Age Concern Northumberland are holding a Recruitment Fair on Friday 12 February at The Round House, Lintonville Parkway, Ashington (oppostie Lidl's).

We are running two presentations at 11.30am and 1.30pm, followed by the opportunity to discuss, with our experienced staff, the job vacancies and career prospects in further detail.

For further information on our Recruitment Fair and our other opportunities available or for an application pack call the HR & Training Team on 0845 140 00 88.

People in the former Wansbeck area of Northumberland are being invited to have their say on how their communities can be developed or improved.

Local community forums are about to start a six-month programme of public engagement, including public meetings, to help draw up community plans, which will influence future decisions and changes.

Meetings will take place in the Choppington, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Ellington, Linton and Lynemouth areas.

For further information, contact Lynda Fakir, Locality Development Officer for South East Northumberland on 0845 600 6400, email Lynda.Fakir@northumberland.gov.uk or visit northumberland.gov.uk.

Looking for a new sport to try in 2010? Then why not try a triathlon!

British Triathlon is launching the Tri A Triathlon campaign across Northumberland next month with the aim of encouraging more people to take up the sport, which consists of cycling, swimming and running.

Taster sessions will be staged at Ashington Leisure Centre on February 27 and March 20, Druridge Bay Country Park on April 17 and the Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, Woodhorn, on May 15 (all starting at midday).

Intrepid fundraisers are being sought for a charity plunge into the icy cold North Sea on Boxing Day.

Lions Club officials in Ashington are hoping for another bumper turn-out for their annual festive dip in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, at 11am on Saturday December 26.

Over the years the fancy dress event has raised many thousands of pounds for local good causes and community projects.

A bike swap day takes place in Ashington next weekend.

The event takes place at the Hirst Welfare Centre on Saturday, December 5 from noon to 4pm and aims to help people replace children's bikes which their young ones have grown out of, with ones that fit.

It has been organised by Active in Ashington - led by sustainable transport charity Sustrans, which aims to boost the community's health by encouraging people to walk and cycle more during their everyday journeys.

Families are invited to donate their old bikes to replace them with a size that fits their youngsters in time for Christmas.

Following the event, there will be a number of left over small bikes that residents can apply to use on a long-term loan. Active in Ashington will hold an event for bike loan applications on Saturday, December 20.

Single parents and people with health conditions are being offered help in a new initiative by the Jobcentre Plus agency.

Advisers will be visiting the Northumberland Business Service (NBS) premises in Ashington and the town's Children's Centre from later this month.

A Pathways adviser will be at the NBS building on the Wansbeck Business Park every Tuesday from December 1 between 10am and 4pm.

Brave soldiers returning from a harrowing tour of duty in Afghanistan are to be given a hero's welcome next month by people in two Northumberland towns.

More than 200 men and women from the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers will march through the centres of Ashington and Morpeth on Tuesday, December 8 to celebrate their return from a six-month operation in Helmand Province.

The homecoming parades have been organised by Northumberland County Council to give local people the chance to show their appreciation and support for the battalion, which recruits heavily in the North East.

A MEMORIAL celebrating the history of the region's last deep pit will be unveiled to local people next weekend.

The bronze statue of a miner and accompanying pit wheel will be unveiled at the former Ellington Colliery in Northumberland in a special ceremony and open day on Saturday November 7.

Young promoters will tonight proudly present a professional show which they have arranged themselves as part of a volunteering scheme.

Pupils from Ashington High School Youth Project have spent the last six months preparing to stage a version of Phileas P. Souper - the story of five musicians and two mime artists who travel the world.

Far from just spending time learning their lines and rehearsing the youngsters have learned how to promote their show and gained the business skills needed to make the event a success.

By Blyth Valley Arts and Leisure

The first ever NSPCC North's Aerobathon takes place on Monday 9th November 2009 from 6pm-8pm.

The two-hour sponsored aerobic workouts will be led by qualified instructors across 70 leisure centres in the North East and Yorkshire.

Ashington Leisure Centre, Blyth Sports Centre, Concordia Leisure Centre and Newbiggin Sports and Community Centre are all taking part in this great fundraising event.

The Aerobathon event aims to raise over £90,000 for the Child's Voice Appeal - a helpline for adults concerned about a child.