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
Reports of recent events in March and April 2013
Summary report of the Better Off in Work Event on 27th March
Social Media for VCS Organisations in Northumberland
Visit the Social Media project page to find out what it's all about and how you can benefit...
Coming Up
10-2 Tuesday 11th June at Spetchells Centre, Prudhoe
10-2 Tuesday 25th June at Hirst Welfare Centre, Ashington
2013 Community Development Event Programme
NCDN is pleased to invite you to a series of free events in Northumberland around the theme of community development, taking place over the next few months.
Introduction to new Community Development Qualifications available locally with NCDN
• Hear from past students about the value of Community Development learning and how they have used their qualifications in their careers and in communities.
• Update on the new community development qualifications offered through the National Open College Network by NCDN, at Levels 2 & 3 and also by City & Guilds.
• Take part in a taster session
• Find out more about what NCDN will be offering from April 2013 with the opportunity to sign up.
Watch this space for further dates of introductory sessions:
PLEASE DISSEMINATE WIDELY THROUGH YOUR NETWORKS
Networking meetings
As community development workers lose jobs and infrastructure disappears, we need to find our own ways of linking-up for sharing and debate.
CDX is using a 'starfish approach' to provide a way of maintaining local face-to-face community development meetings for anyone interested in community development, at little or no cost. The starfish meetings are purposefully designed to be independent, local, and wherever possible cost-free meetings (using own buildings and contact systems). The starfish groups can also link together via online discussion groups (hosted by CDX, NatCAN and/or Our Society), paving the way for members to organise regional and national events if external resources become more easily accessible in future. Their success will depend on local catalysts taking ownership of the starfish idea and inspiring others to put some energy into maintaining connectivity.
The starfish model is relevant today because of loss of connections as community development workers lose jobs and infrastructure disappears. Starfish local groups give local activism the chance to build their own living CDX with lots of debate and sharing. Like starfish, they can’t be decimated by losing any single limb – they just regroup and go forward.
You can register for any NCDN events by emailing info@ncdn.org; by ringing 01668 219879 or writing to NCDN, 33, West St, Belford NE70 7QB, to let us know.
Please feel free to forward this email around your networks.
Never Too Late to go online! NCDN is looking for local volunteers...
NCDN is working with UK Online Centres, Carers Northumberland, Libraries and the County Council's iNorthumberland initiative to recruit and support volunteers across the county to work with people to encourage them to go online.
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 - Gordon gordon.stewart12@btinternet.com
North - Hala hala@nnwn.org
Central and south east - Julia julia@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.
NEW!! You can sign up to the new NLEAP member directory to enhance your chances of knowing who's doing and planning what in the fields of learning skills and employability, and building local partnerships.
Click here to register
Minutes of most recent NLEAP meetings in North Northumberland and Blyth Valley
Latest regeneration funding bulletin
Community Works Outreach Project 
is NCDN's new programme for long-term unemployed people focussing on young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities; and also their parents and carers.
NCDN's programme includes:
- the opportunity to gain a Level 2 Award in 'supporting individuals with a learning difficulties or disabilities'
- workshops exploring ways of combining self-employment with caring responsibilities
- developing an 'employability passport' with young adults to share with employers to improve recognition of their skills and support needs
- A 'better off' workshop looking how young adults livin independently can access paid work without losing their level of support.
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 julia@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 and groups 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 Andrea in confidence - hala@ncdn.org or by phone on 01668 219879.
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 julia@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
Live and Let Live - Tackling Hate Crime and anti-social beahviour in Northumberland
This project brings together community groups to work together to create a more accepting and safe community. Hate crime and related behaviour is often motivated by prejudice or hostility based on contempt for someone's impairment, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender status. It can range from one off incidents through to daily abuse and, if disregarded, can become a serious threat to individuals, groups and communities.
The project has a small grant from Northumbria Police to explore how groups from different backgrounds can work learn about each others' issues and work together to raise awareness and support people experiencing discrimination.
Here is a summary presentation of what groups in Northumberland have been exploring
If you or your group would like to join the project please contact julia@ncdn.org
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 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. . If you would like to participate please contact julia@ncdn.org