The Mission of FoNDT is to assist our Members to be at the centre of the Community, providing and encouraging practical, deliverable and economically viable projects that make a significant contribution to improving the quality of life for local people. This approach has never been more applicable than now, Development Trusts in Northumberland continue to Survive and Thrive despite the many challenges that we are currently facing including: the economic downturn, reduction in funding streams and the move to a Unitary Authority. The Federation of Northumberland Development Trusts is a growing network and our members large and small are demonstrating a real commitment to their respective communities through the causes they champion and the projects they deliver. FoNDT benefits hugely from partners that share our commitment and enthusiasm for the communities of Northumberland. To all the people who continue to support us we would like to extend a warm appreciation of our thanks. We look forward to working together to Survive and Thrive over the coming years. Janet Creswell Chair FoNDT
Development Trusts bring wealth and improvements to their area. Responding to local needs, development trusts make things happen in their community. Development trusts are: community owned and led cultivating enterprise building assets securing community prosperity. Development trusts aim to be financially sustainable in the long-term. They are community enterprises which look at ways in which they can earn money and generate surpluses in order to fulfil their mission of bringing wealth and improvements to their communities. They generate surpluses through rents from community owned assets, trading and contracting to provide services.
The work of Development Trusts is diverse. This publication summarises the work undertaken by Development Trusts in Northumberland with examples of FoNDT members excellent work.
Contact Vanessa Proudlock at: FoNDT UNIUN Building Front Street Pegswood Morpeth Northumberland NE61 6RG Call 01670 518190 Or 07917 197707 Email v.proudlock@dta.org.uk The Federation of Northumberland Development Trusts (FONDT) was set up in 2002 with the aims of: working together with partners to create vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities in Northumberland supporting and encouraging the establishment of a development trust in every community throughout Northumberland providing a united voice for community based regeneration in Northumberland, regionally, nationally and internationally through the Development Trusts Association network facilitating trust to trust working, supporting networking and encouraging larger trusts to support smaller and emerging trusts providing a lobbying and advocating role for member trusts providing development support and services to member trusts championing the work of development trusts and promoting their activities.
The mission of the Development Trusts Association is a development trust in every community. The DTA has 466 full and associate members throughout the UK, and membership is growing fast. The DTA exists to help members bring significant and lasting benefit and change to their communities. Contact Debbie Lamb at: Duncurin House 74 Medomsley Road Consett County Durham DH8 5HP Call 01207 588534 or Email northeast@dta.org.uk or visit www.dta.org.uk DTA members are local practitioners, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their know-how means that the DTA can offer a wealth of practical support, mutual learning and inspiration. The DTA and its members are listened to by government, private and voluntary sectors because we speak from experience.
On 27 th April 2009 the Trust on Holy Island became the first community group to receive a social housing grant from the Housing & Communities Agency (HCA). The grant of 212,000 has now been put with a Tudor Trust grant of 200,000 and a Triodos Bank loan of 250,000 to build four 3-bed houses for rent to island residents. This will bring the total number of homes owned and managed by the Trust to eleven. Trust Chairman Dick Patterson cutting what he described as hopefully the last bit of red-tape. Joining him was Sir Alan Beith MP and other scheme supporters. Above, from the top, Affordable Housing Lounge in Beadnell, a refurbished home owned by Ashington Community Development Trust and affordable housing on Holy Island. Far left new affordable houses in Glendale.
The Prudhoe Community Allotment project was set up in 2001 when there was seen to be a great need for specific In rural areas the services taken for granted in facilities to support the therapy of allotment gardening for urban settings are frequently not available due to the older and less able-bodied and disadvantaged in the economic considerations. Trusts play a vital role in community. providing an access portal to organisations as A small volunteer group evolved which designed and built diverse as JobCentre+, social services, Business an allotment plot containing raised beds, toilet, sheds, Link and credit unions to ensure that these services greenhouses and disabled pathways. This volunteer are accessible to local people. group has expanded and has now raised over 60,000 to Development trusts work to maintain and expand develop the whole site to be suitable for the disabled. local high streets, encouraging local businesses to work together and providing web-based advertising opportunities. Above, from the top, Haltwhistle main street and Info points at Seahouses and and Wooler. Above, top centre volunteers Far right, volunteers working at from the Cockshot Dene project, Cockshot Dene, Prudhoe. Prudhoe and, above, the Prudhoe Community Allotment volunteers planting potatoes in a pot. Far right, the coast environmental volunteering project. Training session making hanging baskets Prudhoe Info point
The Co-op foodstore before the refit After the refit
One year on from the purchase of the former Co-op foodstore in Wooler the doors are open again and a new business is operating from the property. Within weeks of taking ownership the Glendale Gateway Trust had replaced the modern frontage with something more akin to the special and traditional facades adorning the High Street shops. The refit of the shop is now complete, thanks to a grant from the Rural Development Programme for England, and the new tenant Gear for Girls has moved in. The Trust have regenerated the high street of Wooler by taking over buildings through funding from NSP, Northern Rock Foundation and other funders.
