Projects supported by Stanley Area Action Partnership

Just for Women

Just for Women have been successful in receiving funding from Stanley AAP to deliver their 'Just for You' project that will see them work with 400 women over a 2-year period.  Just for You will provide 1:1 support, workshops, advice and guidance, to help reduce social isolation and support physical activity, mental health and wellbeing of those we work with. People require longer term support to enable them to achieve the above and we know that people, particularly those with ill mental health need a supportive arm and to be handheld through services to help them gain their confidence and resilience.

Just for Women use a bespoke person-centred approach to people with mental health issues through combining a variety of opportunities to ensure each individual gets the support they need, when they need it.  We work with clients to create a bespoke programme of support including a combination of workshops covering issues such as anxiety, stress, grief and other issues that people face. The following activities are also available for clients to take part in; mindfulness / walking / gardening / arts / crafts / sewing / gardening / creative writing to reduce social isolation, develop skills and improve health and wellbeing. Participants will have access to counselling services and may access external talking therapy services.

We aim to support the participants in moving on and accessing other local activities which could include local community groups; education and learning; and volunteering. We also have links with other organisations where we can link women in with support around benefits, employability and family support.

Stanley Young Peoples' Club

Stanley Young Peoples' Club have received Area Budget funding support from Stanley AAP for their Community Builders project that will enable them to create a community space in the Club, that will improve the quality and fabric of the building, making the space more appropriate and welcoming whilst updating facilities. The core purpose is to widen the range of people able to access the building, address and respond to the needs of our community and have appropriate spaces and facilities available to them, provide usable spaces for in-house and external delivered activities, creating community use spaces and hireable spaces. We will also employ a person for 25 hours a week to co-ordinate groups, staff, and volunteers, manage the building and promote it to the wider community

PACT House / Think Positive

PACT House received funding from Stanley AAP to contribute to the continuation of 'Think Positive' which is a dedicated mental health support and activities service for Stanley and wider North Durham area that provides a drop-in service aimed at improving people's confidence and emotional wellbeing, and offers opportunities for developing social networks, peer support, development of user led activities and bespoke counselling services.

The funding will be used to employ two part time Think Positive Wellbeing Outreach Workers to offer an outreach service in the Stanley AAP area.  Their role will be to regularly attend existing community groups and drop-ins in the community on a rotating weekly basis to provide information and guidance sessions to promote mental health. Their regular attendance will provide effective emotional and wellbeing resilience whilst also providing emotional resilience training to all in the community needing support. This is part of the prevention and recovery model used for effective mental health support and whilst informal in nature, will provide a well needed informal talking therapy for many individuals who are unable or unwilling to access support via their GP. Support and listening ear sessions would be followed up on a weekly basis by telephone check-ins to discuss progress made and offer further help. A referral to our Counselling service will be available, together with signposting and information and advice. The funding has also allowed for the creation of a volunteer base who will receive full training and support.

Stanley in Bloom

Stanley Town Council (STC) have received funding support from Stanley AAP to strengthen their partnership with Durham County Council to further improve the local environment by entering the Northumbria in Bloom National Competition and carry out environmental improvements in Stanley.  In Bloom is not just about flowers, it includes the Local Environment, Children & Education, Community Safety, Tourism & Heritage, Health & Wellbeing, supporting Local Groups & Communities, working with Partners and Agencies, and Regeneration & Economic Development.

In 2021 Stanley was awarded Silver Gilt for their Stanley in Bloom entry and efforts. The engagement of local residents has been key to the vast improvement to our local communities and the local environment as part of the Northumbria in Bloom entry workstreams. In Bloom allows us to explore and improve community engagement, clean and green environment, health and well-being, reduce Crime/ASB, whilst making an area bright and colourful and giving the area a sense of pride and ownership.

Stanley Town Council works alongside Durham County Council to improve the area in several key locations, with the help and support of; community groups, schools, and volunteers all working in partnership to achieve the over-all goal. Every year we aim to approve the Town Status in Northumbria in Bloom.

The funding from Stanley AAP will be used for larger artworks, work with schools to help educate them about our environment, and the development of herbaceous and sustainable planting.

STEAM Ahead CIC

Stanley Area Action Partnership (AAP) are supporting STEAM Ahead CIC with funding to deliver a Supporting Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) child-centric STEAM activities project. The six-week project, working in conjunction with a local wellbeing charity and chartered child psychologist will support children to improve their mental health and wellbeing, through the delivery of skills-focused activities within the area of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM). The activities support children to become upskilled in considering potential careers within the Science and Technology sector, as well as improving their own skills to be the best version of themselves possible.

Once successfully complete, we will use the evidence of impact from the pilot scheme to roll this out across the county into local schools, improving the support offer to children locally.

Find out about the range of activities and support available in our community.

Stanley activity and support directory (PDF, 9.0mb)

Projects supported by your local county councillors

You can find out more about the local projects supported by your local county councillors through their Neighbourhood Budget on the Your councillors page.