Campaign to get graduates to work abroad launched by government

Working in local government? Worried your job is at risk thanks to ConDem cuts in public spending?

Well, there's good news - rather than spend money on creating or maintaining jobs for people in work here, instead, the Government is spending money encouraging you to go and be a civil servant in Europe!

No, really. Just as Lancashire County Council (among others) announced its proposals for swingeing public service job cuts (see news story), the ConDem government is funding a campaign to boost employment in another country.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office launches its EU Careers Month today, as part of its campaign to encourage the UK's graduates to apply for jobs in the EU Civil Service - in partnership with the Daily Telegraph.


The EU Civil Service consists of citizens from the EU member states working across all the institutions such as the European Parliament, the Commission and the Court of Justice.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office says the campaign will include a raft of online information to raise awareness about what working in the EU involves and how to get through the selection process, with ready access to blogs, videos and case studies of British staff working in Brussels.

They'll also learn why some graduates have decided to leave their jobs in the UK to embark on a career in the EU Civil Service. The campaign aims to highlight the excellent job opportunities available for Britain's brightest graduates with French or German language skills.

"I'm backing this campaign for UK graduates to look at the EU's Civil Service as a career destination," says the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, William Hague. "It could give you the chance to help the countries of Europe shape the European Union's future direction. If you're concerned about big policy issues, want to learn about international negotiations or fascinated by European cultures and languages, you may find the job you're looking for with the EU."

"This campaign aims to increase the number of UK graduates applying for the next round of the EU Civil Service's recruitment competition, added Minister for Europe David Lidington. "The UK only makes up 6% of the EU's workforce despite representing 12% of the EU's population. In last year's recruitment competition - the assessment taken by graduates to secure a job in one of the EU institutions - the UK produced the lowest number of applicants of all EU member states. I'd encourage anyone who is interested in an EU career to visit the online campaign at: telegraph.co.uk/eucareers"

A recent Foreign and Commonwealth Office survey of 2,200 university students showed that undergraduates at UK universities don't know enough about the employment opportunities within the EU civil service. It showed that although just over half of the respondents wanted to work for an international organisation, 81% of them had never heard of the EU recruitment competition or official assessment process.

Having British people in the EU civil service helps facilitate understanding of UK culture when the legislative proposals are drafted.

So there you go then. No jobs here in public service, but Brussels? What are you waiting for?

• For further information on EU Careers Month see www.telegraph.co.uk/eucareers 

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Appeal after theft of RAF models and war memorabilia in Lancaster burglary

Police are appealing for information after a burglary at a house in Lancaster in January.

The burglary happened between 9.30 and 11.30pm on Thursday 13th January at the house on Mearbeck Place.

It is believed that the offender or offenders have broken in though the front door of the property while the owner of the property was out. On gaining entry to the property, they have ransacked the house before leaving the house with a significant amount of property.

Included in the list of items they have taken are toolboxes, eight power tools, dye cast aeroplane models, wartime aircraft memorabilia and a camera which in total comes to over £1,500.

DC Ian Wright of Lancaster CID said, “Some of the models taken are RAF 106 squadron memorabilia and they are of great sentimental value to the victim and so we are really keen to try and locate any of the items.

“Some of the power tools were later found in an alleyway between Crossgill Place and Dee Road and I would appeal for anyone in that area who may have seen anything or anyone at all suspicious in either the area around Mearbeck Place or the alleyway to come forward and contact police.”

• Anyone with information can contact police on 01524 63333 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Lancashire Police seek public views on spending cuts

Lancashire Police is inviting residents in the county to have their say on policing ahead of proposed spending cuts.


Lancashire Constabulary’s current annual budget is £300 million and it employs around 6,500 people (3,500 police officers and 2,500 police staff). but the force has to find savings of around £43.75m over the next four years, something it hopes to do whilst limiting the impact on the front line and quality of service provided to residents.

The Constabulary has already identified savings through its Sustaining Excellence programme of over £14million, largely through reductions to non front line services and is now considering options to find the remaining money.

Already in the firing line are Community Support Officers across the County - although some local authorities have stepped up to the plate and found money to continue these roles (see news story) after a huge public outcry and dismay from MPs on both sides of the House of Commons, including Morecambe MP David Morris and Lancaster's Green councillors.

Residents will be able to give their views on neighbourhood policing, response police and their preferred way of contacting the police by logging on to www.lancashire.police.uk and completing a short survey (direct link: www.lancashire.police.uk/public-questionnaire).

