Parks Engagement and Community Co-ordinator

Easington Colliery Regeneration Partnership has secured £138,557 (July 2008 from the Big Lottery Fund Reaching Communities Awards) to employ a full-time person for the next three years to work with residents and community groups to breathe new life into Easington Colliery's Parks.

The Partnership plans to have an all year round programme of community activities and events to benefit residents and young people.  Family fun days, sport, heritage and arts activities will be organised throughout the year.

New and existing community groups wil receive help and support through the project to organise and run more activities - building their capacity, volunteer base and organisation along the way.

This is a huge boost for Easington Colliery.  A project which started with the desire to see more for kids to do in Easington Colliery Welfare Park has, after a lot of work, resulted in an award of £138,557.  This will be a 3 year scheme which will involve the community in delivering many events for everyone in Easington Colliery to enjoy at little or no cost at all.

Update October 2008 regarding Easington Colliery Parks Community Engagement Officer:

Interviews of applicants for the post were successfully held on 9th October and a candidate selected;  who it is anticipated will start work on 1st December 2008 and will be based in Easington Social Welfare Centre.

Easington Colliery Amateur Boxing Club

The Partnership has secured £4,316 from Horden and Easington Colliery NMP, Durham County Council's Youth Capital Fund, Easington Social Welfare Centre, Easington Colliery Parish Council and Durham County Councillor Alan Barker to pay for equipment, hire of Easington Social Welfare Centre as a venue and insurance.  The Club has been re-named 'Fitness for Life - Easington Colliery Golden Gloves' is run by local volunteer boxing coach Mamoun Alkour, supported by Church of the Ascension Youth Worker Kevin Waller and Easington Colliery Youth Group.

Sessions currently take place Wednesday and Friday evenings, 5pm - 6.30pm for 13-25 year olds.  Members must turn up at 5pm as the door will be locked shortly after.

NB: It is now the boxing events closed season for 3months starting July 2008 although fitness training will still be taking place.

National Tree Planting Week

For the second year, the Partnership secured £150 from Durham County Council National Tree Week to plant trees.  During Autumn 2006 three trees were planted near to the cricket pitch in the Welfare Park with the help of children from Glendene School, Partnership Chair Dennis Raine and workers from Easington Colliery Parish Council. 

During Autumn 2007 six Silver Birch trees were planted in the grounds of Easington Colliery Primary School.  The trees were planted in a hexagonal design to create an outdoor space for storytelling.  The trees were planted by Project Manager Michael Fishwick and Partnership member Dennis Maddison, supervised by Headmaster Harry Weightman and joined by Partnership Vice Chair Myrtle MacPherson and schoolchildren.

For the third year (2008) the Partnership is to submit an application for this funding.

Undergrounding cables on Seaside Lane

£25,000 has been secured towards the Partnership's £136,300 project to underground the remaining stretch of cables on Seaside Lane and replace lamposts  to match those opposite.  The target date for work to start is 2010.

New Unitary County Councillors  Richard Burnip and David Boyes are working with Project Manager Michael Fishwick to secure the shortfall in funding.

It is also hoped to access funding to provide street planters in this area of Easington Colliery.

Autumn planting of Spring bulbs 

2006 - Voluteers and staff planted bulbs beneath both of Easington Colliery signposts.

2007 - Partnership staff planted over 2000 daffodil bulbs in all of Easington Colliery's street planters to provide a splash of spring colourover the spring months.  Bulbs were accessed through Pride in Easington's 'Great Bulb Challenge'.

2008 - Members of the Partnership were aided in accessing  bulbs  through Pride in Easington's 'Great Bulb Challenge'.  Mildred Bridges for the Church of Ascension grounds and youth worker Kevin Waller for young people to plant in various venues.

£2,000 for Laptops 2007!

Talk talk awarded the Partnership £2,000 to be shared with Horden Regeneration Partnership to purchase laptops for use by members and the groups we support as they prepare to take over the project work of the groups fulltime in 2009.  The award followed a successful application, one of only 30 in the country!  Partnership members Myrtle MacPherson and June Clark attended the awards ceremony in London.

We were also awarded 18 months free internet access which will be available to members and groups in Easington Social Welfare Centres IT Suite (currently accessible in the Partnetership office).

Resurfacing School Street

In 2008, partnership staff are working with Easington Colliery Residents Association on a project to try and resurface School Street - a pilot project, which if successful could be rolled out to other unadopted streets in the community.

Yard Lights for Pensioners 2007

£2,499 was secured by the Partnership and funded yard lights for the most elderly residents in Easington Colliery at no costs to them.  the lights have a dusk 'til dawn and movement sensitive security functions.  The idea of the project was to make our elderly residents feel safe from crime and reduce the risk of trips and falls.

Tidier spaces

Funding was secured by the Partnership to maintain land outside Easington Social Welfare Centre into 2008.  The green space which occupies a prominent place on the main shopping street, Seaside Lane, is being mown and tidied by Bloomin' Marvellous until the longer term plans of the Welfare Centre to develop the site are realised.

Partnership staff regularly organise litterpicks and tidy-ups.  If you'd like to get involved, contact us.

Partnership supports Church of Ascension to win £8,072

The Easington Colliery Church will become accessible to people with disabilities thanks to a grant of £8,072 which Easington Colliery Regeneration Partnership put together with Church Warden, Mildred Bridges.  Ramps and handrails will be installed to the main entrance of the Church to benefit worshippers and visitors.

The building houses items relating to Easington Colliery's history and heritage including an altar and screen by sir Ninian and J Sebastian Comper, as well as pews by Robert "Mousey" Thompson.  The grant will play a big part in making the Church more accessible for everyone.

The Church can be viewed on Fridays from 9.30am until noon.  For more information contact Mildred Bridges on 0191 527 0828.

The disability access was successfully installed in August 2008.