To reflect on Volunteers' Week 2026, we spoke to New College Durham and local VCSE organisations Wheels2Work County Durham, Calm in East Durham CIC, The Wise Group and Durham County Carers Support about how volunteering impacts them, the barriers to volunteering, and what support they provide.

Listen to the podcast here:

Volunteers' Week 2026

In our latest blog, Julie Gourley, our County Durham Poverty Truth Commission Project Worker, reflects on the second of the PTC 2 full commission meetings.

Read the blog here

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

The approved mileage allowance payment (AMAP) rate has increased for the first time since 2011.

From April 2026, employees using their own vehicle for business travel can claim 55p per mile for the first 10,000 miles travelled in a tax year — up from the previous rate of 45p per mile.

More details can be found here:

HMRC Guidance: travel mileage and fuel rates and allowances 

Durham County Council has partnered with Protech to offer low-cost refurbished computer equipment to County Durham-based registered charities and social enterprises under the Digital Durham Reboot scheme.

Durham County Council-owned devices are replaced periodically to ensure they are technically up to date and perform well. Some of these devices are suitable for reuse and are being offered through this scheme, with additional stock supplied by Protech where required.

Eligible organisations can purchase refurbished equipment for £150 per laptop or desktop, with costs covering secure data wiping, refurbishment, software installation (including Windows 11, Microsoft Office and Windows Defender Anti-virus), and delivery. Devices are supplied with improved hardware specifications such as a minimum 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD storage, 8th generation i5 or i7 processor, and a 90 day warranty.

Charities and social enterprises must be based in County Durham and using the equipment to:

• Help residents get online by providing free internet access
• Provide support to residents to improve their skills – this could be digital skills
• Assist the charity to run more effectively

You can find more information and the Reboot application form on the Digital Durham website.

You can also contact Digital Durham with any questions on 03000 261 160 or at digital.durham@durham.gov.uk

The 2026 Inspiration Awards from The Village Halls Podcast are now open, celebrating the remarkable efforts of village halls across the UK, and recognising the dedication, creativity, and impact of those who keep them thriving.

Entries close on 31st October.

Find out more here:

The Village Hall Inspiration Awards

Durham Pride 2026 transformed the city into a vibrant hub of celebration, drawing thousands from Durham and far beyond to uplift the LGBT+ community.

The event radiated joy and camaraderie, with every corner filled with laughter, smiles, and a palpable sense of togetherness. A highlight of the day was the spirited parade, where colourful banners waved proudly, representing trade unions, businesses, and a diverse array of community groups, all united in support.

Throughout the festivities, live music kept the energy high; most notably with a headline performance from Steps legend Claire Richards, whose set brought people of all ages to their feet.

Attendees explored community stalls, engaged in thought-provoking workshops, and enjoyed a variety of activities designed to welcome everyone, regardless of age or background. This inclusive atmosphere made Durham Pride a truly memorable experience.

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering commitment of trade unions, local businesses, organisations, and volunteers. Their dedication and enthusiasm nurtured a spirit of belonging and pride, transforming Durham Pride into a beacon of what can be achieved when a community comes together to celebrate diversity and inclusion.

Stay up to date by following Durham Pride on Facebook and sharing to raise awareness, or visit the official Durham Pride website for more information. 

East Durham Veterans Trust (EDVT) is a veterans' mental health organisation in County Durham.  Founded in 2020, initially to support veterans and their families in the East Durham area, the demand for the services soon spread across the whole of the county and now supports veterans across the whole of the North East. 

They offer a range of services from mental health support in the form of counselling and peer support groups to the vast social inclusion programme for veterans and their families, which offers a daily group as well as numerous family trips throughout the year.  Through the services on offer, East Durham Veterans Trust also offer immediate support to veterans and their families with issues such as housing, benefits, PIP claims, food and fuel poverty, armed forces pensions and armed forces compensation claims, to name a few areas of support.

A year ago, the government made a national announcement for their new program for veterans and their families, called Op Valour.  Op Valour was designed to offer a no wrong door approach to veteran support, with an ambition to have veteran centres across the country support around health & wellbeing, employment and housing. 

They asked organisations, charities and local authorities to come together and bid for the contract to be able to offer a Valour Recognised Centre (VRC) within their catchment area. EDVT started discussions with various organisations, and soon became part of a seven-strong consortium which included Armed Forces Outreach Service (AFOS), Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS), Launchpad, The Poppy Factory, SSAFA, and Veterans into Veterans Care.  Additionally, to this they also had the support from local authorities, including Gateshead, Newcastle, Hartlepool and Stockton and were backed by three MPs and the Commander of Army North.

At the start of April, it was announced by the UK Government that the organisations and consortia that had been successful in becoming Valour recognised centres. EDVT and the consortium they are associated with were successful with this bid and will offer a no wrong door approach to veterans and their families from Newcastle to Catterick. The Valour project is still very early, as they prepare to go live, they are putting all the necessary provisions in place to ensure this project is as successful as expected and will ensure the highest possible standard of care if available for the veterans of the region.