The type of questions they will be asked to answer include, how they would prefer to report crime, how they think calls to the police should be prioritised and whether they think the Constabulary could make it easier for people to talk to them about non emergency matters.

People will also be asked about their knowledge of neighbourhood policing, including how they would prefer to have their say on policing priorities and where they think cuts could be made to neighbourhood teams, if that becomes necessary.

Commenting on the move, Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said: “British policing is based on the premise that it’s a partnership between the people and the police and that’s certainly something we focus on here in Lancashire.

“As the police service faces up to the spending cuts of the next few years, we feel it is vital that the public are part of the solution to those problems.

“Over the coming months, we will have some tough decisions to make about the shape of local policing and the public's input into that decision making is vital. That’s why we are keen for people to complete the survey and have their say.

”We are committed to working with the public to ensure that the Constabulary continues to be known as a high performing force – one that reduces and detects crime, protects people and delivers high quality services – despite the tough financial situation," he added. "Clearly we already have some ideas of how we might achieve that but really would welcome the views of local people before we move forward.

”It is important that we ask ourselves and the public some challenging questions and that we rule nothing out, albeit our main priority is to protect the front line wherever possible.”

Malcolm Doherty, Chair of the Police Authority, said that it was important that people had the opportunity to have their say on local policing delivery, particularly as the funding cuts begin to bite.  He said:  “People’s views are invaluable. We need to know what people feel about the way in which police services are delivered so that we can make the best possible decisions for the people of Lancashire in the future.”

Urging people to take a few minutes to complete the survey, he added:  “There are undoubtedly some difficult decisions to be made and we want to make sure that we take the views of our communities into account.  It doesn’t take long to complete the survey, which is very easy to do, and it is only right that the public have a voice in the decision making process.”

• The survey is available at www.lancashire.police.uk/public-questionnaire  for two weeks until Monday 21 February.

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Garstang burglary evofits released - thieves who attacked with a pick hammer sought

Police have released evofits of two men they want to speak with following an attempt aggravated burglary in Garstang last week (Wednesday 26th January).

The incident happened around 9.15pm at a residential address on Dimples Lane when two offenders have gained access through a side door.

The men have entered the lounge where the family were sat watching television. One of the men has grabbed the 60-year-old male occupant around his throat and threatened him with a pick hammer demanding money, but the victim  fought back and challenged the offenders, who have then fled empty handed.

Fortunately the man and his teenage daughter were not injured during the incident but they were left badly shaken.

The first man is described as white, around 25 years old, slim build with a round face and shaved head and stubble.

The second man is described as being Asian, medium build with dark eyebrows which appear to be cut short. He was wearing a dark hooded top with a hood up covering both sides of his face.

“This was a violent and targeted attack on a family in their own home," commented Detective Inspector Alex Myers from Wyre CID, "and we need the public’s help to catch the men responsible.

“A full search of the area was made on the night, house to house enquires have been completed and an investigation is on-going.

“I would urge people to take a close look at the evofits and if anyone recognises them or is able to put a name to the pictures I would urge them to call us.”

• Anyone with any information can contact police on 08451 25 35 45 or can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Protests Planned as County Council to Vote on Service-Slashing Budget

Protests are planned throughout Lancashire as Lancashire County Council faces a vote on plans to cut £179.1m from its budget over the next three years.

According to their budget proposals, which you can view on the LCC website here (PDF download) the brunt of the pain is to be born by the Social Services. Care Services to elderly and disabled people are already feeling the impact, as 'moderate' care needs, cleaning, cooking and shopping, are no longer part of the LCC assessment, leaving only personal, physical care and frozen dinners.

Care agencies are reeling from the loss of clients, as many frail, elderly people can simply not afford paid help out of shrinking pensions.

Virtual-Lancaster has been informed that disabled people with medical conditions may find their care needs reclassified as ‘health care needs’ and some are having services withdrawn and being referred over to the NHS for assessment with a view to negotiating a new NHS package of care. It’s a way of moving the strain onto the NHS budget.

Children & Young People’s Services are being cut back, and subsidised bus routes dropped. Both central and local government funding for voluntary agencies and charities is affected with the Citizens Advice Bureau facing a potential loss of 45% of its funding – a disaster for an organisation which is already overstretched as demand grows for its services to people in financial crisis. One Voice has lost its disabled hub premises at Cornerstones off Dalton Square and is now resettling into St Leonard’s House.

