A charity in County Durham has been praised for its positive impact on supporting disadvantaged communities. 

Cornforth Partnership is a charity helping people struggling with acute poverty or those trying to find work.

The charity also offers mentoring, social activities, employment training, and tackles isolation and loneliness among the local elderly population. More than 2,500 people have been supported this year thanks to the tireless volunteers working daily. 

Tony Cutmore, chief executive of the Cornforth Partnership has worked his way up the organisation after attending youth club sessions as a child. 

Catherine Evans with Tony Cutmore, chief executive of the Cornforth PartnershipCatherine Evans with Tony Cutmore, chief executive of the Cornforth Partnership (Image: The Northern Echo)

He said: “The majority of our staff have come up through the project and they live in the areas we work, so they’ve got lived experience, they know what people are facing and how to deal with it because they’ve been through it too. It means we can show real empathy with our service users.

The Cornforth Partnership’s hub is located in the former pit village dominated by takeaways. Former pubs, bakers, and butchers are now sadly shuttered and only a few shops have survived.  

While Cornforth and other pit villages in the defunct Durham coalfield have changed, demand has increased. “Services have reduced and the need for us has grown,” added Tony.

“We get a lot more people through the doors now. We’re massively needed wherever we go.”

Low-cost, affordable transport is provided to community groups, organisations, and schools instead of declining bus services in the area. 

Settling down for the morning quiz Jacqueline Curle proudly declares she’s a “hundred per cent doggie lass” - a local nickname for the village. 

Like many others sharing stories over cups of tea, she says she wouldn’t get out if it weren’t for the charity’s events. 

“Sometimes it feels as if the soul has left the village,” the 84-year-old said. “But the people here do all sorts to help.”

Julie Skirrow moved to Cornforth last year and said she has been welcomed with open arms. 

“The people here are fabulous, they cannot do enough for you,” she said. “Just walking down the street people talk to you and smile - that’s really striking. I’m on my own but feel a part of the village after a year than I ever did elsewhere.”

Despite the mainly shuttered high street the primary school and library are still open. 

But the impact of the closures can still be felt today, Julie said. “I came to Cornforth a year ago and the loss here is shocking. It’s almost palpable because the village has lost so much since the mines closed - and that’s a long time ago. The utilities here have just been dragged down.”

However, Julie and Jacqueline have been encouraged by the newly-elected MP Alan Strickland’s presence in the community and eagerness to listen to local concerns. 

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Former pubs, bakers, and butchers are now sadly shuttered and only a few shops have survived. Former pubs, bakers, and butchers are now sadly shuttered and only a few shops have survived. (Image: The Northern Echo)

The “small but mighty” charity relies heavily on national lottery funding and local authority grants. Yet its impact is priceless. 

Tony added: “It’s really rewarding because we can see we’re making a difference. Just somebody coming in for a cup of tea might be the only contact they have with the outside world for the rest of the week. 

“Our mission is to provide the right support, in the right place, at the right time. We don’t turn anybody away and we’ll help them as much as we can. We’ve become a lifeline to local people.”