BTCP Annual Report 2006
Bank Top Community Partnership
Annual Report for Year ending 31st March 2006
Name of Charity
Bank Top Community Partnership
Governing Document Constitution
adopted 7th April 2004
Trustees
The following persons served as trustees from 27th April 2005 unless otherwise stated:
Terry Taylor - Chairman
Audrey Lax - Secretary
Janet Simpson - Treasurer
John Rutherford - Vice Chairman
John Williams
Jerry Simpson
Michael Whitaker
Maxine Manning
Joyce Munro
Shirley Pickersgill
Gwen Rutherford (13th July 2005)
Diane Gelson (13th July 2005)
Objects
To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Bank Top without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race, political, religious or other options, by associating together the said inhabitants and the statutory authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and other leisure-time occupations with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.
To develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially and economically disadvantaged community of the area of benefit in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society.
To organise co-operation in the achievement of the above purpose and to that end to involve and bring together all concerned individuals, groups, organisations and authorities; provided that in carrying out these charitable purposes, the Charity will seek to challenge all forms of oppression and inequality.
Five Year Action Plan
At last year’s Annual General Meeting, the members adopted a Five Year Action Plan. This Action Plan sets out clearly what the Bank Top Community Partnership proposes to achieve over a five-year period. It identifies seven key aims and a number of associated actions to achieve these aims. This Action Plan forms part of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy Action Plan for Darlington.
The Action Plan is currently undergoing its annual review and all indications are that very good progress has been made over the last year.
The aims of the Partnership as set out in the Five Year Action Plan are as follows:
Aim 1: To enable the Partnership to function effectively
Aim 2: To promote use of and enhance Eastbourne Park
Aim 3: To enhance community spirit and support community projects/events
Aim 4: To promote community safety
Aim 5: To care for the Bank Top environment
Aim 6: To be actively involved with the Local Govt. Traffic Strategy for Bank Top
Aim 7: To improve the local economy
Main achievements over the year
A Base for the Partnership
In June of last year, the Partnership secured a room at the old Eastbourne Nursery Building at the end of Belgrave Street. It’s actually the Head Teacher’s old office. This room has provided a much-needed base for the Partnership, a place to meet and a store for literature and IT equipment. It has also given the Partnership an official address and added to the overall credibility of the Partnership. It particularly links to the most basic of aims, Aim 1 - Enabling the Partnership to function effectively. The theft of a monitor just after Christmas placed a slight shadow over matters but on the whole the base has proved an important step in the development of the Partnership.
Friends of Eastbourne Park
Eastbourne Park is a marvellous underused resource within the Bank Top ward. The Bank Top Community Partnership is committed to developing its potential as a community space to be enjoyed (Aim 2/3/5). In May last year the Partnership set up a sub group, Friends of Eastbourne Park. The establishment of a sub group ensured that this very important area of work received the attention it needed to push through the required change with drive and focus. Diane Gelson, Committee Member, took the Chair for this group and has provided amazing leadership.
Membership of the group has grown and solid relationships have developed with the Council’s Environmental Services Section, Darlington Manor, allotment holders, park users and the Bowling Club.
Many improvements have been made to the Park including more bins, more seats, the installation of picnic benches, new flower beds, summer/winter bedding, bulb planting and the installation of wild life boxes. A very well attended litter pick took place last summer and lots of community events are planned for the coming year.
The Friends of Eastbourne Park have set up their own website through Communigate at http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/foep/. This website earned the group the title of Pick of the Month for April 2006 and a prize of a Praktica Digital Camera. Many thanks must go to Steve Gill who set up this site. He also set up and updates the website for the Bank Top Community Partnership http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/btcp/.
Diane Gelson recently received the ‘Respect Award for Taking a Stand’ for her work with the Friends of Eastbourne Park. Diane is one of only 350 winners nationally and this award comes with £1000 to reinvest back in to the community.
Bank Top Bugle
Three editions of the Bank Top Bugle have been produced throughout the year. Volunteers worked hard not only at pulling the articles together but also in delivering the newsletter to the 1900 homes in the Bank Top Ward. The Bugle is proving to be very informative as well as being an excellent means of promoting the work of the Partnership. This is evidenced in the numbers of people turning up to events and the increase in the Partnership membership (Aim1).
Christmas Fayre
For the second year running the Partnership organised a very successful Christmas Fayre at Eastbourne Methodist Church at the end of November. Lots of stalls were organised, Father Christmas was there and the café run by the Church Members provided wonderful snacks and refreshments. The Mayor made a welcome appearance and conducted the raffle. The Fayre was a real community event. Approximately 150 people attended and over £300 was raised.
Eastbourne Hall & Institute
The Partnership organised a Public Meeting in September 2005 to seek support from volunteers to help this local Charity, Eastbourne Hall & Institute, get back on its feet. With the added support and guidance of the Charity Commission, de facto trustees are now in place to take matters forward.
Community Safety Event
On 27th March 2006, the most hardy of Partnership Members battled the cold, the wind and the rain to take part in a litter pick around the sheltered schemes at King William Street and Wesley Court. This was followed by a lunch of hot soup and sandwiches to warm everyone up. Jacqui Snowball, who is the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator for Darlington and a great supporter of the Partnership, attended the event to provide information about Neighbourhood Watch. Uniformed Warden, John Herdman. Anna Smith from the Anti-social Behaviour Unit and the Resident Wardens Andrea Enderwick and Norma Ellis all helped out too and their hard work is much appreciated. This event was part of a £5,000 SRB (Single Regeneration Budget) Project ‘Designing out Crime’. As part of this project, many residents will be receiving dusk to dawn lights and a new mobile CCTV Camera has been purchased for use in the local area. This Project fits perfectly with Aim 4.
Representation
Terry Taylor continues to represent the Partnership on the Darlington Communities Steering Group. This is an umbrella body for all the eleven Community Partnerships in Darlington. John Rutherford is now the Community Partnership Representative on the Environment & Economic Themed Group of the Darlington Partnership. Audrey Lax is the Community Partnership Representative on the Health and Social Inclusion Themed Group of the Darlington Partnership. John and Audrey attend the Steering Group too. Maxine Manning continues to represent the Partnership on the Children Centre Shadow Management Group for Dodmire.
Guest speakers
The Partnership welcomed several guests throughout the year including none other than the Chief Executive of Darlington Borough Council, Ada Burns. Ada came to discuss secondary education in Darlington and the Council’s proposal for an Academy. Other guests throughout the year included Ben Bogg (Street Scene DBC), Peter Burnip (Targeted Assisted Employment, DBC), Sue Davison (Community Partnerships, DBC), Steve Rose (Chief Executive of Darlington Partnership), Naomi Ryan, (Youth Service, DBC).
Chairman’s comments
“I think this has been a marvellous year for the Partnership. We have settled in and got to know each other, we have become friends and we are now more united than ever in our desire to see the place where we live become a great place to live.
We know that things can be changed for the better and that apathy gains you nothing. The work of the Friends of Eastbourne Park is a prime example of this. This Group through hard work and determination are beginning to make a difference. Their achievements so far have been amazing and I know that they have lots of plans for the future. It’s nice also to see that others are also acknowledging this work.
The profile of the Partnership is growing. We are a recognised consultative body where people can come to gain an understanding about the views of the residents of Bank Top.
I have enjoyed being the Chairman of the Bank Top Community Partnership so much, witnessing first hand the dedication and commitment of the members. I look forward to another year of accomplishment.”
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