Last Thursday, I held the Ponteland Over 50's Fair at the Ponteland Leisure Centre.
60 local employers, charities, community groups and volunteering networks came along and set up their stalls in the new state of the art sports hall.
The opportunities on offer were incredible. What what struck me most was the huge variety in the hall. There were plenty of employers looking for new recruits, including EE, Matfen Hall, Ouseburn Farm, North East Fostering, Springfield Healthcare, St Cuthbert's Care, Home Instead, and Groundworks North East. Newcastle Airport, one of the region's biggest employers, also came along and very kindly sponsored the event.
There was also a fantastic number of local volunteering and hobby groups at the fair, and I must admit I didn't realise there were quite so many in Ponteland. From Ponteland Friendly Stitchers and Ponteland Local History Society, to the Ponteland Ramblers, and the Ponteland Senior Gentlemen's Club, there really was something for every single one of the 400 people who turned up looking for a job, a volunteering opportunity, or a new hobby to take up.
The feedback from all was positive. The atmosphere on the day was relaxed, people were able to just come and go as they pleased, and there was no pressure to sign up to anything - some just came along for a coffee and a chat. It was fantastic to see so many smiles on faces - I think the most important thing was that everyone seemed to enjoy the event.
I want to thank everyone who came along. After many many months of preparation and planning, I'm so pleased that the fair was a roaring success. I'm looking forward to next year's already.