Latest news with #SuffolkCountyCouncil
BBC News
20 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Ipswich woman's mental health app for youngsters
A woman who saw a gap in mental health provisions for children is set to launch a new app to support youngsters. Vivian Tanaka was born in Zimbabwe before moving to Braintree, Essex, and later to Ipswich, university she began working in schools where she noticed children often struggled to seek mental health support and did not have a platform to share their by her experiences, she developed the Kamelion app, which has already been supported by Suffolk County Council on behalf of several schools. Ms Tanaka was previously headhunted to work on an emotional wellbeing project in Suffolk schools commissioned by the Clinical Commissioning Group. She also later set up her own business to offer wellbeing programmes for young all this she said she saw children often could not easily access mental health help. "I saw a gap with young people and the one thing they were missing was the relationship that they had with themselves," she explained."We're so used to focusing on how do I make other people happy? How do I please other people?"But sometimes we forget about the relationship that we have with ourselves and we spend 24/7 with ourselves." 'Help and support' Ms Tanaka came up with an app idea to provide a space where children can explore how they are feeling. Her app, which has been backed by a private investor, launches on 1 July. She worked with young people across Suffolk to develop it and it allows children to track and journal their feelings, it has interactive learning resources and users are rewarded with coins they can redeem via retailer Tanaka said the county council had already purchased licences on behalf of some schools, meaning a minimum of 2,000 children will have access to it once it goes live."It's cheaper for schools and cheaper for authorities, it saves money," she added."It saves money for public health services as we know the NHS is overwhelmed."I thought if we become that gap between schools, education and healthcare, young people can learn to help and support themselves." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Ipswich County Hall fails to sell at auction for a second time
A Grade II listed building that once served as a prison, court and council headquarters has failed to sell at auction for a second time. Ipswich County Hall on St Helen's Street was previously up for auction through Savills on 13 May with a reserve price of £895,000, but no successful bids were up again during an auction that started on Wednesday morning, the bidding did not meet the reserve of £750,000, although a bid of £745,000 was Hall was where the divorce of Wallis Simpson was granted in 1936 before her marriage to the then King Edward VIII. The Tudor-style building came with planning permission to convert the site into 40 new year, Ipswich Borough Council members voted to approve these Hall dates back to 1837 and originally served as a prison and law court before becoming a council building from later it became the home of Suffolk County Council after its formation in 2004, the council moved its 1,300 staff to new headquarters and the site has remained vacant ever since. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Mendlesham White Elm solar farm put on pause 'indefinitely'
Plans for a new, large solar farm have been put on pause "indefinitely" by its project team. The 675-acre (275-hectare) plot of land near Mendlesham in Suffolk was earmarked for the White Elm project by Spanish firm Elmya RPC Grange Road Limited.A consultation began on Monday for several communities and was expected to run until 30 a statement on its project website, the firm said it had "taken a decision to pause development of the project indefinitely". The White Elm site, which also surrounds Wickham Skeith and Thwaite, sits five miles (8km) south of another proposed solar farm in Suffolk County Council said it would object to the proposal if high quality farmland was which was expected to submit its scheme to the local planning authority in 2026, had said the project would power more than 40,000 homes. Labour's Energy Secretary Ed Miliband was expected to have the final say on the Elm Solar Farm's statement added: "Please note that the ongoing non-statutory consultation has been cancelled with immediate effect."This includes the two public consultation events on Saturday 31st May and Wednesday 4th June." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Suffolk's first full-time female firefighter bows out after 30 years