Small Charity Week, taking place from 22nd - 29th June, highlights how vital voluntary organisations are to create change where it matters most - supporting people and strengthening communities.

257 small charities across the UK will take part in a match-funding campaign during Small Charity Week, building on the achievements of the 2025 campaign, which supported 189 charities and raised over £1.8 million overall.

You can find out more here:

Charities selected for Small Charity Week match funding

Rural Housing Week, which takes place from 6th to 10th July, is a welcome opportunity to spotlight the vital role affordable housing plays in supporting and sustaining England’s thriving, inclusive rural communities.

Genuinely affordable, high-quality homes help people remain in the rural communities where they work and have family ties, in turn contributing to the long-term economic growth and resilience of those areas.

Here at DCA, we know that meeting rural housing needs is rarely straightforward, and no single organisation can solve the housing challenge alone.

Progress depends on partnership working and a willingness to listen to communities, and since January 2024, DCA’s Rural Housing Enabler, Susan, has worked with rural communities to help them move beyond the challenges and consider how it may be addressed in practice.

Learning from other areas is key to progress, and Susan attended the Rural Housing Conference at Ripon Cathedral on 12th June to explore some practical solutions gained from the experience of our partners in North Yorkshire.

This event was organised by ‘Ripon Cathedral Rural Forum’, which challenges the idea that rural issues are ‘fringe issues’, asserting instead that they are central to the nation’s wellbeing and future prosperity.

To find out more about Durham Community Action's Rural Housing work, visit our website:

Durham Community Action - Rural Housing Enabling

Join us for a full-day event during Community Energy Fortnight to explore how communities across County Durham can take practical steps towards a more sustainable, locally powered future.

Community Energy in County Durham: Building a Shared, Sustainable Future brings together inspiring speakers and expert organisations, including Community Energy England, North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, Edge Innovation, Rural Design Centre, and Durham Community Action, to introduce what community energy is, why it matters, and how your organisation can get involved.

This event is designed for community groups, voluntary organisations, and local leaders who are interested in:

• Understanding the benefits of community energy
• Learning from real-world examples and best practices
• Exploring funding, partnership, and delivery options
• Starting the journey to develop projects in their own area

Find out more and book your place here:

Community Energy in County Durham Event

A dedicated event for places of worship of all faiths across the North East of England is taking place on Tuesday 7th July from 10.00am to 4.00pm at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens.

Bringing together expert advice and practical guidance, this joint event is presented by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Northumbria Historic Churches Trust, with contributions from Historic England and the National Churches Trust. Newcastle Diocese and the Diocese of Durham will also be present. 

Throughout the day, you will hear directly from four key funders, learn more about the support available for places of worship, and connect with others working on similar projects.

You will also have the opportunity to speak with representatives from each organisation to explore which funding route may be best suited to your plans.

Find out more and book your place:

Places of Workship Funding Forum

The Community Growing and Food Network, facilitated by Durham Community Action, brings together like-minded organisations with projects or an interest in growing and food. It provides an opportunity for community groups and organisations from all sectors with similar visions to connect, communicate and collaborate, supporting one another and sharing good practice.

Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday 14th July from 10.00 – 12.00pm at REfUSE Cafe, 143c Front Street, Chester le Street, DH3 3AU.

The theme for this meeting is The Power of Local Food Systems, where we will explore the new Good Food Durham Promise with time for networking with other food organisations across County Durham.

The speakers are Dr Kelly Rose, RNutr – Public Health Advanced Practitioner, and Susan Fern –  Healthy Communities Project Lead, Durham Community Action.

If you have any further questions or queries before booking, please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing georgia.donohue@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk

To connect, share and support alongside the network meetings, please join our Facebook group

Book your place here for the Community Growing and Food Network Meeting

The Ethical Property Foundation (EPF) is hosting a free webinar to help charities and voluntary organisations manage property risks effectively.

It takes place on Thursday 25th June from 12.00 - 1.00pm via Zoom. 

Their experienced Associate Property Advisers will guide you through the essentials of conducting a risk assessment for your charity premises.

Attendees will receive a free resource kit and can request expert follow-up advice through their Ask a Property Expert service.

Book your place here:

How to Conduct a Risk Assessment Webinar

This online session is aimed at individuals and groups from the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, including charities and volunteer-led groups, who want to explore how to generate income through trading. 

It will support you to understand how charities can generate income through trading, and will cover the basics of charitable trading, the different types of trading, and how to decide if it is right for your organisation. The session will also include practical examples and key things to consider, such as risk, tax and governance.

It takes place on Thursday 2nd July from 10.00 - 11.30am - book your place here:

Charities and Trading

This online session 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. 

It takes place on Thursday 16th July from 10.00 - 11.30am - book your place here:

Health and Safety for Trustees 

The Elements Training Portal is a dedicated, e-learning space for members of the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

It has been developed by a partnership of the local North East Local Infrastructure Organisations, including Durham Community Action.

