Help Durham County Council develop our new strategy to tackle poverty issues and support people’s financial wellbeing in County Durham.
Durham County Council (DCC) been working with our partners to review and evaluate the current poverty strategy ahead of the development of a new one which will cover the period from 2026 to 2030.
The new strategy will aim to create clear pathways out of poverty by supporting residents back into the workforce and helping them to build the skills needed for long-term financial resilience. It will also continue to recognise the ongoing need for short-term crisis support – such as emergency financial assistance, food and fuel support and access to social tariffs (cheaper phone, broadband or energy packages) – to help residents manage immediate financial pressures.
The new strategy is being developed to align with wider strategies including our Child Poverty Strategy, the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy, the Inclusive Economic Strategy and the new Durham County Council, Council Plan.
The strategy will also be shaped within the broader regional context of the North East Combined Authority’s strategic focus on inclusive growth, tackling poverty and enabling placed based collaboration.
Visit the Lets Talk County Durham page for more information and to have your say on this public consultation.
DCC Consultation Link: www.letstalkcountydurham.co.uk/en-GB/folders/tackling-poverty-in-county-durham
Consultation closed end of February 2026.
There will be a further opportunity to comment on this in May 2026, before it is finalised and presented to the DCC Cabinet for agreement later in the year.
20/02/2026 – Town Council’s comments on this Consultation:
Bishop Auckland Town Council welcomes the opportunity to respond to Durham County Council’s consultation on the development of a new strategy to tackle poverty and strengthen financial resilience across the county.
We recognise that County Durham faces persistent and complex challenges linked to financial insecurity, fuel and food poverty, rising living costs, and unequal access to skills, transport, and opportunity. These issues are particularly visible in towns such as Bishop Auckland, where communities experience higher levels of deprivation, poor health outcomes, and barriers to employment. The refreshed strategy is therefore timely, necessary, and strongly supported by this Council.
The proposal to rename the strategy to “Financially Resilient Communities Strategy 2026–2030” is supported. We agree that the term “poverty” may deter engagement or reinforce stigma, and that framing the work around resilience, opportunity, and financial wellbeing better reflects the forward‑looking, preventative focus of the strategy. This aligns with our own ambitions to build confidence, capacity and aspiration across Bishop Auckland.
We support the proposed vision: “A County Durham where everyone has the opportunity to thrive through financial security, early support, active participation, strong partnerships, and clear pathways to opportunity.”
This is consistent with our local priorities, especially the need for early intervention, meaningful collaboration, and ensuring residents have clear and achievable routes into training, employment, community participation, and improved wellbeing.
Five-Pillar Framework
The Council endorses the five proposed pillars:
- Prevention – We support the emphasis on early help, inclusive growth, access to services, skills, and affordable housing. Early intervention will be crucial in areas like Bishop Auckland where transport, digital access, and health inequalities reduce opportunity.
- Protection – Crisis support remains essential, particularly for those affected by fuel poverty, food insecurity, and unstable housing. We strongly endorse the continuation of income maximisation and homelessness prevention work.
- Pathway – A focus on building confidence, employability, volunteering, and life skills aligns strongly with local needs. The Council would welcome closer partnership working to ensure Bishop Auckland residents can access these pathways through local delivery points.
- Participation – We support empowering residents to shape local solutions and increasing civic involvement. Local engagement must be flexible and accessible, especially for harder‑to‑reach communities.
- Partnerships – We strongly agree that a whole‑system collaboration is needed. Bishop Auckland Town Council is keen to continue working with DCC, local VCS organisations, schools, and health partners to support joined‑up delivery and reduce duplication.
Recommendations from Bishop Auckland Town Council
We ask that the final strategy includes:
- A place‑based delivery approach, recognising the differing challenges between rural villages, market towns, and high‑deprivation wards.
- Sustained investment in community assets, such as youth provision, community centres, and digital inclusion hubs.
- Closer collaboration with town and parish councils, who are often the first point of contact for residents in hardship.
- Improved transport and access, which remains a major barrier to employment, training, and healthcare in Bishop Auckland.
- A commitment to measuring real‑world impact, including lived‑experience feedback from residents facing financial insecurity.
Bishop Auckland Town Council fully supports the development of the new strategy and welcomes the shift towards long‑term resilience, early intervention, and meaningful community involvement. We look forward to contributing to the next stages of the strategy development and playing an active role in supporting local residents to thrive