WORKPLACE AWARD: Teesside company Fabrick Housing Group has been given a special stamp of recognition to recognise its commitment to staff health.

The North East Better Health at Work award is awarded by Public Health North East to celebrate its efforts to boost the health and wellbeing of employees.

Fabrick, the umbrella group for social landlords Erimus Housing, Tees Valley Housing and support charity Norcare, scooped the quality mark after offering discounted gym membership, running cancer awareness roadshows, holding sessions on managing stress and stopping smoking, and offering health assessments to all staff.

OFFICE DAYS: People in Redcar who work from home can sign up for “days in the office” to work alongside other like-minded individuals.

The Co-worker days will be held at The Palace Hub, Redcar, on Wednesday January 29, February 28 and March 28, with more dates to follow. They aim to provide people who work in isolation with a “day in the office” and help them to network and increase any business opportunities.

The Palace Hub is on the site of the original Palace Cinema on the Redcar seafront. To book a place visit www.colleaguesontap.com/coworking-days/ NOTICE BOARD: Two Hartlepool councillors have used £750 of their individual ward budgets to fund a notice board at Clavering shops in the town.

Paul Beck and Jean Robinson have used part of their £5,000 ward budgets, introduced last year to enable local councillors to fund improvements in their areas, to build the much-needed board on land owned by local businessman Leo Gillen, who is supporting the new amenity. The local community is being encouraged to use the notice board.

Anyone interested in displaying information should contact Susan McBride at Hartlepool Council on 01429 523075. Alternatively, email susan.mcbride@hartlepool.gov.uk.

NEW ROLLERS: Roller derby team Middlesbrough Milk Rollers (MMR) opened their doors for a free taster session at Eston Sports Academy at the weekend.

The sport, which is growing in popularity, is a contact sport involving formation roller skating around an oval track. There are now about 100 leagues in the Uk, with MMR in the top ten.

Experienced coaches helped beginners at the try-out on Saturday afternoon. The league is looking to recruit skaters, referees and non-skating officials, who will receive full training.

To sign up and reserve skates email boroskates@hotmail.co.uk or contact the team via facebook.com/milkrollers.

LIFEGUARD TASTER: A six-week course for budding lifeguards starts at Mill House Leisure Centre in Hartlepool on Thursday (Jan 16).

Called ‘Begin 2 Lifeguarding’, the course - which is open to people aged 16-25 – runs on Thursdays from 4.30pm-6.45pm at the Raby Road venue..

The course was originally planned to start on 9th January but has been rescheduled and will now run from January 16 to February 20. It will prepare people who want to work towards their National Pool Lifeguard Qualification – but is also useful for people who just want to improve their swimming and survival skills.

The course costs £10 and places must be booked in advance. For more information or to book, contact Ryan Houghton on 01429 284414 or email ryan.houghton@hartlepool.gov.uk [ends]