Who are Amble Development Trust and what do they do?
Earlier this year my wife and I moved to Amble and a copy of The Ambler Community Newspaper arrived in our letter box. Being an avid reader, I enjoyed The Ambler and decided that I wanted to know more about the publication and the organisation behind it. The Ambler is a project of Amble Development Trust and is popular in the area, and I thought readers would enjoy learning more about the Trust and its work for the community.
đź“· Matthew, Julia and Anna
I met Julia Aston, Amble Development Trust Director and Company Secretary, Matthew Connolly, Strategic Project Manager, and the Ambler’s editorial team; Editor Anna Williams, and team members Vivienne Dalgliesh, Norma Hinson and Ian MacKarill.
Amble Development Trust was formed as a Limited Company in 1994 in response to locally identified issues, and it became a registered charity in 1995. Providing space and support for the community to thrive, the Trust is community-led and firmly rooted in the town. The board of trustees is made up of elected members and representatives of local organisations. They are all volunteers. If you live in the area of benefit, you can apply to join.
As a not-for-profit charity, the Trust works with other agencies and organisations in the public, private, voluntary and community sectors; building trusted relationships that strengthen over time.
đź“· Amble Harbour Village
The Trust offers assistance with employment advice and services. It has developed four affordable flats above the former Co-operative non food store on Queen Street. The ground floor property was divided into three retail units which are now rented out to form an income stream for the Trust. The Trust also runs Amble Harbour Village, and rents out offices in the old Fourways on Bridge Street.
Amble Welfare has provided recreational space for the town for over 60 years. With the closure of mines locally the park ownership of the Miners Welfare Park was taken over by the then Alnwick District Council. However in 2007 ownership was handed to the Trust, who began a programme of investment with the installation of a children’s recreational area and upgrades to the pavilion. In recent years a skatepark and a Multi User Games Area were created, drainage was added to the football fields, and most recently a Playzone has added to the facilities.
đź“· Amble Playzone
The Ambler is a community paper and hyperlocal website. It is run by one full time worker and a dedicated team of volunteers. The first edition was published in January 2000, with six issues a year ever since. In 2023 they were Commended as an Independent Community Newspaper at the Newspaper of the Year Awards. The Ambler’s stated purpose is to keep local people in touch with local news and events, and to inform and encourage discussion on issues of interest to the community. The paper is delivered free to every house in Amble, and a number to neighbouring communities.
The Trust actively encourages the involvement of volunteers in all its activities. I was impressed by the work of the team and its commitment to the future of the town.
Contact Amble Development Trust, Fourways 2, 6 Dilston Terrace, Amble, NE65 0DT,
julia@ambledevelopmenttrust.org.uk 01665 712929
Ray Wilcox
