Projects Supported

LEADER Case Studies

Developing Arts Based Tourism in the North Pennines

Allenheads Contemporary Arts (ACA) is based at The Old School House, Allenheads and has received Leader funding to develop specialist, arts-based holidays. The Old School House will be upgraded to offer self-catering accommodation for individuals or groups, as well as improvements to the large open plan classroom area which can then be hired out when not being used for visitors. ACA will also be able to offer short art residencies during the off peak season.

ACA will work with other local businesses which offer specialist knowledge of the area to also provide a programme to visitors for them to experience a deeper understanding of the geology, landscapes, flora and fauna of the North Pennines.

Targeted Rural Business Support Project

The project will be based in Stanhope and Middleton in Teesdale - the rural service centres for Weardale and Teesdale. The project will offer businesses:

Capital Improvement Scheme

Offering a maximum grant for any single premises of 50% to a maximum of £7,000. Works would include: minor repairs and redecoration, improvements and/or replacement of windows and doors, rendering, brickwork, fascias and signage, new or replacement awnings, improvements to gable ends, rainwater goods, provision of disabled access and replacement of solid roller shutters with shutters of an appropriate design and minor security upgrades.

The project has acted as a catalyst to offer in conjunction with capital improvements retail support.

Retail

Commissioning the assessment of the retail centres to identify businesses which would benefit from tailored training e.g. merchandising, pricing display etc. Businesses will then receive One to One hands on support in their premises from specialist Retail Consultant to maximise marketing opportunities, incresed business and improved profit margins. A maximum of 20 days specialist support.

Isaacs Tea Trail Walk

Isaacs Tea Trail Walk is a 37 miles long circular trail in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has been in existence for 10 years. It starts in Allendale at Isaac's Well and goes over to Nenthead and Alston and returns by Ninebanks. It was named after Isaac Holden, a legendary Victorian tea seller and benefactor. Allenheads Trust Ltd has successfully applied for Leader funding to redesign this walk and make it more user friendly. Shorter walks will be added from the trail whch will also be on the website. (including at least one connecting with local public transport). Other user-friendly additions will be new interpretive panels, waymarking signs, and leaflets about the trail with an insert giving information about local shops, accomodation and cafes which can be updated as and when necessary.

Heritage Interpretation & Information through New Technologies

The North Pennines AONB Partnership has received funding for this Transnational Cooperation Project with participating project partners from Scotland, Holland, France and England. Various technologies will be used by the partners to test different innovative technologies in heritage interpretation using web based and Smartphone technology. This project is known by the acronym HINT (Heritage Interpretation through Innovative Technologies). In the North Pennines, this project will enable reliable information and interpretation to be provided via state of the art technology for up to approximately 10,000 visitors per year at the Bowlees visitor centre in Upper Teesdale, located near High Force, whilst the visitor centre is unmanned. The new information unit will allow people to access relevant local information via their mobile phones and via a high tech (Bluetooth enabled) touch screen fitted to the inside of the centre's window, which will allow visitors to manipulate a computer display to obtain the answer to their specific enquiry, even if they are not adept at using the various functions of their mobile phone.

High Crane Lodge Countryside Education

High Crane Lodge Countryside Education is starting up a new micro enterprise with Leader funding. They are planning to operate an outdoor classroom for school visits that will provide an insight into the countryside and agriculture including tree keys, tree planting, wild flower identification and sustainable electricity production (wind turbine) They will provide tailored resources for teachers and students linked to the National Curriculum and will create fact sheets and follow up learning packs for teachers to continue the learning once back in the classroom. Funding will enable the course content and learning materials to be developed and equipment such as webcams and nest boxes with cameras and monitors to be purchased and set up. It will also provide computer based identification keys, indoor seating and heating and emergency outdoor clothing.

Community Buildings Support

Durham Rural Community Council is to recruit a part time community buildings adviser to work with management groups of community buildings with the aim of ensuring that they have the skills, knowledge and information necessary to ensure that their buildings are operating efficiently, effectively and safely and are sustainable in the longer term. This adviser will encourage and support management volunteers to implement a range of improvements to the operation, policies, procedures and working practices of their community building within the framework of the Action for Communities in Rural England (ACRE) national quality scheme - Hallmark. Eligible community buildings will be encouraged to participate in the quality scheme with a view to achieveing Hallmark acreditation. Advice and guidance will also be offered in a less structured format to those community buildings not wishing to pursue Hallmark accreditation. Training events will also be provided and during the term of the project, a comprehensive community buildings toolkit will be developed which will provide guidance on all aspects of managing a community building. The toolkit will be made availble to every community building in the Leader area.

