act as a precursor to other wage negotiations. Unions are pushing for a real wage increase this year , while employer organisations want to ensure that a large chunk of the wage increase this year is negotiated on a business-by-business basis. Advertisement Dog leash rules All dogs will need to be kept on a lead from the start of April. The rules come into effect every year and will apply until August 20th. The rule is to protect both domestic and wild animals during the birthing, nesting and mating seasons. The most likely punishment for being caught breaking the leash law will be a reminder to keep your dog on a lead or a fine. Some parts of Norway may have tighter rules, such as dogs needing to be kept on leads all year round in certain areas. Therefore, it's always worth checking which rules apply to your specific area. Winter tyres will need changing As is the rule of thumb over Norway, winter tyres will need to be removed the first Monday after Easter Monday. We know that's not very helpful or easy to understand, as the rule is more of a brain teaser or riddle than a set date. This year, the key date is April 28th. There are no rules stopping you from using winter tyres past this point, but studded ones will be prohibited. Areas like Oslo may have additional fines or tolls for the use of studded tyres. Those in northern Norway will have until the start of May to change their tyres.
