LINKS


There are lots of websites that are of interest to people involved in community groups, charities and voluntary bodies and in particular those involved in such groups who are based in the rural areas of Northumberland. Many such sites can be found by inserting a few appropriate words, such as "rural", "Northumberland", "parish plans", "funding" etc, into a search engine.

How can you find out more about the local authority covering where you live? Our Links page gets you quickly to the sites for Northumberland County Council and each of the 6 districts within.

How can you access government departments? Sites such as the Countryside Agency, Government Office North East, Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Charity Commission are featured on our Links page.

How can you discover how funding bodies and grant making charitable trusts distribute their funds? Many have websites and their addresses can be viewed on our Links page. Are there any particular sites that you have found which were useful to your organisers? Why not share them with us?

Email us at webmaster@ca-north.org.uk

ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England)	www.acre.org.uk	The umbrella body of the 38 Rural Community Councils in England and Wales.
Alnwick District Council	www.alnwick.gov.uk	One of the 6 District councils in Northumberland
Awards for All	www.awardsforall.org.uk	Awards for All is a Lottery grants scheme for local communities. There are different schemes for each of the four countries of the UK. To find out about Awards for All in your country use the link on their website.
BBC Radio Newcastle	www.bbc.co.uk/radionewcastle
Berwick District Council	www.berwick-upon-tweed.gov.uk	One of the 6 District councils in Northumberland
Big Lottery Fund	www.biglotteryfund.org.uk	We will make it easier to apply for Lottery money and will make it easier for you to see where the money goes. Big Lottery Fund was created by merging the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund
Blyth Valley Borough Council	www.blythvalley.gov.uk	One of the 6 District councils in Northumberland
Blyth Valley CVS	www.blythvalleycvs.org.uk	Local Development Agency working to initiate, support, develop and promote voluntary activity and organisations in the borough of Blyth Valley.
Business in the Community	www.bitc.org.uk	A national organisation which aims to meet community needs by increasing the involvement of employees from the private and public sectors in the work of voluntary and community organisations - through secondment, volunteering, mentoring, on management committees and offering professional advice.
Business Link	www.businesslink.gov.uk	Provides practical advice for business
Business Link Northumberland	www.n-bs.co.uk	The local Business Link
Castle Morpeth Borough Council	www.castlemorpeth.gov.uk	One of the 6 District councils in Northumberland
Charity Commission	www.charity-commission.gov.uk	There is an abundance of information on this site including publications, operational guidance and a facility to search the register of charities
(Commission for Racial Equality)  now Equality and Human Rights Commission	www.equalityhumanrights.com	Regulates the provisions of the Race Relations Act.  On 1 October 2007 the three equality commissions merged into the new Equality and Human Rights Commission: Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) Disability Rights Commission (DRC) Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) The websites of these commissions have also been incorporated into the new Equality and Human Rights Commission website
Community Foundation	www.communityfoundation.org.uk	Provides access to grants and funding for local groups to support local community activitiy.
Community Matters	www.communitymatters.org.uk	Community Matters is the National Federation for Community Organisations.
Countryside Agency	www.countryside.gov.uk	The Countryside Agency brings together all the different countryside dimensions - economic, environmental, community and enjoyment into a single national body:  to achieve sustainable development in the countryside
DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) Direct.gov	www.culture.gov.uk  www.direct.gov.uk	DCMS aims to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries A one stop shop for a guide to public services
DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)	www.defra.gov.uk	Defra works for the essentials of life - food, air, land, water, people, animals and plants.  Our remit is the pursuit of sustainable development - weaving together economic, social and environmental concerns.
Disability North	www.disabilitynorth.org.uk	Disability North aims to promote inclusion, independence and choice for disabled people.