North Pennine Dales Woodfuel Supply Development

This project supports the development of a 'quality assured' wood fuel supply chain in the North Pennine Dales Leader area, providing dedicated technical support in the field of wood fuel supply processing and sourcing. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) provides a significant opportunity for off gas grid areas to invest in renewable heating systems that can provide cost effective, carbon lean, sustainable heating. Wood fuel is widely expected to provide the vast majority of the renewable heat to meet this increased demand. This project aims to develop a sustainable quality assured supply chain of locally sourced wood fuel products - firewood, woodchip from sustainably managed woodlands in the project area where domestic and small scale commercial users can be guaranteed a consistent supply of high quality fuel.

High Greenfield Farm, Cowshill, Bishop Auckland

High Greenfield Farm is the host organisation under the Leonardo-da-Vinci, student exchange programme EU, also connected to Grampus Heritage and Training Cumbria and Dubener Heidz National Park, German, other partner/trainers in Cyprus, Slovakia, Romania, Ireland, Bulgaria, Slovinia, Estonia. They seek to offer training in tradional skills and gain a deeper understanding of the natural environmet. The natural springs dried up due to geological changes through quarrying, and lead mining operations. Water is delivered in a tanker from a local farm two miles away. This project is to support the sinking of a borehole well on land at High Greenfield Farm. This will create a permanent source of potable water and enable the farm to continue offering traditional rural skills training to European exchange students, and so maintain a diversified income.

Joined Up Holidays, Woodland, Bishop Auckland

This project was born of a desire to connect people with animals, nature and the environment regardless of the person's "special needs" or "problems". By offering respite breaks with farm based activities, individually tailored to the needs and wishes of each client, to provide them with their own unique, fun and informative experience. The therapeutic benefits of sharing our lives with animals has been well documented, as have the benefits of outdoor activities and they will offer both these experiences to people who may find it difficult to be fully accommodated and relaxed within mainstream holiday centers'. What this means in practice is that they will provide a special place for special people to have some fun, enjoy the animals and if they wish to, learn about farming, gardening, the local wildlife, sustainable living and the environment. Website: www.joinedupholidays.co.uk

Enterprise Development Officer

This project is funding an Enterprise Development Officer who will bridge the gaps in business support for Weardale, Teesdale and Allendale. This project will provide an extension to the support being provided on Love Food which is proving very limiting and will also focus on the current demand for support with e-enablement. The funding will pay 49% toward an Enterprise Development Officer who will have a base at Barnard Castle but will work mobile within the community to visit businesses on their premises. All key sector rural businesses will be provided with hands on business support with a motto of 'if you cannot come to us we will come to you'. This is one to one coaching offered to businesses to develop their skills. This will enable more business start-ups and encourage business growth and development in the three targeted Leader areas of Teesdale, Weardale and Allendale.

Tourism Transport Plan

This Leader project is to run a pilot Tourism Transport Project from July - September 2011. The pilot will work with a range of partners to deliver a time limited project to link up key tourism attractions in Stanhope and the Upper Dale and across into Cumbria running between Stanhope Railway Station , Killhope Mining Museum and Alston. A study will then be produced to assess the ongoing viability of the project, potential further development for extending the timescales and area of delivery and financial viability.

Sandy & Black Pig Company, Teesdale

The Sandy & Black Pig Company are aiming to produce and supply direct to the consumer their own special range of rare breed pork. This will encourage local produce to be used in local eateries and build a demand from customers who will be able to purchase direct and also available through farmers markets. The funding will be used to purchase essential equipment and renovate the garage into a suitable work area to conform with Environmental Health standards and enable the project to trade as a meat producer.

Woodland School Breakfast Club

To provide a healthy breakfast and play and social activities for children and young people in the Woodland community. It will contribute to prviding a sustainable community as the existence of this childcare will encourage new families to come into the community and prevent existing families needing to move out in order to find work. It would be expected that this project would act as a catalyst - to enable local people to consider taking on full time employment, additional training and skills development without the barriers of childcare in a rural community.

