Northumberland Communities Together (NCT) was formed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Its main objective was to ensure residents’ safety and well-being throughout the crisis. The initiative focused on providing support for individual volunteers, voluntary groups, and local communities across the county. After Covid, the team has only grown stronger.
NCT and the Breamish Hall in Powburn worked closely together to launch a joint venture to engage with the local community. Their first step was attending a planned lunch club event, where they had the opportunity to introduce the residents to the Household Support Fund, which aims to assist Northumberland vulnerable residents who require support with essential needs such as food, fuel, or water.
It continues to support residents in a variety of ways, addressing social isolation, inequalities, and current cost of living crisis through secured Government funding. It has also opened several Community hubs across Northumberland which offer support, advice, and activities while working closely with adult social care in an effort to provide residents with choice, support and control, over all aspects of their wellbeing.
The Holiday activities and food Programme (HAF) has supported children throughout the county to access meaningful activities with a wide range of choices.
Reassured individuals and provided funding to ensure they could afford to put the heating on.
Assisted individuals in claiming Attendance Allowance.
Increased the local community's awareness and understanding of Northumberland Communities Together and its available support services.
One of the significant challenges we faced was the poor digital access in rural Northumberland, as the signal was weak. We attempted to make payments via digital methods to mobile phones, but this approach did not work as well as anticipated.
On this occasion, we overcame this barrier by arranging cash payments for eligible residents.
Prioritise building strong relationships within the community.
Take time to understand the community, how they operate, and their specific needs and desires.
Collaborate with the community to identify their capabilities and determine how we, as the local authority, can provide support effectively.
Communities first—let people lead
Northumberland Communities Together
Powburn and Hedgeley WI
Health Trainer
Thriving Together
The initial relationship with May Wilson, who runs Breamish Hall, was developed through the NCT Locality Coordinator, whose primary responsibility is to engage with communities and build relationships with key individuals and residents who are active in the community. The Breamish Hall has many groups running within it, and people attend them from miles around.
In the past, NCT supported May through microgrants for groups. They have also facilitated connections with other valuable networks, such as Nourish Northumberland and Thriving Together.
In the Powburn area, May used a personal approach to engage the residents, and fortunately, the partners and stakeholders have been receptive and easy to engage.
Julie Leddy (Operational Lead) Northumberland Communities Together
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