Latest news with #Billingham
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Shropshire RAF veteran urges people to seek early help for PTSD
An RAF veteran is urging people to seek help for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as early as White served in Afghanistan in 2011 as a communications engineer, and part of his role involved monitoring video and images of dead soldiers and 38-year-old said he was "effectively watching people lose their lives in horrific ways", and left the armed forces in 2017 after a diagnosis of PTSD and White, who lives in Newport in Shropshire, said it was "quite common" for people not to get help for the mental health condition until "decades" after. Originally from Billingham in Teesside, Mr White joined the RAF in returning to the UK following service in Afghanistan, he said he "was feeling incredibly low, I was angry, I was losing sleep, I was having horrific memories of what had happened"."It kind of ruined a lot of different aspects of my life." Mr White said when he became a father in 2021, he found it "really difficult.""When my son cried and screamed as kids will do, that would cause me to have flashbacks and see things from my past that were really troubling and upsetting," he said."There were times where I came quite close to not being here anymore." According to charity Combat Stress, which provides treatment and support for UK veterans, on average it takes people 13 years between leaving the armed forces and seeking their help for mental health issues. The mental health organisation said the majority of those they helped were veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Mr White is also keen to emphasise that it is not just an issue facing veterans, describing PTSD as "quite insidious.""When I talk about my symptoms, they sound obvious that something is wrong," he said."But actually, they're so sneaky and manage to weave themselves into the fabric of your life that by the time you get to the level of where I was, to you, it seems very normal." Now, he is urging people to get help and support - either from charities like Combat Stress and Samaritans, or by going to their GP."The sooner we can say 'hang on a second, I went through this, I don't know if it's causing issues, but I should talk to someone about this,' that would be great," he said."As brutal and as impossible as it can feel sometimes, please don't give up."If you have been affected by the issues raised in this story you can visit the BBC Action Line for support. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Billingham Skills Academy closure a 'major blow to young people'
Closing an education service for teenagers would damage provision for "vulnerable learners" and threaten jobs, a union has Skills Academy, in Billingham, Teesside, is set to shut its doors this week and switch its services to Stockton Riverside College, at Thornaby, in University and College Union (UCU) is urging bosses to Education Training Collective (Etc.), a group of colleges and training providers which includes the academy, said "extensive plans have been put in place" to enable youngsters to continue their studies at Thornaby. With courses for school leavers as well as alternative provision for 14 to 16-year-olds, the Billingham site aims to help young people build their self-esteem and learn a range of father of one pupil said the announcement had come as a shock and that he was worried his daughter's progress would be affected having previously moved from a larger school where she suffered anxiety and was bullied. 'Damaging proposal' Echoing that view, UCU claimed the academy's closure "would be a major blow to young people who cannot thrive in mainstream education".General secretary Jo Grady said: "This is a short-sighted and damaging proposal which will serve to damage the group's reputation, take a lifeline away from the most vulnerable learners and families, and threaten the livelihoods of our members."Skills Academy is a vital and transformative educational experience for young people often disengaged from mainstream education within the Tees Valley region."There has been a lack of transparency from Etc. throughout this process, we now implore it to reconsider its position, protect jobs, and preserve the current learning environment, which allows young people to succeed." 'No loss of places' Etc. said eight jobs were at risk but that "10 potential opportunities for redeployment have been shared with the individuals affected".A consultation on the site's closure, that will run for 10 working days, is under way.A spokesperson added: "The Etc. is bound by its governance, as a publicly funded organisation, to consistently review effective spend balanced with ensuring provision meets the needs of its communities."While the Skills Academy building is proposed to close, the provision itself will not cease."Extensive plans have been put in place to ensure that the provision of education for 14-16 year olds, and a small number of 16-18 years who use this service, will relocate and that these learners can access outstanding education in industry-standard facilities at Stockton Riverside College."There will be no loss to the number of learner places as a result of this proposal." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Shock as Billingham's Skills Academy announces closure