Environmental Agency	www.environment-agency.co.uk	People must enjoy a rich, healthy and diverse environment, now and in the future. Air, land and water are cleaner, wildlife flourishes, resources are used more wisely and everyone enjoys a better quality of life.
Equal Opportunities Commission	www.eoc.org.uk	Regulates the provisions of the Equal Opportunities Act
Funding Information North East	www.fine.org.uk	Proves funding information services on behalf of CVSs and RCCs to support the voluntary sector in the North East of England.
GONE (Government Office North East)	www.go-ne.gov.uk	Government Office for the North East is based in the centre of Newcastle in Citygate. They represent ten central government departments across the entire region. They work to deliver, influence and develop government programmes and initiatives at a regional and local level, by working in partnership with relevant organisations to meet local needs.
Learning and Skills Council	www.lsc.gov.uk	LSC are responsible for planning and funding high-quality vocational education and training for everyone.
Lloyds TSB Foundation	www.lloydstsbfoundations.org.uk	A grant-making trust that makes grants to charities, supports and works in partnership with charitable organisations which help people.
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)		Gives support and advice to voluntary and comunity organisations.
National Association for Voluntary and Community Action  (NAVCA)	www.navca.org.uk	The National Association for Voluntary and Community Action is a network of CVSs and other LIOs (Local Voluntary and Community Sector Infrasturucture Organisations) throughout England.
National Association of Local Councils	www.nalc.gov.uk	Representing the 10,000 community, parish and town councils in England and Wales, in partnership with county associations.
Northumberland Association of Local Councils	www.ca-north.org.uk	Go to services.parish councils for information on the Northumberland Association of Local Councils.
National Centre for Volunteering	www.volunteering.org.uk	Information and advice for those who manage volunteers and for people considering doing voluntary work.
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)	www.ncvo-vol.org.uk	NCVO is the umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England.
National Statistics online	www.statistics.gov.uk	UK statistics and data service for health, economic and population information.
National Volunteering Database do-it	www.do-it.org.uk	Volunteering opportunities in your area.
Northern Rock Foundation Northumberland Home Improvement Agency	www.nr-foundation.org.uk www.northumberlandhia.org.uk	The largest local grant-making trust in the North East that makes grants to charities, supports and works in partnership with charitable organisations which help people. Northumberland Home Improvement Agency provides comprehensive advice and assistance to help older, disabled and other vulnerable people to remain safe, warm, secure and independent in well-maintained and adapted homes.
Northumberland Rural Voices	www.ruralvoices.org.uk	The Northumberland Rural Voices Network aims to provide a focal point for information and support for everyone concerned with developing rural Northumberland
Northumberland Strategic Partnership	www.nsp.org.uk	Northumberland Strategic Partnership brings together all the stakeholders in the county within a supportive framework to wrk together in the interests of economic, social and environmental development.
Northumberland County Council	www.northumberland.gov.uk	Displaying the services provided by Northumberland County Council.
Northumberland National Park Authority Northumberland VCS Consortium	www.northumberland-national-park.org.uk www.northumberlandvcs.org.uk	Northumberland National Park Authority is a local authority that has its purposes laid out in law.  The Northumberland VCS Consortium reflects different perspectives of the voluntary and community sector in the county.
One NorthEast	www.onenortheast.co.uk	One North East is the regional development agency for the North East.
Rural Community Councils	http://www.acre.org.uk/zRCCNETWORK.htm	County-based, charitable local development agencies, which work towards improving the quality of life of local communities and disadvantaged people in the rural areas of England.
Third Sector	www.thirdsector.co.uk	Third Sector is the UK’s leading publication for everyone who needs to know what’s going on in the voluntary and not-for-profit sector
Tynedale District Council	www.tynedale.gov.uk	One of the 6 district councils in Northumberland.
Wansbeck CVS	www.wansbeckcvs.org.uk	Local Development Agency working to initiate, support, develop and promote voluntary activity and organisations in the borough of Wansbeck.
Wansbeck District Council	www.wansbeck.gov.uk	One of the 6 District councils in Northumberland