Current initiatives include:-
Community Shops
The Partnership operates two volunteer-run Community Shops on Westgate: Haltwhistle Community Shop and Haltwhistle Community Bookshop. These shops were established to fill the gap left by the closure of the two Save the Children charity shops that occupied the same premises until January 2023.
Recognising their importance, local volunteers and the wider community ensured the shops continued. They provide:
- A local recycling point for clothing, books, and household items;
- Affordable second-hand goods;
- Volunteering opportunities;
- Welcoming, sociable spaces for residents and visitors alike.
Any surplus funds generated by the shops are reinvested to benefit Haltwhistle and its ten surrounding parishes.
Haltwhistle Growing Together
The Haltwhistle Growing Together project was launched in 2021 with support from the Karbon Community Fund for Haltwhistle, the Haltwhistle Partnership, and a dedicated team of volunteers. The project has created a community allotment in the garden at Hillside, part of the Young & Sweet youth and community building on Park Avenue, at the bottom of the school drive.
We are very grateful for the support that made this project possible.
As well as growing produce in the garden and polytunnel, the group regularly organises activities including:
- Courses and workshops
- Talks and cookery sessions
- Well-being and social events
Keep an eye out for details of upcoming sessions and opportunities to get involved.
Older People's Project
The Older People’s Project helps older residents in Haltwhistle and the surrounding area to stay connected and socialise.
Weekly Drop-In
A friendly Drop-In session takes place every Tuesday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Methodist Church Hall, where hot drinks and biscuits are served.
Monthly Lunch Club
The Lunch Club is held on the first Tuesday of each month, between 12:00 noon and 14:00 p.m, immediately after the Drop-In, also at the Methodist Church Hall. To attend, meals must be booked at least one week in advance. Tickets are available at the Drop-In or from the Haltwhistle Partnership Office at Westbourne House, Main Street.
The project is coordinated by Project Officer Heather, supported by a dedicated team of volunteers. We are very grateful for their hard work and to Haltwhistle Town Council for its financial support.
Memory Café
An extension of the project now includes a Memory Café, providing a welcoming space for people living with dementia and their carers.
Station Adoption Group
The Partnership organises a team of volunteers to look after Haltwhistle railway station, reporting any problems, picking up litter, some cleaning and opening and closing the waiting rooms daily.
Community Gardeners
Behind the Partnership Office at Westbourne House is our community garden. Each Wednesday a group of volunteers meet to work in and enjoy the garden. The gardeners also look after various other areas of the town including the beds at the bottom of Lanty's Lonnen, the beds by the library and the large containers and tubs at the railway station. They have also been involved in planting trees at various locations around the town.
Zigzag Project
Zigzag Days was launched in 2018 to support isolated, vulnerable, and/or unemployed adults—filling the gap between youth clubs and older people’s coffee mornings.
Many Zigzag members face challenges related to disability, mental health, or physical health. The project offers a wide range of activities including:
- Social outings to places of interest
- Interaction with local experts and residents
- Archival research
- Creative workshops and construction
Zigzag Days meet fortnightly, exploring the history and culture of the area through themed activities and workshops. Having a shared theme helps focus members' energy and enthusiasm, creating a sense of purpose and community.
Past Projects
- Producing exhibition posters and displays
- Creating a traditional Christmas pye
- Selecting artefacts to illustrate Roman knowledge of well-being
- Developing a professional-quality exhibition on health and disability in Roman times for Vindolanda’s Community Connections project, which toured Roman sites along Hadrian’s Wall
How It Works
Zigzag Days is free to join, though small donations towards running costs are welcome. Participants cover any entrance fees (advised in advance) and pay for their own refreshments.
Support and Funding
Over the past six years, Zigzag Days has been generously supported by:
- Community Foundation's Vital Northumberland (Community First) Fund
- Northumberland National Park
- The James Knott Trust
- Greggs Foundation
- National Lottery Awards for All
- Northern Rail and Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership
- Community Shops Fund
- Public donations and local fundraising
The project has been a great success, and the Haltwhistle Partnership is actively seeking long-term funding to secure its future.
A video about the project can be found here.
The group have also taken part in the Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership's (TVCRP) Lyric & Line project and the video can be found here.
Zigzag have also made a film about their Christmas Pye project which can be found here.
