Community charity helping residents to thrive secures £10k funding boost from PCC.

A charity promoting volunteering across County Durham and Darlington has secured a £10k grant to help communities build resilience and prosper.

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has provided £10k to Durham Community Action (DCA) as part of a joint funding deal with Durham County Council to support its activities in 2024-25.

The charity is also in discussions with the Commissioner to acquire additional funding to establish a bespoke volunteer development and training programme within the PCC’s office to build on her vision to promote volunteering in community safety roles.

DCA, which was one of the first organisations nationally to achieve reaccreditation from the Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation, is a charity providing advice, support and assistance to frontline voluntary and community groups working across County Durham and Darlington.

Staff work closely with groups and individual volunteers to identify their needs, help them secure funding and resources and provide the support and encouragement they need to make a difference to their communities.

The charity also supports the development of best practice in volunteering organisations and promotes community-led action and engagement through partnership working and capacity building.

DCA supports all six of the PCC’s current Police and Crime Plan priorities.

In the past year alone, the organisation has delivered an extensive programme of training and events including the delivery of Cyber Security sessions for 64 people from VCS organisations and Understanding Safeguarding/ Introduction to Safeguarding workshops for 100 VCS staff.

In addition, DCA directly supported 27 online volunteer applications to the Commissioner’s Community Peer Mentors service. This service supports the recovery of vulnerable and isolated people affected by significant life-changing events including crime and antisocial behaviour and neighbourly disputes.

The charity is also expanding opportunities for the recruitment of ex-offenders into volunteering roles with the aid of a new risk assessment tool kit developed by a key partner and continues its role as regional local lead in VCS emergency response with the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA). The role promotes the sharing of best practice and positive inclusion of people facing inequalities in communities in the planning work around local and national emergency situations.

Commissioner Allen said: “I am proud of DCA’s work across our county in helping our communities to thrive and remain connected. This grant is part of a three-year joint funding deal that will enable the charity to plan with certainty for the future and expand the excellent networking and skills training opportunities it provides in support of my goal to developer stronger and more resilient communities.  

“Volunteers play such a vital role in preventing crime, not only supporting the police and other emergency services during times of crisis and peak demand but by helping local people to become resilient so they do not become dependent on frontline services.

“I am especially grateful for DCA’s contribution to my Community Peer Mentors service which has benefited significantly from the charity’s advice and support over the years, and its identification of talented and experienced volunteers who are well-placed to give back to their communities.  

“Volunteers are the glue that binds communities together, helping people to live safe and prosperous lives. As I prepare to launch my new Police and Crime Plan, DCA will be a vital partner in helping me to prevent the issues and risks that matter to our communities most.”

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