Newbiggin by the Sea Community Resilience Fund
A Community Resilience Fund has been established by Newbiggin by The Sea Town Council to support our community through the difficulties caused by the cost-of-living crisis.
In September Newbiggin Regeneration Group informed the Town Council of their plans to dissolve as a company and offered to donate the balance of their accounts to the Town Council for the purposes of helping those facing financial hardship in our community.
The Town Council accepted this very generous donation amounting to £11,725.07 with thanks and agreed to set up a Community Resilience Fund.
Councillor Louise Spratt, Chairman of Town Council thanked Newbiggin Regeneration Group on behalf of the Town Council and the community, commenting ‘the arrival of this donation is wonderful news, putting the Town Council in a strong position to actively help those most in need within our community during the really difficult times now, and in the months ahead’.
The Town Council have also made a commitment to contribute to this fund on an annual basis. The Community Resilience Fund policy was adopted at a meeting of the Council held 16th November 2022.
Newbiggin Community Resilience Fund
The Community Resilience Fund is not intended to be paid directly to residents but will provide support to residents through organised partnership work with voluntary groups, community groups, faith sector organisations, and charitable organisations, providing a valid community response and assistance during the cost-of-living crisis.
The Town Council will work with voluntary groups, community groups, faith sector organisations, and charitable organisations specifically for the provision of the following services to be held within the Newbiggin by the Sea Parish:
- warm spaces (which may be inclusive of hot drinks and activities),
- holiday hunger programmes,
- community cook schemes,
- mental health and well-being sessions
We will also facilitate the provision of advice and support with partner organisations on:
- money, debt, and benefits,
- access to food,
- housing,
- support for children,
- mental health and wellbeing,
- energy, water, phone, and broadband costs,
- employment,
- general help
Funds may also be made available to support the local Foodbank.
There is no application process to access these funds. The Town Council will allocate funds based on partnership working within the community.
We anticipate attending a Newbiggin based meeting for voluntary groups, community group, faith sector organisations and charitable organisations that will be facilitated by Northumberland Communities Together in the near future to discuss opportunities to provide support in our community.
If you are an existing voluntary group, community groups, faith sector organisation, or charitable organisation providing support to residents in the Newbiggin by the Sea Parish or looking to provide support to our community we would love to hear from you to help promote the valuable work you are doing.
