New Deal for Communities

New Deal for Communities (NDC) is a key programme in the Government's strategy to tackle the issues faced by some of the country's poorest communities. The programme aims to give communities the resources to tackle their problems in an intensive and co-ordinated way. The aim is to bridge the gap between these neighbourhoods and the rest of England.

Each NDC neighbourhood is unique, but all the NDC partnerships are tackling five key themes of: poor job prospects; high levels of crime; educational under-achievement; poor health; and problems with housing and the physical environment. The Government wants to see outcomes that will bring real benefit to people living in our most deprived neighbourhoods.

In 1998 17 pathfinder partnerships were announced, followed by a second round of 22 partnerships in 1999. Approximately £2bn has been committed to the 39 partnerships. Sunderland (Back on the Map) is one of the second round of partnerships.

NDC partnerships are delivering:

• long-term commitment to deliver real change with communities at the heart of this change;
• community involvement and ownership;
• joined-up thinking and solutions with action based on evidence about 'what works' and what doesn't

To find out more about the Department for Communities and Local Government and the NDC programme, visit the NDC page at  http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/page.asp?id=617

Government Office for the North East's website has more information on the NDC partnerships in North East England.