Norton Pockets of Nature Partnership is a multi-partner nature project lasting through until March 2023 which will significantly improve several locations within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in North-East England. The sites included within the project are our community forest at Norton Sports Complex, Norton Grange Local Nature Reserve, Harbron Woods, Mount Pleasant, St, Mary’s Church and St. Michaels’ Church. In addition to the environmental benefits, and in association with Groundwork North-East and Cumbria, it will also provide employment opportunities for 12 young people.

90 projects awarded grants to accelerate the implementation of nature-based projects, from new ‘insect pathways’ in our countryside and towns, to tree planting projects in deprived urban areas.

A second funding round of Green Recovery Challenge Fund is backed by £40million and will support 2,500 jobs in England.

Norton Sports Charity being the lead organisation for the Norton Pockets of Nature Partnership (NPNP) project has been awarded a grant from the Government’s £40million second round of the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, a multi-million pound boost for green jobs and nature recovery.

90 nature projects across England have been awarded grants from £68,100 to £1,950,000 to create and retain over 1,000 green jobs, backed by the Government’s £80million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

Work will be carried out on over 600 sites from North Northumberland to the tip of Cornwall, and combined with the first round, almost a million trees will be planted, contributing towards the Government’s commitment to treble tree planting rates across England by the end of this Parliament.

Our NPNP project will bring together landowners and community groups to create a network of nature reserves, wildlife corridors, woodland and green spaces throughout Norton. It will enhance biodiversity and increase access to nature. Partners for the project in addition to Norton Sports Charity are Stockton Borough Council, the Church of England Parishes of St. Mary’s and St. Michael’s, Thirteen Housing Group, Groundwork North-East and Cumbria and Catalyst Stockton. Within a total project budget of £280,000 which includes a contribution of £123,500 from the Youth Employment Initiative, it will also provide direct employment opportunities for 12 young people and secure three further jobs.

Project Director and Outreach Manager for Norton Sports Charity Dr. Carole Frost said:

"We are thrilled to receive this grant which will significantly increase biodiversity and hence the resilience of the local Norton environment. The fact that the project will also provide new employment opportunities together with vital training to help delivery of future environmental projects is also extremely important."

Bill Pickersgill (President of Norton Sports Charity) added:

"Having been part of the local community since the late 19th Century, we are absolutely delighted to be working with our partners on a project which spans the whole of Norton. There will be significant benefit to many members of the local community for many years to come. I would like to express my thanks to Dr Carole Frost and Lucy Chapman of Groundwork for instigating this initiative and for their work in compiling the bid.  We are hugely grateful to the Green Recovery Challenge Fund for the grant and to our partners for their contributions and support for the project."

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is a key part of the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan to kick-start nature recovery and tackle climate change. Connecting people with nature is another priority theme: by increasing access to nature and greenspaces, projects will support both physical and mental wellbeing. The Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies  The fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.
#GreenRecoveryChallengeFund
#TogetherForOurPlanet


Environment Minister, Rebecca Pow, said:

"The diverse and ambitious projects being awarded funding today will help environmental organisations employ more people to work on tree-planting, nature restoration and crucially, help more of the public to access and enjoy the outdoors. Through our £80 million Fund, we are on track to support over 2,500 jobs, plant almost a million trees and increase nature recovery at a huge scale across the country, which will help us deliver against our 25 Year Environment Plan.”

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive, National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

"From wetland restoration, to creating wildlife-rich habitat for bees, it is vital that we value, protect and rebuild our natural heritage. This new funding will not only allow projects to carry out direct conservation which is essential in protecting our biodiversity, but it will increase awareness of how and why we need to change our behaviours in order to protect our future."

Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:
"By supporting jobs from Northumberland to Somerset, the Green Recovery Challenge Fund will help deliver a nature positive future. The fund supports young people to develop skills needed to protect nature, build back greener and prepare for climate impacts, like floods and heatwaves."

Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said:

"Our environmental and conservation charity sector does an incredible job in protecting, improving and restoring the natural environment for the benefit of communities and the economy."

