From the groups we have worked with throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some great examples of projects that have brought communities together. This month we are looking at Barnard Castle Area COVID-19 Mutual Aid Community Support and St Paul's Centre Spennymoor and the work they have been carrying out. 

To celebrate World Food Day on Friday 16 October, Food Durham, the County Durham Food Partnership, is encouraging families across the County to take part in the VegPower Veg Chomp-ionship Tournament. It offers veg-centred games, puzzles and cooking activities and is designed by the award-winning team behind the Eat Them To Defeat Them campaign.

Community Homes on the Map, the enabler hub which provides support to local groups who want to provide community led housing and is managed by DCA, have launched their new website. There is information on the help you can receive to develop your project, the latest news and information about projects in the South of Tyne area and upcoming events. 

Village and community halls in England offer extensive economic and social benefits to rural communities, a report from our umbrella body ACRE has revealed.

Just before lockdown over 2000 halls took part in the National Village Halls Survey 2020 which provides a detailed snapshot of the operations and management of community buildings across the country.

As part of Trustees' Week 2020 which takes place during the first week of November, we are holding an online Share and Learn meeting on Resilience and Sustainability on Thursday 5th November from 10.00 - 11.30am. Bookings will open shortly; please keep an eye on our website and social media pages for further details. 

County Durham Safeguarding Adults Board and Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership have organised a joint Safeguarding Week 16th -20th November including a session around  safeguarding in the voluntary and community sector in County Durham.

The ACRE Village Hall Safeguarding Week will also take place during 16th -22nd November to promote safeguarding to village hall/community building management committees and volunteers.

There will be calendar of online events, workshops, briefings and social media posts to follow in a special e-bulletin.

We are holding this virtual event on Thursday 22nd October from 1.00 - 2.00pm. Guest speaker Claude Hendrickson will be sharing his own experiences and discussing ways to ensure inclusion and diversity in future community led housing projects. He will be talking about his own self build projects, the research he is doing for Power to Change, and ways to ensure better inclusion in the future.