Projects supported by Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP)

All the projects supported by the AAP and the local councillors over the last year are listed in Durham AAP Annual Report 2022-23 (PDF, 1.9mb) .  Some examples of projects are detailed below.

Durham Learning Library

Offering specialist equipment for children with additional needs the learning Library benefitted from a grant of £9970 which has allowed them to buy new equipment enabling them to maintain this vital service.

Durham Area Youth (DAY)

The DAY Leaders of Tomorrow Project received a grant of £18,460.  Work with young people from the villages to the east of Durham City will focus on developing their skills and confidence that will enable them to volunteer and support their community in the future.

Waddington Street Centre

£13,000 was awarded to the centre to support their ongoing work with people living with mental health issues.

Kings' Church Durham Older People's project

Working in the Gilesgate area of Durham the project offers a weekly lunch club at Laurel Avenue Community Association as well as a befriending and gardening service for older people.  An AAP grant of ~£5393 is supporting the work.

Laurel Avenue Youth Council

Elected by their peers youth council members help to represent the views of young people and plan the work of Laurel Avenue Community Association.  £7230 from the AAP supports their monthly meetings and has helped to fund a team building residential to the lake district for the young people.

DERIC Project Bearpark

The project offers a range of activities for young people in the village as well as supporting a baby and toddler group for younger parents.  £6216 was granted to support this work in Bearpark.

Move Buddies

An initial grant of £2868 was given to start this project that pairs up socially isolated people with local volunteers.  The volunteers help people to set goals and get them moving.  It may be a walk to the shops or something more strenuous.

Durham City Night Hub

£12,000 is helping to support the work done by Durham Hight hub.  Run from St Nic's Church on a Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night the project helps vulnerable people in the city centre stay safe. 

Lowes Barn Community Centre

A grant of £28,000 (£15,000 Towns and Villages Funding  £13,000 Area Budget) has been given to the Lowes Barn Community Project who are building a brand-new community centre in the Neville's Cross Area of Durham. The centre will offer a wide range of activities for everyone in the local community once it is completed in late 2022.

Pittington Wellbeing Project

Pittington Village Hall has been awarded £16,430 so they can run a year-long series of activities and events aimed at improving people wellbeing. These social activities will help address issues of social isolation and general wellbeing. Residents from the local area can drop in for a cuppa and chat and also take part in creative and fun activities.

Belmont Community Centre early years activities

£7142 has been granted to Belmont Community Centre to allow them to run weekly sessions for under fives. One session will be a general play session whilst the other session will focus on the child's sensory needs. Both sessions are suitable for children with SEND.

Durham Action on Single Housing (DASH)

DASH work with vulnerable young people who have housing needs.  Many of the young people are dealing with multiple issues in their lives and DASH offers them emotional support as well as safe and secure housing. A grant of £5000 is being used to run a programme of wellbeing activities for the young women they support and another grant of £12,733 is supporting the employment of a volunteer coordinator who is working with local partner organisations to ensure DASH has a well-supported and managed pool of volunteers.

Waddington Street Centre

Following a successful pilot project, the Waddington Street Centre in Durham have been awarded a grant of £5347 that will enable then to continue the vital work they do with young people who are living with mental health issues. The Y-ASC project supports young people who are moving from Children's Services to Adult Services a time of uncertainty for many. The funding will help the centre continue the online support sessions that have been so important to people over the last year.

Carrs Nature Reserve

The Carrs Nature Reserve sits in the heart of Pity Me and Framwellgate Moor.  It is a beautiful spot but access to the site was poor. To help the Council improve access to the site a grant of £13,000 was given by the AAP. Further funding was also received from the local County Councillors. The money has helped to put in new paths, seating, habitats and interpretation boards.

The Singing Elf

The Singing Elf team are delivering online singing with physical activity packs to stimulate the mind and engage people's creativity.  The project has been operating around the AAP area with the help of  £11,480 of AAP Area Budget and funding from the local County Councillors.

The activity packs contains 12 creative activities which are suitable for all ages, offering mindful moments which are calm, structured, easy to complete and very enjoyable. There is also a professionally printed booklet full of recipes, puzzles and mindful activities.

The Singing Elf team are asking anyone involved in a community group, charity or organisation that has contact with people who are vulnerable or at increased risk of isolation and loneliness as a result of Covid-19, to get in touch. Visit The Singing Elf: Funding packs and complete the Community Group form, and they will contact you to finalise the details.

The website also includes more information about how the project works, which areas are included in the project and how packs can be ordered for individuals who are not part of a community group, so that no-one misses out.

The project has produced an informative video that you can view at The Singfulness Project: Phase One Summer 2020 on YouTube.

Laurel Avenue Community Association

A grant of £5064 was given to Laurel Avenue Community Association. This money is helping them to sustain the work they do with children and young people over the course of this year. Sessions for younger and older children take place at the centre which is attached to Laurel Avenue School in the Gilesgate area of Durham.

Durham and Chester-le-Street Schools Sports Partnership

Wellbeing sessions for years 5 and 6 pupils across schools in the Durham and Chester-le-Street area are being run by the School Sports Partnership. The grant of £7800 from the two AAPs will support the work which will involve the children in physical activities that will also give them the chance to talk about their feelings and concerns.

Witton Gilbert footpath improvements and play area

£8000 has been allocated to the County Council to help improve access to walking and play in Witton Gilbert. Additional funding is being put in by the County Councillors which will pay for the surfacing of the footpath that cuts across the village and also gives access to the play area. The aim is to encourage walking and exercise in the village. An additional £5000 was also allocated to improve the local play area.

Durham Scouts

A grant of £6917 was given to Durham Scouts to help them create extra covered outdoor space at their centre at Moor House. The money will also be used to purchase extra equipment that can be used whilst other equipment is being cleaned.

RT Projects

For those living with mental Health issues, RT projects provides a safe and secure place for people.  Once there people can take part in a number of arts based activities. The £5000 grant from Durham AAP is helping the project to continue its face to face and online activities. For many people these activities have literally been a lifesaver.

Durham Clothes Bank

Demand for clothes bank services have risen recently and the project in Durham had outgrown its premises in Brandon. With the support of £5000 from Durham AAP the clothes bank has been able to secure new premises in Framwellgate Moor.

For a full list of projects supported by the AAP please contact us.

Projects supported by your local county councillors

You can find out more about the local projects supported by your local county councillors through their Neighbourhood Budget on the Your councillors page.