21/02/2017 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello, you're watching Tuesday's Look North.

Tonight: Hundreds turn out to welcome Harry to Tyneside.

The prince spent time talking to those touched by mental illness

and veterans scarred by war. Concerns for a refuge for women

when they leave the military. It is when they leave the military. It is

a big family and he will want to help and support as much as he can.

Concerns for a refuge for women suffering domestic violence

A bright future for Kielder's dark skies as the national park cashes

in on the sky at night. And the meerkats making a difference

to the lives of young people with disabilities.

In sport, more St James's misery for Steve Bruce as Newcastle go top

of the Championship again and Premier League strugglers

Sunderland announce redundancies just 24 hours after thousands

of fans watched an open training session.

It's a subject that's close to his heart.

And today Prince Harry brought his message about mental

health to the region meeting veterans scarred by their

experiences of war and others whose lives have been affected

The prince was in Gateshead and Newcastle as part of a campaign

encouraging people to open up about their problems.

Our correspondent Peter Harris has been following the Prince and joins

Don, Prince Harry has long promoted mental-health causes, partly because

of his own experiences in the armed forces. Today was much broader that,

though. It is a campaign he jointly supports

with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Today, Prince Harry

joined sporting legends to promote the work of the heads together

mental health charity. It is about speaking out. The important thing

about heads together is that it is about saying it is fine to struggle.

Speak to somebody about it. Sure a problem. A problem shared is a

problem halved. And you will find that most people are just like you.

He met people training from the London Marathon from across the

country. A bit of banter on the bridge and then off to hear their

stories. Supporting mental health charities is something that has been

very close to the Prince's heart and coming to events like this and

meeting the public and encouraging others to look after their mental

well-being. The runners told him of their mental health experiences,

including Leanne, who was involved with the charity because of her

daughter's problems. With mental illness, nothing is ever quick. It

is never a quick fix. It is bidding of the pieces in the puzzle together

to try to make a difference. And yet... It breaks your heart. He was

really lovely to talk to, completely down-to-earth, extremely passionate

about the charity, and it was just really nice being able to speak to

him and we are just really happy that he is elevating this great

charity. Earlier, the Prince met veterans in Gateshead working with

the walking with the wooded charity and later to the headquarters of

virgin money, which supports his campaigns, and there he spoke of the

issues. I have seen people go from their lowest point, physically

shaking or unwilling to leave the house, or even with suicidal pots,

to a place of real optimism and resilience in a relatively short

space of time. Recovery really is possible. But there was time as well

to draw the crowds. He is always a popular draw. This time, though,

with a message that matters. Peter, we saw there the Prince

was with the region's sporting royalty today as well -

but all of them supporting the cause Yes, Jonathan Edwards and Steve

Cram. They were your partly to encourage the charity people who

were taking part in the London Marathon. It was held here at the

quayside because they have been doing training down here, but also

the rate to further promote the issue of mental health awareness,

and we had a quick word with Steve Cram. We all have... We lose

confidence, we have self-doubt, we sometimes get embarrassed about

scenarios that we need to put scenarios that we need to put

ourselves in. It could be at work, at all. Athletes are no different

and they work very, very hard on having a good attitude every single

day if they can. Do we managed to achieve that? Of course we don't.

When you don't, you beat up people to turn to and be prepared to

discuss it, otherwise by bottling up it can turn into a really big

problem. The runners were very impressed with Prince Harry. They

also said he was very encouraging about their efforts for the London

Marathon and telling them if it got tough, they should make sure to

remember that it is a good cause, and he told them they should just

enjoy it. I am sure that is rather easier said than done. Absolutely.

Thank you very much indeed. A charity which supports victims

of domestic violence is concerned for its future,

after it was told council funding of more than half a million pounds

is coming to an end. Wearside Women in Need will be

facing a massive financial black hole when its current grant

ends in July. Our reporter Sharon Barbour's

been following the story So, Sharon, what's

the background to this? Wearside Women in Need has four

refuges on Wearside helping more It costs one million

pounds a year to run - half of that comes from the council

and the rest being raised Now, Sunderland Council says

the current arrangements Instead they are going to invite

groups to tender for funding - to deliver domestic

violence support services. Clare Philipson of Wearside Women

in Needs says that leaves people worried service users who do not

know when they are going to be helped and don't know when the money

is going to come back, so there has been a massive mobilisation in the

community but certainly service users are relying on us to help them

through particularly traumatic court cases, or court proceedings around

children, and they are very worried about where is that person going to

go. Will I be able to go back there for help? What is going to happen?

and providers are now working more closely together -

They say for example last week a partnership between seven councils

and nine domestic violence support groups has now secured

to help support the victims of domestic violence -

and the council thinks this type of partnership

Across seven councils and organisations.