An education service for teenagers is to close this week with its courses moved to a neighbouring Skills Academy, in Billingham, Teesside, will see its services switch to Stockton Riverside College, at Thornaby, in parent said the news had come as a Education Training Collective (Etc.), the group of colleges and training providers which includes the academy, said it was a "strategic move" which it admitted was "unsettling" for its staff and the 14 to 18-year-olds who attend. The news, which affects eight roles, comes weeks after Etc. scooped its first "outstanding" rating from Ofsted, with inspectors saying learners and apprentices "flourish across all parts of the group" and felt valued and respected. 'The rug's been pulled' Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the father of one pupil said he found out from a friend whose child was looking to attend the academy in added his daughter suffered anxiety and bullying in her previous school but had done well at the academy and he worried her progress could be affected."She doesn't want to go into a big environment with lots of people. Kids who come out of mainstream school because they don't want to be in an environment of 500 to 1,000 people go into an environment of 100 people and thrive there."She knew nothing about this, but has spent all weekend crying and saying she's not going to any other school."She was guaranteed a space in September. Now the rug's been pulled from underneath her."Her education could effectively be ruined because she's not guaranteed a place at Stockton Riverside College. Her anxiety is likely going to send her back to counselling and they've done this the last few days before they break up." 'Better preparing' pupils The school's website says its offering at Billingham is "a great place to learn for those who don't feel quite ready for a larger college environment".With courses for school leavers as well as alternative provision for 14 to 16-year-olds, it aims to help young people build their self-esteem and learn new skills.A spokesperson for Etc. confirmed it had made the decision to switch its Billingham courses to Thornaby and that it was also looking to redeploy its "exceptional staff".They said: "This strategic move is designed to ensure that students can access industry-standard facilities at Stockton Riverside College, thereby enhancing their educational experience and better preparing them for future careers."Though we understand that this change may be unsettling for the staff and students affected, we are fully committed to providing comprehensive support." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
15-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Billingham church hosts art show as building's future unclear
An exhibition held at a church will "give it strength" as negotiations for the building's future continue. Billingham's parish applied to close the town's 1,000-year-old St Cuthbert's Church last year due to rising costs and falling show, which displays artwork from local school pupils, will open on Monday for three days. The Friends of St Cuthbert's Church said if negotiations to save the church failed, the building would "just sit there padlocked" without offering "tremendous events" to Billingham. The artwork displayed at the church will feature pieces from Bede Sixth Form College, Northfield School and Sports College, Billingham South and Prior's Mill C.E. primary schools and the Northern School of about the closure of the church continue between the Friends of St Cuthbert's Church and the Church of England - the Billingham Parish, the Diocese of Durham and the Church Commissioners. Charles Wellington, from Friends of St Cuthbert's Church, said if the church was to close, it would be "sad and damaging"."We're going into negotiations and we're having to dealing with hard things like affordability - but the exhibition gives us strength. "This exhibition is spot on with exactly what we're aiming to do with getting the community into church to use and enjoy in a productive way."We want people to come to and use the church and make it live". The show will open from 17:00 BST to 19:00 and a donation is the suggested entry fee. Suzy Wandless, an art teacher at Bede's Sixth Form College, said: "This beautiful and historic venue not only provides a stunning backdrop for the students' artwork, but it is also a treasure worth visiting in its own right. "Our students have dedicated a tremendous amount of effort and passion to their work, and we are excited to share their achievements." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
'Low demand' bus route dropped after three months
An "isolated" community is to lose its first bus to a nearby town in a decade after only three months of operation. The number 68 from Port Clarence to Billingham and the University Hospital of North Tees was introduced on a trial basis in February. However operator Stagecoach announced the service will end after next week's half-term holiday because of low demand. It said it brought in just £12.58 a day and four people per trip, while running costs were in excess of £80 a day. Councillor Katie Weston, Labour member for Billingham South, said she did not blame the company but called for changes to help remote communities access public transport. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "There's a lot of kids who aren't doing anything after school because they literally can't get back, they rely on the school bus. "And people doing their shopping, going to the doctors, because Billingham is their town centre." After meetings with Stagecoach the service, which had not run for a decade, was brought back on a trial basis. "We thought we'd try and get enough people to use it, then we might be able to build on it and they might be able to put more times in place", Weston said. "The passenger numbers aren't high enough for Stagecoach to be financially viable. "It's a private company that at the very least needs to break even to run that service. "Less than half of the population of Port Clarence has access to a car, so it does leave them very isolated, socially and economically. "What they need is an actual proper regular bus service and, given the current system that we have, it's just not going to happen. A Stagecoach spokesperson said: "This trial was undertaken in good faith and at Stagecoach's commercial risk. "Unfortunately, across the first six weeks of operation, service 68 has carried an average of four people per trip, with a total revenue of £12.58 each day. "Labour costs alone for operating these trips has been around £80 per day - this is before fuel and vehicle costs are factored. "With such low demand, it was determined the trial could not be extended." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Stagecoach
