3 Towns Partnership

Better for everyone

3 Towns Partnership Annual Report

2020/21 3 Towns Partnership 2020/21 Key Information

191 new users to projects 137 volunteers involved in project delivery

10,081 individuals benefitting from Covid Emergency Projects.

480 people involved in initiatives aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing

80 children and young people involved in schemes to help them £109,999 22 make healthy choices of AAP Funding allocated E-Bulletins sent out to our adults and children benefitting to local projects electronic forum members, 2,531 from activities and food support keeping the community in touch £74,131.52 with essential messaging Covid Emergency Funding 92,670 engagements with the community £203,676 through social media Councillor Neighbourhood Budget funding 118 Projects supported £14,093 including: 12 Area Budget projects Holiday Activities with Healthy Fund 14 Covid Emergency projects 44 Neighbourhood Budget projects £249,406 33 Neighbourhood Budget Small Grant projects Holiday Activities with Healthy Food Match Funding 12 3 Towns Area Action Partnership Our People 3 Towns Partnership brings together local people and partners to take action on local issues. Areas covered include 3 Towns and 20 villages and settlements. Over the last year the key focus has been on Covid Anyone who lives, works, studies or volunteers in the area Response and Recovery. Over £184,000 from Covid Emergency funding, Area Budget, Welfare Reform, can get involved with the Area Action Partnership. We Youth Fund and Older People’s Social isolation fund has been allocated to local organisations to help them currently have 1,387 people are part of our wider Forum take action on local issues. The AAP has also been involved in consulting local people on issues such as the who receive regular updates and who are invited to get Leisure Transformation plan, Covid Champion programme and County Durham and Darlington Community involved in the work of the AAP. Risk Management Plan. Our Board is the decision making body of the AAP. It is made up of local people, elected councillors and representatives for partner organisations. Our current Welcome from the Chair board members are; Councillor Richard Manchester Eddie Tomlinson (Vice Chair) It is my great pleasure to introduce the annual report of the 3 Towns Partnership. This has Peter Chisholm been a very trying year for everyone in our communities. The coronavirus pandemic has Allan Coleman dominated our work for the past year, and I’m very proud of how our communities have Mary Hall stoically weathered the storm. Special thanks are deserved for our team – Sandy, Nicola and Fiona Nicol Kelly, who have worked diligently throughout the year to support residents and community Robbie Rodiss groups and to ensure that Covid-19 support grants have been distributed effectively. Despite Dorothy Winter all the challenges, the work outlined in the report demonstrates a very successful year for our AAP. I must also offer Cllr Fraser Tinsley immense gratitude to those volunteers across the 3 Towns Area who have helped support those residents who have found themselves in need of additional support due to the pandemic. As I look to hand over the Chair in May, there Cllr Olwyn Gunn are some very exciting prospects to support our communities recover from the coronavirus pandemic. I offer my best Cllr Patricia Jopling wishes to my successor in leading on the work of the board in 2021-22. Cllr Richard Manchester (Chair) Cllr Andrea Patterson Cllr Anne Reed The past twelve months have challenged AAPs whilst other resources have been allocated from the Cllr Paul Stokes (Tow Law Town Council) us all in many ways. The Covid pandemic County Councillors Neighbourhood Budgets. I’d like to take Cllr Margaret Elgie (Greater Willington Town Council) Coopted has changed how the council and Area this opportunity to thank the AAP teams for their help and Action Partnerships (AAPs) have had support in ensuring that our Neighbourhood Budgets have Gordon Elliott - DCC (Vice Chair) to work as many communities and local been making a real difference in local communities. residents have struggled because of the The next year will be no less challenging but I am delighted Jill Matthewson - CCG restrictions that we have all had to follow. to say that the AAPs are being given extra resources to help Liz Bradley - Housing If there are positives we can take from communities recover from the pandemic. There is also new Paul Cummings - Fire this terrible situation it is that ‘community’ is alive and well funding to support the County Council’s Towns and Villages Inspector Ed Turner - Police in County Durham. Thousands of people have stepped Programme and the AAPs will be playing a key role in forward and have taken action to ensure the most isolated ensuring this funding helps to improve communities across Helen Ward - VCS and vulnerable have been looked after. The people of County County Durham. Graham Tomaszko - Business Durham need to be applauded for their efforts. Finally I would like to thank all those involved with AAPs Many of those organisations that have been helping out including the members of the public who regularly support We would also like to thank former Board member Ian have been supported by the AAPs who have provided their work. I am very proud to have been involved with the Moore who stepped down from the Board this year. funding to numerous groups enabling them to do their vital AAPs over the past twelve years and know that they will keep work. Some of this funding has come directly through the making a difference in County Durham. Councillor Brian Stephens, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Local Partnerships 2020/21 Funding Allocation

