Latest news with #Bretton
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
New director hopes to invest in future of theatre in Bretton
A new director hopes to invest in the future of a theatre and arts venue in a Chantal said much had changed since The Cresset in Bretton, Peterborough, first opened almost 50 years ago and wanted to support its future said it was going through "an incredible programme of transformation" as the site needed investment in terms of resource and reimagination. Ms Chantal, 57, added the team would look to refresh its events programmes and reinstate the mission of the building to serve the community and young people. The Cresset is owned by the YMCA Trinity Group and is home to performance spaces as well as a library, day care centre, shops, church and pub. It is self funding and year end profits are put back into the work of the charity."It's not just a theatre, its a community hub, a place that is open from 07:00 to 23:00... with conference facilities, weddings and a really busy youth programme on stage and in the community with the YMCA."Ms Chantal added: "One of the things I want to do is bring in more original music as well as the really great fun tribute acts we are well-known for and bring in different music here like jazz, country [and] western, opera or local orchestras."We want the community to be a part of this venue in the way it was originally conceived to be the community hub of Bretton." It was devised in the 1970s by Sir Harold Haywood and was officially opened in 1978 by HM The Queen with Prince Chantal joined the theatre and events complex this year after a report was commissioned by the Cresset Board in partnership with Peterborough City Council. It said its recommendations would be implemented over the next five wanted to hear suggestions of what the wider community wanted to see at the site and hoped to bring in more ideas and bigger audiences. Ms Chantal added: "Some of our staff have been here 40 years, they come and they stay because they love it and they care about The Cresset and you can feel that."You can feel it in the way that they behave and treat the audience as guests to their home, it's a very different vibe to the theatres I've worked in for the last 40 years." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- BBC News
Man charged after two stabbed in Peterborough city centre
A 45-year-old man has been charged with assault after two men were stabbed in Peterborough city men were taken to hospital after the incident in Geneva Street, off Park Road, Peterborough, at 02:30 BST on remain in a stable condition, Cambridgeshire Police said, with one suffering life-threatening injuries and the other seriously hurt. A man from Bretton, Peterborough, is due before Huntingdon Magistrates' Court later, charged with two counts of assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a knife. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
31-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Peterborough hospital joins Micky Hazard's Legend on the Bench campaign
An NHS hospital has become one of the first to install benches as part of a campaign started by footballer Micky Hazard's national suicide prevention on the Bench was founded by the former Spurs and Chelsea player and it installs specially designed wooden benches in community locations promoting the message "someone is always listening" for people experiencing mental health City Hospital is installing five benches in safe spaces around its site in Bretton which are accessible to staff, patients and benches feature an LED light, and a QR code that can be scanned with a smartphone to access immediate support. The charity is the brainchild of the former midfielder and his sister Michelle, whose son Jay died by suicide in 2019 due to mental health first bench was unveiled in Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire in 2024 and, since then, more than 30 other benches have been donated by the charity for other QR code on the bench will direct users to a comprehensive reference list of professional support groups, complete with contact numbers, website links, and email this year, the charity approached North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Peterborough City Hospital, with a view to providing a a joint donation by the NWAFT's supporters and fundraising by the Peterborough Spurs Branch - four additional benches have been purchased and installed. Hazard, who also played for Swindon and Portsmouth, said: "Mental health challenges can change the lives of people forever, whether that be for the individual, their family or people around them. "Legend on the Bench is more than a memorial - it's a promise that no-one has to face their darkest moments alone."Trust chief executive officer Hannah Coffey said: "Legend on the Bench is a remarkable charity which in a short space of time has established itself among so many communities, offering a beacon of hope to those who need in-the-moment support." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Peterborough pre-school to close next month over financial issues
A group of parents have said they have been left in a "difficult position" after a pre-school announced it would close in one Pre-School in Bretton, Peterborough, have informed parents that it will shut on 22 June due to financial pre-school, which is run by Early Years Alliance, said the decision was "a direct result of the acute financial pressure created by the continued underfunding of the early years sector".Hayden Mills, whose toddler has been going to the childcare facility since April, said the announcement "sprung out of nowhere" adding that it was "unfair to parents and staff". "It is going to be such a struggle for parents... especially if both work," he added. 'Nightmare' The pre-school, which currently has 50 children, is located next to Eyrescroft Primary School, but is run April Ofsted rated the pre-school as good. One mum, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC the closure would be "a nightmare"."My younger one was supposed to start there in September. Other nurseries have long waiting lists so, I am actually panicking." Billie Jeffreys two-year-old child attends the pre-school."If you close one childcare setting then you are going to force more children to go to another setting which will lead to a rise in costs because they will need more staff to maintain the children ratio."It is just going to move the struggles from one child setting to another," she said. Another mum, who wanted to rename anonymous, said she was "gutted" by the closure."It is insane. If the pre-school shuts - my daughter might have to stay at home until she starts primary school next year." Currently children aged over nine months and under three receive 15 hours of government-funded childcare. This will increase to 30 hours from September, which is already offered to three and four-year-olds.A spokesperson for Yearly Years Alliance, said the financial challenges were "exacerbated" by recent national insurance changes and national minimum wage rises."We will do all we can to give them [the parents] the support they need throughout this process."Katy Cole, a Labour councillor and the cabinet member for children's services at Peterborough City Council, said parents were being encouraged to engage with the consultation process regarding the closure."The local authority has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient early years places and will work closely with the provider following the outcome of the consultation to ensure that this duty is fulfilled," she said. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