All courses on the portal are free, available to everyone and typically take less than an hour to complete at a time that is convenient to you. 

Topics covered include governance, volunteering, cyber security, climate change, safeguarding, finance, and fundraising.

Find out more:

Elements Training Portal

Working in health and social care is demanding, and stopping smoking can feel difficult alongside busy shifts, stress and irregular hours.

The North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Integrated Care System is offering free, flexible stop smoking support designed specifically for the health and social care workforce (including VCSE) in County Durham. 

Digital support is available through:

• Free 24/7 digital support from NCSCT certified advisors with Smoke Free: Help to build motivation, manage cravings and stay smokefree; support that fits around shift work, nights and weekends; help to set a quit date and stay on track.
• Free Nicotine replacement therapy products like patches and inhalators.
• Free Nicotine vape kit, replacement pods and liquids.

Smoke Free can also provide information and direct support to help staff access local community Stop Smoking Services if they would prefer face-to-face or additional support.

Complete the North East and North Cumbria NHS Staff and Social Care Self-Referral Form

The latest edition of Charity Commission News has updates on guidance on conflicts of interest, fraud awareness, annual return data and preparing for the Charity SORP 2026.

Read it here: Charity Commission News: May 2026

Over £2.2 million has just been given to community and voluntary led organisations using easyfundraising, all courtesy of retailers giving donations when people shop online.

You can be part of the next funding pay out in August by setting up a free easyfundraising page for your organisation.

Simply register your organisation as a good cause with easyfundraising and ask your network (volunteers staff, trustees, family etc)  to choose you as the cause they want to support.

Then, each time they shop online with over 8,000 well known retailers like Tesco, trainline, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Booking.com, eBay and many more, they’ll raise a cashback donation for your organisation, courtesy of the retailer they shopped with – at no extra cost to anyone.

Every three months, the money raised is paid to your organisation and you can spend it on whatever you like as this classes as unrestricted funding.

Find out more and register your organisation at https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/durham

The 1989 Willan Charitable Trust Fund supports registered charities, exempted and excepted organisations, whose activities benefit residents of Tyne & Wear, Northumberland, County Durham and Teesside.

Priority will be given to those that ease social deprivation and/or enrich the fabric of the local community and the quality of life of individuals within it.

Grants are available to support core and project costs, and will generally range from £1,000 to £10,000; the Fund aims to prioritise projects for which a Willan grant will represent a significant contribution to the delivery of the work.

The Fund Advisory Panel meets in March, June, September and December. The next deadline for applications is 15th August. 

More information can be found here:

The 1989 Willan Charitable Trust

The Architectural Heritage Fund has recently relaunched its Heritage Revival Fund, which helps communities take control of and find sustainable new uses for derelict or neglected historic buildings in their local areas, particularly in areas of high deprivation. 

The Fund focuses on regenerating historic buildings in town centre locations for a range of uses - arts, culture, workspace and affordable housing, to name just a few. Grants are available to support projects from the earliest stages through to capital works.

• Project Viability Grants (of up to £20,000) are available to support early-stage work on historic building projects. 
• Project Development Grants (of up to £100,000) are available to support development work on historic building projects. 
• Capital Grants (of up to £500,000) are available to support capital work to historic buildings.

More information can be found here:

Heritage Revival Fund relaunches

Historic England is opening a new round of History in the Making grants for young people.

History in the Making empowers marginalised young people to discover and connect with heritage in their community. Participants are invited to commemorate history that matters to them in the place they live. From immersive walking tours to artworks, young people use creativity to connect to their place. 95% of participants developed new skills after taking part in the programme, 93% felt more motivated to participate in community activities and 83% reported an increase in confidence. 

Organisations can apply for up to £15,000 for projects running up to 18 months. To be eligible, they must work with young people aged 13-25 years and be based in an eligible place in England, areas in the top 30% of both Indices of Deprivation and Community Needs Index (CNI).  This guidance document has a list of eligible places.

Applications are open from 15th June to 10th August. 

Findout more about the scheme here:

History in the Making - Apply for a Grant

The CPF Trust are a grant-making charity supporting charities operating in the following areas: the arts, education, support for carers and older people, early intervention projects for disadvantaged children and young people, animal welfare and health and disability.

Their grants can cover revenue or capital costs, project or core funding. Only one-year grants are made; most of their grants are between £1,000 and £3,000.

Find out more: The CPF Trust

From coastlines to city streets – and everywhere in between – youth work looks different across England.

The National Youth Sector Census captures this diversity, building the most comprehensive national picture of youth provision – showing where it exists, how it’s delivered and where support is needed.

Since launching, over 2,800 organisations across 28,000 locations have contributed. However, many – particularly smaller and grassroots providers – are still underrepresented.

The completion deadline has been extended to help ensure a broader and more representative picture of the sector is captured.

Complete the National Youth Sector Census here before 30th June

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.

Current consultations include:

• Communicating and sharing information about adult care services
• Pride in Place covering Crook North/Tow Law, Peterlee East and Stanley South

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