The Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership board had a budget of £100,000 available, and invited applications for projects from community & voluntary or not-for-profit organisations. Project proposals had to be delivered in the Great Aycliffe & Middridge Partnership area and had to address at least one of the key priorities:

• Children, Young People & Families (£50k total funding available)

• Older People (£30k total funding available)

• Community Safety (£20k total funding available)

The application process proved to be very popular this year with well over 40 expression of interests received. All three priorities were over-subscribed, making it an extremely competitive process.

After being thoroughly sifted and scored by a ranking panel of board members, a total of 13 organisations’ projects were successful, these include:

• Newton Aycliffe Sports Club

• Junction 7

• UTC South Durham

• Acle Scouts

• Early Years Alliance

All successful applicants have now been notified and are being supported in the next phase of the process, with projects anticipated to begin early next year.

Brian Riley (GAMP Co-ordinator), commented, “We have had a fantastic response from our local groups again this year. It is a pity that we can’t fund more projects due to the demand that is obviously out there in the GAMP area. The GAMP board wish all groups who applied success in the future.”