The Eastbourne Community Partnership was established in June 2005 to work for the good of the residents in the Eastbourne ward of Darlington with the aim of improving their quality of life.
To achieve this aim a Partnership Board has been set up compromising of twelve Community Representatives and a Youth Representative.
The major objective of the Board is to provide a forum where residents, local businesses and service providers work together and take joint action to benefit the Eastbourne community.
The group organised a questionnaire to identify the issues that the community wanted the group to progress through the development of an Action Plan – pdf document
The Firthmoor community within the Eastbourne ward has benefited from Single Regeneration Budget funding for the last 5 years and some of the projects undertaken through this process have been:
- Maidendale House – a new Community Centre to provide services and recreational opportunities for the residents. The Centre has recently been designated Children Centre Status and will be providing services for children under 5 years old. The Centre is owned and run by Firthmoor and District Community Association.
Activity Timetable for Maidendale House - pdf document
- A Neighbourhood Nursery capable of accommodating 52 children is located within the Community Centre
- Holgate Moor Green – environmental improvements to an area of open space.
- Maidendale Ponds – provision of fishing lakes within a Nature Reserve environment.
- Multi Use Games Area – a facility for football, netball, basketball and short tennis.
- Firthmoor to Health – a project to improve the health of the residents – initiatives include smoking cessation classes, foot clinic, baby massage, baby clinic and exercise and weight management. In addition, a Healthy Eating kitchen is provided in Maidendale House offering healthy eating options to the community.
- Firthmoor into Work – a project to offer advice and assistance to residents wishing to find employment.
- A programme of opportunities for Lifelong Learning operates from within the Community Centre.
- Traffic calming – a scheme to reduce the speed of cars with a goal of introducing a 20 mph limit on the estate.
- Zone Active – an initiative to increase the opportunities for a more active lifestyle for all age groups is in operation within the ward.
The area is blessed with wonderful outdoor recreation areas – Maidendale Ponds, Brankin Moor and Geneva Woods. User Groups are always looking for new volunteers to help with improvement/conservation work.
A Community Safety Forum meets each month at 10:00 am in Maidendale House. With the help of the Police, Uniformed Wardens, CCTV Control Room Staff and Housing Officers the group has addressed many incidents of concern to residents. Please contact Maidendale House (01325) 462979 for details of dates. Members of the public are welcome to attend.