Latest news with #DukeofEdinburghAward
ITV News
4 days ago
- ITV News
'It broke me' - Devon charity workers devastated after thousands stolen during break-in
Watch Marina Jenkins' report on the burglary A charity manager has been left 'distraught' after her community centre was burgled and vandalised in Paignton. Police are investigating the thefts which took place at the CentrePeace Community Café overnight on 26 and 27 May. Officers are searching for two men who they believe are responsible for stealing £2,000 and causing more than £10,000 worth of damage. CentrePeace offers a range of services, from free workshops, activities and counselling to a charity shop and a café selling affordable meals. Manager Dee Mulhall described the moment she found the devastation: "I walked upstairs and saw what they had done. The place was trashed. It broke me. I was just distraught. "I was mortified that they took money, because we're a charity. Everything we make goes back into supporting the local community. "The worst thing about it is now our regulars have nowhere to go. One man who comes in every single day, just looked at me and said 'where am I supposed to go now?' It's heartbreaking." CentrePeace opened its doors in 2013 and initially supported the homeless community in Paignton. But over the years, it has evolved into a large community hub. 15-year-old Fiona Akter started volunteering at CentrePeace as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award. But because she enjoyed it so much, has continued working for the charity. Fiona said: "It's just so sad. Why would someone do this? It's a charity, a place which helps people every day. "If we don't have good places like this for people to go to, people won't survive. These places are needed." Dee is slowly piecing the community centre back together and has launched a crowdfunder to help pay for the repairs. She hopes CentrePeace will be able to reopen soon, and thanks people for their kindness and offers of donations. A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: "Officers are investigating the burglaries and appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious to contact them. "They would particularly like to hear from anyone who may have captured the incidents or suspects on CCTV or doorbell camera.
The Age
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
A Lib MP, a Labor opponent and an open and shut case of cross-party unity
Here at CBD we are regularly accused of having hearts of concrete. But as if we pay attention to our parents! So regular readers may be surprised that even we cracked a little when we heard this tale of a long-lost childhood memento resurfacing years later – and from across the political divide. Who has reached their middle years without losing something of great emotional value along the shifting pathways of life? Certainly not Jason Wood. The federal Liberal MP for the outer Melbourne seat of La Trobe retained his seat with 52 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote despite a swing of more than 6 per cent to his Labor opponent, Jeff Springfield. Back in 2010, Wood lost an old wooden case made when he was a high school student at Ferntree Gully Technical School. It contained much he held dear: primary school medals; scouting photos; police memorabilia; newspaper clippings from the Ash Wednesday bushfires, when he was a teenager; a photo of Junior, his 85-kilogram Great Dane; his gold Duke of Edinburgh Award; a Christmas card from John Howard; and, most importantly, a treasured photo of his nana. Fast forward 15 years and Wood was reunited with the case days ago. And who returned it? None other than his Labor opponent, Springfield, who rang to concede and told him the item had been handed to him by a Labor supporter. 'We caught up for a brunch. I couldn't stop thanking him. I even gave him a hug. I am not a hugging guy, but I wanted to let him know how appreciative I was,' Wood told CBD, describing the case as having 'all my highlights' that he could now share with his daughter Jasmine.
