Community Life

POLICE UPDATE

Festival and concert goers looking to get last minute tickets to this summer’s top events are urged to be on their guard against fraudulent sellers, as new data reveals £6.7 million was lost to ticket fraud last year.

Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, has launched a ticket fraud awareness campaign, warning people to be alert to fraudsters trying to catch out people planning for popular and sold -out events.

Last year more than 8,700 people reported they had been a victim ticket fraud, with a total of £6.7 million lost.

The warning comes ahead of the Glastonbury Festival ticket resales and before top summer events, such as Taylor Swift’s sell out Eras tour. Pauline Smith, Head of Action Fraud, said: “We all want to enjoy ticketed events this summer, but that doesn’t stop fraudsters from taking the fun out of things we look forward to doing. Too many people are losing out to fraudulent activity or genuinelooking phishing messages.”

How to protect yourself from ticket fraud
- Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, the promoter, an official agent, or a well-known and reputable ticket exchange site.
- Avoid paying for tickets by bank transfer, especially if buying from someone unknown. Credit card or payment services such as PayPal give you a better chance of recovering the money if you become a victim of fraud.
- Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or adverts offering unbelievably good deals on tickets.
- Is the vendor a member of Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR)?

If they are, the company has signed up to strict governing standards. STAR also offers an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service to help customers with outstanding complaints.

For more information visit star.org.uk/buy_safe.

If you have been a victim of fraud or cybercrime, report it at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Steve's Nature Diary

I hope you have enjoyed doing #30DaysWild as much as I have this year. Highlights so far have included a peaceful 5 minutes of cloud watching, looking for orchids and best of all watching an adult dragonfly emerge from its final larval stage - something I have never seen before! Last night after work we actually managed to spend some time sat in the garden - the weather was actually quite good - relatively warm and the sun was shining intermittently. Recently it has been quite rainy, windy and a little cool and this has meant that not only have we not been in the garden much, but we also haven't seen many butterflies. Have you? Let's hope July is a bit better because it's nearly time for the Big Butterfly Count.

This is a UK-wide survey aimed at helping assess the health of our environment simply by counting the amount and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) that we see. The Big Butterfly Count begins on Friday 12 July and will run until Sunday 4 August. You can download a handy butterfly ID chart or free app to identify and record the butterflies you spot from bigbutterflycount.butterflyconservation.org. All you need to do is between 12 July and 4 August choose a place to spot butterflies and moths. Watch for 15 minutes and record what you see, it could be your garden, a park or a nature reserve or wherever you might find butterflies.

This nationwide citizen science survey aims to assess the health of our environment. It was launched in 2010 and has rapidly become the world's biggest survey of butterflies. Over 64,000 citizen scientists took part in 2022, submitting 96,257 counts of butterflies and day-flying moths from across the UK. Butterfly declines are also an early warning for other wildlife losses. Butterflies are key biodiversity indicators for scientists as they react very quickly to changes in their environment.

Therefore, if their numbers are falling, then nature is in trouble. So, tracking numbers of butterflies is crucial in the fight to conserve our natural world. That's why taking part in this massive citizen science enterprise is of great importance not just for our butterflies but for the wider environment and biodiversity in general. So become a citizen scientist for 15 minutes this year and take part!.

Ceddesfeld Hall: Home of Sedgefield Community Association
Ceddesfeld Hall: Home of Sedgefield Community Association

Sedgefield Mediaeval Fayre

The gorgeous, warm weather drew bumper crowds to a fabulous day for the community.

'Thank you', to the local businesses and shops, for their generous sponsorship and fabulous donations towards the SCA tombola; to the children and staff of Sedgefield Primary, Sedgefield Hardwick Primary and Fishburn Chi Taekwondo group, for their enthusiasm, creativity and vitality; to the various clubs and organisations (SDT, Bloomers, Scouts, Sedgefield Mayor’s Charity Fund, STC, Manor House, St Edmund's Church, SCA friends and members) who gave their enthusiasm, time and energy, in the set up and take down and in ensuring the day ran smoothly; to the various hobby and craft stall holders, specialist attractions and showmen; to Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen; to Lesley and Neil Edmenson (Mess Charcuterie) and family, for their delicious, home cooked Mediaeval Fayre Menu, and also for their generous, charitable donation in support of the Fayre and to the Hope Foundation School in Malawi; to SCA Trustees, Mediaeval Fayre Committee, bar helpers; and finally, to everyone who came along to support a community event and enjoy the day.

Upcoming Events

Ceddesfeld Hall Beer Festival – Friday 12 July @ 7pm, Saturday 13 July @ 6pm
with free entrance SCA is delighted to continue to run this very popular, annual event. SCA is pleased to support local brewers, and there will be a wide (up to 18 beers) selection of new and established ales (raffle tickets £2 each for a half pint) which will include the ever-popular Jaipur and two ciders; the community bar will also be open.

There will be a BBQ for burgers and hot sausage buns, both nights. The entertainment on Saturday night (starting at 8pm) is provided by popular local band, Mamma Said.

