Druridge Pools reserve could benefit from an immediate injection of £20,000 but only if people in the county register their vote for it.

The money is being offered by the Bovril Great Outdoors Revival Campaign, which is giving five lots of £20,000 to restore community projects that have fallen into disrepair and are in need of upgrading to make the experience pleasant for visitors.

The working group will help support, co-ordinate and develop youth work and activities that are already underway in Widdrington, Hadston, Cresswell and Ulgham.

It comes after a number of issues were highlighted in a series of meetings between community organisations.

Ashington and Linton students competed superbly in team and Individual kata and kumite events, as entrants of all ages gained recognition for their achievements.

Linton's Jake Wilkinson, Kieran Constantino and Philip Campbell claimed top spot in the Team Kata event.

The community-based initiative, the Healthy Communities Collaborative (HCC), has been set up to help people living mainly in the Blyth, Wansbeck and Morpeth areas.

It aims to raise awareness of the disease so people can spot the early signs of breast, bowel and lung cancer.

The six newly-created allotments in Widdrington Station were declared off-limits and the tenants locked out in September 2006, after traces of white asbestos were found in the soil.

Initially the move was described by council chiefs as a precautionary measure while further tests were carried out. However, the plots have remained sealed off ever since - and it was suggested they would be turned into a car park.

However, County Hall bosses have reassured the sector that a funding package of £1.3m will still be available next year. Budget proposals recommend more money for charities directly supporting those people worst affected by the recession.

These will include services such as credit unions and the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

The First Ashington Scouts camped overnight at East Chevington nature reserve to work with the Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

Sam, Ethan, Rachel, Daniel, Jessica and Seth from Ashington Scouts at work

They then spent a whole day working on the reserve, doing vital conservation tasks.

Aluminium firm Rio Tinto Alcan, based in Lynemouth, has made the donation to the Castle Morpeth Disability Association's Community Re>Paint project.

The scheme, which collects left-over paint and distributes it to those who need it, last year handed out more than 480 pots.

Youth workers based in Amble say they are currently unable to take advantage of the pots of money available to them as they simply do not have the manpower required.

Coquet Youth Team staff Angela Manktelow, Lisa Waugh and Helen Wright

The Coquet Youth Team, based at Coquet High School, has three workers, along with two 17-year-old volunteers. They do a lot of extremely good work with young people in the area, including the Area Training and Activity Centre (ATAC) in Widdrington Station.

The Area Training and Activity Centre (ATAC) in Widdrington Station used to give young people in the area something to do in their spare time, as well as provide youth workers who helped with many aspects of their lives.

Young people at ATAC enjoy the youth centre's revival along with volunteers Laura Park (far right), Kev Godding and Laura Agnew (far left)

It closed at the end of last year due to a lack of funding, but since the beginning of the summer holidays Coquet Youth Team have been running a youth service one day a week.

The Northumberland Coast and Lowlands Leader Programme is looking for small businesses or projects in the county to which it can allocate a million pounds of funding.

The programme is a community-led approach to rural development that builds on local knowledge and skills, innovation, and synergy with other partners.

The Druridge Bay Community Forum was set up to cover people living in the Chevington, Ulgham, Widdrington Station and Stobswood, Widdrington Village and Cresswell.

But Northumberland County Council has accused it of not giving everyone a voice because the only people who could apply for the chairmanship were parish councillors.

Young people from the village have managed to raise £750 towards their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Krusavec in Serbia to meet children from other cultures and learn about how they live.

Last week, Journal Extra told how nine children from ENRgI's Coastal Village Youth Project were embarking on the life-changing trip.

The group of eight youngsters from south east Northumberland will fly out to Krasbec in Serbia, where they will learn about how people from other cultures live, as well as getting involved in Serbian life themselves, meeting teenagers from Serbia, Macedonia and Albania.

Back row from left, Cllr Scott Dickinson Director of Enrgi, Jodie Spears, Liam Stevens, Callum Taylor, Savannah Watton, Alan Tait, Ruari Taylor and Executive Director of ENRgI Julie Davenport.
Front row from left, Sian Critchley, Kimberley Willcox, Coastal Villages Youth Project Co-ordinator Julie Robson, Dean Watton and Oliver Critchley

It is a unique opportunity for many of the children, who have never had a chance to do anything like this before.

St John Ambulance threw a red, white and blue-themed party to bring together staff and users from its three day centres in Northumberland.

Grace Greenfield and Amelia Brian at the St John Ambulance party

The charity, best known for providing first aid, say the centres in Ashington, Berwick and Shiremoor have been a vital source of support for vulnerable people.