Month: April 2015

A fundraising event for schoolchildren in Middlesbrough and Teesside will take place this weekend in Albert Park.

The Blithe Campaign, which has been designed by postgraduate students at Teesside University, is in aid of the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation.

A representative from the Blithe Campaign said: “Blithe’s goal is to prove that fundraising can also be fun-raising at the same time and shows one of our main goals, beside collecting money namely, is to put the fun into funding.”

“The fundraising-run is a 5K run and the fun-run is a 3K. It is a perfect opportunity to run with your family and friends; having fun and doing charity work at the same time.”

People of all ages are invited to join the event and to have a good time. The event is open for everyone, participants or not. Families and friends can watch and support the runners and enjoy the fun-raising programme afterwards, the charity said.

 

Daniel Vinzens (pictured)  is one of those taking part in the run. He has currently raised nearly £147.00 for charity. Writing on his Justgiving account Dan said: “I enjoyed living and studying in Middlesbrough, that is why I decided to come back and doing my masters at Teesside.

“It is a great experience and the university and also the people here welcomed me with open arms. That is why I want to give something back. Being part of the Blithe campaign, I think it is a great way to help people that need support.

“My goal is to raise as much money as possible to support those that need help and financial aid. For this reason I am running the Albert Park in a Cookie Monster costume, to make people aware of the upcoming fundraising event and to find supporters that donate.”

He added: “The money is used for the hardship fund of the Middlesbrough and Teesside foundation. The schools recieve the money and can decide on their own how they are going to use it.”

Many children have already benefited from the fund and received proper shoes, winter clothes and school material that their family normally could not afford.

The fundraising-run begins at 11am, with the fancy dress fun-run starting later.  There is also a participation fee of £3 for adults and £1 for children aged under 12.

 

from Tside

AKBAR’S is a premium Indian restaurant in the centre of Middlesbrough which offers great food, fantastic service and even a chance to dine with the stars.

That’s right – Jeremy Clarkson and local pop sensation Amelia Lily claim the restaurant is among their favourite places to eat when they are in Middlesbrough.

When you walk in it is obvious the restaurant has a lot of class about it. Relaxing Indian music plays throughout and the decor is very traditional which helps add to the ambience of the meal.
The staff are friendly. We were quickly shown to a table and drinks were served all in a fantastically quick time.

The staff are also very attentive without being too intrusive.

To start with I had the Chicken Nambali, which for you parmo lovers out there is chicken, smothered in a selection of the finest Indian cheeses. As a starter, the portion was perfect, and the taste was sensational. I could not recommend it any more highly.

For the main meal I had the chicken tikka masala marinade, which is essentially a traditional masala but with the twist of adding cashew nuts to the recipe. Again the meal was perfect with excellent traditional flavours and spices. The main was also brought to the table by the chef, which is a really nice touch.

And to accompany the meal, the naan bread. Now Akbar’s don’t just serve any old naan, no they produce ones the size of the menu. They may taste wonderful, but I challenge you to finish one on you’re own. I certainly know I couldn’t.

When looking at Akbar’s prices, I would have to say they are very reasonable. Especially with the quality of food and service you are receiving. It will not stretch the budget of even the most thrifty of students.

If you are looking for a classy establishment with good food, exquisite service, then Akbar’s of Middlesbrough should be your first port of call. It truly is the pride of Boro

from Tside

 

Hundreds of students are now making use of a new app which helps then find their way around the Teesside University campus.

The app has more than 10 sorts of services, which cover news, events,  travel, finding rooms, information on food/drink on campus, access to the library, log on emails and so on.

Richard Lilleker, a learning technologist of the Department of Learning Development, said: “We identified a gap for the university to have a mobile solution. Basically, there was a demand from the students for something to be produced, so mobile apps will give them access. A lot of other universities were doing that as well. So we identified the need for the apps. ”

The app will provide considerable benefit particularly to new students. For example, students can use the function of “finding rooms” to locate lectures and get walking directions from their current location. What’s more, the app is helpful to get information about campus life such as the latest news and upcoming events on campus.

“We are focused on students very much. People in a new campus that is quite unfamiliar, have got a map there, and they can see what facilities around the campus are,” Richard Lilleker said.

This app can also give access to Blackboard and search the library catalogue through the mobile device.