Doesn't sound like much, is that all the money there is?

No, Sunderland Council say they're drawing money together from a number

of different sources - So, at the moment they can't say

whether their overall domestic violence support budget is going up

or down because the funding is still being confirmed.

Five people have been arrested after a

man was stabbed in broad daylight in Newcastle City Centre.

It happened yesterday lunchtime in Princess Square next

The man, who's 22 and hasn't been named, is still in a critical

A public inquiry into controversial plans for an opencast coal mine

close to a Northumberland beauty spot will take place in May.

Campaigners have been fighting to stop the Banks Group

from removing three million tonnes of coal from land near Widdrington,

More than ?8,000 has now been donated to an appeal set up

by the family of a 16-year-old Durham girl, who's virtually

Jade Gadd, who appeared on Friday's Look North,

has a genetic condition which means she has seizures and her joints

Wheelchair access in her home is poor.

Durham County Council's offered ?30,000 for modifications,

but that's only half the estimated cost.

A North Yorkshire primary school with just fifteen pupils

Parents and governors at Horton-in-Ribblesdale Primary

have been campaigning to keep it open, but the council says it

will struggle financially as there aren't enough pupils

Meanwhile, parents have reacted with dismay to plans to close

a Northumberland middle school, months after they were told

between Berwick and Alnwick - say the number of pupils is set

to fall sharply, and that means it won't be financially sustainable.

Parents say it's a good school and that some children

could now face long journeys to be taught elsewhere.

For decades, it has been a war of attrition. But since this protest in

2004, the number of Northumberland Middle schools has nearly halved. So

our parents liked is fighting a losing battle? Middle schools like

the one at Belford typically take pupils from the age of nine until

protein. This one is run by the Church of England. Ofsted calls it a

lose a third of its 100 pupils by lose a third of its 100 pupils by

September. That would mean much less funding. Despite that, parents got a

governor's letter last October reassuring them that the future of

the school was secure. At least that was until a month ago. When they got

a second letter, this time from the chair of governors, saying that with

the greatest reluctance and regret, they have now concluded that it is

in the best interests of the children to close the school this

summer. They were also told that despite Ofsted's verdict, Belford

had been identified as a coasting school because its standards hadn't

improved in the last three years. That was a bit of a shock. I

definitely feel angry. People are very upset. Panicking, some people

taking their children out now. If you have thought they had better get

them into another school as fast as possible. So what might happen?

Well, one option would be to expand. This, the village's first school to

become a primary. So this would take the children from the middle school

up to the age of 11 but it would still mean the 11 to 13-year-olds

having long bus journeys at the beginning and end of the day. The

high schools would either be Berwick or panic, so that is an extra hour

and a half, couple of hours, on the children's day, on top of homework.

It is just not acceptable. The diocese of Newcastle and the County

Council stressed this is still a consultation exercise. Campaigners

want to call a halt before another of his dwindling band of schools

disappears. The hugely successful

Kielder Observatory The observatory now

attracts more than 23,000 visitors every year,

and thanks to grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund

and the Rural Development Programme there's to be a new observatory and

much bigger educational facilities. Even on this belief every morning,

Steve is already starting to get ready for the new season at the

Kielder village campsite, and so other many accommodation prior to

that -- providers, he is grateful for the observatory and the visitors

it brings in Ebury year. We have had some very fortunate times where we

have had a good of nights despite bad weather, but the colder it is,

the clearer it can be. I don't think any of us really expected this to

take off any way that it has now as well as this observatory we have now

got hotels and bed-and-breakfast facilities. They have got their own

kids to promote dark skies. The locals will tell you that Kielder,

outside the main holiday season, can become almost deserted, that is why

the unexpected thousands of astral tourists have given this whole

promote area at such a welcome boost. Particularly as the

stargazers tend to prefer coming in the quieter months in spring and

autumn. This opportunity and this project allows us to actually

develop a classroom for children coming here, so not everybody is

crowded in the same building, and it provides the opportunity for lots of

different education to take place as well from this particular venue. If

it is going to last than it is going to inspire people in the region and

we have got to get on board. It is a hearts and minds campaign. We want

to really infuse people about how important dark skies are and what

better could get people excited and looking at the big old black dark

starry sky and using kit like this to look out at the depths of the

universe? It doesn't get any better than that. A little ray of sunshine

and all from the dark sky. Fabulous news.

You're watching Tuesday's Look North.

