Week of Action Launches on Berwick Estate

Wednesday 2nd September 2009

A week long programme of activities called \'Pride in Prior\' was officially launched on a housing estate in Tweedmouth.

The event brought together local residents and organisations that will make improvements on the Prior Park estate and delivers three key themes including working together, the environment and community safety.

The Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Beith MP launched the campaign alongside Berwick Borough Housing\'s managing director, Neil Brown and Cllr. Isobel Hunter.

Free activities were available for all residents living on the estate which were organised by Berwick Borough Housing in partnership with Improving Croft and Cowpen Quay (ICCQ) - a neighbourhood management initiative.

The week commenced with the launch of \'Get Active\' Monday where the mobile police unit was on hand to offer drugs awareness advice and also an estate clean up with the neighbourhood services team from Northumberland County Council,

Various activities throughout the week also included community safety activities, daily community breakfasts, environmental projects, sports and fun activities for young people and the week finished with a Mad Hatters Community Tea Party.

Competitions including \'best garden on the estate\' and a \'good neighbours award\' were also run throughout the week and prizes were handed out including the chance to win a home security system, gardening and shopping vouchers and a Nintendo Wii.

At the launch, the Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Beith MP had said, \"I welcome the investment that has gone into Prior Park in recent years including gas for central heating and I am delighted that all the relevant organisations plan to work with residents to make it an even better place."

Managing Director at Berwick Borough Housing, Neil Brown had said, \"The aim of this programme is to bring local residents and organisations together to make improvements on the estate. We want residents to feel proud of the estate they live in and we will listen to any concerns or issues they may have."

\"The programme is available to all residents and all ages and creates cohesion amongst the local community. The \'Pride in Prior\' campaign helps organisations such as Berwick Borough Housing to get into the heart of local communities to find out what services and facilities they would like to see on the estate. I hope that all residents enjoy and participate in the activities that are being provided and I hope we can roll this programme out into some of the other local communities that we serve.\"

Prior Park resident, Bernadette McDonald had said, \"I enjoyed talking to all the different agencies on the night walkabout last week and I think this week will make a difference to our area. I am looking forward to taking part in all the activities that have been arranged.\"

The base for the week is at the Family Centre in Grove Gardens and the organisations participating in \'Pride in Prior\' are: Northumbria Police, Northumbria Fire & Rescue Services, Active Berwick, Age Concern Northumberland, the Berwick Youth Project, Blyth Valley Arts and Leisure, Extended Services, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Care Trust, Neighbourhood Services and Sure Start.

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