Adam takes over as Teesdale Action Partnership co-ordinator

TEESDALE Action Partnership (TAP) should be people’s first port of call when they have concerns, its new lead officer has said.

Adam White took up the post of TAP co-ordinator last month and aims to involve more people across the dale in how a pot of money is spent.

Each year Durham County Council gives cash to the area action partnership to spend on community projects.

In November TAP’s board backed 19 schemes to the tune of about £100,000, ranging from supporting Scout activities to helping Utass (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services) employ a youth engagement worker.

Mr White comes to TAP with a wealth of experience having served as a community development officer at Great Aycliffe and Middridge AAP for the past six years.

He said: “It [the area] is completely different with a different set of challenges. You certainly don’t have the rural isolation [in Newton Aycliffe].”

He added, however, that both areas have similar priorities such as supporting older people and encouraging employment and enterprise.

The 40-year-old arrived at TAP at its busiest time as the board approves the community projects it will support for the next year and starts to prepare its priorities for the following year.

Among the groups that are due to receive TAP funding support are The Bowes Museum, which has a “Watch Them Grow” project aimed at younger people, and Bowlees Visitor Centre, which will take on a trainee in support of TAP’s employment enterprise and training priority.

TAP is also giving cash to Teesdale YMCA for a rural outreach scheme.

Mr White said: “I think as a partnership we have done some positive projects in the area. Moving forward we need to look to engage more with people. I would like to see TAP as widely known as possible. I would love for us to be the first port of call for people.”