Belford Community Group

BELFORD COMMUNITY GROUP

ABOUT US

Belford Community Group is a registered charity formed to support and promote our local community.

Belford Community Shop, Gym, Gardens and Woodland and Markets are all part of the Group.

We raise funds through our Community Shop in Belford.  We allocate the largest possible proportion of our income to support local organisations and events in Belford with the remainder going to pay the overheads of keeping the shop and the gym running.

We have no paid staff; all the work we do is undertaken by our wonderful team of volunteers.

COMMUNITY GRANTS

Money raised by the Community Group is used to support local community projects, groups, functions and events. Over the past year (2024/25) we have given out over £12,000 in grants to support our community in Belford.

If you have an event or project that needs some funding help, please apply to us for a grant. We support requests that fit with our charitable objectives and will give careful consideration to every one we receive. We will get back to you with a decision, usually within one month.

To apply, please download our application form, complete it and email it to belfordcommunitygroup@gmail.com

BCG Funding ApplicationDownload

JOIN US

All our work is undertaken by volunteers and there are many ways in which you could join us and contribute to our work.  We need people to help us by:

  • Volunteering in the shop
  • Helping to keep the woodlands and Jubilee Garden looking beautiful
  • Helping to manage the Gym
  • Setting up and taking down the stalls for our markets
  • Being a trustee

If you’d like to hear more about what you can do to help our work in Belford, please email Belford Community Group

TRUSTEES

Our Trustees are:

Pauline Tucker (Chair)

I moved to Belford in 2012 after holidaying in the area for more than 30 years.  I already knew a couple of the people involved in setting up the shop and who were trustees of Belford Community Group. Within a week I had been encouraged to become a shop volunteer, and at the AGM that year was appointed as a trustee, and shortly afterwards as Secretary.  I have been Chairman of the group for many years and have enjoyed the opportunity to become involved in the local community and meet new people. I like nothing better than travelling around the UK to meet up with friends and family.

Del Hughes

I moved to Belford in 2010, working as an occupational therapist in Berwick until my retirement. Having been recruited to join the BCG by local friends, I became involved in the Gym Committee and have been part of the local team securing the long-term future of the gym as a community resource. I enjoy entertaining friends, cooking and dog walking. 

Charlie Wadsworth

I have worked worldwide as a finance director and love to travel. I initially volunteered as a member of the gym committee, being keen to help it reopen after the pandemic, before becoming a trustee for Belford Community Group. I enjoy running, hiking and dog walking and love to play guitar in local bands.  

Linda Wadsworth

I moved to the village in September 2022 after my retirement from my career as a primary school teacher. Volunteering for the Belford Community Group is a great way of meeting people and I enjoy working with the Community Shop committee and helping in the shop.  I am a keen amateur photographer and enjoy dog walking (especially on the beautiful local beaches).

Amanda White

I have lived in Belford running my business with my husband for 13 years now.  On moving to a much smaller village I felt it was really important to participate in village life and being a trustee felt like an ideal fit. It has been a real privilege to be able to help develop the BCG over the years and see all the projects we have supported thrive.

Christine Chapman

I moved to the village in 2021, after spending two decades as a local magistrate. I enjoy exploring the local area, particularly birdwatching on the beautiful coastline, as well as the arts, cinema and theatre. I am looking forward to working with the Community Group to continue its very good work and varied support of local projects.

Martin McMahon

I possess extensive commercial experience, having held senior management positions, both in the UK and internationally. My career includes roles with organisations such as Unilever, Levi Strauss, American Expres, HSBC as well as various smaller enterprises and operating my own consultancy. Now retired and residing on High Street in Belford, I am keen to contribute to the ongoing success of the Belford Community Group.

MEETINGS

Meetings are usually held on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7pm at Bell View.  Members of the public are welcome to attend any meeting.

The dates for the meetings in 2026 are:

19 January

16 February

16 March

20 April

18 May

15 June

20 July

August – no meeting

21 September

AGM – 19 October 6pm

16 November

December – no meeting

Minutes from previous meetings are available here:

Meetings Archive

HISTORY

When Barclays Bank closed a spirited local campaign saw the building being gifted to the village; this was then sold which enabled a shop on the High Street to be purchased.  The shop became Belford Community Shop, running as a very successful charity shop, raising funds for all the community projects we support.

The gift of the Barclays Bank Building was originally managed by a Development Trust which was dissolved in 2011.   Belford Community Group was then established with new Trustees, and the shop in the High Street was purchased to run as a charity shop.  Surplus funds from the sale were then transferred into an account for the running of the shop and to award grants to groups and societies in the local area.  

In 2022 the group became incorporated and became Belford Community Group CIO.  In 2023 the group acquired the lease for Belford Gym following many years of discussion with Northumberland County Council.  Belford Museum came under the umbrella of the group for a short time, but decided to become independent in 2024.

CHARITABLE STATUS

Belford Community Group is a CIO – a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and is registered with the Charity Commission (registration no:  1199530 ).  As a CIO, the Community Group can own or lease property (the Community Shop and Community Gym) and has its own legal identity so that it can conduct business in its own name.

The charitable objects of the Belford Community Group CIO are:

For the public benefit within the area of Belford, Middleton and surrounding areas with the following objects:

  1. The provision of recreational facilities for the public at large or those who by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances, have need of such facilities. 
  2. The relief of financial hardship by the recycling and provision of furniture, clothes, books, toys and other household items.
  3. To advance public education in a local heritage and culture.
  4. To advance, and raise public appreciation of the arts and crafts in all their forms, in particular but not exclusively by the delivery of an annual festival and the provision of a range of workshops, concerts and other events throughout the year.
  5. To protect or conserve the environment and to advance the education of the public with particular reference to the protection of the environment.
  6. To further any other charitable purpose of purposes for the benefit of those living or working in the area of benefit.