Anyone wishing to help serve on the festival bar, collecting/washing glasses, or helping with the BBQ, please contact Tony on 07484279427 or email info@sedgefieldsca.org.uk.

Family Fun Afternoon – Sunday 25 August – 1pm to 4pm
An afternoon for families with younger children (to age 12). There will be a range of garden games and sports equipment available for children to play with and the bar will be open. Bring along a family picnic.

SCA would like to congratulate Sedgefield Lyric Singers, in this their 50th year – what a fantastic achievement. Some original members still sing with the choir, which continues to go from strength to strength.

For more information on Ceddesfeld Hall events, regular activities, room hire and bar opening times, contact Wendy on 01740 620206, Pat on 01740 620607, John on 01740 620042, Sarah on 01740 622185. Visit us on Facebook or see the SCA website, www.sedgefieldsca.org.uk

Mayor's Corner

In May, Peter Hinde was elected as Sedgefield Mayor and along with his wife and consort Jaime, he has had a busy start to his term of office: On Thursday 6 May, we were joined by veterans, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Durham, members of the public and school children for a short D-Day Remembrance Service led by Michael King.

On Sunday 9 June, we were part of a packed congregation in St Edmunds Church for a service to induct the new rector for the Upper Skerne. On behalf of the Town Council and the community, we welcomed David, his wife Hannah and their 4 children - this was followed with a reception and magnificent buffet in Ceddesfeld Hall.

We will host our first ever Coffee Morning on Friday 16 August so please come along and support us if you can.

There are two ticketed events to be aware of:
12 October - Ceilidh in the Parish Hall
31 December - New Years Eve Dance
Tickets are available from the Town Council Offices.

Finally, a request if anyone has items we can use as raffle or tombola gifts then they would be very much appreciated just take to our house at 44 West End, Sedgefield or give me a call on 07708 970532 and I will gladly come and collect them.
Peter and Jaime Hinde

Your Letters

The Hub

I am a member of many community groups that use the facilities at Sedgefield “Community” College. They have recently communicated that there is a new booking system to be used to hire facilities. Prices remain pretty similar in the most part but the cost for adult football has risen from £450 a year to approximately £600-£700.

Pitches can no longer be booked for a season, they are now per game. The main issue with this new booking system is that all groups have to pay a month in advance for their regular bookings.

For some larger organisations, this won’t be a problem. However, in order to book your regular slot, you have to pay now for bookings months away. This is something that smaller organisations won’t have budgeted for. They have basically just been told, out of the blue, you need to pay up within the next few weeks or your slot will be given to someone else.

There are also many organisations, who ‘pay as you play’ but have a regular booking. i.e. a pitch is booked every week, everyone brings £3-4 and this is used to pay for the hire. Not everyone is available every week so it can be different people each week. These types of bookings can now no longer happen. Where will they get the £100+ they are being asked for now to secure a booking for October?

These types of bookings are vital for many in the community. A chance, once a week, to get out and play sport. They are vital for both physical and mental health.

This is yet again an example of the college becoming ever less about the ‘community’ it serves and should maybe rethink the name.

Download and read in your own time

PDF Version

Sunday 7th July
Please come along and support our lovely Market, there’s something for everyone including your four legged friends!

On Facebook, we have started to post interviews with the traders so you can learn more about them and their products. The first interview was with Balefire; they revealed how their business started up, great tips on what to serve with their sauces and information on their future plans.

So follow Sedgefield Farmers Market on Facebook and Instagram to keep updated on the Market and the traders.

Well done and thank you to all student and volunteers. Homework Help is taking a break over the summer.

Bicycle and Active Travel Project

Our woodland has a name!
Last year we asked the community to come up with ideas for a name for the Woodland & Wildlife (W&W) site.

We received many interesting and well thought out suggestions, thank you to those who emailed and messaged. The potential names were discussed with NETPark, Sedgefield Development Trust and W&W volunteers.

It took slightly longer than expected to reach a decision, but I am delighted to announce the name will be...drum rol...
Skerne Wood @NETPark.
With finance raised by the Co-op Local Cause Funding, we will be installing an information board at the entrance of Skerne Wood later this year.

Thermal cameras

Don't forget to register for our next loan period, starting later this year as the temperatures drop.

Friendly Fixers

June's Friendly Fixers Repair Cafe saw a couple of 'firsts', with a new volunteer who got stuck straight in with a repair to a robot which now moves around to serve drinks, and our first repair of a music box - which now plays a recognisable tune!

If anyone would like to join our team, and could offer skills such as repairs to electricals, furniture, textiles, or sharpening, why not message us via the Friendly Fixers Facebook page, or come along to meet us, and have a chat and a cuppa.

Fishburn Youth and Community Centre. First Saturday of the month, 10:30am-12:30pm

For more information email us at: repaircafe@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk.
Follow us on Facebook for all things fixing Friendly Fixers—Repair Cafe!