NZ Herald
22-04-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Whanganui swimmer Paige Conley adds five golds to her collection at age group nationals
Whanganui teammate Zoe Baskett, 13, won bronze in the 200m backstroke at this year's event, with Ryleigh Dorricot, Rachel Pui and Millie Boden-Cave also competing. Paige, Whanganui High School's 2024 Junior Sportswoman of the Year, said coach Richard Gheel had been instrumental in her success. She won the 200m butterfly and 1500m freestyle by a distance but the 400m individual medley 'was definitely a close one'. 'Butterfly is my strongest stroke so I always get out pretty fast,' she said. 'Backstroke and breaststroke aren't so good but I can usually pull it back on the freestyle.' She said it was important to keep up a training routine and, when she was not swimming, she was at the pool helping younger club members. Volunteering at the pool began as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme 'but now I just do it for fun'. 'Basically, I'm there [Splash Centre] every morning and every afternoon,' Paige said. ' The main pool is going to be shut [for two months] but we've still got a 25m pool on the other side. It's just a lot smaller and shallower." Next up was the Wellington Short Course Championships in June, followed by the National Short Course Championships in September, she said. Paige has one more year to add to her NAGS medal tally, with the 16-year age group the last in the competition.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
Driver using WhatsApp killed teen crossing road
A 25-year-old woman has been jailed for five and a half years after hitting a 14-year-old boy who was crossing a road while she was distracted by a messaging app. Christopher Arnett was killed after being hit by a car driven by Evie Wiles in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, on 2 February 2023. Judge Andrew Hatton said Wiles, of Hemel Hempstead, had gone through a red light at a junction and been distracted by a WhatsApp conversation. Wiles, who was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving at a trial earlier this year, has been sentenced at Luton Crown Court. The judge said he rejected Wiles's account that the traffic light was on amber on the evening of the collision. He said Wiles had been exchanging WhatsApp messages with her partner, who she had been travelling to collect. "I'm satisfied you were distracted by your phone and that exchange of messages," the judge said. The boy's mother Claire Arnett, who is a teacher, addressed Wiles in the dock, and said: "You've not once said sorry... you never even called 999." Wiles looked straight ahead as she was sentenced. She was told she could be released on licence after serving half of this. She was banned from driving for five years, with an extension of 30 months "intended to ensure that on your release you're subject to a ban of around five years". Christopher's parents Claire and Lee Arnett, who live in Hemel Hempstead, said in a statement: "Losing a child is painful enough, but the brutal way that Christopher was taken from us will haunt us until our dying breaths." They said they had been "forced" to go through the "trauma of a trial". "We are pleased that she has finally been made to face the consequences of her actions, although we are disappointed by her sentence. "Nothing will ever bring our boy back, but it would have at least given us some comfort if we felt that the punishment fitted the crime." They said Christopher had been an Explorer Scout and was about to start his Duke of Edinburgh Award. "He was in the top set for every subject at school, but more than that he was kind," they said. "Our lives will never be the same again. Our house is no longer a home. "We can't escape the life sentence she has left us with, but if any good can come from this, it is that this will serve as a warning to other drivers of the devastating, life-changing consequences of dangerous driving and using their phones at the wheel." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Boy struck by car while crossing road dies HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
Driver using WhatsApp killed teen crossing road
A 25-year-old woman has been jailed for five and a half years after hitting a 14-year-old boy who was crossing a road while she was distracted by a messaging app. Christopher Arnett was killed after being hit by a car driven by Evie Wiles in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, on 2 February 2023. Judge Andrew Hatton said Wiles, of Hemel Hempstead, had gone through a red light at a junction and been distracted by a WhatsApp conversation. Wiles, who was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving at a trial earlier this year, has been sentenced at Luton Crown Court. The judge said he rejected Wiles's account that the traffic light was on amber on the evening of the collision. He said Wiles had been exchanging WhatsApp messages with her partner, who she had been travelling to collect. "I'm satisfied you were distracted by your phone and that exchange of messages," the judge said. The boy's mother Claire Arnett, who is a teacher, addressed Wiles in the dock, and said: "You've not once said sorry... you never even called 999." Wiles looked straight ahead as she was sentenced. She was told she could be released on licence after serving half of this. She was banned from driving for five years, with an extension of 30 months "intended to ensure that on your release you're subject to a ban of around five years". Christopher's parents Claire and Lee Arnett, who live in Hemel Hempstead, said in a statement: "Losing a child is painful enough, but the brutal way that Christopher was taken from us will haunt us until our dying breaths." They said they had been "forced" to go through the "trauma of a trial". "We are pleased that she has finally been made to face the consequences of her actions, although we are disappointed by her sentence. "Nothing will ever bring our boy back, but it would have at least given us some comfort if we felt that the punishment fitted the crime." They said Christopher had been an Explorer Scout and was about to start his Duke of Edinburgh Award. "He was in the top set for every subject at school, but more than that he was kind," they said. "Our lives will never be the same again. Our house is no longer a home. "We can't escape the life sentence she has left us with, but if any good can come from this, it is that this will serve as a warning to other drivers of the devastating, life-changing consequences of dangerous driving and using their phones at the wheel." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Boy struck by car while crossing road dies HM Courts & Tribunals Service