Beck's Bikes

Filling the gap in cycle provision in the Allendale area, Beck's Bikes offers a variety of activities for all ages and abilities. Well experienced in the outdoor activity market, the aim is to increase visitor numbers and work with a number of other tourist providers to enhance visitor experience within the Allendale area. This funding will allow them to buy a variety of bikes and equipment to provide bike hire, guided tours, specialist skills training, fitness training and sessions for school groups. Website: www.beckstraining.co.uk

Renewable Teesdale

The objective of the project is to provide free site assessments to farmers and landowners in the Upper Teesdale area. These assessments will; 1) Identify overall energy consumption and 'easy win' efficiency measures to help reduce costs and carbon emissions 2) Conduct an outline Renewable Energy Options Appraisal for each land holding to identify potentially viable small scale technologies. This will also include assessments of biomass supply potential 3) For each identified technology provide outline design guidance, budget costings, output projections and financial projections. This will include provision of details of MCS accredited installers, funding opportunities, support payment mechanisms and other technical issues such as grid connection requirements and operational and maintenance considerations 4) Provide training and guidance on legal and statutory requirements and signpost the next steps required for project development A total of 12 sites will be appraised.

iROC

North Pennine Dales LEADER were very pleased to be able to support the inaugural event of the iROC Adventure Race Weekend. The event which took place on the 18th and 19th of April within the LaFarge Eastgate quarry complex consisted of six individual races including running, orienteering and cycling. | Read more

Upper Teesdale Tourism Business Support Network

This is a fifteen month long project, designed to establish a local tourism network based in and around Middleton in Teesdale, to work with businesses that provide accommodation, attractions and events, shops and services, catering outlets and other businesses, that will improve the local offer for all types of tourists and day visitors to coordinate information collection and raising awareness of the area and what is has to offer, to raise standards, such as Taste Durham etc, provide mentoring and training, an development support for local events and activities. The deliverer is Middleton Plus Development Trust who have received match funding from Durham County Council, James Knott and Hadrian Trusts as well as contributing themselves.

Tyne Valley Cycling Club

Olympic riders and elite enthusiasts took part in the Derwent Cycle Race an event which brought two small rural communities together to host the race. This event is the third race of the premier national British Cycling road race calendar and was organised by Tyne Valley Cycling Club. | Read more

Pebbles Art Gallery

A rural Northumberland village is preparing itself for the most ambitious project in its history - the creation of a new art and media centre. The venture in Allendale, near Hexham, has brought together a wide range of creative practitioners and community members to create workspace and studios for small businesses, exhibition gallery, workshops, café, office facilities and a sound and media studio where the youth project will be based. | Read more

Allenheads Community Shop

Building on the success of The Hemmel Café and recognising the need for a village shop North Pennine Dales LEADER was delighted to support the development of the Allenheads Trust Community Shop which links to the café, this provides a valuable service for both the residents of the area and the many visitors. | Read more

South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society

North Pennine Dales LEADER are delighted to be able to support this project which will extend the existing narrow gauge rail track from Kirkhaugh to Lintley Viaduct with a loop to run the trains around, working in conjunction with another funder, Groundworks who have supported the construction of a platform, shelter, picnic area footpath and fencing. This project will enable access to the railway from Northumberland and encourage coach parties and visitors to disembark and enjoy the Northumberland area. | Read more 

Stanhope Pool

Stanhope Pool is to develop an all weather facility to enable visitors to enjoy the open air pool and have a sheltered conservatory area to sit and relax with a log fired sauna which can be set to heat the outdoor space. The project will enable Stanhope Pool to extend the opening season generate additional income and provided added services to the area.

Barnard Castle Riverside & Volunteer Project

This is a short term project aimed at physical improvements to the area around the 'honey pot' heritage area adjacent to the river and castle in Barnard Castle, and aimed at attracting tourists. The works are mainly to establish a new footpath from the river Tees to the castle and the volunteer support will clear and thin out overgrown trees and shrubs to restore good views of the river and help restore the sculpture garden. It will provide key links to other pathways around the site and open up the area and the new path will become part of the town trail and be maintained by the County Council. The project aims to develop a network of volunteers Green Barney to take ownership and pride in the area and support with the maintenance and appearance of the green areas of Barney.