Libyan student Feras Abuzaid said: “I always use events and TUSC, so that I can know what will happen on that day in the university. About TUSC, I can top-up MyPrint credit in time. It’s very convenient. ”

Su Rong, a student from China said: “It is very useful for me. I haven’t used a laptop to log in Blackboard since I had this app.”

Some students hold different views.

“It’s not very easy to use. It’s very time consuming to go on e-mails,” Keri Guymer, a multimedia journalism student from England, said.

Chinese student Zeo Zhang said: “The new emails and status on Blackboard do not update automatically.”

To solve this problem, Richard Lilleker said: “I keep people interested and add new features as time goes on.”

The technologists of Learning Development are planning to update the features before Christmas.

 

 

from Tside

GRADUATION in China is completely different compared to the UK. We talked to three students from China about their experiences and feelings about it.

The parents from around the world were in their seats looking forward to the graduation ceremony to start. The arts and media school graduates were seated behind them. A Chinese student Sunny was one of them. At two o ‘clock, the tutors and head teacher entered from the aisle with music.

 

Around 4,000 graduates were in attendance at Middlesbrough Town Hall with family and friends to celebrate Teesside University’s annual academic awards ceremonies. Nearly 100 Chinese students were among them and some of them now had experience of both the East and West graduation ceremonies. They shared their feelings, which revealed the different education systems and cultures.

Han graduated from Hunan University in 2012 and studied digital art design at Teesside University. This was the second time in her life that she had attended the ceremony.

She said: “The UK’s graduation ceremony is seen as a significant thing for everyone. We can invite our parents to enjoy it no matter where you are from. After all, my parents didn’t come to my ceremony in China.”

Another Chinese girl named Xingchan Feng (Sunny), who studied public relations, attended academic awardsceremonies with her parents. “In my mind, graduation in the UK is a special day for celebrating our achievements in studies and any progress we made in the university,” she said.

Almost all the Chinese graduates looking back on the graduation ceremony mentioned the same word – formal. There had been a lot of preparation work to do before attending the academic awards ceremony in the UK.

Students need to be registered on the website of the school and apply for their guest tickets. After that, the loan gown must be reserved, prices generally for £40-£50. On the ceremony day, everyone dressed formally. What’s more, someone put the gown on the students to make sure everyone looked perfect.

Zhulin Cui (Meg), one of the Chinese students graduating from the computing school, said she had been “deeply moved” by the experience which could never happen in China.

“The biggest impression is the moment when our headteacher gave us a strong handshake on the stage and said `congratulations’. This makes all the effort worthwhile,” Sunny recalled.

Compared to the graduation ceremony in China the event felt slightly “rushed”. Because of China’s huge population universities there can’t pay indiviual attention to every student in the graduation ceremony.

Sunny added: “In the UK the students can go to the stage to get their awards one by one but in China, we just get the awards together. Moreover, the students do not require formal dress. We can wear anything we want in the graduation ceremony, like T-shirts and shorts.”

China had no academic dress uniform before 1994 when, in order to accord with the world convention, the gown started to appear at the Chinese graduation. However, the British graduation gown has hundreds of years of history. During the Middle Ages students are also required to wear a shawl, robes and hoods.

Meg said: “Why don’t we wear the traditional clothing instead of the gown? Chinese graduation should have unique characteristics in the future.”

Due to the culture shock, students said they had special feelings in the ceremony. “It was busy last year. But I learned lots of skills which I can’t learn from China,” Meg said.

Sunny said: “During this one year master’s study I experienced several academic tasks and practical projects which enhanced my professional knowledge.”

In China’s university graduation season, some students prepare to continue the study for a masters or PhD. Some are busy attending career fairs. In the UK, people of high achievement are invited to the ceremony and share their experiences with the students.

Sunny, who has placement experience in the UK, added: “Even it is a little hard for international students to get a job in the UK, try to do voluntary works which related to our course, and then it can help to get a job.”

from Tside

TEESSIDE University staff and students have paid tribute to a talented journalist and guest lecturer who has died aged 61.

Tony Locke helped to set up the Tside newspaper  and continued to share his wealth of industry experience with Multimedia Journalism students.

Stockton-born Tony served North-East newspapers for 30 years in an esteemed career that included the Evening Despatch in Darlington, the Hartlepool Mail andThe Gazette in Middlesbrough.

Having been such a key figure behind Tside many journalism lecturers and students both past and present have paid tributes to the man who brought great character to the newsroom.

