Players at a Newcastle community cricket club have been given a four-figure grant from regional employer the Banks Group. Newcastle City Cricket Club’s men’s first XI is playing its first ever season in the top tier of the regional cricket pyramid after winning promotion to Division One of the North East Premier League last year.
As part of making the step up, the club had to make a number of improvements to the facilities at its Broadway West ground in Gosforth, including buying a new set of sightscreens, which are required for matches at this level. The club used a £2,000 grant from the Banks Group to bring in the sightscreens, which have helped it reach a mid-table position after the first six games of the new season.
Omar Ahmed, chairman at Newcastle City Cricket Club, said: “The club has been on a real upward curve over recent seasons and we’re aiming to keep that going as we find our way in the top tier of North East club cricket. Buying the sightscreens represented a big capital outlay for us, so we’re really grateful to the Banks Group for stepping in and enabling us to get them on site in time for the new season.”
The Banks Group is the business behind the nearby Kingston Village development, which will see around 900 new family homes being built on a 49-hectare site.
Jamilah Hassan, community relations manager at the Banks Group, added: “Newcastle City Cricket Club is a fantastic example of everything that a community sports club should be and offers so many opportunities to players of all ages. Banks is a long-term supporter of grassroots cricket right across the North East and we’re very pleased to be able to help Newcastle City bring in the new sightscreens they needed for their first Premier League season.”
County Durham based Rezon has been named winner of the Innovation Award for Sports Equipment Design at the FIT Sport Design Awards 2025. The award recognises Rezon’s flagship product, the Rezon Halos - a sports headband that protects the brain. The headband is designed to reduce risk of concussion and developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) from the accumulated damage of sub-concussions.
The FIT Sport Design Awards celebrate innovation and sustainable design in the world of sports, throwing a spotlight one advancements from equipment to smart apparel and performance footwear. Rezon was chosen from a field of leading sports innovators representing more than 20 countries across 45 categories.
The award marks Rezon’s second international recognition in less than two months, having been a finalist at the SPOT 2025 Awards in Lausanne, Switzerland. Rezon recently entered the Japanese market, meaning it now sells into 15 countries worldwide, with its Halos product being used across 18 different sports.
Judith McMinn, CEO and founder of Rezon, said: “This award is a tremendous honour and an endorsement of our relentless focus on brain protection in sport. We founded Rezon to challenge outdated safety norms and put neuroscience at the heart of our innovation. To be recognised on the international stage for that vision proves that we are moving in the right direction as a company. Our Halos is more than a product; it’s a commitment to athlete wellbeing and safety in sports across the world.”
Planning consultancy Lichfields has announced that Lambton Park and Northumbria Health and Care Academy have both been shortlisted for Best Project at the 2025 Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) North East Awards for Planning Excellence.
The awards showcase and celebrate the best plans, people and projects. The consultancy submitted its work on the Cramlington-based Northumbria Health and Care Academy, describing it as a groundbreaking facility, forming part of the wider Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital estate. The development has a training centre of excellence for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, as well as a GP surgery.
Meanwhile, Lambton Park comprises the development of around 400 new homes together with offices and a commercial centre. Harvey Emms, senior director and head of office, said: “The office is proud to play its part in delivering growth across the North East. Our submissions highlight Lichfields’ commitment to being responsive, flexible, and adaptable in securing results for our clients.”
Newcastle Theatre Royal Trust is inviting supporters to help “make the magic possible” by joining its new and vital fundraising scheme. The trust, which runs the Grey Street theatre, is growing its community of passionate patrons to help protect, sustain, and enhance Newcastle Theatre Royal.
The move is important as the institution strives to bring world-class theatre to the North East, provide creative engagement programmes that enrich underserved parts of our community, and preserve the landmark Grade I listed building.
The patrons’ scheme launched this week to focus on building relationships with people who want to enhance their connection with the theatre and increase their commitment to creating opportunities for as many people as possible to enjoy the passion, joy and emotion that live performances can deliver.
The scheme comprises four packages ranging from £306 to £5,000-plus per year, with perks including exclusive ticket concierge service, exclusive access to patron-only events, and a private, behind the scenes tour on top of benefits enjoyed by Friends Plus members.
Newcastle Theatre Royal’s head of development Kelly Smith said: “Joining our Patrons scheme is about more than philanthropy, it’s a statement of belief that culture should be accessible to everyone. As a patron, you help us bring world-class theatre to local audiences, support thousands of young people through creative engagement and preserve an iconic building that belongs to the whole community.”