Suffolk's first ever full-time female firefighter is retiring after three decades of serving the county and crashing through glass ceilings along the way. 'Trust in your ability to lead' – these are the words of Sally Hammond, who is extinguishing her final flames today after three decades serving the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. 'I have thoroughly enjoyed working for the fire and rescue service and feel honoured to have served the people of Suffolk,' said Ms Hammond. 'I will be leaving with my head held high, knowing I've achieved what I set out to in my career.' Sally Hammond pictured when she entered the service in 1994. (Image: Suffolk County Council) Ms Hammond, who is the group manager and head of protection for SFRS, became the service's first ever full-time female firefighter when she joined the force in 1995. However, she has been making strides on behalf of women everywhere for far longer. In 1994, she became the first woman in the Institution of Fire Engineers' history to receive the Godiva award for the top UK candidate in the graduates' examination. She was also a founding member of Suffolk Women in Fire Together (SWIFT), a network open to all members of SFRS who are interested in supporting their female colleagues. Ms Hammond was also the service's women's representative for the Fire Brigade Union. More recently in 2022, she became one of only five firefighting personnel in England and Wales to have been awarded the Queen's Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service in the New Year's Honours – an achievement she regards as her proudest moment. Sally Hammond pictured in 2022, when she became one of only five firefighting personnel in England and Wales to have been awarded the Queen's Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service in the New Year's Honours. (Image: Suffolk County Council) Sally pictured with her two sons. (Image: Suffolk County Council) Sally encouraged other women considering entering the service to believe in their abilities. (Image: Suffolk County Council) 'Having more women across all areas of the Service, especially in middle and senior management, helps ensure our policies and procedures support fairness and equity across the workforce,' said Ms Hammond. 'This helps create a stronger, more inclusive organisation for everyone. 'To the women already in the service, and those considering joining, my message is this - take the opportunities when they come; invest in your development, go for promotion, and trust in your ability to lead.' After 30 years of putting out fires around Suffolk, Ms Hammond has decided that it is finally time to retire. Her colleagues said that she will certainly be missed. SFRS' Chief Fire Officer, Jon Lacey, said: 'Sally is a highly respected and extremely capable firefighter with a real passion for the job and a steadfast dedication towards the wellbeing of others, which is not only reflected in her career choice but in her many fundraising endeavours. 'She will be greatly missed across the service, but we wish her every happiness as she enters retirement – although knowing Sally, I'm very doubtful it will involve much down time!' In addition to her role as a firefighter, Ms Hammond regularly plays the saxophone as a member of the Ipswich Hospital Band to raise money for numerous health-related charities and has been instrumental in a range of fundraising efforts throughout her career with SFRS. Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Public Protection, also offered Ms Hammond his congratulations. He said: 'I extend my heartfelt congratulations and thanks to Sally as she retires. She has proactively supported women in the Service and in doing so, has unwittingly become a role model for many younger females within SFRS. 'I wish her many years of happiness following an exemplary and inspiring career.' Ms Hammond will be taking the whole of the summer off to spend quality time with her family. In the future, she hopes to work in a supportive role with underrepresented groups in the community - preferably in the workplace, so she can make use of the skills and experience she has gained throughout her career with SFRS.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Listed County Hall fails to sell at auction
A historic building in the heart of a town that has laid empty for more than 20 years has failed to sell at auction. Ipswich County Hall - a Grade II listed site where the divorce of Wallis Simpson was granted in 1936 ahead of her marriage to the then King Edward VIII - was not sold during the online event. The Tudor-style building had a reserve price of £895,000 and came with planning permission to convert it into 40 flats. However, no successful bids were placed at the remote auction, which started at 09:00 BST and was conducted by Savills. Dating back to 1837, County Hall in St Helen's Street has been a prison, a courthouse and the headquarters of Suffolk County Council. The local authority moved its 1,300 staff to nearby Russell Road in 2004 and it has remained empty ever since, falling into a state of disrepair. Last year, Ipswich Borough Council members voted to approve plans to convert the hall into flats. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. County Hall's rise and fall as site up for auction Plans to turn County Hall into flats approved Former county hall could become 40 flats Wallis Simpson 'divorce court' to become flats 'Urgent repairs' needed to save historic county HQ New homes plan for derelict County Hall
