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Welcome to the website of the Northumberland Community Development Network. The site contains background information about the Network and its projects, news of interest to people who are involved in community development, and resources to help you in your work in the community.
The Network has a growing membership of individuals and organisations, who are drawn from all sectors.
Visit us at
NCDN Workshops
People and Communities
You may be part of a local community, or of a community of interest. Either way these workshops explores good practice in representing other people and how collective views can be gathered and shared with policy makers.
We are running lunchtime sessions during February and March
- Thurs 2nd Feb Update on Community Development qualifications
- Tues 21st Feb - Holding public bodies to account on equality and human rights (see below)
- Thurs 1st March Working in Groups
Promoting Equality
NCDN is running two workshops to support community based organisations to understand and act on changes in the equality legislation, and to play an active part in influencing public sector bodies as they develop their equality priorities for Northumberland.
10th Feb - Having Your Say on the Equality Duty - hear about the results so far of the Council's consultations on setting equality objectives, meet with other groups to have your say, and try out a new VCS toolkit for influencing policy and practice on equality.
21st Feb - Special event with Sue Robinson of the Equality and Human Rights Commission who will run an active session on promoting equality
To register your interest in any of these please email andreap@ncdn.org or ring 01670 816561
Give an Hour! Become a Digital Champion!
NCDN is working with UK Online Centres, Libraries and the County Council's iNorthumberland initiative to run a programme of fun sessions and drop-ins across the county this to encourage people to go online. The 'Give an Hour' campaign is encouraging people who feel fairly confident online to donate the extra hour we just gained when we put the clocks back, help other people out by becoming a digital champion.
Press release about iNorthumberland here
You can visit the NCDN blog here, which we are using to record our activities to encourage people and communities to get online. We are looking for more partners to work with us and for more people willing to volunteer as digital champions in their communities to help more people to get online. We run induction sessions for people in their local areas each month.
If you'd like support in volunteering as a digital champion get in touch with your local NCDN UK Online contact:
West - John johnm@ncdn.org
North - Hala hala@ncdn.org
Berwick - Elizabeth elizabeth@ncdn.org
Central and south east - Trish tridh@ncdn.org
NCDN coordinates NLEAP - Northumberland Learning and Employability Partnership, a community sector-led network of over 200 organisations and groups looking at working together to bid and work collectively on projects that offer learning, support and creative approaches to tackling disadvantage, uemployment and unequal chances.
Latest NLEAP Newsletter - Sep 2011
Community Works
Community Works is NCDN's new programme for long-term unemployed people. It focusses on the third sector as a place that many people do not have a clear picture of, and yet can offer an increddible range of paid work opportunities in supportive environments. NCDN is running introductory workshops for anyone exploring working in the sector, and also for Work Programme clients across the county. Contact andreap@ncdn.org if you would like more information.
We are also looking for third sector partners who might consider hosting someone looking for work, with the aim of creating a paid role for them, with NCDN's support, as they develop their skills. If you are interested please contact johnm@ncdn.org
For information about partners and suggestions for job search in the third sector click here
Upcoming Events
We have upcoming events for this month, view our calendar.
Take our Customer Satisfaction Survey
Why not take our Customer Satisfaction Survey and let us know what you think about us anonymously.
Support for organisations and people making changes
We can help people make choices about skills, careers and qualifications and to plan their career development, including finding a job, making a career change, developing new skills and building confidence.
The mission for the service is: "To give everyone access to the best information, advice and resources that help them make more effective skills, careers, work and life choices".
NCDN and partners offer trained advisers to provide one-to-one and group-based Advice and Guidance across Northumberland. If you would like to meet an advisor, you can contact Trish in confidence - trishc@ncdn.org or by phone on 01670 520889.
New directory of activities for young people who are outside education and employment
NCDN has worked with the Whatever it Takes team to put together up to date information from a range of VCS partners about opportunities available in the community for NEET young people. If you have anything to add contact jade@ncdn.org.
You can download the directory below:
Northumberland Social Care Community Network
NCDN has completed it programme to explore how improved networking and collaboration between VCS organisations involved with health and social care. Its members have now been invited to join the NLEAP project to continue to network and get access to collaborative opportunities across a wider range of support services, and are encouraged to become active in Northumberland LINk to have a say on health and social care.
Please email julia@ncdn.org if you would like a copy of the full Evaluation report of the project
Hate Crime in Northumberland Reporting and Supporting
Hate crime is an offence motivated by prejudice or hostility based on the victim’s disability, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender. It can range from one off incidents through to daily abuse and, if disregarded, can become a serious threat to individuals, groups and communities.
Here is a summary presentation of what groups in Northumberland have been exploring
Here are the minutes of our recent meetings:
Following the event that took place in July at the St James Centre, Alnwick, NCDN and Alnwick CAB have established a working group to look into the issues further - next meeting 1st November at the Corn Exchange, Morpeth. If you are interested in getting involved please contact julia@ncdn.org
Northumberland Homefinder
Northumberland's new Homefinder service is up and running. If you or your users are looking for a new home, log in and find the most recent details each week from now on.
More information:
www.northumberlandhomefinder.org.uk
Opportunities for funding collaboration and information exchange
There are range of funding opportunities around at the moment linked to supporting local people into learning, work or enterprise. NLEAP - Northumberland Learning & Employability Partnership) has taken a lead in inviting local organisations and agencies to share information about what they are offering, and to look for potential funding partners. A summary and information about each participating organisation is on the Opportunities for Collaboration page. There is also a pro forma for you to add your details.
