Funding.

[Malcolm Robinson]

As some will know all NCC elected members received an email which I read last Monday about being able to access some of their member’s local improvement scheme funding for local Covid relief.  This was put in place by the Leader and the CeO of NCC.   

I was initially highly critical and sent an email to all members and some officers saying my main concern was the time lag because accessing this funding usually takes weeks even months!  Given the dire straits we found ourselves in that couldn’t be allowed to happen and I wanted that funding available to use ASAP!   I was assured this wouldn’t be the case with this initiative. 

Last Monday afternoon I visited a local charity and discussed putting together two projects with them so they could access this funding. 

The costed plans were submitted last Tuesday and almost immediately agreed.  On Wednesday after work I started asking where the schemes where and how long would they take to expedite the funding?  I was told they were going through as we spoke. 

Thursday morning and I again spoke to the charity and asked them to let me know when they received my funding.  I took that call on Thursday afternoon! 

So for something that usually takes week upon weeks to get through,  these were advanced extremely quickly and I again had to write to all members telling them my experience and thanking the Leader and the CeO of NCC.

The recipients of the funding is the Salvation Army food bank in Bedlington and we have managed to put in funding for the next 10 weeks. 

The other initiative is to do a meals on wheels service to our seniors at Xmas because the usual seniors Xmas lunches will not be able to be held in the Salvation Army building.    This funding means we can double the provision!  More about that closer to the time. 

 

So once again a huge shout out to the Bedlington Salvation Army because whenever I have asked them for help their reply has always been…..how many, when, we will be ready!

No doubt others have the same attitude; it just leaves me in awe of their values and commitment to our local communities and that’s why we won’t be beaten and we won’t leave anyone behind!    

[Canny lass]

Bedlingtonians are fantastic!