Project update: Supporting Rural Community organisations in Northumberland
Why do rural Northumberland communities apply for funding far less than those in Cumbria?
That was the question posed by the Royal Countryside Fund after receiving very few applications.
To help bridge this gap and bring additional capacity, the Rural Design Centre stepped in as part of a collaborative project alongside two partner organisations: the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise, and Community Action Northumberland, who led the first stages of engagement.
Nurturing community organisations with a helping hand at Higher Ground, Allendale.
Engaging local organisations to spark ideas that align with funding priorities
Our team—Izabela Kirschnerová, Matthew Clark, and Dr. Katie Aitken-McDermott worked closely with local organisations to turn ideas into actionable project plans.
Starting with engagement sessions to uncover challenges and spark ideas, we then refined these into deliverable concepts aligned with funding priorities.
Tailored workshops worked well
As part of this process, we designed and delivered tailored workshops with five organisations, focusing on strengthening their project ideas and preparing them for funding applications.
Here’s what we supported them with:
Higher Ground Allendale – Developing and strengthening income streams.
Church and Community Partnership Tynedale (Transport Project) – Generating ideas to support the existing community transport service, including exploring the hiring of a Community Development Officer.
Haltwhistle Partnership – Creating a job advert and refining plans for hiring a Community Development Officer to strengthen existing projects.
Rothbury CAN – Holding an initial meeting to discuss and hone potential project ideas ahead of their workshop.
Glendale Gateway Trust – Outlining challenges faced by young people in accessing work and education, and exploring ways to address these issues.
Through these workshops and discussions, we’ve built momentum and set a clear path towards full funding applications, which will continue after Christmas.
This collaborative effort is helping rural communities turn great ideas into real opportunities for growth and resilience.