Sustainable Communities
Making your Community a Better Place Now and for Future Generations
The Local Agenda 21 Sustainable Communities Campaign, launched in 1999, provides useful information to help community groups start practical projects which improve local quality of life.The information is provided on a series of web based factsheets which describe different projects and give details of sources of funding and further advice.
The Sustainable Communities Campaign is currently being developed as a region wide initiative, which will build on the successes of the 1999 initiative, but strengthen and broaden the original campaign's remit to provide practical actions that north east communities can take to develop and create sustainable communities.
The North East Sustainable Communities Campaign; 'Brighter - Futures - Together', will aim to develop a toolkit to help create sustainable communities in the North East. Further information on the campaign will be available as it develops.
The original campaign created a series of factsheets, grouped under the following 4 headings:
Looking after the Environment
Carry out a local wildlife surveyEncourage wildlife in your local area
Improve local streams and rivers
Exploring your local heritage
Combat local litter problems
Protect and enhance the built environment
Establish a community open space
Using Fewer Natural Resources
Encourage more people to cycleStart a local composting scheme
Reduce water consumption
Develop an environmental policy
Become more energy efficient
Meeting Community Needs
Starting and developing community groupsCommunicating ideas and information
Carry out a community appraisal
Seek sustainable solutions to transport problems
Involve and consult young people
Make your community a safer place to live
Retain and develop village halls and community buildings
Provide and enhance local play areas
Promote healthier lifestyles in County Durham
Developing the Local Economy
Retain local shops and servicesShare and trade skills and resources
Promote local food
Seek funding for projects
The original project was jointly by Durham County Council, the County Durham Environmental Trust and the National Lottery Charities Board.
The production of the original factsheets was a major task which involved contributions and support from 20 different organisations:
- Community Composting Network
- Durham City Access for All
- Durham Co-operative Development Association
- Durham Constabulary
- Durham County Council
- Durham Rural Community Council
- Durham Wildlife Trust
- Environment Agency
- Going for Green
- Groundwork East Durham
- Groundwork West Durham
- National Federation of City Farms & Community Gardens
- Northumbrian Water
- Renew North
- School Grounds/ WasteWise Project
- Stockton Energy Advice Centre
- Sustrans
- Tidy Britain Group
- University of Teesside
- Wear Valley Disability Access Forum
