Weardale Area Action Partnership Annual Report

2019/20

Weardale Area Action Partnership 2019/20 Key Information

Over 16 local people engaged local community groups receiving 900 within the last 12 months financial support from our Small £154,952 Grants Fund of AAP Funding allocated to 15 local projects

94,413 £80,994 engagements with the of match funding generated community through social media £22,943 789 of Councillor Neighbourhood Budget allocated to 21 local groups 1,060 local residents receiving fortnightly e-bulletins local people as AAP Forum members Weardale Area Action Partnership Our People Established in 2009 Weardale Action Partnership brings together local people and partners to take action Anyone who lives, works, studies or volunteers in the area on local issues. The area ranges from Edmundbyers at our most Northern point, over to Killhope in the west can get involved with the Area Action Partnership. We and follows the A689 through the Dale to Witton-le-Wear in the East covering a number of small towns and currently have 1,060 people who are part of our wider villages which make up our rural AAP area in Weardale. Forum who receive regular updates and E-bulletins who Over the last year the key focus has been on ‘Support to Groups in Weardale’, ‘Children, Young People and are invited to get involved in the work of the AAP. Families’, ‘Culture, Tourism and Heritage’ and ‘Social Isolation’. Over £164,000 has been allocated to local Our Board is the decision-making body of the AAP. organisations to help them take action on these local priorities. It is made up of local people, elected councillors and representatives from partner organisations. Our current board members are; Welcome from the Chairs Cllr Anita Savory (Co-Chair) Cllr Olive Wilson (Witton-le-Wear Parish Council) Cllr Anita Savory, Parish Cllr Olive Wilson (Co-Chair) Cllr David Sugden ( Parish Council) 2019/20 has been a year of celebration and reflection for the Weardale Action Partnership. It has been 10 years since the Weardale Action Partnership was created and in that time we have delivered many innovative projects Cllr Helen Barrass (Muggleswick Parish Council) developed specifically to address the needs of residents in our local area. Cllr Brian Thompson (Stanhope Parish Council) This ground-breaking work continued during 2019/20 with a number of new projects designed to specifically to help Trish Chapman (Hunstanworth Representative) address issues that are unique to people living in rural areas. We were delighted to be able to continue with two projects that ensure residents are able to access services that would otherwise be difficult for them to engage with. Cllr David Ellwood (CDALC) Our Rural Advice Worker continues to bring her wealth of experience in dealing with benefit claims and managing debts to residents of Weardale who are unable to make the journey to a Citizen’s Advice office. Our Wellness Coordinator is now an integral and essential part of Weardale life, ensuring that vulnerable people have access to all Tom Nattrass (Public Representative) the support that they need and helping to keep them healthy in mind and body. Chris Powell (Public Representative) It has been a pleasure for us to be co-Chairs during the past year and look forward to being a part of the work in the Ian Hirst (Public Representative) year ahead.As always, we would like to express our thanks to Angelina, Tracy and Fiona for all the work they do and which they are continuing to do in these challenging times. Joan Warriner (Public Representative) Phil Chatfield (Public Representative) Tony Griffin (Public Representative) Lindsay Warren (Public Representative) Area Action Partnerships have had another busy year working with local communities and partners in and they continue to make a real difference to people’s lives. Over 1000 local projects have been supported and each year the AAPs help myself and the other County Councillors Damian Pearson (Believe Housing) allocate our Neighbourhood Budgets which are used to address community issues and support the Paul Smissen (Business Representative) valuable work of voluntary and community groups in the County. For most of the year it was business as usual for the AAPs but we cannot escape the fact that the very end of the year was dominated Dan Wootton (Fire and Rescue Service) by Coronavirus. The AAPs responded magnificently and were involved in the establishment of the Insp. Ed Turner (Durham Constabulary) community hubs which have offered advice and support to many concerned residents. Additional funding that the council made available to support local communities during this crisis is being Catherine Findlay (North Durham CCG) allocated through the AAPs and many local groups have already benefitted. I would like to thank all those involved with Stuart Timmiss (Durham County Council) AAPs; the staff, Board Members, most importantly, the members of the public who regularly support the work of the Julian Haynes (Voluntary and Community Sector) AAPs through their input on the AAP Forums and Task Groups. Councillor Brian Stephens, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Local Partnerships 2019/20 Funding Allocation

