Latest news with #HufftyMcHugh
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
David Olusoga to receive Newcastle University honorary degree
TV historian David Olusoga is to receive an honorary degree this University will make the social historian, from Gateshead, an Honorary Doctor of Civil won a TV Bafta for his documentary Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners in 2016 and received the Bafta Special Award in 2023 for his impact on the TV industry and wider society. He was awarded an OBE in Huffty McHugh from Newcastle's West End Women and Girl's Centre would be honoured as well for her lifelong commitment to gender equality and social change, the university said. She will also become an Honorary Doctor of Civil notable figures being honoured include Professor Richard Oreffo, founder of the Cowrie Scholarship Foundation which supports 100 financially disadvantaged Black British students. Leon Restaurants co-founder Henry Dimbleby will be made an Honorary Doctor of Science following his work advising the government on food policy and highlighting the challenges it Walker, the former chief executive of Sage Group plc and Newcastle University's Chair of Council from August 2017 to July 2024, will also be Chris Day, vice-chancellor and president of Newcastle University, said it was "an honour to welcome such esteemed figures to our campus and to celebrate their outstanding contributions to society". Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
29-01-2025
- General
- BBC News
Newcastle women's charity's lockdown farm success in Northumberland
Thousands of women and girls have visited a farm set up after families became isolated during the Covid pandemic lockdowns. The West End Women and Girls Centre, in Elswick, Newcastle, set up the Fallowlees Farm project in Northumberland in December 2021. It is the first National Trust farm to be leased to a charity and offers women the chance to grow crops, raise animals and experience manager Jill Heslop said food produced "goes back to the centre and we give it for free to women and their families, which is lush". She said the project had uncovered many "would-be farmers" who would not otherwise have ventured outside the city."We get women and girls here and then we feed the West End," she said. The group has secured a long-term lease and as well as planting crops, it has also bought animals. TV personality co-ordinator at the West End Women and Girls Centre, Huffty McHugh, delivered soup to people in the Elswick area during the pandemic and found "families of six cramped into two bedroom places with no garden".The team had a "mad idea" to try and find a farm for the group to use, she said. "It's about knowledge and learning, it's about freedom and it's about fresh air."But also women can come and maybe they are having a hard time, maybe they are feeling isolated, maybe they have issues around mental health, they don't have to do anything, they can come and sit by the fire." The project has helped about 4,000 women and Elswick mum, Sophie Murtha, said it allowed her to see parts of the country she would not have otherwise seen."It's really good to socialise and learn new things," she said the fresh air had helped to make her feel happier rather than "being trapped in the city all the time". Ms McHugh said the centre began in 1981 as a challenge to male-dominated clubs."At the time, there were loads of youth clubs but they were like mini-working men's clubs," she said."There was nowt for the lasses. "So the local community mams, community activists, we set up a night for the girls." Since then, the centre has continued to offer a safe place and free support, providing free services such as benefits advice and help with mental group said there was a big focus on fostering a sense of togetherness and belonging in the culturally diverse neighbourhood. Shiren Abdullah moved to Elswick 15 years ago from first she experienced hostility from some in the community, who told her to "go back home", she "no English and no family" Shiren said she felt alone until she found the she works as the charity's community gardener and cooking teacher and described the women as her "second family". Farming sessions run weekly at Fallowlees and workshops for girls take place during summer holidays.