On Thursday 17 February the full Lancashire County Council meets at 1.00pm in Preston to decide whether to approve the cuts as laid out in the plans, for a £71.7m saving in 2011-12, followed by a further £50m in 2012-13 and another £57.4m in 2013-14 - a total of £179.1m over the next three years. Protesters will rally at County Hall at noon.

An all-Lancashire protest against these proposals is to take place in Preston Flag Market at noon on Saturday 12 February. Lancashire is one of the counties hardest hit by the coalition government cuts in funding to Local Authorities. Critics claim that the Conservative majority on the County Council are too accepting of the Conservative-led government’s distaste for channelling public money towards people outside their millionaires' circle of overpaid tax-dodgers.

• Visit the Lancaster & Morecambe Against the Cuts facebook group.

This article is a balancing article to News International.

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Past meets present at Morecambe's Platform

Fun at the fair in wartime
Morecambe. Photo courtesy
Lancaster City Council

Lancaster City and Maritime Museums have been delving into their archives and stores to put together a brand new display at the Platform, Morecambe.

"Come to Morecambe!" celebrates the town's development and heyday as a holiday resort. It highlights how the coming of the railways changed Morecambe forever and shares some of the memories of Morecambe's famous entertainment scene.

The two displays are situated in the entrance foyer and the main hall and museum staff are hoping a little of Morecambe's unique history will reach new audiences who are passing by to use the visitor information centre or attend an event at the Platform.

The project is one of a number of initiatives being developed by Lancashire County Museum Service and Lancaster City Council to share museum collections around the district and give local people greater access to objects held in the museum stores.

A similar display can be found at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre which is updated throughout the year.

“I'm very pleased that we are able get some items out of the collection and on show at the Platform," says Museums Area Manager Paul Thompson. "It's also great to tell a little of Morecambe's fascinating history.

“Morecambe born and bred I think it a privilege to promote the town’s past, present and future.”

"These attractive displays and photographs from Morecambe’s halcyon days have not only enhanced this Edwardian building," feels Lancaster City Council Platform Manager Mary Lucas, "but have been met with such positive comments and smiles from both the young and the not so young.”

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Take advantage of introductory trader rates at Morecambe’s Festival Market

Ever fancied running your own business but don’t know where to start? Why not take advantage of the special introductory trader rates on offer next month at Morecambe’s Festival Market.

This exciting opportunity awaits anyone wishing to expand or re-locate an existing business or those looking to start a new venture in a traditional, bustling and popular market. To qualify for the special rates on offer, which aim to attract new types of stalls to the market, traders should be offering commodities from the following list:

Branded sportswear, denim wear, ladies OS wear, foam products, gold and silver jewellery, health foods, cycles and accessories, fishmongers, cobblers, tableware, motor accessories, lighting, fashion footwear, toys, army surplus/camping, dry hairdresser, dressmaking services/fabric and decorating products (wallpaper/paint).

Morecambe Festival Market is a traditional covered market close to Morecambe Promenade offering over 100 stalls, shops and cafes. It is open on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays throughout the year.

During March there will also be a number of events to attract customers to the market including discounts for pensioners and a ‘Where’s Eric’ competition. An Easter Eggstravaganza is also planned for April.

Alan Greenhalgh, who has been a trader on the market since it opened in 1996, said: “The benefit of the market is that some people come to shop, others for a day out - but are impressed enough to come back and tell their friends. If you join the traders in the market you won’t make a million overnight, it takes time and commitment to get your rewards but I, like many others, have never regretted being here”.

For more details, please contact the Market Manager Tracey Bruce on 01524 414251, email tbruce@lancaster.gov.uk or visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/markets

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All knotted up at the Storey for Chinese New Year!

Memento by Ed Pien. Image courtesy Storey Gallery on Flickr

Memento, an exhibition by Taiwanese-born artist Ed Pien opens at the Storey Gallery this week (5th February).

Commissioned by the Chinese Arts Centre in Manchester, Memento is a contribution to Lancaster's Chinese New Year Festival. It's a walk-through environment created from knotted ropes, paper-cut silhouettes, video projections, rotating mirrors, sand-bags, shadows, and sound. In the dim light, the visitor plunges into another world, navigating their way amidst the shadows beneath a rope net canopy, while projected images spin around the gallery walls.

