Sunderland news
Movie magic helps students launch business
TECH THAT
There ’ s no business like show business for an enterprising pair of Sunderland University students who are turning their passion into profit .
A lifelong love of performing not only brought Katie Stubbs and Declan Marshall together but they ’ ve turned their passion into a successful entertainment business with the help of university support .
As well as living , working and acting together the couple are also students at the University of Sunderland and tapped into a scholarship fund , in partnership with Santander , to get " A Magical Moment " off the ground during the first lockdown .
The fledgling business sees the couple dressing as characters from popular movies from Disney to Marvel .
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MENTAL HEALTH FIRM EXPANDS
Creative Minds , a counselling service with a mission to improve the mental health of Sunderland , has expanded to reach more people reeling from the impact of the pandemic .
After working with specialists from the North East Business and Innovation Centre ( BIC ), the company – run by North Star Counselling CIC – has secured a total of £ 55,000 grant funding targeted at helping the recovery of communities hit hard by the scarring effects of Covid-19 .
The money – from sources including the National Lottery , Barbour Foundation , Hadrian Foundation , Postcode Lottery , Clothworkers ’ Foundation and the government – has allowed Creative Minds to grow its team to 11 counsellors .
Proud – Sunderland City Council chief executive Patrick Melia is delighted with award win .
Sunderland wins European Award for Innovation and Technology
Sunderland City Council is the winner
of the 2020 Civic Innovation in
Technology Award ( Europe ) from the Technology and Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard .
The Technology and Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard announced the winners of its third Annual City Innovation and Innovator Awards at a fitting digital ceremony broadcast across the globe on January 28 , with shortlisted entrants from the US to the UK eagerly awaiting the outcome .
Social Health Enabling Independent Living App ' s ( SHEILA ) innovative use of assistive technology , saw the council earn its its place as top civic innovator in technology across Europe for 2020 .
The award serves as recognition of the council ’ s innovative approach to enabling residents to live independent lives and have a choice in how they do this .
The local authority has been developing technology enabled care as a core element of the social care offering in the city .
Social care practitioners began working with families to explore the use of familiar household technologies and home automation systems to enable independence and build confidence for people whose disability or long-term health condition was beginning to impact on daily living .
The service is now well versed in helping families to use GPS and other Internet of Things ( IoT ) devices to identify when a
Smoothie bar stacks up in Seaburn
Eye-catching urban retail development Seaburn STACK is adding a new smoothie bar to its seafront complex as part of a " health and wellbeing hub ".
STACK Seaburn has announced that the So Smooth Co will be taking one of its shipping container units to boost the feelgood factor for the days when everyone hopes to see the end of lockdown and the back of Covid-19 . family member needs assistance and provide the response that is required to keep them safe .
Patrick Melia , chief executive of Sunderland City Council , said : “ It is with a huge sense of pride that I stand here not only as a representative of the UK ’ s smartest city for 2020 , but now a leading European city as the recipient of this incredible accolade from the Technology and Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard on behalf of my council team and our valued partners .”
The SHEILA app was born from a collective of several organisations collaborating on an IoT national test bed pilot .
Partners included Sunderland City Council , Sunderland Software Centre , the Digital Catapult North East and Tees Valley , health commissioners , the Local Government Association and NHS Digital .
Following a highly-successful and innovative proof of concept , the localised pilot across 2019-20 pioneered the use of smart devices and motion sensors in vulnerable people ’ s homes across Sunderland , to help their carers and families make sure they were safe when alone .
Factors monitored included whether they were taking their medication and eating properly , as well as offering an agile platform to offer appropriate support , alerts and prompts .
The company ’ s smoothies and other products are blended using natural ingredients and contain most of a customer ’ s five a day , and it plans to work alongside community sports , fitness and health clubs in the wellbeing hub .