New Hall Farm

The Wilson family identified a significant gap in the tourism accommodation market to provide 4 star plus accommodation for large groups. New Hall Farm is a small family farm located in the Wolsingham area of Weardale. It started to diversify into self catering from their normal farming business around five years ago. The main farm house is large and the project is to convert this in to four star standard self catering accommodation for up to 15 people, with the potential to sleep another 6 at a later stage. The business has taken on board the comments from Visit County Durham, so the business will offer flexible accommodation which will predominantly be self-catering, however it will have the option of offering additional services to guests as required.

JWB Moorland Services

This is a farm diversification project to assist this established farming business to move away from cattle and sheep farming and into environmental contracting. Other environmental related enterprises are also being considered. The farm has applied for RDPE support to purchase a state of the art covered weed wiper, complete with GPS and a cut and collect forage system for environmental conditioning purposes, to improve weed, bracken and rush control in environmental sensitive areas. The growing demand for this service, although in its infancy, is supported by public bodies such as NPD AONB and Natural England, and private estates and charities such as the RSPB. The long term sustainability of the farm business will be greatly increased.

TVHC Training

Teesdale Village Halls Consortium is a registered charity and works to promote and improve the effectiveness of village hall and community organisations in the Teesdale area. A part of this aim, it wishes to expand the type of training it offers, and it has designed a package of accredited training which includes a) an award in Food Safety in Catering, 2) Emergency First Aid, and 3) An award in Health and Safety at Work, all of which will be valuable to both volunteers and paid employees.

The training is viewed as innovative in this area, and will benefit around 400 individuals. The demand for this training is regular and constant, and adds value to other training available in the area. TVHC is linked into established local learning networks; and it will not duplicate any other training provision of this nature.

North Pennines Training & Adventure

A new tourism micro-enterprise that will use the natural heritage of the North Pennines in a sustainable manner. Support is sought for the purchase of capital equipment as business start up costs plus a small level of marketing. The business that will be created as a result will offer a range of training / adventure activities in the North Pennine Dales in the form of:

• First aid training
• Outdoor skills (e.g. navigation skills)
• Adventure activities utilising the natural environment and covering land and water based activities

Barnard Castle Cricket Club 20/20 Kidzone

Barnard Castle Cricket Club was support to expand an existing community facility for young people (currently standing at 150 young people as members). The young people were very involved with the development of the project and the application to LEADER. They wish to link the newly built changing rooms to the existing social club, build a new extension, demolish outdated toilets, stock rooms and replace the kitchen, and introduce a new recreational area. Changes will enable the facility to be used 52 weeks a year rather than the current six months, and create a more attractive community resource. The building link will have the added benefit of providing, at no costs to the project, access to new toilet facilities and reception area.

Allendale Preschool Playgroup

Capital investment was provided towards the establishment of an outdoor play area within an established pre-school group. The play area will provide a safe area where young children can play. It will also contain an educational element in that planters will be available for the growing of flowers and fruit/vegetables. A canopy will provide protection from the elements. This part of the project was the final phase of a purpose built facility next to the primary school which ensure the playgroup can expand its offer and secure long term sustainability.

Working for a Future - Pilot Study

This is a participatory action research study project, to engage with the whole village community in the village of Frosterley, in upper Weardale. It seeks to place the village as a 'Transition Town' - one that encourages local approaches to community level sustainability, to reduce carbon production by individual, domestic and business users through information, advice, education and training of up to 10% (80 people) of the population of the village spread across the socio-economic groups.

It will monitor before and after usages of resources in two areas, and will also look at energy, transport, water, waste, food and drink, building and construction and bio-diversity. The project will last for fifteen months and the study will make recommendations for local people, policy makers and funders.

Bishop FM

Support for the transmitter equipment to enable the station to have a FM presence. A brand new radio station is celebrating the success of its first month on air, broadcasting local news and views to thousands of enthusiastic listeners across South West Durham. Community radio station Bishop FM is run by more than 60 volunteers from all walks of life. | Read more

North Pennine Dales Enterprising Food

This is a capital project to purchase a mobile display unit and promotional equipment including a portable demonstration kitchen, refrigerator and trailer to support this new partnership, formed to support the production, promotion and use of locally grown/reared food in the North Pennine Dales | Read more

Allendale Golf Club

In order to reduce their carbon footprint and increase the energy efficiency of their clubhouse, Allendale Golf Club commissioned an independent feasibility study which recommended that a wind turbine be installed to generate the required amount of electricity through renewable energy sources. | Read more