Forestry Commission Chair Sir William Worsley said:

"This funding will help deliver thousands more trees and help us achieve our target of trebling tree planting rates in England by the end of the Parliament. We need to work towards net zero emissions by 2050; to address biodiversity loss; to better connect people with nature; and to create more green jobs in doing so. Trees are central to this and the projects being awarded these grants will have a hugely important role in helping us realise these objectives."

A full list of awards is available to view at: https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/publications/green-recovery-challenge-fund-second-round-decisions-july-2021

Notes to editors
The Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund:
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk  

​𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘!
We have been featured in an article Teesside Live, giving some recognition for all of the hard work that went into the refurbishment project. Read the article below.
Well done everyone!
𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗢𝗨𝗧!

We have been busy fitting new bars and flooring, we have had a brand new bespoke bar fitted to our new community space and our main bar top has been restored to its former glory, with a bit of a change in colour. Work has started on fitting our new under bar equipment with new ice machine and glass washer installed.
Wooden flooring has been fitted to the new snooker room and in front of both our main and new bar.
We have had doors fitted in between the snooker room and new community space in the same colour as the rest of the woodwork.
Work continues in the bar ladies toilets with wooden cladding being added to the walls.
All new emergency lighting is now in place with an addition of an alarm system fitted to our accessible toilet.
All new ceiling tiles have been added to the bar with new spot lights with dimmer switch.

​We have had an exciting start to the new year with the internal refurbishments getting underway.
Lot’s has been removed including, fixed seating, flooring, ceilings and toilet facilities, all in preparation for our new additions.
The decorators have made a good start, with prepping work started including stripping walls and undercoating woodwork and doors.
We have also seen progress in our new community space with walls being prepared and the space for our new doorway between the lounge and the new snooker room being knocked through.
We have also had a new air conditioning unit fitted in the function room.

The refurbishment is coming along nicely, with some fantastic progress being made. Check out our Social Media account to see further information. Work will continue throughout the lockdown period so keep your eyes peeled for updates.

Unfortunately as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the associated requirements of the U.K. government, the Norton Sports Charity site including the clubhouse will be closed from 10p.m. on Wednesday 4th November 2020 until Wednesday 2nd December 2020. This covers all voluntary, sporting, recreational and social activities with the exception of our allotments which will remain open to allotment holders only. During the above period, the work on the refurbishment of the clubhouse will continue.

Could we take this opportunity to both thank everyone for the very responsible way you have all treated this extremely serious matter and also for the fantastic work done by so many people in such challenging circumstances over recent months.
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Do please continue to take care of yourselves and our local community.

Now in week 8 of the project, we are well underway. Improvements have been made to our cellar including a new internal wall built to reduce the size and make way for the kitchen. Foundations have been laid for the Kitchen build and we have had a new office built. Work is now well underway on our new outside terrace at the front of the clubhouse. Keep checking our social media for regular updates!

We are looking for an apprentice Multi Sports Coach. See the link for details https://www.lifetimetraining.co.uk/.../sports.../...
Although the advert shows MFC Foundation, they are just one of a number of employers - one of the positions will be based at Norton Sports Charity.

Norton Sports Charity and the Co-op Foundation are delighted to announce that they will be working in partnership in developing the Charity as a sustainable community hub operated for the benefit of local people. The Co-op Foundation has made a £15,000 grant and as part of the Community Clubhouse Refurbishment project the Charity will also be taking an interest-free loan with an initial repayment holiday of one-year. Chairman of Norton Sports Charity Peter Frost said ''From the moment the Co-op Foundation was brought to my attention by Head Groundsman Dave Geldart, it was clear there was an excellent fit between the values of the two organisations. We have already benefited from the grant by using it to temporarily help manage our cashflow during the early stages of the pandemic and both the grant and the loan are key elements of our fantastic community clubhouse refurbishment project.'' Programmes and Partnerships Manager Ella Smyth from the Co-op Foundation added ''We are very pleased to be working with Norton Sports Charity and are hugely excited by the clubhouse refurbishment project and most particularly by the community space element within that. The Co-op Foundation is very much looking forward to working with the Charity over the coming months to help make a significant difference to the local community in Norton.''
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