About Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP

What we do

We're a partnership that consists of members of the public, representatives from Durham County Council, town and parish councils, police, fire, health, housing, business, university and voluntary organisations. Together we:

• work with communities and organisations to meet the needs of the community, through identifying local priorities and actions required to tackle them
• allocate funding to local organisations and support their development
• monitor the difference that funding and support is making to communities
• ensure that you can get involved with consultation activities, and are aware of what's going on in your community 

Where we cover

The areas that Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP covers are:

• Auckland Park, Binchester, Brusselton, Canney Hill, Close House, Coronation, Coundon, Coundon Grange, Coundongate, Eldon, Eldon Bank, Eldon Lane, Escomb, Etherley Dene, Etherley Grange, Etherley Moor, Leasingthorne, Leeholme, Middlestone Village, Middridge Drift, New Coundon, Newfield, North Leazes, Old Eldon, Shildon, South Church, St Helen Auckland, Tindale Crescent, Toronto, West Auckland, Westerton, Witton Park, Woodhouse Close, Woodhouses, Woodside

You can see this information on our  Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP map (PDF, 1.5mb) .

How we work

The AAP consists of a board and forum that work together to tackle issues in local communities.

AAP forum

Our AAP forum is a group of people and organisations - on average about 650 and can meet up to twice a year to decide on our AAP's direction, including where funding should be spent in future (AAP priorities). Anyone over the age of 11 can join the forum.

If you join our AAP, you become a forum member. As a forum member, you're invited to take part in our forum meetings, where you'll have the opportunity to let us know where you think funding should be spent in your community. You will also receive information on other AAP activities which you might be interested in getting involved with.

AAP board

The AAP board is the decision making body of the AAP. It consists of 21 members, made up of:

• seven elected councillors (of which at least one position is for town and parish councils)
• seven members of the public
• seven representatives from partner organisations

Anyone over the age of 16 can apply to join the board.

Anyone can attend a board meeting which meet at least six times a year to:

• approve AAP funded projects
• manage the AAP spend
• discuss the work of the task and finish groups
• listen to and respond to local consultations
• receive updates from partners

We put plans and actions in place to help community groups and local organisations develop projects that meet our AAP priorities. We have a combined budget of £244,902 to support local projects.

This is in addition to a neighbourhood budget which each county councillor has to use for local initiatives which is supported by the AAPs.

For further information on AAP funding for community groups and local organisations see Apply for funding through Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP.

Board members

The AAP board is the decision making body of the AAP. See our Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP Board meetings page for a list of our board members.

Task and finish groups

We take actions on issues linked to our priorities. To do this, we have priority task and finish groups. See Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP priorities for a list of our priorities, and further information about out task and finish groups.

AAP Forum

Our AAP forum is a group of people and organisations that can meet up to twice a year to decide on our AAP's direction, including where funding should be spent in future (AAP priorities). Anyone over the age of 11 can join the forum.

Please contact us for the latest meeting dates and let us know beforehand if you'd like to attend so that we can make sure there's enough paperwork and seating available.

AAP statistics

View Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP - profile to see the statistical information available for the Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP area.