Latest news with #JoRust
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Celebration of project supporting more than 300 young adults in West Norfolk
A project supporting more than 300 young adults in West Norfolk has been celebrated. Boost West Norfolk, delivered by Norfolk County Council, held a gathering at St George's Guildhall in King's Lynn on Wednesday. The initiative, which began as a Town Deal project in King's Lynn, has been so successful that it expanded borough-wide last year. It is funded by the Borough Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). It has supported more than 300 young people (Image: Supplied) Councillor Jo Rust, cabinet member for people and communities, said: 'Giving young people throughout the borough access to this support has proved invaluable to over 300 people aged between 16 to 30 years old." Vicky Etheridge, chair of the King's Lynn Town Deal Board, said: "Boost was an important early project for the Towns Fund and it is brilliant to see it continuing for even longer to support and enable even more young people.' The project is funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (Image: Supplied) Jo McKenzie-English, skills partnership project manager from Norfolk County Council, said: "We have seen a huge number of successes over the last three years across West Norfolk and I am delighted to receive further funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund." Teddy O'Neill, who was introduced to Boost in June 2024, said: 'I explained my aspirations to Lisa from the Boost team and asked if she could help me find work experience within the council, she was approachable and very supportive. "I would recommend Boost to any young people with aspirations for skill improvement or more stable employment.' Young people or employers in West Norfolk interested in learning more about Boost can email boost@
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Campaigners want hospital rebuild to start sooner
Campaigners have gathered outside a hospital to urge the government to release the funding needed to rebuild it. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in King's Lynn, Norfolk, has thousands of props holding up ceilings made from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), which are crumbling. Previous assessments of the building have said it needs to be replaced by 2030. The government has confirmed the QEH will be rebuilt but the start date for construction has been pushed back to 2027/28, which means it will not be open until 2032/33. Campaigners want funds for the first stage of the construction project, a multi-storey car park, to be released by Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Jo Rust, from the Save the QEH campaign group, said the delays were worrying. "The longer the hospital is open the more expensive it is to run and surely that can't be good for anybody. "The car park has to be put up first because the new hospital will be built on the footprint of the current car park. The new hospital cannot commence until the current car park is free." In a statement, the Department of Health and Social Care said: "The New Hospital Programme we inherited was undeliverable, with funding due to run out in March 2025. "This government has confirmed a funding plan and realistic timetable to put us on track to deliver the rebuild of Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and we will work closely with trusts to accelerate progress where possible." Bharti Patel, from the Save the QEH Campaign, was concerned about the impact on patient care. "It's a service that's in the community, it's cradle to grave, everyone needs a hospital. It's not something that you choose, it's something that you need. "The community at the moment is hearing about these delays. It makes you fear it is not going to happen." James Wild, the Conservative MP for North West Norfolk, which includes the hospital, said: "Essentially we've had seven months where the new government hasn't made any decisions to help bring our new hospital forward. "I warned at the election that Labour would not deliver to 2030 and now, unfortunately, that's what looks like what could happen." A spokesperson for the health trust that runs the QEH said: "We are progressing through the design and business programme required for a government-funded project of this size. "Currently we expect work to commence on the car park in mid-2025. The car park will be built in one phase and take one year to complete". Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Start of construction to rebuild hospital delayed Cash-strapped hospital shuts 63 beds to save £5.5m Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn
