a voice News for rural SUMMER ISSUE - JULY 2017 communities Charity (no. 1144604) Company limited by guarantee (no. 7805401) www.ca-north.org.uk

Calling all Parish Councils interested in Community-led housing support required by individual have not received this survey communities is available, by please get in touch at working with Social Regeneration [email protected] Consultants, Glendale Gateway CAN is holding workshops on Trust and others. Part of the Community Led Housing in work involves establishing the September so you can find out level of interest there may be more about this initiative and across the area. Parish and Town explore how we can help. See Councils potentially have a key page 2 for further details and role in supporting or providing how to book. Community-led housing is community-led housing schemes. already a success story in and CAN now seeks to build on this Have you filled in our survey? solid platform thanks to We are currently surveying all funding from Northumberland Parish and Town Councils to find County Council from its out if community-led housing allocation of the government’s might make a difference in their Community Housing Fund. village or town and whether they We want to identify specific would like to find out more about opportunities and ensure the it. If you are a clerk or chair and

Contents Calling all Parish Councils interested in Community-led housing ...... 1 Brexit must work for rural communities as a whole ...... 5 Community-led housing workshops, book your place now ...... 2 Supporting sustainable local development...... 5 What is community-led housing?...... 2 What’s a Warm Hub? Watch our new film to find out...... 6 Transport Surveys to be launched in 4 Rede Valley Parishes ...... 2 Warm Hubs gets national recognition ...... 6 What does community-led housing look like? ...... 3 A conference, but not as we know it - Warm Hub style ...... 6 Do you have difficulty travelling to essential services in Northumberland? ...... 3 Employment Hub gets off to a flying start ...... 7 Northumberland’s smaller Parish Councils get online with support from NALC ...... 4 CAN welcomes Michelle Awburn to the Staff Team ...... 7 Consistency amidst increasing change ...... 4 New marketing face for CAN...... 7

1 Community-led housing What is community-led housing? workshops, book your place now Community-led housing schemes have six main features: CAN is holding 3 workshop events in early September • They put local communities in the driving seat. to allow you to find out more about community-led You decide where homes are built, what they housing and explore how we might be able to help. look like and who occupies them; you create community assets which can generate income Workshop objectives are: for your town or village which can be used to • Participants are better informed about support other local priorities. community led housing (CLH). • They are usually small scale • Participants can better identify the potential for – most developments are less than 10 homes CLH in their areas. and some are much smaller. No two • Participants can network and make developments are the same. connections. • Participants have more confidence to develop • Although most schemes are usually set up and potential CLH projects. run by local people in their own communities, many are also supported by housing Target audiences are: associations, local authorities or regional and • Members of Parish and Town Councils. national organisations. • Local councillors. • They provide genuinely affordable homes for • Community-based organisations with an rent, shared ownership, sale or self-build on interest in affordable housing. sites that are often difficult or even impossible • Relevant people from local authorities and for mainstream housing providers to develop. other public bodies. • Schemes meet long-term local housing needs, • Representatives of landowners, churches etc. by the community exercising full control over how and where the homes are provided and These sessions will be held at: retaining a legal and/or financial interest in Tyndale Cricket Club, them, ensuring they will always be available to Wednesday 13th September local people who need them and at a price they Stannington Village Hall can afford. Thursday 14th September • Community-led housing is not for profit, St James’s Church Centre, involving considerable voluntary effort from Tuesday 19th September those who decide to become involved. It’s an The workshops run from 6.30pm-8.30pm with effort that several hundred communities across limited places. To book contact info@ca-north. the country have already made, with many org.uk or visit www.eventbrite.co.uk and search successful developments initiated by Parish Community Led Housing Northumberland to book Councils. online, or visit our website.

Transport Surveys to be launched in 4 Rede Valley Parishes In the next few weeks residents Scheme, which aims to address adjustments to existing services, of Corsenside, Elsdon, gaps in local transport provision or creating new community Otterburn and Rochester & within Northumberland. transport solutions such as Byrness Parishes will have an Local people identified transport provision of dial-a-ride services, opportunity to take part in a as one of the greatest issues for establishing a local volunteer local transport survey, giving residents of Corsenside, Elsdon, driver scheme, or setting up a them a chance to influence the and Otterburn. The current survey local car share. future provision of transport in aims to explore in more depth the If you live in one of these four their area. This survey is being nature of transport difficulties in parishes, please look out for the carried out by the local Parish these four parishes with a view to survey arriving through your door Councils and CAN with the exploring possible solutions to meet and take a moment to complete support of the County Council local needs. Possible outcomes the survey, even if transport is as part of the Getabout Access could include making small not currently an issue for you.

2 What does community-led housing look like? let through a Local Lettings Policy to ensure those in need from the local area can benefit from the new homes. A Housing Needs survey identified an acute shortage of affordable rented homes in . The Parish Plan identified the need for more affordable homes, but local residents were concerned about any new developments being built on green belt as the village sits in a beautiful rural setting. A consultation questionnaire was sent to all 1,200 households resulting in huge public support for the need for affordable housing. Examples included those who One local example is in & Stocksfield Parish had family wanting to live in Stocksfield where no new Council approved the formation the village or whom had left affordable homes had been of a Community Land Trust (CLT) and now wanted to return to built for 25 years till the through the local Stocksfield care for elderly residents. community decided to build Community Association named A key objective was to develop homes themselves. SCATA. They brought forward the new homes on brownfield plans to develop a derelict site A group of like-minded sites to help minimise their next to the village tennis club, residents recognised the environmental impact and along with a small additional site population was ageing, and it protect the green belt. More where former public toilets stood. was also becoming ever harder than 60 people applied for the for anybody not earning a SCATA formed a partnership homes, clearly demonstrating substantial salary to afford to with one of the largest housing the significant need which live there. The next generation providers in the North East, Isos exists. were moving elsewhere, Housing (now Karbon Homes), Other great case studies online sometimes for work, but to work on the development are at the National Community sometimes simply because of seven much-needed new, Land Trust Network and the they had no choice – there was affordable homes to rent by local Rural Housing Alliance. nowhere affordable for them to people in the village. All four flats live,whether buying or renting. and three bungalows have been

Do you have difficulty travelling to essential services in Northumberland? A free information and advice service exists which will endeavour to help solve your transport needs, provided by Adapt (North East). Just call: 03333 441740 An adviser will discuss your situation, where you live and where you need to get to, to understand what options may be available and then help you find the best solution to meet your requirements.

3 Northumberland’s smaller Parish Councils get online with support from NALC

Two years ago national manage the content, safe in the would like to join the portal transparency rules were knowledge that advice and back contact [email protected]. introduced for smaller Parish up is available through CAN if Links to all Parish Councils’ Councils placing a duty on required. them to publish key information websites are available through The system has now been online. This proved to be the NALC website at https:// operating successfully for several a challenge for many in northumberlandalc.uk/councils months and 43 councils have Northumberland so NALC joined up so far. The sites are (through its partnership with proving effective and simple CAN) stepped in to help. to use, and the project has We commissioned a ‘portal’ won national recognition as an system which provides each example of good practice. member council with a If your Parish or Town Council proforma website. They are would like to find out more or then able to customise it and

Consistency amidst increasing change “A change is as good as a structures (Northumberland’s rest,” so the saying goes. reorganisation in 2009 or “Organisations that stand still the more fundamental 1974 are dead in the water.” “Constant reorganisation), huge fluctuations innovation and challenge are the in the economy and world of best way to continually strive for finance, entering the Common success.” Market or leaving the European Union change has become, well, There is much truth in these a bit of a constant theme really... words, perhaps. It is certainly for decades. true to say that organisations that do not recognise the need to However, charitable organisations move with the times struggle to such as CAN rightly claim to survive. It is also true to say that have provided some consistency a lot of big changes are afoot at throughout these changes by present. We have seen political always endeavouring to meet the change at local government level needs of those we are here to innovating in an effort to find and Brexit will inevitably result serve. Trying to make the policies the best ways to meet these in massive change – good or bad and programmes put in place needs. If we want to continue depends on your perspective, relevant to local communities our success for another 66 but further significant change is and helping communities to years we must do that – and indeed coming. support themselves is what we we are. From Warm Hubs do regardless of what is going to Employment Hubs, from Future policies, programmes, on around us. Like a lot of community buildings to institutional structures, trade local charities, CAN has ridden affordable homes we are agreements and many other the various changes which trying our best to help ensure elements are all potentially up have taken place, continually local needs are met and in the air at present in terms of endeavouring to meet our opportunities realised. That’s what we will have in place in the objectives. In our case we have what good local charities do not too distant future. been working to support the rural – consistently, whatever the This is not the first time, of communities of Northumberland wider changes may be. course, that significant change for over 66 years – consistently. Andy Dean has taken place. Whether it is That is not to say that we are Chief Executive changes to local government not constantly evolving and [email protected]

4 Brexit must work for rural communities as a whole homes built in rural areas and a dedicated rural affordable housing funding programme. • Deliver a support programme for rural businesses and community entrepreneurs. • Ensure that the extra costs of delivering services in rural areas are properly reflected in any funding formula, such A Rural Coalition is calling • Policies and funding must as those used for local on the government to deliver deliver a fair deal for rural government, education and a sustainable future for the communities. the NHS. countryside in post Brexit • Decision-making, • Provide a comprehensive UK. CAN is part of a national funding and delivery community infrastructure network of Rural Community must be devolved and support programme, which Councils operating under the involve rural communities. recognises the pressures on banner of ACRE – Action with volunteers, helps those Communities in Rural , • The government is urged places with less capacity one of 12 national bodies to recognise 9.3 million and spreads existing good forming the coalition. people live in rural rural practice. England (17% of the The statement published by country’s total population) It is still early days in relation the Rural Coalition in July and 524,000 businesses to the Brexit negotiations and identifies four principles operate there generating an the configuration of policy which should underpin policy annual turnover in excess of for the post Brexit UK. It is making: £400 billion. critical that the voice of rural • Brexit discussions must communities is actively heard. The Rural Coalition calls on the recognise ‘rural’ is more than ACRE and the Rural Coalition government to take four positive agriculture and the natural are working hard to achieve actions: environment. this. You can read more on the • Introduce an ambitious Rural Coalition statement here: • All Brexit negotiations and annual target for the http://acre.org.uk/our-work/ post Brexit policies must be number of new affordable rural-coalition. rural proofed.

Supporting sustainable local development The Federation of a variety of ways. For example, included a major project to Northumberland Development every Friday we operate our refurbish a significant building Trusts (FoNDT) have produced Prudhoe Employment Hub in the centre of the town to a Review to highlight the great from Prudhoe Community create a ground floor retail unit work the various trusts do Partnership’s Spetchells building along with 4 low cost flats to right across Northumberland. in the centre of the town and rent above and the community FoNDT exists to assist earlier this year we helped asset transfer of a County Northumberland’s 17 local Hexham Community Partnership Council building to facilitate the Development Trusts “to create to access funds from a number growth of a highly successful a self-sustaining enterprising of sources to facilitate the local youth project. continuation of a key project. culture which enables local You can read more about communities to be resilient and In , we provide project FoNDT and read their 2017 have the ability to control and officer services to Haltwhistle review at www.fondt.org shape their own futures.” Partnership to manage their CAN supports these trusts in various activities. This has

5 What’s a Warm Hub? Watch our new film to find out To help spread the word about as coordinator, Northern Gas Warm Hubs and explain the Networks as funder and local project to newcomers, CAN volunteers as the key to the has produced a short film, with success of the project. support from Northern Gas You can view the film via our Networks. YouTube channel through our Premiered at July’s Warm website. To find out more Hubs conference, the film about Warm Hubs contact catches the spirit of the project [email protected] from the point of view of CAN http://ca-north.org.uk/supporting-individuals/warm-hub-project

Warm Hubs gets national recognition Warm Hubs has been highlighted this month as national best practice by the Rural Coalition, a group of 12 national bodies working together on highlighting rural policy. Their recent Rural Statement had an accompanying document with case studies on how their policy priorities could be addressed. Warm Hubs was identified as being a good practice example of long-term support for social action, to help communities become more resilient.

A conference, but not as we know it - Warm Hub style Over 60 guests were given Northumberland CVA were themselves a ‘Warm Hub’ and a taster of the Warm Hubs among the delegates. to use the logo. The project experience last month in ‘Warm Hubs’ are places within is supported by Northern Gas Seahouses with a fish and chip the local community where Networks. lunch, followed by local ice residents can be assured of The conference was a huge cream and a round of singing finding a safe, warm and friendly success. The atmosphere led by a group from one of environment in which to enjoy was tremendous and the our Warm Hubs. This was a the company of other people. networking even better. Thanks conference with a difference - to Food is provided at Warm Hubs must go to the Seahouses celebrate the success of CAN’s in a variety of forms including Hub for their hospitality, the Warm Hubs project, encourage soup and roll, coffee and cake, Stocksfield Tuesday Group for other venues to join in and bought-in food such as fish and the singing, to all participants, improve Warm Hub links to chips or, in some case, a three volunteers and stakeholders funders and other stakeholders, course meal. alike and to our own Christine all organised by CAN. Each venue that joins the scheme for devising such an innovative The key objective was determines what it wants to and successful approach to a to connect Warm Hubs provide locally, and operates conference. with representatives from within broad guidelines organisations who think they established by the pilot can help hubs in the future, project and currently being seeking pledges of support from developed into a ‘pledge.’ each other. Speakers included Each participating venue Tom Bell from Northern Gas is asked to undergo an Networks and Steve Forster assessment to ensure that from Together Newcastle. The the service they offer meets Big Lottery, Northumberland a minimum standard, County Council and allowing them to call

6 Prudhoe Employment Hub gets off to a flying start CAN held the first session of Kath has achieved her ambition about joining or volunteering our new employment hub in of finding a job as a cleaner for for the project, contact Julia Prudhoe on May 4th and the the NHS - one of three people we Plinston on 01670 517178 or project looks set to be a great have helped to find jobs. [email protected]. success. Drop in to the Hub The Prudhoe Employment Hub is The project helps unemployed The Prudhoe Employment Hub funded from the European Social people move closer to Fund as part of the 2014-2020 meets at the Spetchells Centre European Structural employment by offering on Prudhoe High St every Friday and Investment Funds guidance on writing CV’s, from 10am – 3pm. People Growth Programme in access to the internet, support are welcome to drop in at any England. and one to one mentoring to time during the day. To find out address any issues that may be a barrier to work. We offer a free lunch and refreshments, and the chance to meet other people in a similar situation. In our first 2 months we’ve already provided support to 31 people and several of our members have made real progress since joining us. Dougie is now training to be a forklift truck operator – one of three training opportunities our members have taken up.

CAN welcomes Michelle Awburn to the Staff Team CAN is delighted to announce Michelle Awburn joining our staff team. Michelle works on a self-employed basis as a tutor delivering our Employment Hubs at Haltwhistle and Prudhoe. Michelle brings a wealth of experience and local knowledge to the project. She has lived in Tynedale all her life, and worked for 8 years for the National Careers Service as a careers advisor based at Hexham Job Centre Plus. She has provided support and encouragement to the Haltwhistle project since it started and more recently volunteered for the project for several months whilst taking a break from paid employment.

New marketing face for CAN We are delighted to announce that Carrie Brookes has been appointed as CAN’s new marketing consultant, helping to make sure we spread the word effectively about what we are doing. Carrie joins us with a wealth of experience including 14 years working in the voluntary sector providing communications support for various charities, including VONNE. Her skills include communications strategy, training and developing content for websites, ebulletins and social media.

7 Buy your LPG and coal Save money on your fuel through our OilCAN scheme If you use LPG or coal to heat your home or premises, don’t forget that these can be purchased as part of our collective fuel procurement scheme – OilCAN. CAN has an agreement with A F Affinity Ltd who undertake the collective buying and search the market to find the best prices for LPG, coal and heating oil for members of our OilCAN scheme across Northumberland and Durham. If you want to find out more contact us as [email protected]

Join our bulk buying heating fuel service OilCAN and we CAN help you: CAN’s • save money on oil, liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and coal • benefit from the lowest possible prices • order quickly and easily by phone or email Annual Date for the diary • get emergency supplies if you run out unexpectedly. 1st November 2017 Open to residents, community organisations General and businesses in Northumberland. JOIN US NOW Meeting Visit www.ca-north.org.uk/oil Email: [email protected] will take place on Wednesday 1st November this

Call 01670 500812 year between 1pm and 4pm. Formal invitations will

Registered charity no. 1144604 Company limited by guarantee no. 7805401 be distributed later this year.

A record 4 halls achieve Hallmark status CAN’s Village Halls Adviser “Taking up the challenge Taking part in the Hallmark has seen an unprecedented of Hallmark 1 meant as a Scheme is entirely voluntary interest from halls applying for committee we had to look again and beneficial to halls in ACRE Hallmark status - the at the Hall, its uses, systems many ways, find out more quality standard scheme for and how the Hall was run. We by contacting Louise Currie the management of community identified a few places where [email protected] or buildings/village halls. On the procedures needed to be visit our website and search for average around 5 halls a year clarified both for ourselves and Hallmark. apply to be assessed, but the users within 3 weeks, four halls were such as hire assessed for the standard, with agreement a fifth in preparation. and charges, Congratulations to the but in following halls achieving general Hallmark status: we were pleased we • Wark Mechanics Institute were on the and Town Hall. right track. • Longhoughton Village Achieving Development Trust. Hallmark • St Aidan’s (Berwick) Trust. 1 has • The Jubilee Institute, encouraged achieving level 2. us to further Vicky Herod, Trustee of Wark promote Mechanics Institute and Town the Hall as Hall said of the process: a quality venue.’’

Community Action Northumberland, UNIUN Enterprise Building, Front Street, Pegswood, Morpeth, NE61 6RG Tel: 01670 517178 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ca-north.org.uk