Multimedia Journalism senior lecturer Bethany Usher said: “Tony helped set up the Tside newspaper six years ago and worked with students in every edition.”

“He also taught sub-editing to our students in the first year and those who’ve gone on to make a career in that area owe him a great deal.

“But it wasn’t just his teaching but the fun he brought to the newsroom which we will remember him for.

“He helped create a great atmosphere which gave students a real taste of the atmosphere of a newsroom.”

Paul Bailey, a Senior Lecturer in Journalism at Teesside University, first worked with Tony at the Hartlepool Mail in the 1980s.

“As a young reporter I learnt a lot from Tony, especially  the importance of spelling and grammar,” he said.

“He was great fun to work with and always had a witty comment.

“I can’t believe it was only a few weeks ago that he helped on our last edition of Tside and we all shared a drink together to celebrate its completion.

“It’s fair to say that without Tony’s help the papers wouldn’t have looked as good as they did and the students would not have learnt as much as they did.”

Tside co-editor Leonie Ann Garlick says the newsroom will always have a place for Tony.

She said: “Tony put so much heart into Tside, it was his baby as much as ours and he helped sustain our passion. He will be greatly missed and always thought of.”

Fellow Tside sub-editor Adam Burford added: “In the newsroom, Tony had a presence, it was uplifting and really made you enjoy the work you were doing.”

Sports Editor Thomas Robinson said Tony brought a lot of light heartedness to a busy environment.

“Tony brought an incredible amount of knowledge on the journalism industry and I personally can’t thank him enough for all he did for us this year.”

Sasha James, former Feature Editor at Tside and now Communications and Media Assistant at Thirteen, added: “Despite working with Tony over a short period of time, his wealth of knowledge, positive spirit and encouragement of student creativity are qualities I will never forget.”

“He was a true professional and brought so much to local journalism, as well as our editorial team.”

Over the six years that Tony worked with Tside he saw a number of students go on to make a name for themselves in the media industry.

Sports journalist Dom Shaw briefly met Tony during his time at Teesside University but worked alongside him at both the Hartlepool Mail and most recently The Gazette.

Dom said: “Tony was a fantastic bloke with a wicked sense of humour and a faultless taste in football and music.”

“He was a cracking sub and a pleasure to work alongside. He’ll be sorely missed by many.”

Former journalism student Anna Gutridge,  now managing editor for several magazines added: “Lockey was a real old school journo, never one to mince his words.”

“He inspired many promising students in the journalism  cohort and was always willing to share his knowledge and expertise along with a good dose of his incomparable wit.”

Tony’s funeral service will be at St Hilda’s Chapel, Teesside Crematorium, on Tuesday at 2.15pm.

from Tside

A NORTH-EAST singer is making her dreams come true by heading to the home of country music.

For local singer Hayley Mckay it’s going to be quite a summer in 2015.

The Darlington country singer is heading to the USA to Nashville –  the founding place of country music.

The singer said: “I’m very excited to go be going to Nashville.  It’s been a place I’ve always wanted to go to ever since I listened to country music as a child.”

“I’m going out for three weeks and then I’m going straight to Glastonbury so it’s going to be a very busy June.”

The singer has performed at the World’s biggest music festival before.

“One of the stages I performed on was the Mandala stage and it’s very hippy and kind of sit down, and its powered by two people on bikes which is a bit funny really,” She said.

 

Hayley works as a voice coach at the Darlington Forum Studio which she refers to as “her second home” and with her mother as the owner there is a family feel to the place.

It wasn’t long ago that Darlington Forum was in danger of closing down, but recently the venue has hosted  Lilly Allen’s producer and the drummer for Pulp, as well as Prodigy’s guitarist.

“It’s amazing to have somewhere like this in Darlington, there’s been loads of projects built here, and its really handy to have such as great recording studio,” Hayley said.

“There are so many artists I have great respect for that have influenced me, however my all-time favourite artists include Dolly Parton and Barbra Streisand.

“I come from a musical theatre background and therefore love the story telling element and pure emotion that both Barbra Streisand and Dolly Parton create”.

 

 

 

 

from Tside

The Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima) is giving people who like art and drawing  the opportunity to improve their skills.

Artists and beginners can join sessions  and draw a clothed model in various poses.

The drawings are then displayed in the gallery’s public spaces.