Bishop Auckland Food Festival

The Bishop Auckland Food Festival is a significant regional annual event aimed at showcasing local businesses and their range of products. Local traders from Weardale, Teesdale and Tynedale have participated in the event previously and these were among 96 individual businesses that participated at the event in 2009. | Read more

Haymeadows

Highlights Productions are a registered charity established in 1997 to provide access to a range of arts based events to isolated rural communities and groups. The wider project is to provide a management and project development and production costs to take a touring play 'on the road', however this first phase of the project is to manage, write and produce a drama about the international and local importance of the heritage aspects of the last remaining Hay Meadows, some of which are located in the North Pennine Dales area. The project also includes an educational element which will benefit local people including school age pupils. Highlights will be assisted by the Blaize Touring Theatre Company. The project complements the ongoing environmental work of Natural England and the North Pennine Dales AONB, but is not directly linked to any of their projects.

Wild North Discovery

RDPE Leader support is requested to enable a new business start up to offer nature / heritage based week / weekend breaks in the North Pennines. The request is for books, equipment and tools that will participants will use to explore the wildlife and heritage of the area, plus some costs towards a promotional leaflet.

Sustainable Allendale Food & Energy Feasibility Study

Sustainable Allendale CIC is a new Community Interest Company and assists its community to work towards being self determining and self sufficient. It wishes to commission a feasibility study to investigate the potential for a wood fuel district heating system and a community supported agriculture initiative, amongst other priorities. It has secured £10,000 from the Big Lottery and a small amount from private contributions for the wider project; however it requires a further public investment of £10,046 to ensure a good quality feasibility study.

Whitfield First School

A CofE school which is being very adventurous in trying to achieve a zero carbon site and promoting and offering training to share best practices.

Whitfield Parish Hall

This is a typical example of a physical upgrade to a valuable rural community building, whose management wish to enhance its appearance, functionality, energy efficiency, accessibility and sustainability. This is the second phase of the upgrade to the Hall, the larger first phase being completed in 2007. The works to the 50-year-old kitchen area (which falls below current standards for food hygiene) include repairs (insulation, new floor, window replacement and associated electrics and plumbing etc.) and refurbishment including new equipment. Rather uniquely, the Hall will make use of the electricity generated from its own hydroelectric scheme, which uses an historic millrace which runs beneath the Hall. The works include improvements to the thermal efficiency and electricity generation, which should be sufficient to satisfy it's energy needs, and the management committee is confident that with this new investment, the Hall can become financially self-sufficient in three years. As well as providing new facilities to this small rural community, the management committee are addressing the Hall's long-term economic sustainability, which will contribute to the overall social and economic sustainability of the small village of Whitfield. The committee has secured a high level of charitable contributions, which accounts for 81.9% of project costs, with an RDPE contribution of 18.1%.

Get into Dry Stone Walling

The Get into Dry Stone Walling project is similar to a number of previous traditional rural skills projects, however the Princes Trust are managing this project and they have designed a mix of vocational skills training supplemented by personal development coaching. The training is targeted at 16 disadvantaged young people, aged 16-25 from Teesdale and Weardale, and who have a strong wish to work in dry stone walling and may wish to gain further land based skills. The Princes Trust is well known and is one of the country's few national organisations that focus on the development of young people. It exists to 'provide opportunities for them to develop their full capacities and enable them to become responsible members of society so that their conditions of life may be improved'. This includes vocational accredited training, however, as importantly, is the personal development coaching provided. The Trust has run numerous projects across the North East, including in rural areas, since it's launch in 1976. The course is accredit+ed through LANTRA, the Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based sector. It complements the traditional skills training provision provided by Northumberland National Park through the Northumberland Uplands LEADER programme. The training is based on earlier programmes (e.g. with the National Trust in 2008) and has high rates of success. The Trust plans to develop the Get into Dry Stone Walling course further and roll it out nationally in rural areas next year. The project addresses the personal individual needs of young people who wish to stay in their home area and find work. The project contributes strongly to the Sustainable Communities theme of the North Pennines Local Development Strategy.

Radio Teesdale

Support for the Station Manager to enable them to continue broadcasting.

Know Your North Pennines

This project will provide training opportunities for tourism businesses in the North Pennines to enhance their knowledge of what makes the North Pennines special. It will also fund a feasibility study to look into income generation opportunities related to rolling out similar "Know Your Place" training to other areas.

