Peat Carr and Moorsley Neighbourhood Challenge

Read the Peat Carr and Moorsley Neighbourhood Challenge blog

About the approach

This project will use elements of the Community Philosophy (CP) approach that fosters community involvement in decision making. It allows for friendly debate from different points of view and young people are seen as an essential part of the solution to the problem of disengagement.

The approach has been designed to directly address the barriers to social capital and community leadership in the areas of Peat Carr and Moorsley. It aims to challenge negative perceptions of young people by the wider community, raise confidence and skills, raising awareness of community assets and provide a practical response to the absence of community facilities. It directly builds on earlier work in the area to investigate local issues and interests, and has been specifically designed to reflect what is already known about the challenges the two communities face.

The initial phase of work is designed to increase confidence and challenge perceptions of the area. It will include: a 'Pop-Up Allotment' scheme which will give residents a chance to plant and harvest their own food; 'Make a Change' events which aim to equip people with confidence and skills to get involved; and walks to stimulate the identification of community assets.

The latter phase is designed to get people more involved in leading change in their communities. This will be achieved by offering 'Peat Carr and Moorsley Local Heroes' awards to people that are making a difference in their community and rewarding those activities with Challenge Prize funds of £30,000.

About the organisations

The Lead: Groundwork North East

Groundwork North East is an independent Trust which is part of the national federation, Groundwork. Groundwork helps people and organisations make changes in order to create better neighbourhoods, to build skills and job prospects, and to live and work in a greener way. It works with individuals, public services and parts of the private sector on hundreds of projects each year. Together with its local partners, Groundwork North East has developed a good understanding of neighbourhood level issues and interests.

Local partners:

There are several key partners in this project. The Coalfields Community Cohesion Group is a multi-agency group that provides an area-based approach to join up the work of different organisations and offer strategic links to address local issues. Moorsley Residents Association and the volunteer group Friends of Peat Carr are also key to the project, as is Gentoo (the social housing provider).

This combination of partners allows the project to have access into the community while offering strategic links to agencies and decision makers. Each will contribute their own knowledge, networks and expertise to the project.

About the neighbourhood

The two adjacent neighbourhoods of Moorsley and Peat Carr are located in Hetton-le-Hole in Tyne and Wear, situated just outside the town and with a combined number of 787 houses, of which over half are owned by social housing provider, Gentoo. The area is part of what was the Sunderland/Durham coalfield and experiences many of the challenges associated with pit closures over the last 30 years. Although the areas are very close geographically, residents see them as very separate.