Plenty more coming up, Mark will be here with a look

The hospice encouraging more young people to come in as volunteers

And this is storm Doris, set to bring strong winds, heavy rain for

Thursday. I will the details. Helping people enjoy their lives

to the full while learning skills That's the aim of a volunteer

scheme run by Eden Valley The Carlisle charity couldn't

run without the help of hundreds of volunteers,

now it's Young Volunteer Programme is encouraging 17 year

olds to join the team. Megan Paterson went to meet one

of the young carers. Volunteering here is absolutely

amazing. It is so rewarding coming here every week and socialising with

people and I wouldn't say that it is a sad place to be because it really

is one of the happiest places I have been to.

Lily is one of eight young volunteers at Eden Valley hospice.

For the last five months, she's spent time in

She's picking up skills and leaving her own mark too.

I think the young volunteers, when they come, obviously they bring that

zest of life with them. They bring their hopes, although dreams, and

they are sharing bills with the patients. The patients become very

involved. The hospice has around 400

hundred volunteers - all are well appreciated

here but there's special affection for the young people

who've joined the team: It is wonderful because they have

all the energy and they have been new ideas and they are very helpful.

Any day I get out normally so it is wonderful.

As well as building new relationships, Lily is collecting

Having some clinical experience is really why I am here because it is

very hard to get for people my age because you're not allow into

hospitals and stuff so the clinical experience has gone on my personal

statement for university and with hopes to become a midwife.

It costs more than ?3million a year to run the hospice,

less than 30% of funding comes from the NHS -

so fundraising IS crucial but donations of time can be just

We estimate that the economic value of our volunteers Saints is around

?400,000 per year, but that number does not tell the whole story. It

of the volunteers and everything of the volunteers and everything

they bring to the work we do. the Young Volunteering Programme

so far - all have gone on to study Something Lily hopes

to achieve later this year. If you like your winters deep

and crisp, then this year has been No such worries for the women

of Operation Ice Maiden, though. The final five-strong

army team will undertake a thousand-mile trek

across Antarctica, pulling everything they need

with them, later this year. To prepare them for the minus 40

temperatures they're likely to encounter,

they've been training in Norway. And team member Lieutenant

Jenni Stephenson - North East born and bred -

has revealed the answer to what until now has been one

of the great unspoken questions. We have each got individual P

finals, so that is pretty straightforward, but if we need a

little more we will have a little wall and squat behind it and do your

business into a bag. We have tissues and then you wrap the bag up and it

goes in your pack and you drag that for the rest of the expedition.

Newcastle United are top of the Championship again

after beating struggling Aston Villa at St James' Park last night.

The victory took them a point above promotion rivals Brighton,

but Steve Bruce's side didn't make it easy for the Magpies.

The flags were out in force for rapper beanie tears, but it was

deeper is's side, who have not won a game since the start of the year,

who dominated the first half. We had a recurrence of the hamstring injury

for this player who has been kept out of action. Just before

deadlock. The back of the net was deadlock. The back of the net was

eventually found. The loudest cheer was reserved for Henry Lansbury.

There were also some red cards. The villain of the piece inadvertently

flicked this shot into his own net to put Newcastle two up. The home

side took control after that although they had to pull off an

impressive save to keep the Iceland midfielder out. United may have

scored more but they are getting used to grinding out victories, and

it was the result that was important as they prepare to face two of the

best teams in the league battle over the next of weeks.

So this is how the Championship table looks.

Newcastle a point clear at the top and eight

It's Bristol City at St James' this weekend then the Magpies face

second place Brighton, Huddersfield who're third and fourth

Tonight, meanwhile, something's got to give

host Gateshead, who've won their last three

matches and are now serious play-off contenders.

Now it's far from certain whether there'll be any Tyne-Wear

If Sunderland's latest relegation battle has been

another rollercoaster ride, there've been plenty of ups

and downs since they arrived back from last week's training

Today's announcement of further job losses

to save money at the club - a further reminder of

the Black Cats' predicament on and off the pitch.

Today's announcement of redundancies comes just 24 hours

after a half-term open training session attracted around 5,000 fans

It follows a root and branch review of the club's business operations

and it's feared dozens of jobs could be lost in the re-structuring

overseen by chief executive Martin Bain, who wants a stronger

Unfortunate timing but not a surprise.

They are clearly in a position where they could get relegated. That is

part of the problem. But I think there is a wider issue. I think the

arrival of the chief executive in summer was to sort out an ailing

football club. We know that the debts are large and we know that

Martin Bain has stated publicly already this season that he is

having to save money. He has had to cut costs. So this is all part of an

ongoing operation, trying to save money and streamline the business of

the football club. It would certainly help

if the club could pull off yet another great

escape from relegation. They can't afford a repeat

of the home drubbing by Southampton I think we have just been through it

so many times. We are worried about it this season, but a bit of hope, I

think. Things can only get better. There are worse teams than others in

the Premier League this season. We had that win against Crystal Palace

and I thought we may have turned a corner but it hasn't picked up at

all. Do you think New York will have done some good? I hope so. Maybe we

will come back fitter and more refreshed and plays better football

for the rest of the season. Always be positive. Never say die.

