Durham Community Action has a You Tube channel where you can keep updated with new video case studies on topics such as successful funding bids and local community projects. Visit our You Tube channel here (case studies are also available on our website).

You can also catch up on our podcast series - our most recent focuses on health and wellbeing activities developed in partnership with Social Prescribing Link Workers and VCSE organisations.

Other episodes also include Volunteers' Week, Community Growing and Food, Going Green and the Environment, Safeguarding and Social Prescribing.

Listen to our podcasts here

This July our Rural Housing Enabler Susan Tron is attending a training event for the national Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) Programme, a networking opportunity for all RHE's to share and explore their experience carrying out the RHE role and delivering rural affordable housing.

There are some really good examples nationally that Susan would like to share with residents of County Durham. The session will also look forward, exploring two models for drawing on local funding for RHE services and will give DCA an update on national policy work.

Susan has been covering the Rural Housing Enabling role in County Durham since January and is constantly looking for good examples to inspire and innovate in our own area.

Susan has been speaking to residents in rural areas about what the issues rural residents in our county are facing. She also recently visited Northumberland who are much further forward with their RHE Programme. They have a healthy pipeline of rural affordable housing coming forward with a variety of business models.

If you would like to find our more or would like Susan to come out to talk to your community group please contact her here: susan.tron@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk or 07496 461 998

Photograph: Newbrough, Charlton Close, Northumberland - 14 homes delivered by Karbon Homes and 4 self build plots.

‘Nothing about us, without us, is for us’.

County Durham Poverty Truth Commission, hosted by Durham Community Action, aims to respond to the question ‘what if people who struggle against poverty are involved in making decisions about tackling poverty?’

During 2024/25 we will work with people across Ferryhill, Shildon, Bishop Auckland and Newton Aycliffe to try to answer that question. We will bring together people with experience of poverty and senior civic and business leaders to collaborate on changes which will lead to better outcomes.  

If you work in these areas, know people with experience of struggling with poverty who would be willing to share their story, and who want to bring about change please get in touch.

Project Coordinator: Cathryn Gathercole:

cathryn.gathercole@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk

Project Worker: Julie Gourley:

julie.gourley@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk

Bookings are now open for our next series of Community Development workshops which will take place from September to December.

These workshops are based on topics we regularly receive enquiries about and include topics such as safeguarding, governance, completing funding applications and volunteer management. 

Asda Foundation have grants of between £10,000 and £25,000 for renovations, repairs and development of spaces and buildings that benefit the community. 

They particularly encourage applications from groups who:

• Are located in an area of deprivation
• Are inclusive and encourage diversity
• Are tackling food poverty
• Are tackling local crime/ anti-social behaviour
• Have a positive environmental impact

The deadline for applications is Sunday 28th July but if demand is exceptionally high Asda Foundation may close applications ahead of this date. 

Durham Community Action is looking at how community buildings across County Durham can help support local people in the event of another emergency like Storm Arwen.

We are asking people running community buildings to tell us how they can help in an emergency and if they need support to help improve their facilities.

We would be grateful if you would take a few minutes to complete this survey which will help us to understand the range of emergency support facilities across County Durham.

Complete the survey here - the deadline for responses is Wednesday 31st July.

For any enquiries please email info@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk

Following the recent launch of the Pharmacy First service,  Healthwatch County Durham are keen to hear about people's experiences of visiting the pharmacy. 

Pharmacy First allows people to get treatment for some conditions directly from a pharmacy without needing a GP appointment or prescription.

This research is part of the Health and Wellbeing Board's review looking at whether there are adequate pharmacy services to meet the needs of the local population.

Complete the survey here

The VCSE Barometer Survey builds insight into real-time trends, changes and challenges in the UK voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. Findings are shared every quarter with national policy and decision-makers, local infrastructure organisations and the VCSE sector.

Wave 7 is open from 3rd - 24th July 2024, with a topical focus on the changing nature of VCSE service delivery.  

Also included is a short question set about the Big Help Out and Volunteers’ Week 2024:

VCSE Barometer Survey | Nottingham Trent University 

Face to Face Customer Services

Have your say on proposals to change the way we offer face to face services to our residents.

Proposed changes to face to face customer services

Closing Date: 28th July

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New Local Network boundary areas

Have your say on proposals for new Local Network (Area Action Partnerships) boundary areas, moving to 12 Local Networks from 14 Area Action Partnerships.

Proposals for new Local Network boundary areas

Closing Date: 18th August

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Advice Services

Have your say in how advice services are offered to County Durham residents in the future. These services include managing money, debt management and access to benefits, as well as welfare, employment, housing, consumer rights and health and social care.

Advice service consultation

Closing Date: 20th September

Due to the recent ending of a tenancy agreement, Waddington Street Centre has a room available to hire on the ground floor of the building. The room is 4 metres square, partially furnished and has been previously used as a service office and a counselling room. The building has wifi throughout.

Waddington Street Centre is located a five minute walk from Durham bus and rail stations and has the advantage of being a community based mental health resource with a cafe facility that is open 5 days per week. On street metered parking is available in the immediate vicinity of the centre.
The room is available at a rent of £6k pa which includes utility costs.

Viewings available. Please make enquiries on 0191 3860702 to either Manager Ali Lee alee@waddingtoncentre.co.uk or Assistant Manager Steve Wakefield swakefield@waddingtoncentre.co.uk