Industry award recognises Teesdale farm charity's crucial role

A LIFELINE group for the upper dale has claimed an industry award for all its work.
Utass (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services) was voted best agricultural community support initiative in North East England for 2017.
The gold award, from business magazine Industry
Insight Monthly, was announced this month.
Utass project officer Lucy Jenkins was thrilled with the accolade.
She added: “It’s a wonderful recognition of the hard work that the whole staff do and that people clearly appreciate what we do for the community.
“We are not just for farmers but the whole community – a lot of people think we’re purely for farmers but that's not the case.”
Nicky Tulloch, from the Alzheimer’s Society, makes use of Utass offices in Middleton-in-Teesdale.
Ms Tulloch said: “They have been great – I have a nice warm room to come into.
“It’s a two-way street – they tell me things and I tell them things.”
An army of patrons, trustees and volunteers keep the charity afloat which in turn supports farmers, firms and young people in the upper dale.
Ms Jenkins added: “There was a report last year about the state of services highlighting the fact that people struggle in rural areas because they have to drive such long distances.
“So we bring these services closer to them.”
County councillor Ted Henderson said the award was richly deserved.
He added: “Utass is a very important thing to Teesdale itself – people really don’t see the sheer amount of work behind the scenes they do.
“They are such a help not just to farmers but in attracting attention to the upper dale.
“As far as Durham County Council is concerned, Teesdale and Weardale are an ‘also and’ so we need Utass to keep Teesdale in the picture.”