In our latest podcast, we spoke to Jack Drum Arts and young researchers about their community research project focused on the role of heritage and the arts in strengthening rural communities.

Listen to the Community Research Projects Podcast

The Rural Durham Community Research Network provides opportunities for all ages to lead research, and over the last 12 months the network has funded two community research projects which are being led by young people with support from two VCSE organisations: TCR Hub and Jack Drum Arts.

Read how their research is showcasing how younger generations can shape communities:

Young people lead research in rural County Durham, showcasing how younger generations can shape communities

In our latest blog, Julie Gourley, our County Durham Poverty Truth Commission Project Worker, reflects on the achievements of the Commission over the last 18 months. 

Read the blog here

You can also read previous blogs following the County Durham Poverty Truth Commission's journey here

Members of DCA's staff team attended this event last week, one year on from the launch of the Child Poverty Action Plan. It provided an opportunity to reflect on the interventions being delivered across the North East, summarised in this video shared at the event:

Child Poverty Summit Showcase - July 2026

Over two hundred people attended the event, and we heard from those delivering life-changing projects, including the work of some amazing young peer researchers, as well as taking part in reviewing the current Action Plan to make sure the North East is the best place for young people to grow up and live. 

An announcement was also made about how families across the North East will benefit from a major expansion in one of North East Mayor Kim McGuinness’s flagship programmes to tackle child poverty.

Read more here:

£2.6 million National Lottery boost secured to expand Mayor's scheme to deliver benefits advice in schools

Building new affordable homes is essential to remove barriers to growth and opportunity in rural areas.

When launching the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government acknowledged that building in rural areas is often more expensive, and that the SAHP would seek to support the delivery of more rural affordable homes through greater flexibility of grant funding. This is extremely welcome, but costs are just one of the barriers to be overcome.

Our Rural Housing Enabler, Susan, spoke on a webinar hosted by the National Housing Federation during Rural Housing Week, their annual campaign to highlight the many social and economic benefits affordable housing brings to rural communities. The webinar highlighted some of the challenges facing rural affordable housebuilding and how national and local political leaders, alongside the combined efforts of delivery partners and others, can work to overcome these and ensure rural communities benefit from the government’s ‘decade of social and affordable housing renewal’.

Speakers

• Martin Collett, Chief Executive, English Rural
• Dr Demelza Jones, Research Fellow, Countryside & Community Research Institute
• Susan Tron MBE, Community Development Officer/ Rural Housing Enabler
• Michael Jones, Director of Development and Investment, Broadacres

You can watch the recording here:

Opportunities for building more rural affordable homes

A Women’s Community Awareness Event has been organised between DCA and The Wise Group on Thursday 30th July at North Road Methodist Church, Durham City, between 11.00am and 2.00pm. This aims to raise the profile of the wide range of support services available to women across County Durham, including areas such as finance, accommodation, wellbeing, employment, recovery and community support.

The intention is for local services and organisations to host stalls and information tables throughout the event, providing advice, guidance and raising awareness of the support available within the community. This will give women the opportunity to speak directly with service providers, ask questions, access information and make informed decisions about the support available to them.

The event will also provide an opportunity for local organisations and professionals to network, build partnerships and strengthen referral pathways. Whilst the event is specifically focused on women, we hope it will showcase the breadth of support available across the area, encourage greater collaboration between organisations and improve access to support for women across County Durham.

Stalls are available for organisations to promote their services, and please do encourage women accessing your services and activities to attend.  For further information, please contact ian_ward@thewisegroup.co.uk

Our last Virtual Funding Information Session of this series takes place on Thursday 17th September from 10.00 - 11.30am with The Rothley Trust

This session is for representatives of voluntary and community groups across County Durham.

There will be information on the funds they have available, how to apply, and there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions. 

Book your place here:

The Rothley Trust Virtual Funding Information Session

Bookings are now open for our autumn community development workshops, which run from September to December. The workshops are fully funded and are based on topics we regularling received enquiries about. 

The workshops cover a range of issues including funding applications, volunteer management, safeguarding, GDPR, trustee responsibilities, community engagement, trading, managing risk and health and safety. 

Visit our Training and Events page for more information and to book places

The Gas Safe Charity has been reminding people to stay vigilant about the dangers of CO throughout the summer months. 

They have a wide range of free resources available to help organisations talk with the people they support about CO, including a new quiz to test people’s awareness. 

Visit The Gas Safe Charity website

Children North East has launched a collection of free summer holiday activity packs for children in Years 1 - 8.

Packed with puzzles, word searches, maths and English activities, colouring pages, and outdoor challenges, the packs are designed to help keep children learning, active, and entertained throughout the school holidays.

Find out more:

Children North East - Summer Holiday Activity Packs

The Mayor’s Opportunity Fund (Round 4) provides grants to charities and voluntary groups in the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (North East MSA) area to support a broad range of practical cost-of-living interventions, prioritising projects that support residents most at risk of hardship and provide support that is responsive, preventative, and community-led.

This round is designed to complement existing regional and local provision, including the Warm Homes programme and welfare advice services, ensuring funding adds value rather than duplicates established support.

Full details can be found here:

Mayor's Opportunity Fund (Round 4) 

The deadline for applications is Monday 27th July. 

The GSK IMPACT Awards are for charities with a total annual income between £150,000 and £3 million.

They are funded by GSK and provide core funding and free training for charities doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing.

Up to 15 awards will be made, ranging from £5,000 to £50,000, plus free training and development valued at a further £13,500.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 19th August.

The GSK Community Health programme supports small charities tackling health inequalities with a total annual income between £20,000 and £150,000. 

Up to 10 charities will receive up to £10,000 in unrestricted funding plus access to free training and development valued at £5,000.

The closing date for applications is Monday 10th August.

GSK and The King’s Fund encourage organisations to apply that are led by and support people from under-represented backgrounds, people from ethnic minority communities, people with disabilities and people from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge as we recognise that diversity makes us stronger.

Find out more here:

GSK IMPACT Awards

Durham County Council's consultation and engagement platform, Let’s Talk County Durham, provides a space for people to be actively involved in local decision-making, deciding together what should happen.

By registering on the site, you can create your personalised account to make the most of its features and get alerts on subjects or geographical areas of interest to you.

Visit: www.letstalkcountydurham.co.uk