Projects funded by our Small Grants Fund Area Budget Neighbourhood Budget £20, 000 – Small Grants Fund – open to small local groups Cllr Anita Savory in Weardale to apply for funding of between £250 and £2,000 – Primary Transitions, Wolsingham School £1,500 £6,025 – Filter equipment and furniture, Stanhope Open Air £14,200 – Green Lighting Swimming Pool £5,600 – Weardale Way £3,250 – Play Area £15,600 – Weardale Agricultural Show – 150th Anniversary Small Grants Fund £500 – Weardale Food and Craft Fair £15,000 – Fit for Farming – A guide to health and wellbeing designed specifically for the farming community £250 – Music Festival, Stanhope Barrington Primary School £5,000 – Smiles Across Weardale – to encourage dental £500 – Wolsingham Community Day hygiene in young children £250 – Durham Constabulary Young Heroes Awards £7,500 – Rookhope Play Area – provision of equipment £400 – Venue Hire for Christmas Market designed for under 5’s and over 11’s Knitted Ninnies £100 – Transport for Christmas Market, Wolsingham £10,150 – Young People and Families Financial Inclusion Community Transport £5,000 – Witton-le-Wear Youth Provision Cllr John Shuttleworth £5,000 – Barrington Bites Luncheon Club £3,000 – Building Repairs, Institute £7,000 – Crime Prevention and Reduction of Fear of Crime £3,250 – Rookhope Play Area Social Isolation Fund £1,000 – Under 14’s Jackets, Wolsingham Football Club £25,000 – Wellness Coordinator (Lisa Turnbull) – visiting £1,000 – Flower tubs, Rookhope In Bloom vulnerable people in their homes to determine needs and ensure that those needs are met Small Grants Fund £200 – Fundraising event for Marquee Hire at Weardale Welfare Reform Agricultural Show £10,000 – Rural Advice Worker (Linda Pearson) – fully £200 – Eastgate Sheep Show qualified Citizens Advice Worker undertaking home visits to residents of Weardale. £300 – Running Costs for Village Hall £200 – Fish and Chips for Barrington Bites Luncheon Club Youth Fund Rookhope Family Craft Activity £3,000 – Primary Transition for schools in Weardale £200 – Minor Works at the Norman Wright Pavilion £3,000 – Witton-le-Wear Youth Provision £250 – Running Costs for Football Club Neighbourhood Budget is an allocation of £19,400 that each County Councillor gets each year to spend on Community Projects. The process is supported by the AAP team. For further Information on what projects individual Councillors have supported contact your local AAP. The Difference We Have Made

Small Grants Fund

The Small Grant Fund has been running for ten years now and in that time, it has The WAP Board believe that this project is vital in a rural area such as Weardale. supported hundreds of small local groups and organisations in their work in the Often it is these small, local groups which are the lifeblood of the community. A Dale. So far this year, we have supported 16 groups / organisations with almost small amount of money goes a long way and there are few other funding bodies £13,500 and more money yet to be allocated. The map shows how this funding is which would provide such levels of funding. distributed across Weardale and shows the variety of projects we support. The Difference We Have Made

Rookhope Play Area

Weardale Agricultural Show Weardale Way Members of the Rookhope village community expressed an interest in increasing the play equipment The Weardale Way is a popular walking route for both (150th Anniversary) available for children under 5 years and over 11 years in local walking enthusiasts and tourists alike. In 2019, Weardale Agricultural Show celebrated its the local play area. Local residents held events to raise A project was designed in two parts which included the 150th Anniversary. The show is an integral part of funds and awareness of the improvements needed to Weardale life and is a brilliant example of a community commissioning of a comprehensive survey of the 31 the play area and to bring the villagers together. miles of the Weardale Way which falls in the Weardale coming together to put on a spectacular event. Weardale Action Partnership alongside Stanhope AAP area – from Cowshill to Witton-le-Wear. The survey The Weardale Action Partnership provided funding to Parish Council, Durham County Council as well as is to investigate the condition of the route and its cover the cost of marquee hire – including an additional Cllr Anita Savory and Cllr John Shuttleworth provided associated signs, waymarks, stiles, gates and bridges Artist Tent and a Victorian Tea Tent, equipment for the funding to purchase the play equipment. All equipment etc. catering tent and trophies. The funding also enabled was installed by Durham County Council. a series of art workshops to be delivered during the The second element of the project was to arrange for months leading up to the show. Led by local artists, the update of and republication of an existing guide to these workshops gave residents of Weardale access the walk by Joe (Scott) Watson. This text was chosen to opportunities not usually available in rural areas. A as it most closely aligns with the information provided display of their work was on show in the Artist’s Tent on by both Durham County Council and North Contact Details show day, alongside stalls from the artists involved in AONB on their website. the workshops and a family art activity area. Weardale Durham Area Action Partnership This was a great opportunity for the WAP team to be The Weardale Way will also be promoted both locally Unit B10, Centre ‘hands on’ in delivering this project. Tracy managed and nationally to encourage tourism in the local area. Castle Gardens, Stanhope the Artist Tent, Fiona ran the Victorian Tea Tent and County Durham Angelina divided her time between both drumming up DL13 2FJ support as she did so. Tel: 03000 268666 Email: [email protected] Front cover image: Lord Lieutenant, Sue Snowdon taking Afternoon Tea in the Victorian Tea Tent at the Weardale Agricultural Show’s www.durham.gov.uk/weardaleapp 150th Anniversary.