News and Events ...
We are delighted to be one of the many organisations and businesses to support local enthusiastic volunteers in producing a monthly newsletter for Haltwhistle and District. The first edition of the Haltwhistle Herald is out now and can be found here. A limited number of paper copies have been printed and are availble from outlets around the town, including the Community Bookshop. Our congratulations and thanks go to the volunteer team on producing such a good quality, informative publication.
Heritage Exhibition
Trustees from Bellingham Heritage Centre have kindly set up a Heritage Exhibition in our ground floor unit at Westbourne House (next to the Post Office). The three main parts to the exhibition are an account of Alfred Wainwright's visit to Haltwhistle 85 years ago; a celebration of LNER holidays, since 2023 marks 100 years since LNER was formed and a presentation describing what is was like for a teenager living at Housesteads in AD138. There are also trains for youngsters to play with along with colouring sheets to ensure all the family enjoy their visit.
The Exhibition is open when volunteers are available to man it and we try to cover 10am to 2pm Monday to Saturday (closed Bank Holiday Monday). If you are making a special visit, please contact Julie Gibbon before travelling to ensure it will be open. Special openings by prior arrangement.
The Exhibition will remain in place for as long as we have volunteers to man it, for as long as people visit and until the retail space is let.
Volunteering Opportunities
The Haltwhistle Partnership has various volunteering opportunities so whatever your interest if you want to help, please make contact in the first instance with our Chairman Julie Gibbon.
We are currently looking for volunteers to help with the following activities:
Heritage Exhibition - With support from Bellingham Heritage Centre and local volunteers, a pop up heritage exhibition has opened in Westbourne House on the ground floor (next to the Post Office). Opening times are subject to the availability of volunteers and more help is needed. Induction sessions and support is given to new volunteers. If you can spare a couple of hours please contact us.
Community Shops - The Partnership operates two community shops on Westgate - a general charity shop and a bookshop. These are run entirely by volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering to help please call in and talk to our volunteers.
Sustainability - in its widest sense. We are looking for 2 volunteers to receive Carbon Literacy training and 2 volunteers to receive training in signposting energy advice. There is also scope for a volunteer to be trained as a PAT tester for the west Northumberland area to help service members of the West Northumberland Community Buildings Consortium. Also if you are interested in helping to make Haltwhistle Carbon Neutral then please make contact.
Station Adoption Team - looking after Haltwhistle Railway Station, litter picking, reporting faults, locking and unlocking the waiting rooms.
Community Gardeners - looking after the garden at the rear of Westbourne House and various beds around the town including the tubs at the Railway Station. The group meet on Wednesday mornings at 10am.
Haltwhistle Growing Together Community Allotment - looking after the polytunnel, herb, fruit and vegetable beds in the garden at Hillside, 33 Park Avenue, Haltwhistle (bottom of the school drive). Meeting times vary depending on the season.
Older People's Project - supporting older people with weekly coffee mornings (Tuesdays 10am to noon), monthly lunch club and memory cafe.
Zigzag - supporting those feeling isolated for whatever reason. Meet twice a month for activities and chat.
Trustees - helping to run the Partnership including supporting and initiating projects, operating residential and commercial property, advocating for and representing the community.
HISS - Haltwhistle is Something Special In partnership with Sustainable Haltwhistle and the Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership, volunteers research and prepare information for the poster exhibitions displayed in the waiting room on platform 1 at Haltwhistle station. We are grateful to Cross Country trains for their financial support for the graphic design work and to Northern for permitting us to display the posters.
Karbon Homes has generously donated a special fund to benefit community projects in and around Haltwhistle. The Haltwhistle Partnership is administering this fund and has set up a Steering Group of volunteers to encourage applications and support the funding and delivery of projects in the community.
Anyone who lives or works in Haltwhistle or any of its 10 surrounding parishes is encouraged to share their ideas with the group. If necessary members of the group will then help develop and deliver projects. The link for more information, expressions of interest and application forms can be found here.
The Steering Group has recently allocated £13,000 to a further 4 community projects bringing the totals to 18 grants allocated to 13 different organisations, amounting to around £70,000. Funding is still available and the steering group meets every 6 weeks or so with the next meeting scheduled for 13th July.