In rural areas the services taken for granted in urban settings are frequently not available due to economic considerations. Trusts play a vital role in providing an access portal to organisations as diverse as JobCentre+, social services, Business Link and credit unions to ensure that these services are accessible to local people. Development trusts work to maintain and expand local high streets, encouraging local businesses to work together and providing web-based advertising opportunities. Above, from the top, Haltwhistle main street and Info points at Seahouses and Wooler. Far right, volunteers working at Cockshot Dene, Prudhoe. Prudhoe Info point
New signs and interpretation boards to help local people as well as visitors find their way round Morpeth s many attractions, will start going up in and around the town next year. With funding from the Castles, Woods and Water project as well as the Heritage Lottery Fund, Greater Morpeth Development Trust (GMDT) is planning to make the wealth of local heritage attractions, woodland, riverside and country walks around Morpeth, even more accessible and interesting to people of all ages. Fingerpost signs, wall mounted or free-standing boards, interactive devices such as talking posts and raised designs children will be able to trace over are just some of the ideas currently being explored. Above, town maps of Morpeth and Alnwick and the historic Morpeth Chantry. Far right, sunrise at Bamburgh. Pictured above are Helen Henderson, Tamsin Lilley, Joanne Hall and Gemma Gadomski
Lynemouth Community Trust have developed a strong reputation for their catering skills over the past ten years and have added an equally delicious addition to their community cafe and outside catering service - chocolate. With grants drying up and faced with fewer and fewer ways to get the money they need to keep going, the Trust decided to set up their own chocolate factory to boost their coffers and offer local employment opportunities. It will be a professional operation with specialist machines being imported from America and Europe, a well-designed website, and some interesting and local flavours. The new company will be called Kenspeckle a Northumbrian phrase meaning easily recognised, or distinctive and all profits will go back into the Community Trust. Above, from the top, the coast environmental volunteering project, riverside footpath improvements in Morpeth and Berwick Community Trust s fairtrade, organic cotton bag (also pictured far left).
In late June 2009, Alnwick s medieval Market Place was filled with smiling faces of local people and visitors enjoying the Hotspur Festival, a celebration of 700 years of the Percy family at Alnwick Castle. Over the weekend, the town offered a warm welcome to everyone, helping to strengthen the town s position on the tourist map and giving an important boost to the local economy. Numerous events supported the medieval theme, including musicians, jugglers and a dragon and his St George on stilts. At noon on the Saturday, 20 schools paraded their banners through the town in a procession (pictured below). The majority of the funding was made available through the Rural Development Programme for England, which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union and is managed by One NorthEast in the North East Region. Above, from the top, the Border Green Festival at Berwick, live music in Glendale and face painting at Morpeth s Ice Festival. Far left, the Morpeth Gathering street parade. Thanks to the Northumberland Gazette for this picture
Allenheads Trust 01434 685 119 Alnwick Community Development Trust 01665 606 093 Amble Development Trust 01665 712 929 Ashington Community Development Trust 01670 854 422 Belford Development Trust 07971 889 296 Berwick Community Trust 01289 303 366 Craster Community Development Trust 01665 576 392 Fawside 01434 683 334 Glendale Gateway Trust 01668 282 412 Greater Morpeth Development Trust 01670 503 866 Haltwhistle Partnership 01434 321 242 Hexham Community Partnership 01434 603 022 Holy Island of Lindisfarne Community Development Trust 01289 389 004 Lynemouth Community Trust 01670 863 000 Mid Tyne Community Trust 01434 230 180 North Pennines Heritage Trust 01434 382 294 North Sunderland & Seahouses Development Trust 01665 721 868 North Tyne and Redesdale Community Partnership 01434 220 714 Northumberland Toy Library & Children s Resource Centre 01670 523 539 Prudhoe Community Partnership 01661 836 668 ATAC (Widdrington) 07985 576 605
Map of FoNDT Members Berwick Community Trust BERWICK-UPON-TWEED Tweedmouth Scremeston A1 Coldstream Cornhill on Tweed Ross Holy Island of Lindisfarne Community Development Belford Development Trust Kirknewton A697 Wooler Belford Glendale Gateway Trust Brunton Bamburgh North Sunderland & Seahouses Development Trust A68 Catcleugh Alwinton Wooperton Ingram Netherton A697 North Charlton Alnwick Community Development Trust Embleton Longhouton ALNWICK Alnmouth Shilbottle Amble Development Trust Craster Community Development Trust A68 A68 Northumberland National Park North Tyne and Redesdale Partnership Rochester Mid Tyne Community Trust Haltwhistle Partnership Ridsdale Redesmouth Hexham A696 A68 Corbridge North Pennines Rothbury Belsay A69 CONSETT Longhorsley A1 Pegswood Stannington ASHINGTON MORPETH Bedlington A1 Seaton Stamfordham Ponteland Deleval A19 Longbenton Tynemouth NEWCASTLE- UPON-TYNE Prudhoe Community Partnership A692 Felton ATAC (Widdrington) Northumberland Toy Library and Children s Resource Centre Hexham Community Partnership Fawside Allenheads Trust Greater Morpeth Development Trust GATESHEAD A693 Chesterle-Street A692 Broomhill Cramlington A167 Lynemouth Community Trust Blyth Ellington Wallsend Ashington Community Development Trust Jarrow Hebburn A19 Washington Houghton A690 North Pennines Heritage Trust DURHAM