Artist Ed Pien, who has has exhibited internationally and will talk about the exhibition at an event this week at the Gallery, was born in Taiwan and lives in Canada. The exhibition was developed from his research into the plight of illegal immigrants who take great risks in the hope of achieving a better life.

These people often have to live ‘ghost-like’, hidden from society, such as the Chinese cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay and the ‘Faujis’ from India living in the UK without identities, and the thousands of North Africans who try to cross the Mediterranean in small boats, some of whom perish on the way.

• Memento opens Tuesday-Saturday 11am-5pm;  late night Thursdays 11am-8.30pm, from 5 February – 2 April 2011, the Storey Gallery,  Storey Institute, Meeting House Lane, Lancaster LA1 1TH. Telephone 01524 844133. Web: www.storeygallery.org.uk

• Ed Pien will talk about his work at 7.30pm on Friday 4th February at the Gallery. Tickets: £3, booking recommended via bookings@storeygallery.org.uk or telephone 01524 844133

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Lancaster University hosts special seminar on Egypt

A special seminar on events in Egypt will be held by the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion (PPR) at Lancaster University this week to discuss the important recent and ongoing events in Egypt. 

Chaired by Professr Chakrvarthi Ram-Prasad, speakers include Shuruq Naguib, a lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies at Lancaster University, and Amalendu Misra, a senior lecturer at the Univeristy's Richardson Institute.



Amalendu's  current research includes the interrogation of violence in the political process.

• Special Seminar. Revolution Today: Egypt and the Arab World takes place on  Friday 4th February 2011 in Bowland North Seminar Room 6 (North Spine) at Lancaster University, 5.30pm-7.00pm. All Welcome

• For further details contact Shuruq Naguib (shuruqnaguibATlancaster.ac.uk) or Amalendu Misra (misraATexchange.lancs.ac.uk)

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Council seeks views on new Morecambe Action Plan

Lancaster City Council is asking for your help in planning a new heart for Morecambe.

Over the last year, the council has been talking to local people and now has a much better understanding of what they think about the centre of Morecambe and how it looks, feels and works. Unsurprisingly, people want Morecambe to improve, which means attracting more people and activity to the “heart” of Morecambe by making the town centre work better.

“It’s vital that we establish the right conditions and opportunities to encourage people and businesses to invest in Morecambe," feels Coun Abbott Bryning, Cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration, "in order to make it a better place to trade in, to live and work in and to visit.”

The council has prepared a topic paper explaining the issues, and is inviting local people to submit their views and suggestions about what you think should go into the Morecambe Area Action Plan.

The input of local people and organisations will help the council prepare options for the content of the plan. A full options consultation will then follow later in the year.

Anyone interested in having a say can also take part in two daytime presentation and discussion sessions at which you are invited to join officers to discuss any issues.

These will take place at The Platform, Morecambe on Monday 28th February (2pm – 4pm) and Thursday 3rd March, (10am – 12pm). To book a place on one of the above sessions or for a copy of the topic paper, email morecambeaap@lancaster.gov.uk or phone (01524) 582375 or 582362 before Friday 25th February 2011.

Anybody wanting to talk to a council officer about the action plan can call in at Morecambe Town Hall during office hours (9am to 5pm).

• Topic Paper 2: Developing Options is available to download from www.lancaster.gov.uk.morecambeaap which also contains more information on the ways in which you can respond. The closing date for responses is Friday, 18th March 2011

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Council warn on bogus charity collections

Two men suspected of posing as door-to-door charity bag collectors were stopped in a joint operation between licensing enforcement officers from Lancaster City Council and the police.

Officers stopped a van being driven by the men on Morecambe Road on Friday morning at a routine checkpoint.

Inside the van were around 100 bags of clothing which had been donated by local residents, believing they were going to charity.

Checks revealed that the men were operating without a licence from Lancaster City Council, and as a result the bags were seized and given to local charity St John’s Hospice.

The association of charity shops estimates that charities lose between £2.5 million and £3 million a year through theft and people giving clothing to organisations which they think are charities but may be commercial companies collecting for profit. Other research puts the problem much higher, at £14 million a year.

“Bogus charity collections are very damaging to the many legitimate charities who operate throughout the UK in collecting clothing and other items for good causes," notes Coun Tony Wade, chairman of Lancaster City Council’s licensing regulatory committee. “The  message from us is clear - please don’t be taken in and make sure you know who your donation is going to.

