It is the first day back at Nub News HQ, we hope you all had a lovely Christmas.

As we ease back into roving reporting, here are five recent news stories that have happened, but you may have missed in Macclesfield.

Ceasefire Choir

The lyrics for the carol can be read above.

On Saturday 23rd December, thirty people gathered in Macclesfield Marketplace to sing Ceasefire Carols - carols and Christmas songs with the words changed to express support for Palestinians and for a ceasefire.

Shoppers stopped to listen and show their appreciation to the Market Place choir.

The group will be hosting more events, and if you wish to take part, please email [email protected] or Macclesfield for Palestine on social media.

Yas Bean open satellite site

Yas Bean sandwiches and bakes. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

A Macclesfield coffee shop have expanded their empire with a new premises, but it isn't one you can go to.

The Buxton Road coffee shop, also known for their divine bakes, had previously baked in a small kitchen upstairs.

But as the business has expanded, and so too has the scope of their brownie business with delivery available across the country, the need for a bigger kitchen was required.

So the independent coffee shop have decided to take on a satellite site where they will have a bigger kitchen to bake sweet treats in.

Yas Bean have took on where Revive used to be on Sunderland Street, so baker Dan Hardman can continue to grow the Yas Bean empire.

Macclesfield musicians release maiden album

Click the red link below to listen. (Image - Spotify)

Also this winter, a band with musicians from Macclesfield have released their debut album.

Meadow Meadow, which contains Fallibroome Academy alumni James Green and Pete Darlington, dropped You Are So Alive at the end of November.

The bandmates used to be part of the Macclesfield band Spring King.

Meadow Meadow's first album is a relaxing, 44-minute sonic adventure that you can listen to HERE.

Farm Shop Expansion

(Image - Cheshire East Council)

Good News for local brewers, as a farm shop in rural SK10 have applied for an alcohol licence.

Brook House Farm Shop want to sell booze between 8am and 5:30pm Monday to Sunday.

Find more about the business by clicking HERE.

Funds to Boost Fostering in Macclesfield

Westfields, Cheshire East Council HQ. (Image - Nub News)

Councils across Cheshire and Merseyside have secured more than £2.3million from the Department for Education to transform foster carer recruitment and retention across the region. 

More than £1million of the funding will go towards delivering a new, larger and improved fostering recruitment hub, which will launch in April 2024. The improved hub will help all councils to deliver a more joined up approach to foster carer recruitment and provide an offer that is attractive and supportive to prospective carers. 

The remaining £1million funding will go towards the Mockingbird programme, which nurtures the relationships between children, young people and foster families supporting them to build a resilient and caring community of six to ten satellite families - called a constellation.

Cheshire East Council has already set up two Mockingbird constellations which feature an experienced hub carer at its core, providing crucial support for maintaining stable homes (often called placements) and ensuring consistency for the children and young people in their care.

To find out more about becoming a foster carer in Cheshire East, then visit www.togetherforfostering.com email: [email protected]  or call 0300 123 3223.