Area Budget Open Door Church Our Confident Community – funding Oakenshaw Car Parking OG FT helped with making and delivering meals in the community Sunnybrow 20mph area OGFT Sunniside Community Association – will purchase outdoor to those who needed it gym equipment for families to use Salvation Army, Crook – funding helped with running costs Song of Hope OG FT Jack Drum Arts – will provide 5 online weekly activity Durham Alliance for Community Care Garden Access project sessions Jack Drum Arts – funding helped with activity packs, online courses and covid related expenses OG FT Willington Open Door Church – will provide hot meal Greater Willington Town Council – funding helped with Cornerstone Greater Willington Together project OG FT provision for elderly, vulnerable and families as well as volunteer expenses, to provide emergency food provision to providing activity packs Willington / Hunwick CC- Season 2021 / 22 OG / FT those who needed it and provide PPE St Catherines Dementia Café – will purchase iPads to offer Tow Law AFC Football Strips RM Glenholme Centre – funding helped with running costs on loan to members of the dementia café to help with social and digital isolation Tow Law AFC – funding helped with running costs Tow Law AFC Ladies Football Strips RM St Catherines Community Association – will purchase Tow Law Community Association – funding helped with Sunniside Play area footpath and CCTV RM running costs equipment for activities Thornley Village Hall Roof and windows RM Jack Drum Arts Doorstep Gigs – to provide activities over Blind Life in Durham – will provide mentoring to members on the 6 weeks holidays Sunniside speeding project RM how to use and operate Skype and Zoom allowing them to participate in online group meetings with friendly and familiar Durham Wildlife Trust – to provide holiday activities over the Billy Row Defibrillator RM voices, tackling social isolation 6 weeks holidays Trex Gym Equipment RM Open Door Church Our Confident Community – funding to Durham Constabulary – will provide weekly sessions across Christmas Tree Planting PJ the 3 Towns where young people can socialise and engage help provide equipment to continue making and distributing in activities safely meals safely Garden Place access PJ St Catherine’s Dementia Café Meal Orchard – funding to Crook Community Leisure – will provide online training for Crook Town Cricket Club Cooker Replacement PJ help provide and distribute meals in the community nutrition, relaxation techniques and mental well-being via Fencing of Gully at Howden le Wear Village Hall PJ videos and PDFs Crook Town AFC – funding to help with running costs Seats and Trees at Fir Tree PJ Glenholme Centre - will provide running costs for the centre Capital Grants / OPSIF Remaining funding High Grange Gateway AR Tow Law Community Association – will purchase new laptops from 2019/20 to allow residents access to the internet Football Strips for Crook Town AFC AR SLAM Community Development Trust– will purchase gym Groundworks NE & Cumbria – will provide engagement equipment to allow more gym class participants Christmas Lights for Crook AR activities in the local community and will tackle obesity and Jack Drum Arts – will purchase a laptop and portable kit to Fence at Howden le Wear Allotments AR social isolation allow classes to be remotely delivered Starter Course at Crook Golf Club AR Northern Heartlands – will deliver a programme of creative St Catherine’s Dementia Café- will purchase iPads to offer activities, digitally and physically to tackle social isolation on loan to members of the dementia café to help with social 4th Willington Scout Hut renovation AR and mental health and wellbeing| and digital isolation Replacement gate at High Jobs Hill Allotments AR Covid Emergency Funding Neighbourhood Budget Wrap around care at Howden le Wear Primary School AR SLAM Community Development Trust – funding helped with Willington Community Covid Respond Fund OG FT 2 x Grits Bins for Crook and Howden le Wear AR running costs Brancepeth Village Hall Noticeboard OG FT Crisis Food Support Covid project AP Crook Community Leisure – funding helped with running Armoury Fields Playground, Willington OG FT costs Capital works to North Bitchburn Community Centre AP Hunwick Rocks OG FT 2020/21 Funding Allocation

