Agenda item

Report of the Director Darlington Partnership

The Partnership Director submitted a report (previously circulated) to update Members on the progress of Darlington Partnership as it continues to champion the Sustainable Community Strategy One Darlington: Perfectly Placed.

The submitted report outlined the agreed charter, ‘Fairer, Richer, Darlington’ which aims to narrow the gap between those families who are struggling financially through the three work streams: Interventions to Ensure Families have the Basics: Interventions to Boost Families’ Resilience; and Interventions to Tackle the Causes of Poverty. Steering Groups had been established to take forward each work stream.

The submitted report also advised Members of the Darlington Cares Initiative, established through the Darlington Partnership and launched in October 2012 aimed at providing a means for Darlington’s businesses to support the local community predominantly through employer supported volunteering.  The range of projects include the Pick Pie and a Pint, The Great Parks Auction, The Big Community Challenge, Homework Clubs and Period Poverty.  In total Darlington Cares Members had delivered over 11,000 hours of volunteering during 2018.

The submitted report also gave details of the Festival of Ingenuity; the Best of Darlington Awards; and the Volunteer Fair.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and the work of the Darlington Partnership in engaging Darlington businesses to support the local community be welcomed.