Natural Ability

Natural Ability is a newly established social enterprise, set up to provide living accommodation, work and training in a rural community, where people with learning disabilities can live safely, learn, work and gain personal autonomy. The project is twofold, to undertake a feasibility study to establish the viability of a proposed centre at Sparty Lea or other suitable location, and to provide a contribution to the salary costs of a business development manager post, who will manage and deliver the wider project, to create a new centre, services and opportunities for local people in this rural and isolated area, and improve the lives of local people with learning disabilities. It is widely recognised that there are very few opportunities for young people with learning disabilities once they have completed formal education, and especially in this area of south west Northumberland/North West Durham. Those opportunities which are available are not generally tailored to the individual needs of young disabled people. Through this and future work, Natural Ability intends to provide supported living, the development of independent and daily living skills, as well as providing opportunities to work outdoors in a controlled farming environment and with animals. This new venture will provide an important facility for this local upland area for a marginalised section of the community, where up to 97% of people with learning disabilities are currently unemployed.

Weardale Community Buildings Network

Durham Rural Community Council wishes to survey village halls and community buildings in Weardale in order to identify and assess the wide range of needs of the many different groups who run the community buildings in the area. The study will analyse those needs and address the issue of their long term sustainable development and the future delivery of key local services in this rural upland area. This is a six month project which will produce a study based on at least 20 interviews with community buildings management committees. It will conclude with a group event to disseminate the findings and gauge support for a new community buildings network, and a programme of support services (bespoke or shared) to be delivered throughout Weardale. The study will be procured through competitive tender and project costs may subsequently reduce. The results will inform similar work in other parts of the North Pennine Dales LEADER area and perhaps the remainder of the County.

Barnard Castle Meet

The Barnard Castle Meet is an annual carnival weekend event which has been running for over one hundred years, and operated by a small association through its MEET committee. This is Teesdale's largest community event and involves around twenty participatory events which culminate in a grand parade through the streets of Barnard Castle with local people including musicians, artists and other local talent on display. The project is to provide an accessible pool of essential equipment, such as a generator, public address system, and marquees etc., not only for this event, but for other charities and local organisations that provide community based events and services in the Dales area. | Read more 

NeST

A disused car showroom in Barnard Castle is being transformed into an innovative centre for digital art in the heart of rural County Durham. Newgate Studios (Nest) will be a home for graphic designers, animators, musicians, digital photographers and filmmakers providing workshop and gallery space, high speed wireless internet and hot-desking. The building, renovated with the help of a £33,000 grant from North Pennine Dales LEADER, required complete reconstruction including a new heating system, fire and security alarms, and electrics. | Read more

Teesdale Artists Network

Teesdale Artists Network was established in 2008 and is managed on a voluntary basis by Artworks, an unincorporated organisation. Following a number of previous successful projects, this project will pull together a number of initiatives to harness the growing number of art's based micro-businesses in the Teesdale area, to provide a shared resource through a newly established funded Project Manager post, currently undertaken on a part-time voluntary basis, to coordinate the artist's activities. This will increase the take up by local artists to exhibit their work within and beyond Teesdale, and provide quality marketing and publicity through increased networking, a number of high profile events and celebrity interest, professional development opportunities, and a forum to work with tourism and other cross-sectoral organisations and community engagement activities. The project is 50% funded by RDPE, with contributions of £4,600 from the artists themselves, Durham County Council, and Barnard Castle Vision. As a spin off, it will utilise a number of vacant shops in Barnard Castle to exhibit their work to local people and visitors. It has the potential to establish a new social enterprise as an art's based business, and at the same time it will strengthening the existing micro- businesses through professional training, increased market awareness and marketing and selling opportunities.

Play@Cotherstone

This is a small capital project to bring a redundant stone barn back into use for the benefit of the residents of the small village of Cotherstone in Upper Teesdale. The small charity was established in 2004 and they have taken over and established a 3.5 acre site as a community park. At the perimeter of the park lie a redundant and dilapidated traditional stone barn and following discussions with the owner, it was offered as a gift to the community and planning permission was granted. The charity is in the process of taking legal ownership of the barn and this project is to gut the barn, replace roof timbers and slates, and strengthen the walls and any associated works. A solar power supply will be installed and interior works to provide storage space for the charity's maintenance and event equipment, currently located in various farms and private dwellings in and around the village.