North Bitchburn Gateways AP CCL – Crook Community Leisure Holiday Activity Storage at Crook Community Leisure AP SLAM – Spectrum Half Term Fun Winter Light Parade Workshops AP Willington Open Door Church – Our Confident Community Defibrillators at Helmington Row, North Bitchburn and High JDA – Halloween Storytelling Grange AP Feb Half Term Fir Tree Playground AP ATOMS – Cook and Create Glenholme Park Wifi AP Groundwork North East – Family Enrichment Program St Catherine’s Dementia Café Lockdown Lunches PJ, AR JDA – Valentines Activities St Catherine’s Dementia Café Meal Orchard PJ, AR Willington Open Door Church – Our Confident Community Crook Town Cricket Club Junior Nets replacement PJ, AP, AR Crook Town Youth AFC Renovation of playing field and equipment PJ, AP, AR St Catherine’s Dementia Café Connecting People and Communities project PJ, AR Holiday Activities with Healthy Food Easter Jack Drum Arts – Online dance, music and singing sessions May Half Term Groundwork North East – Community Learning Easter Enrichment Programme (deferred from Easter) Jack Drum Arts – Doorstep Gigs Pilot Summer Groundwork North East – Summer Enrichment Programme Willington Open Door Church – Our Confident Community Holiday Hunger Churches Together – Summer Holiday Club Lunches 2020 Sunniside Community Association – Let’s Go Fly A Kite Jack Drum Arts – Doorstep Gigs Durham Wildlife Trust – Family Wildlife Days

SLAM – Spectrum Holiday Programme Neighbourhood Budget is an allocation of £19,400 that each County Councillor October Half Term gets each year to spend on Community Projects. The process is supported by the AAP team. The projects listed above have been supported by County ATOMS – Bake and Make Councillors; Olwyn Gunn, Patricia Jopling, Richard Manchester, Andrea Patterson, Anne Reed, Fraser Tinsley. The Difference We Have Made

Covid Emergency Funding/Area Budget Covid Emergency Funding / Holiday Our Confident Community Activities with Healthy Food Funding Doorstep Gigs Willington Open Door Church provided hot takeaway food for people in the community along Jack Drum Arts provided Doorstep Gigs to a with activity packs for families throughout 2020/21. Covid Emergency Funding range of residents in the community. These gigs The activity packs were designed to help keep The Meal Orchard consisted of storytelling, family friendly street those isolating and shielding entertained when performers and musical performance to residents outside their homes to help improve mental they could not leave their homes and the food was provided a hot two St Catherines Dementia Café health and wellbeing within the community. Over to help those who were isolating, vulnerable and course meal for the people in the community of the financial year, Jack Drum Arts delivered 243 shielding. The project has provided over 12,700 hot Crook during the Covid-19 pandemic. 6,745 meals doorstep gigs. meals and supported over 400 families in the last were distributed to those self-isolating due to age, year. vulnerable, those suffering financial hardship and those who were in receipt of services such as day centres, lunch clubs etc which were not able to go ahead during the pandemic.

The Difference We Have Made

Area Budget 3 Towns Youth Hubs

Durham Constabulary will provide several youth hubs within the 3 Towns Area. These youth hubs will be a safe environment for young people to attend in which they can socialise and engage in activities. Each session will be 3 hours long and will also involve games. This will help improve the Covid Emergency Funding Capital Grants / Older People’s Social mental health and wellbeing of young people as well as providing them with entertainment. Summer Holidays activities Isolation Funding IT Equipment Durham Wildlife Trust provided a range of activities outdoors for children and families. These St Catherine’s Dementia Café will provide a allowed families to explore nature and learn about selection of iPads to be used by various members it. They were also provided with activity packs and of the Dementia Café. They will be loaned over a healthy snack. This really helped to improve the a 12-week period along with tutorials to show Contact Details mental health and wellbeing as well as promoting members how to use them. After the 12 weeks the physical activity. 329 individuals took part in the members will have the option to purchase an iPad 3 Towns Partnership project over the summer. at a discounted price via CS Computer Solutions in Durham County Council Crook. This will help to improve wellbeing as well Civic Centre, North Terrace Crook, Co. Durham DL15 9ES as combatting social isolation. Tel: 03000 267539 Email: [email protected] www.durham.gov.uk/3townsaap Facebook 3 Towns Area Action Partnership