“Read the small print and make sure the name of the charity is specified and if so that it's one that you know about.

“Genuine house to house collectors are licensed and you can contact the council on 01524 582033 to check them out."

House-to-house collections are regulated by the House to House Collections Act 1939, and the gorvernment appears to be making time to address the issue of bogus charity collectors after Conservative MP for Chatham Tracy Crouch successfully gained a debate in the House of the Commons on the subject last October.  (The transcript of the debate can be found here).

All house to house collections for a charitable purpose in the Lancaster district must be licensed by Lancaster City Council, and the collectors authorised by the promoter.

Although some of the leaflets and bags requesting donations of clothes and goods are from genuine registered charities, some of these leaflets come from anonymous commercial companies.  Often these leaflets are worded in such a way that encourages people to assume that the items collected are for charity.

As a result of the debate by MPs last year,  the government has begun a review of the Charities Act 2006, the main legislative document relating to charities, which MP Tracy Crouch argues is essential to providing the legal base on which the thieves can be prosecuted.

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Residents Car Parking launches in Regent Street, Dallas Road area

New residents’ parking schemes came into force in the Dallas Road, Regent Street and Brook Street areas of Lancaster area today (1st February), leaving previously clogged up streets clear of cars.

"Regent Street is almost totally empty," one resident told virtual-lancaster. "It's weird and very quiet."

The Council introduced the scheme after numerous problems caused by commuter parking, which included, on one occasion, a fire engine crew having to 'bump' cars to respond to an emergency call.


Schemes are being brought in at the following streets: Blades Street, Dallas Road (part), Ushers Meadow, Villas Court, Wheatfield Street (Zone F); Aldcliffe Road, Lindow Street, Dallas Road (part), Portland Street, Lindow Square, Regent Street (Zone H); and Aldcliffe Road, Cromwell Road, Brook Street, Regent Street, Carr House Lane (Zone I).

The schemes are a partnership between Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council and mean that only residents with a valid permit, and their visitors, will be eligible to park in the areas.

Permit holders from zones F, H and I can also park free of charge in Dallas Road car park before 8am and after 4pm Monday to Friday, before 10am and after 4pm on Saturdays and all day Sunday.

“The city council has received reports from residents living in these areas that they were experiencing difficulties in parking their vehicles close to their homes due to commuters and shoppers parking there for long periods over a number of years,” commented Coun Stuart Langhorn, leader of Lancaster City Council.

The restrictions met with much opposition during the planning stages but, quick to adjust to the new restrictions, we understand many commuters are now parking on the free stretch of Aldcliffe Road alongside the canal after Haverbreaks Bridge.

• More information on residents’ parking schemes in the Lancaster district can be found at www.lancaster.gov.uk/parking.

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Police appeal after woman assaulted trying to break up a fight

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a woman was assaulted as she tried to break up a fight on Pitt Street earlier this month.

The incident took place around 1.15 am on Saturday 22nd January when the 18-year-old Morecambe woman and her boyfriend were followed out of Ikys takeaway by a white man in his 20s.

He started a fight with her boyfriend and she was pushed over and kicked as she intervened.

The woman was helped to her feet by three young men and police are keen to speak with these men as witnesses.

She was taken to the Royal Lancashire Infirmary where she received treatment for cuts and bruises.

“I would appeal to anyone that witnessed this incident to contact police," urged PC Phil Salliss. "In particular, I would like to speak with the three young men, possibly students who helped the victim to her feet as they could be key witnesses.”

• Anyone with any information can contact police on 08451 25 35 45 or can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

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Seatbelt crackdown as part of Operation Pathway

Drivers and passengers are being reminded to ‘belt up’ – or risk putting their lives in danger – ahead of a crackdown on the correct use of seatbelts.

Throughout February, police officers across Lancashire will be carrying out roadside checks on motorists to make sure they are wearing seatbelts. 

“It's evident from our observations and injuries suffered in crashes that too many people still don’t wear their seatbelts," says Road Policing Inspector Martin Bishop. “It’s an offence that is viewed as trivial to many.

"However, in that moment when you need it, a seatbelt will make the difference between suffering a minor injury to one that is life-threatening or life changing.

“We hope that people will listen to this message and help us to reduce the seriousness of injuries suffered unnecessarily.”

The fine for not wearing a seatbelt is £60.

The activity comes as part of Operation Pathway, a Force-wide campaign that sees high profile action days on the county’s roads aimed at saving lives and protecting people.

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