News
Durham 12-year-old secures spot at martial arts world championships
7+ hour, 29+ min ago (587+ words) A 12-year-old Durham martial artist has earned a place on the world stage after impressing at a national competition. Annabel Cooper will represent Team England at the WKA 50th Anniversary World Championships in Delaware in October. The Durham High School pupil…...
Scotland becomes first part of UK to screen babies for rare muscle disease
4+ week, 1+ day ago (723+ words) Scotland has become the first part of the UK to screen babies for a rare condition that causes progressive muscle wastage in a move parents have described as a "game-changer. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) can result in muscle weakness, breathing…...
Two-child cap lift welcomed in North East as 'powerful' way to tackle child poverty
2+ week, 15+ hour ago (618+ words) A North East leader has welcomed the lifting of the two-child benefit cap on Easter Monday, heralding it as a "powerful" way to tackle child poverty in the region. An estimated 450, 000 children will be lifted out of poverty as a…...
'They gave me a family" - Ex-foster child inspires others to offer a loving home
2+ week, 13+ hour ago (474+ words) After growing up in care, Ashley Smith knows better than most the impact a loving home can have. Now 23, the North Yorkshire man is urging families to open their doors to children who need the same warmth, stability and belonging…...
County Durham tot's lifesaving cancer treatment abroad delayed after medical setback
2+ week, 4+ day ago (776+ words) A County Durham family's hopes of travelling abroad for potentially lifesaving cancer treatment for their little boy have been put on hold after a sudden setback. Five-year-old Benny Bahmanizad, from High Shincliffe, had been due to fly to Rome at…...
Nursery's heartfelt donation brightens stays for children in Durham hospital
3+ week, 1+ day ago (412+ words) A County Durham nursery has made a heartfelt donation to a children's hospital ward. Happy Smiles Nursery in Consett donated four televisions and two Toniebox audio players to Treetops Ward at University Hospital of North Durham. The donation aims to…...
One in three children in the North East are growing up in poverty, new data shows
3+ week, 4+ day ago (590+ words) One in three children across the North East are growing up in poverty, new data has revealed. The figures, released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on Thursday (March 26) show almost all local authorities in the region are…...
Echo initiative could help build stronger links between colleges and careers
1+ mon, 4+ day ago (488+ words) The Northern Echo's business arm, BUSINESSi Q, is trialling a mentoring scheme to help build stronger links between colleges and careers. Working initially with partners in its Impact campaign, businesses will meet students to give an exclusive insight into their…...
North East graduate with "60k of student debt says system 'feels like a scam"
1+ mon, 4+ day ago (707+ words) A graduate has described the student loan system as feeling like a "scam" after discovering her balance is still more than doubling despite paying thousands towards it each year. Reef Pearson, 27, graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2019 with a…...
North East child poverty scheme praised for progress in supporting families
1+ mon, 5+ day ago (483+ words) An effort to reduce child poverty across a North East borough is making "good progress", a report has revealed. The scheme in Stockton is part of a wider anti-poverty strategy running from 2024 to 2027 and recently delivered a series of targeted…...