THEMES | Supporting Communities

Introduction

“Through listening responding and providing resources, we will support people to achieve and maintain their voice”.

Derwentside has a strong community and voluntary sector with an infrastructure, which includes a Council for Voluntary Services and a Community Network. Further support is needed to further the development of community engagement and to ensure that strong democratic processes are developed which will provide opportunities for and increase involvement in community activity and in local decision-making.

Cohesive communities provide a foundation to build a prosperous, safe, attractive and healthy Derwentside. To ensure people and communities are supported to be actively engaged in community life, partner organisations need to listen, respond and provide resources to enable people to work together and build a district they would want to live in and be proud of.

Derwentside has received significant amounts of external funding to tackle deprivation. Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) has been used to enhance the quality of life of local people in the areas of greatest need and Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (NRF) has been targeted towards 11 identified wards, as detailed in the Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy (LNRS). A neighbourhood management pilot (NMP) is also established within the Stanley Green Corridor. However, support for all parts of the community, including residents, community groups, voluntary organisations and young people, needs to be further developed if Derwentside is to build a strong cohesive community.

Working within a social inclusion agenda will ensure that communities of interest are recognised and ways of engaging them in the decision-making processes are developed and maintained.