Trust Life: Dec 2010
Welcome one and all to life at the Trust. The nights are darker and the weather is wet and cold, but the Torchlight Procession brightened the run up to Christmas; we hope you enjoyed it and joined in the spirit. The businesses on Queen Street put in a concerted effort to make their windows extra special this year: ‘Really going for it’ was how it was described. So, thank you to everyone who participated and dedicated so much time and effort into making a fantastic event.
We are particularly lucky in Amble to have a vast range of independent shops. If you look around there is very little you cannot buy – much better than the run of the mill multinationals, where they have the same stock in each store. So if you are looking for something different, you will probably find it very close to home. What better time to shop local?
Trust projects update:
Work has now begun on the former Co-op (old electrical) store and hopefully the shop front will be looking better soon. We have almost completed the Business Plan for the ground floor funding application; once this is submitted (and hopefully granted) work can go ahead on the internal structure.
After nearly a year’s work, we got a disappointing ‘NO’ from the funders for our Leader application for the pavilion at the welfare. They cited ‘lack of community support’ although we provided 12 letters from community groups and organisations, and ‘asking for too much funding’ even though their facilitator asked us to ‘build’ the application from what we actually required. We are going to appeal, but doubt it will make any difference. Sadly, for the duration of the funding process, we are not allowed to do any work, so the building has deteriorated.
Fortunately we have a small funding pot, a legacy from Alnwick District Council, which we can use to make the building watertight, but if there is anyone out there who could volunteer some time to help with internal work, perhaps plastering or painting, your assistance would be gratefully received. Hopefully we can do some restoration and open it for community use.
The Skateboard Park should soon be a feature in the Welfare. All funding is confirmed, so once planning has been received from County it should be ‘green for go’!
Another opportunity we are hoping to harness is Axis 4. This is an EU programme which supports fishing communities. If successful it will mean a lot of very hard work setting up a group, to be known as a FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group), and setting out the projects that will help sustain the communities within the designated area. For our submission we have covered the coastal area from Berwick to Blyth. A panel is meeting to appraise the applications, from nine proposals they intend to set up six groups, so fingers crossed!
We are currently exploring opportunities for working from home and a new version of Job Clubs, with Northumberland Business Services and Jobcentre Plus. We should soon have more information on pre-training workshops. We will explore any avenues to help people into work.
The Trust hosts the Community Forum on behalf of Northumberland County Council; this is your opportunity to be involved in decision making affecting your life and the community. Look out for meeting dates on The Ambler website.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who helped tidy up the Town Square for Armistice Day. It was very much appreciated and has made a big difference. Between the Trust and the Town Council we are hoping to schedule a programme of ‘Pride in Amble’ days, so if you can spare a couple of hours here and there to make the town a better place, we would welcome your company.
All that is left is for me to wish you, on behalf of the Trust, a very merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.
Julia Aston
Director, Amble Development Trust
julia@ambledevelopmenttrust.org.uk