If you are interested in taking part, please contact
Borderlands Place Programme
Through the Borderlands Place Programme Northumberland County Council intend to target investment in places that will help boost economic activity across the region, recognising the importance of smaller rural towns to the local economy. Haltwhistle is part of this programme and is developing a Town Investment Plan to be able to secure up to £3m of investment from the Borderlands Place Programme.
A Haltwhistle Board has been set up to work with Northumberland County Council with respect to this opportunity. The Board includes representatives from Northumberland County Council, Haltwhistle Town Council, Haltwhistle Partnership, Haltwhistle Chamber of Trade, Young & Sweet, Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre, Hadrain's Wall World Heritage Site, Berry Global, Agma and Kilfrost.
A public consultation took place from 4th to 25th April 2022 with almost 350 individual responses. The data has been analysed and the report can be found here.
The Programme was on hold for a period of nearly 2 years but has now restarted and expressions of interests have been submitted for projects that will benefit the town. In addition we have applied for a Community Asset Transfer of the former First School site with a view to developing it into a walking, cycling and activity centre to complement and support Haltwhistle Swimming & Leisure Centre encouraging visitors to stay longer and aid the economic development of the area.
Community Climate Action Plan
A Community Climate Action Plan for Haltwhistle and district has now been submitted to Northumberland County Council as part of the Community Climate Action Pilot Project. You can view the plan which was written by NCC with project detail provided by the Haltwhistle Partnership and partner organisations here.
Innovative Ebike hub at Haltwhistle Station
The Haltwhistle Partnership is supporting an innovative Ebike hub on their land by the Water Tower at Haltwhistle Station. The project is being run by the Rural Design Centre with support from the Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership (TVCRP) and funded by a number of partners. Unfortunately there have been issues with the project and the hub has been removed. We hope a modified, workable hub will be installed in due course. Meanwhile eBikes are avaialble to hire from local company Hadrian Cycling Ltd who will deliver them to the station.
Haltwhistle Renewable Energy Working Group
This group has been formed as a result of the Heat from Mineworkings project. The purpose of the group is to help progress renewable energy projects and low carbon initiatives in the common interest of residents of Haltwhistle and its surrounding parishes. Initially the group focused on taking forward the findings of the RCEF feasibility study (see below). We were awarded RCEF Stage 2 funding to further the feasibility work with resepct to putting PV on the Berry factory roof, Hillside, the Young & Sweet youth centre and the Swimming & Leisure Centre. Unfortunately Berry had to pull out of the study and Haltwhistle Partnership properties were included instead. The project reported in March 2023 and is available on request from our administrator.
The group continue to explore possible opportunities for generating community energy along with funding opportunities.
Former Inititaves include:-
CyberGuardians
During May 2022 a group of local people took part in an online course run by Northumbria University to learn all about staying safe online. The course covered passwords, scams, viruses and digital legacy. The idea is for participants to put intop practice what they learnt and to cascde the knowledge to their friends and family. Some of those taking part had a good knowledge of cybersecurity and others very little but everyone found it of great benefit. It is hoped to run some social events later in the year to share the information more widely. If you are interested in becoming a CyberGuardian yourself please contact our Chairman, Julie Gibbon for details.
Plastic Recycling Trial Project - This project has now ended.
The Haltwhistle Partnership and South Tyne Sustainability worked with the Berry factory at Plenmeller to recycle no. 2 HDPE plastic locally. Since it is essential that the plastic is clean and label free with no tops, no residue of any foil around the top, a team of volunteers shared this information with community groups and contributions were carefully checked.
It was hoped that for every tonne of plastic collected we would receive goods from the Plaswood range. Plaswood is another Berry company using recycled HDPE to make outdoor furniture including fencing, litter bins, decking, picnic benches, planters, seats etc.
However the trial revealed issues around Health and Safety with respect to processing the used plastic since the factory is actually not set up to chop up used plastic.
We are grateful to everyone who helped collect plastic and to Berry Plc for working with us on the trial.
Potential Mini Mill Project
Since there is currently little or no benefit to selling sheep fleece, research is being undertaken into the feasibility of setting up a mini wool processing mill in Haltwhistle.
Karbon Community Fund for Haltwhistle
The Partnership has been managing this fund on behalf of Karbon Homes and a steering group of local people are involved in its distribution. This fund is now closed but further details can be found here.
