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 Project Worker to support the Poverty Truth Commission. This new role is part of a small team who 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.

Did You Know that Durham Community Action run a range of health and wellbeing focussed networks?

The Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector has always been a key deliverer, planner and influencer of services that contribute to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.   County Durham organisations work hard to tackle health inequalities and improve the lives of those living and working here.   

As part of our role as a local infrastructure organisation, we lead a range of networks for organisations and professionals involved in health and wellbeing work.  The aim is to bring people together, to share information, experiences and good practice, to provide peer support and to connect to the work of VCSE organisations across the County.   Here’s an overview of the current health and wellbeing networks we facilitate:

Our Social Prescriber Link Worker (SPLW) Network is open to social prescribers in County Durham. It is an opportunity for them to connect with a range of VCSE projects and services, enabling social prescribers to refer people for appropriate support.  These regular in-person sessions also give time for peer support and development for SPLW, and we are currently delivering training sessions to the network based on identified needs.

The County Durham Cree Network comprises forty Crees across County Durham, supported by DCA and Durham County Council's Public Health Team.  The Cree project launched in 2011, originally based on the Australian Men's Shed movement (Cree being a term used in the traditional pastime of homing pigeons) and has evolved to offer a safe, communal space to men, women and young people who may be experiencing poor mental health, are at risk of social isolation, self-harm or suicide and those with general health and wellbeing needs. The Network meets regularly online or in-person.

The Community Growing and Food Network brings together like-minded organisations who deliver projects or have an interest related to growing and food.  Network sessions are held bi-monthly, with a different theme for each session and a combination of online meetings and in-person events hosted at different sites of growing and food projects. There’s also a Facebook group organisations can join to connect between meetings.  

The most recent, launched in 2023, are the Wellbeing Link Worker Networks (formerly Mental Health Link Worker Networks). These bring together organisations who support the wellbeing of individuals in various parts of County Durham. There are six different networks based on geographical locations, but together cover every area of the County. They meet bi-monthly with a mix of in-person and online meetings.  

For more information about these and the other networks we run, please contact us on 01388 742040, by email or visit our website. 

You can also sign up to our Health and Wellbeing newsletter here

Durham County Council have been working alongside County Durham Community Foundation to support Welcome Spaces (formerly Warm Spaces) by offering funding to the voluntary and community sector to help create a network of spaces where people can receive a warm welcome.

The fund is still open to new applicants and the deadline of April has been extended, enabling groups to maintain a welcome space beyond this date.

If you’re considering making an application don’t delay as the fund will be closing within the next couple of weeks.

The Greggs Foundation Community Grants programme recognises the essential role of local organisations in tackling the challenges facing communities.  They offer core funding grants to community organisations across the UK of up to £20,000 per year.  

To receive a Greggs Foundation Community Grant you must be a not-for-profit organisation, delivering in a least one of the areas below and operating in the locations listed in our current round of funding, which in this round includes County Durham:

• Addressing direct needs in the local community
• Providing food and support for individuals
• Reducing social isolation and widening networks
• Building knowledge, confidence and opportunities

The deadline for applications is 18th March.

We are delighted to welcome back a range of funders and grant-giving organisations for a series of virtual funding information sessions for representatives of voluntary and community groups across County Durham.

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

These sessions are running between now and May.

The Community Growing and Food Network is a network for community organisations in County Durham that are involved in or are interested in, community food and growing projects to come together to share experiences, connect with each other and discuss topics of interest.

At the next online meeting on Thursday 29th February from 2.00 – 3.30pm we will be welcoming Debbie Fixter from Little Sprouts, a community food based charity based in Teesside to tell us about their projects.

We will also hear from Ushaw Moor Action Group about the developments at their community garden space and what this season brings. 

The Durham Community Action Share and Learn Network is a network of community organisations that run local buildings and local services. Regular meetings take place and focus on various topics including governance, funding and compliance.

Our next meeting is coming up so please come along and join us to celebrate Village Halls Week 2024

It will be an in person event on Thursday 21st March from 10.00am - 12.00noon at Croxdale Community Centre. 

This year it will celebrate everything village halls can do to ‘go green.’

We will hear from:

• d3associates who will talk about their work on Energy Audits and developing options for every saving measures for community buildings. 
• Trustees from Croxdale Community Centre will talk about the improvements they have made to the building and their plans for the future.
• A community building that has successfully started a community garden. 

If your hall is running an event to celebrate Village Halls Week please email and let us know and we are happy to help with promotion.

DCA is running two different Safeguarding workshop in February,

The Introduction to Safeguarding Workshop which takes place on Wednesday 27th March from 10.00 - 11.30am is aimed at new trustees, staff or volunteers within the voluntary sector.

This session will help you to:

• Gain a basic understanding of safeguarding
• Understand personal responsibilities for safeguarding
• Identify different types of abuse and harm
• Recognise signs of possible safeguarding issues
• Know what to do if you have a safeguarding concern.

Book your place here

The Understanding Safeguarding for Voluntary and Community Organisations which takes place on Tuesday 27th February from 6.00 - 7.00pm focuses on writing or updating a safeguarding policy as well as improving the safeguarding culture within your organisation. It is tailored towards trustees of voluntary and community organisations. 

Book your place here

This online session on Tuesday 26th March from 10.00 - 11.30am is aimed at volunteer-led organisations and community groups.

It will cover understanding trustees’ responsibilities for health and safety in their organisation, establishing what needs to be included in a policy, understanding basic Health and Safety law and identifying relevant health and safety needs for staff and managers.

In March 2024 we will be running a Mental Health Awareness Level 2 workshop.

This is an accredited learning qualification which will develop a learner’s awareness of Mental Health. Those attending will understand terminology, impacts and legislation around Mental Health, know how to maintain their own Mental Health and where to get help.

The session is a full day, face-to-face workshop and will be held at our Willington offices.

Look out for dates and times coming soon. 

This consultation is targeted at organisations, businesses, local and public authorities, and individuals who own or operate publicly accessible premises or events that the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill will potentially affect.

It seeks views from those responsible for smaller premises which would fall within the standard tier.

The bill will impose requirements in relation to certain premises and events to increase their preparedness for, and protection from, a terrorist attack by requiring them to take proportionate steps, depending on the size and nature of the activities that take place at the premises.

The deadline for responses is Monday 18th March

Gambling Addiction and Risks of Gambling Related Harm Survey

If you've experienced issues related to gambling, or been impacted by issues relating to someone over the age of 18 years old who gambles, we'd like to hear from you.

Gambling addiction and risks of gambling related harm survey

Closing Date: Thursday 29 February

_______________________________________________

Main Modifications to the County Durham Minerals and Waste Policies and Allocations Development Plan Document (Stage 4)

We are preparing a new planning document called the County Durham Minerals and Waste Policies and Allocations Development Plan Document (M&WDPD). It has been to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for independent examination and examination hearings in September 2023, and we are now consulting upon Main Modifications.

Consultation on Main Modifications to the County Durham Minerals and Waste Policies and Allocations Development Plan Document (stage four)

Closing Date: Friday 8 March

________________________________________________

Statement of Licensing Policy

Have your say on the review of our Statement of Licensing Policy, which we must legally update at least every five years.

Consultation on our Statement of Licensing Policy

Closing Date: Friday 3 May