Community Enterprise

This is a community enterprise project that will provide pre-start up, start-up and business expansion activities, including coaching, skills development and 1 to 1 mentoring. Its aim is to create sustainable business opportunities and facilitate sustainable community development through the provision of the above services. It will deliver this mainly through a newly created 'Community Coach' post and a series of four practical business skills workshops. The workshops are aimed at entrepreneurs drawn from a range of backgrounds and sectors, and the content of each workshop programme will be designed around the needs of the participants, so they receive the information, training and advice they want. Workshops will be delivered at community venues in Stanhope and Middleton-in -Teesdale, making them within easy reach for the participants. The Community (Enterprise) Coach will be employed by the applicant, the Enterprise Agency for Wear Valley and Teesdale, and line managed via their Barnard Castle office although the post holder will work mainly in the community out of the two bases mentioned earlier. The Coach will stimulate entrepreneurial activities in the North Pennine Dales area and will mainly work with individuals to raise their aspirations, help overcome barriers, explore business ideas, identify personal resource issues and develop personal support networks prior to accessing mainstream business support programmes. The enterprise Coach will equally work with community organisations and social enterprises that have an economic contribution to make and help them plan for sustainability, such as through support with project management and finance. The need for the project is clearly evidenced in the North Pennine Dales Delivery Strategy re activities to raise economic underperformance. The project is BSSP compliant and will add value to the existing mainstream support and link with other projects such as the Barnard Castle Vision and Stanhope Vision. It has good linkage to a LEGI/ERDF project which supports similar activities in other parts of Durham, but will not duplicate it.

Lanchester Parish Council

Lanchester Parish Council produced its parish plan in 2006, and it identifies the land based economy as 'the custodian of the landscape in managing the wider countryside of Lanchester parish, to conserve and enhance the area's rich landscape, character and diversity, increase biodiversity and tranquillity, promote enjoyment and understanding of it's cultural heritage, and plan for future influences on the environment.' The project is to fund a dedicated part time development officer for three years and employed by the Parish Council, to develop the 42 identified actions identified in the parish plan. These will be mainly centred on the enhancement of the rural economy, and includes activities such as strengthening rural advocacy, promoting the marketing of niche branded produce, encouraging take up of learning opportunities, developing interpretation and access to the countryside, and encouraging landscape and habitat management.

Weardale NET

The scope of the project is to provide highspeed Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband for all of Weardale from Tow Law to Killhope. The network will have a roaming facility so tourists and travelling busineess people can access the intenet; emails etc. The funding will be used to support the investment in the design and installation of the hardware associated with the broadband backbone: this includes masts, the transmission equipment and the hardware and software needed to manage the network. http://weardalenet.org/

Cybermoor

Cybermoor has evaluated a number of ways to reduce the cost of bringing Next Generation Access to this area. We have identified a microwave link between Alston via Kirkheaton and the Virginmedia fibre optic network at Prudhoe in the Tyne Valley as the best option. Spare capacity on this new link will then be sold to the public sector and private sector clients to ensure future sustainability. Cybermoor will install 2 masts, one at Kirkheaton and one above Alston. Broadband radio equipment will be fixed to these masts, and also at the Fire Station in Prudhoe and the Catton Mast in Allendale. This will allow a high speed internet connection to be delivered from Virginmedia in Prudhoe to Allendale, South Tyne Valley and Carrshield. A second part of the project will extend the Cybermoor broadband service to users in Halton Lea Gate, Lambley and Langley. This will involve extending the backbone of the network and installing equipment on homes so they can connect to the service. www.cybermoor.org

Witham Cinema Film & Animation Festival

The project is the development of an annual film festival including film workshops and the purchase of some additional equipment to enable films to be shown in other venues locally. The Witham cinema was opened November 2009 and to date has shown over 80 films to 2294 people. The film festival will run over 7 days from the 21- 27th February (half-term holidays) and will include films for all ages and children's animation workshops with Reality Studios. The festival will be themed "local connections" and will include locally produced films, the work of a local animator, and mainstream films with local connections e.g. Attonement. The festival will also include pre and post-screening talks by directors, producers or film experts. The festival will be marketed to local people and visitors from up to a 2 hour travel time. The festival will provide additional activities in the evenings and we hope that food and accommodation businesses will benefit from association with the festival.