The art sessions are run once a week by Dr Jackie Steven.

“The sessions provides a social supportive environment for people to learn a new skill or develop their own drawing practice” Dr  Steven said.

Tside reporter Martha Neofytou took part in one of the sessions.

Click on the video below to find out more.

from Tside

An infestation of rats has forced a Middlesbrough takeaway business to close.

The Shawarma House, on Linthorpe Road, was shut down by Middlesbrough Council  after a Health and Safety inspection discovered poor standards of hygiene and evidence of rats and mice on the premises.

The takeaway previously closed in May 2014 after breaching the Council’s code of hygiene for the same reasons.

This closure has occurred not long after another takeaway on Linthorpe Road was also closed due to a rat infestation.

The Dhesi Grill was forced to shut after presenting a serious health risk and a lack of cleanliness.

However, after several days of cleaning and pest control measures, Middlesbrough Council carried out a further inspection and were satisfied that the health risk conditions had been removed and that the premises had been sanitised.

The Shawarma House remains closed at present, although it is expected that the owner will apply to have the prohibition lifed.

It will only reopen when Environmental Health Officers at the Council are satisfied that the business has been properly sanitised.

Investigations into the conditions of other takeaways and restaurants along Linthorpe Road are ongoing.

Wayne Flowers, Principal Environmental Health Officer at Middlesbrough Council,  said: “The closure of any food business is always a last resort.”

“However, the Council has a duty to protect the safety of the food chain and to protect consumers from unsafe food.”

“We carry out routine food hygiene visits to all food businesses in Middlesbrough and during the inspection of the Shawarma House in Linthorpe Road, our Environmental Health Officers found evidence of a serious mouse and rat infestation, together with poor standards of cleanliness.”

“Our message to students is to look for the hygiene rating when eating out. This lets them know the hygiene standards that were found during the last visit to a food business by Environmental Health Officers.

“The vast majority of food businesses in Middlesbrough have achieved good food hygiene ratings and despite the closure of the two outlets in Linthorpe recently, the closure of food businesses remains a very rare occurrence.”

Takeaway shops and restaurants along Linthorpe Road are popular with students at Teesside University, especially at the end of a night out.

Alex John, 19, is a student and regularly buys takeaways after he has been to the pub with his friends.

He was shocked to hear about the rat infestations and admitted: “It’s rather off-putting, considering Linthorpe Road is the main area for eateries in Middlesbrough.”

If students have any concerns about a food business in Middlesbrough, they can bring their concerns to the attention of the Council by calling the Environmental Health Team on 01642 728272 or emailing: food&safety@middlesbrough.gov.uk

from Tside

INTERNATIONAL students got the chance to learn how to make British food at a special cookery event.

The event was held as part of a food and nutrition workshop at Teesside University.

Qimi Jiang went along and filmed the event.

Click on the video below to find out more.

 

from Tside

Rapper Tyler, The Creator, a member of bizarre LA hip-hop collective Odd Future has released his new album Cherry Bomb.

Largely self-produced, Cherry Bomb is Tyler’s third solo studio album. The album has 13 tracks, it includes the previously revealed singles Deathcamp and F*cking Young, a Kanye West and Lil Wayne collaboration called Smuckers, The Brownstains featuring ScHoolboy Q, and a Pharrell Williams contribution titled Keep Da O’s and more.

None of the Odd Future members appear for the first time on Tyler’s album.

Although the US rapper did stick with Odd Future’s dark and often absurdist approach, F*cking Young shows Tyler in a somewhat awkward love story while Deathcamp is altogether more hardcore and rebellious.

Certain songs on the album have peaceful intermissions. Tyler explained that he wanted to make music just like the type of music he actually listens to.

Anyone expecting a To Pimp a Butterfly-style black nation address will be disappointed by Cherry Bomb. As usual it’s the state of Tyler’s brain that is under scrutiny.

Tyler gave his fans a four day warning on Twitter and alerted them that he was rush-releasing his new album. After the album was released on iTunes, the rapper continuously tweeted explaining where he got his inspiration for his songs.

F*cking Young was the first single that has been released with a video:

Tyler received a lot of feedback from people complaining that the music he has created isn’t the same as before, to which he replied “OPEN YOUR MIND, ITS SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC.”

After promoting the album he tweeted his fans some advice:

 

from Tside