Renewable Energy Event.
The Renewable Energy Working Group in conjunction with Sustainable Haltwhistle (formerly South Tyne Sustainability) have launched a short film featuring local people who have carried out renewable energy projects in their homes. The link to the film is here.
The group have also held an Eco Fair to share energy saving hints and tips to help residents reduce their energy usage.
Heat from Mine workings
The Haltwhistle Partnership was delighted to support South Tyne Sustainability (STS) and the Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre (HSLC) in facilitating HSLC to gain funding from the Governemnt's new Rural Communities Energy Fund (RCEF) for a feasibility study into extracting heat from the mineworkings that lie under Haltwhistle. A grant of £40,000 has been received for the first phase of the feasibility and the project has now reported. As a result funding for further phases of work was secured and a Renewable Energy Working Group formed.
Housing Project Collaboration
The Haltwhistle Partnership worked with the Rural Design Centre and the National Innovation Centre for the Rural Economy (NICRE), to explore potential sites within Haltwhistle where possible residential development could take place principally to serve the needs of older people. As a result, the Future Homes Alliance agreed to look at a rural demonstrator project in Haltwhistle. The Future Homes Alliance, led by Newcastle University and Karbon Homes, is currently progressing a lifetime homes scheme in Newcastle. Unfortunately funding to enable further work with local residents and partners in Haltwhistle to design a potential scheme has not been forthcoming.
Zero Waste Shop
This project was put on hold due to covid and the subsequent economic climate and changes in retail shopping.
The Partnership was supporting the setting up of a Zero Waste Shop with the help of Another Weigh (Penrith), Northumberland County Council, South Tyne Sustainability (STS) and volunteers.
A zero-waste hub in Haltwhistle could offer the following:
1. Food and non-food products for sale similar, though a narrower range, to Another Weigh in Penrith
2. An opportunity for local produce, free from packaging, to also be sold – potentially from both local producers and local residents. A maximum distance travelled could be applied to local produce to ensure it is truly local and not contributing additional food miles.
3. A recycling hub for certain materials. This could include specific plastics for potential recycling at RPC, generating a financial return, as well as glass jars and bottles for use in the shop and recycling.
4. An information hub for the town, expanding on the current provision by the Partnership.
The objectives of a Haltwhistle Zero-Waste Hub would be:
• Provide an additional active offer to Haltwhistle Main Street, complementing existing retailers, drawing more people to the town (residents and visitors) and retaining spend locally
• Provide an income stream for the Partnership
• Generate employment and volunteering opportunities
• Provide a focus for sustainability across Haltwhistle
• Encourage recycling and reduce the use of packaging
• Create a higher profile for Haltwhistle Partnership
The ground floor of Westbourne House, currently occupied by the Partnership, provides an opportunity in the heart of the town to accommodate such a Zero-Waste Hub. Space could be retained within the layout for a Partnership desk to be maintained at the rear of the premises so that the Partnership could continue to provide the information service currently offered and older people would still be able to access the services available.
Mechanics Institute Building
The Partnership has worked with Northumberland County Council to assess the feasibility and costs of operating the building and the uses to which it could be put to enable it to be run sustainably. Meanwhile the NCC Communities Together team have set up a Community Hub on the first floor of the building. It is hoped that a solution to benefit all can be found.
Rural Transport
Rural Transport - partnering with the Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership (TVCRP) and the Hadrian’s Wall Partnership (HWP) in offering Haltwhistle and its surrounding area as a test area for innovative solutions to the issues surrounding rural transport. We have been involved in the Connected Places Catapult AsSeTs project, funded by the DfT and using mobile phone data to Assess Sustainable Transport Solutions for Rural Mobility.
Community Place Making and Transport Planning
Our Future Places and Journeys Project - partnering with TVCRP and HWP on a Royal College of the Arts and Transport Planning Society pilot project to enable local people to be more involved in the process of change and development in the communities where they live and work. Phase 1 of this project has now reported and you are welcome to contact our Chairman Julie Gibbon for a copy.
As a follow on to this project local businesses were invited to contribute to a further study gathering information on how rural enterprise can help communities and businesses to thrive - socially, economically and environmentally.
Property Refurbishment
In 2019 the partnership completed refurbishment of the 5 flats at Hardware House which are above and behind Jethros Cafe in the Market Place.