Would you like to support Durham Community Action and its partners to bring about change through the development of Poverty Truth Commissions for County Durham?

We are recruiting a Poverty Truth Commission Project Coordinator. This new role will set up and drive the development of the Poverty Truth Commissions, bringing capacity to a project developed in partnership with a range of voluntary and public sector partners. 

The deadline for applications is 12.00noon on Monday 22nd January. 

Did you know that last winter Durham County Council and County Durham Community Foundation funded over 100 Warm Spaces across County Durham?

Community groups can once again apply for funding to go towards their welcoming and warm space for their local community.

Welcome Spaces are places where people can go to keep warm and well and get signposted to various support, help or confidential advice. You can find welcome spaces in venues such as community centres, village halls and churches. All those who receive funding from County Durham Community Foundation will sign up to the Welcome Spaces Charter. Through the charter, the welcome space is committing to working to the following standards: treat everyone equally, that the space will be free to use, safe, confidential and that someone will be on hand to help guests if needed.

All Welcome Spaces offer a warm cup of tea or coffee, free of charge and many offer snacks or even a hot meal. It’s a great opportunity for people to enjoy food and drink whilst chatting to other people. Community groups who run a Welcome Space do an amazing job at making other facilities available too. There may be options to charge a mobile phone, use the internet, read the paper or even do some laundry. In some spaces there are optional activities to get involved with, but there is always the option to have some quiet to sit and ‘just be’.

Ferryhill Ladder Centre is just one of the community spaces who has received funding from the Welcome Spaces Fund. Kath Merrington, development worker at the centre said:

"The Welcome Spaces funding has encouraged new people to come to the centre without any stigma attached. You could be coming in for absolutely anything, whether it be to get some advice, to socialise or to keep warm. The funding as also helped with social isolation too. People who visit the centre are making new friends as well as keeping warm and having refreshments. It has made a big impact in our community. It's a win-win really to apply for funding for your centre and local community!"

The fund was initially called Warm Spaces last winter. The name was changed to Welcome Spaces to reflect the full impact of these community spaces. Keeping warm is just one aspect of the fund, the community spaces are also great places to connect with others, find out about local support and create a great sense of community spirit.

More information on applying for funding can be found on CDCF’s website. Groups can apply for up to £3000 and funding must be used by end April 2024.

Our latest podcast focuses on the Welcome Spaces fund which is available to organisations in County Durham to host free weekly community spaces that aims to keep people warm, allow people to socialise and also receive advice and support.

We discuss what Welcome Spaces are, how you can apply for the £3,000 grants and the impact the fund has made to a local community building in County Durham.

Interviewees include: Naomi Stevens, Senior Fund Manager at County Durham Community Foundation and Kath Merrington, Development Worker at Ferryhill Ladder Centre.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Wheels2Work County Durham have bicycles available for people who would like to volunteer with groups within County Durham but find a lack of personal transport a barrier to get there.

With funding provided through the County Durham Community Foundation Poverty Hurts and Household Support Funds, Wheels2Work County Durham can provide a brand-new bicycle, helmet and accessories from the Halfords Apollo range which will be delivered directly to their door.

Liam Weatherill, Project Manager, Wheels2Work County Durham said:

“Our focus is providing transport for people who find it a struggle to get to work or education. However, we have extended this offer to County Durham residents who want to, or are, volunteering and would benefit from being given a bicycle to own and access these opportunities.

We understand that volunteering is a proven pathway to employment and education, and we would like to support people choosing this proactive journey.”

To be eligible for the bicycle scheme the applicant must:

• Live in County Durham
• Have a confirmed offer of employment, education or volunteering
• Not possess, or be able to purchase their own personal transport
• Find the journey a struggle in terms of either the availability of alternatives (public transport) or affordability.
• Provide a £20 contribution to the scheme (either from the applicant or hosting organisation).

Visit Bicycle application form | Wheels 2 Work (w2wcd.org.uk) to apply to join the “Recycle2Work” Bicycle Scheme and simply complete the application form, or call 0191 3038442 for more details.

Wheels2Work County Durham is also celebrating a £230,054 funding award from the National Lottery Community Fund. This will support the organisation over the next 3 years to provide personal transport services for County Durham residents struggling to access employment, education and volunteering.   

Our next meeting will take place online on Thursday 29th February from 2.00 - 3.30pm.

We will be welcoming Little Sprouts a community food charity based in Teesside who will tell us all about the work they do. 

The meeting is a place to share your own experiences and connect and learn from others, offering the opportunity for discussion and networking with other organisations.

Look out for further information coming soon or email lyndsey.hocking@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk to learn more about the network. 

This online training aims to provide you with an understanding of the basics of cyber security in a small charity, and what steps you should be taking to protect your organisation. After the session, you will be provided with the National Cyber Security Centre’s Cyber Security: Small Charity Guide to help you put your new knowledge into practice. 

It is being ran by DCA on Wednesday 31st January from 10.00 - 11.30am.

Inclusion North are running a Citizenship Conference in Newcastle on 8th February. 

It is for people to think about how they live and what they need and how services can support them.  There will be lots of speakers and workshops where you can tell us what you think.  

This conference is for people who are 12 years of age or older, people with a learning disability, autistic people and family carers who live in the North East and North Cumbria and people who work within the Integrated Care System.

Durham University and Catch22 will be delivering their FREE online Click Start course to provide learners with the knowledge and skills they need to start a career in the tech sector. The course is now open for applicants to apply.  

Eligibility Criteria

• Identify as female or non-binary
• 18 – 40 (preferably 30).
• Right to live and work in the UK
• Hold maths and English GCSE
• Any North East postcode
• Personal income of £25,000 or unemployed.
• Have a barrier to employment or education

Course Delivery

• Technical content is delivered by Durham University and Professional content by Catch22.
• Learners will also be allocated a careers coach and will receive support for up to 6 months after the course completion helping them find employment, an apprenticeship or further learning.
• Courses will start from February / March 2024
• There are 150 places available for next year
• Courses are:
• 12 weeks (1 day a week)
• 12 weeks (2 evening a week)
• 6 weeks (2 days a week

If you have any questions or would like to make a referral , please email gareth.moore@catch-22.org.uk