The players will have enjoyed applause rather than booing

And a first trip to New York has left one veteran

of relegation scraps in a

know each other and sometimes that know each other and sometimes that

is very important as well, to get to know each other but little bit

better and hopefully it was a very useful and we will have to show that

now. And finally County Durham-born

referee Mark Clattenburg will continue to referee

in the Premier League The Tyneside-based 41-year-old

announced his decision last week to become head of referees

in Saudi Arabia but he won't leave This weekend he'll take charge

of the Premier League game Now, meerkats are always popular

with their mischievous antics, But could they also have

therapeutic benefits? Well, a North Yorkshire

man has been taking his meerkats into care homes

across North Yorkshire and the results have been

rather heartwarming, Meet me at and her sister cat. Not

does cute but very special because they are very peak meerkats. Mia and

cat going to care homes to make people smile. Today they are in at a

care home for adults with disabilities. Mia therapy is

something Joel has just started this year. He says no else is doing it

and it is a hacked. I have lived with animals or my life and to

coming to a home where they only see animals occasionally but they have

never seen meerkats before. Some of the residents can take their eyes

off them. This is the first time we have had it and judging by the

smiles on everyone's faces, I think it has been a really positive

experience and something they will remember for quite a long time. I

think there are some people, who you can see they are a lot more animated

and focused and they are concentrating on getting enjoyment

out of what they are watching. They also go to visit nursing homes and

dementia care homes. They always stay in their pen on visits until

today. After a bit of a runaround and lots

excitement, the meerkats are returned safely to their pen. These

are not the only visitors here today. Joe takes all kinds of

animals into North Yorkshire care homes, with heart-warming results.

But there's something strangely relaxing about watching meerkats and

their antics. Near therapy could be the next big thing. I think I prefer

the meerkats to the snakes. Me too. Time for the weather. It has felt

quite like spring, but I gather dastardly Doris is on her way. Yes,

there is the into Sunday, turning things much more wintry. This

evening, we have some rain and strong winds pushing in from the

west, so a wet and windy night to come. Some heavy and persistent rain

for a time. That should clear through by the time we get to dawn

on Wednesday morning. Temperatures down to around six Celsius. So we

start the day on Wednesday. It is quite a bright and breezy day.

Feeling a bit colder tomorrow, but we should see some spells of

sunshine and some showers being pushed in on that breeds will stop

mostly light. I think most of us will have a dry day tomorrow.

Temperatures will get up to a high of around nine Celsius, some not

quite as warm and we will have that breeze as well which it will take

the edge off those temperatures. It is Wednesday night and on into

Thursday that we are watching this area of low pressure named by The

Met office as storm Doris. It will bring some fairly destructive

weather conditions through the night on Thursday, so what are we

expecting? Some strong winds. Gusts of around 50-60 mph and there will

be some snow on the health as well. Around 5-10 centimetres. I will show

you where we are expecting the worst of the weather. This is the snow.

Overnight on Wednesday and into Overnight on Wednesday and into

thirsty we are expecting it over higher ground. Over the North

Pennines, we could see 10-20 centimetres, so The Met office has a

yellow warning in force. In addition to the snow, we have the strong wind

as well. A yellow warning across Cumbria. 50-60 mph. And we also have

an amber be prepared warning down here as well so this is destructive

wind and could cause some problems. Through Wednesday night and on into

Thursday, we start off dry but here comes the storm moving in during the

night on Wednesday and bringing that snow first of all still rained down

to the lower levels as well and the temperature is around four Celsius.

That rain is with us first thing on Thursday morning. The snow will

continue to fall for a time and the winds are picking up as we go

through the day. So it is staying windy. We lose the wet weather as we

head into Thursday afternoon, but the strong winds still picking up

and it is going to be feeling really cold. Temperatures around nine

Celsius, backed by the North East by Celsius. So that if Thursday. That

clears away by the time we get into Friday. Friday is looking like a dry

and bright day on the whole. It will be cold and the changeable weather

continues into the weekend. It turns wet and windy once again. I almost

wish I had not asked. It is a case of baton down the hatches and get

the thermal and ease out again. I am the thermal and ease out again. I am

afraid so. That is all for tonight. Goodbye for now.

Nawal El Saadawi, the world-renowned Egyptian author

A fearless feminist facing a world in turmoil.

Imagine... She Spoke The Unspeakable.