The new Great Aycliffe Community Aid Partnership met at the Youth Centre this week and reported much progress since being formed in December.
The partners agreed the design of their logo and talked about promoting the organisation and extending the membership to include every welfare group, agency operating in the area. The partnership was working but it was clear there were still a number of flaws in the way aid and assistance was being communicated to those in need in our area.
There have been some cases where people who find themselves in crisis have not known where to turn. It is at this point where information and communication is lacking. GACAP aim to fill this gap and are working to ensure people in need receive the necessary help and assurance.
Ernie Temple the Foodbank co-ordinator in Aycliffe gave an update on the service provided and expressed his appreciation for the support received from the  townspeople.
He said from talking to visitors to the Foodbank there was a need to direct them to other members of the partnership who could help with debt management and basic cooking instruction.
Helping Hands offer budgeting courses which run over three sessions and they were proving to be very successful. GACAP aim to produce a directory of partners and the services they offer. They will be available for general distribution as a reference guide so that people in crisis will no exactly who to contact.
For further information on GACAP please contact the Secretary Joan Clark at the Youth Centre, Telephone 302577 or e-mail: treasurer.nayc@live.co.uk