We are trying to ensure that the benefits of NDC funded projects reach as many people living in the NDC area as possible.

Race

Members of BME groups – about 3% of the NDC population – told us quite clearly at the outset that they had felt excluded and marginalized from much of previous regeneration work in Hartlepool, and indeed from other services too. Their initial aspiration was for a neighbourhood project – which became the Salaam Centre (see the project details and evaluation in the Community Development section of the site) – that would begin to give these communities a higher profile and stronger voice. Incidentally, this was the first project to receive NDC funding.

A further goal is a community centre large enough to house large scale community celebrations and rites of passage. Money is set aside for this project and work to find a suitable location ongoing.

NDC has adopted a plan to promote race equality – see the link below – which includes monitoring the take up of NDC funded projects by BME residents, giving us a picture of project’s accessibility. Data covering the first year’s monitoring is also available from below.

Disability

About a third of NDC adults have some form of limiting long-term, limited physical condition or disability. Further project development work to look at how quality of life might be improved for this group, in addition to existing projects, is now underway with the PCT.

NDC has adopted a plan to try to ensure that projects are accessible to people with disabilities – such as by funding “access audits” for voluntary sector organisations. This is in addition to existing projects such as our Voluntary Sector Premises Pool (details in the Community Development section) – which funds improvements to premises used by voluntary sector organisations to provide services – and Low Level Floating Support project (details in the Health section), which enables people to remain living independently in their own home.

The plan is available by clicking the appropriate icon below.