Northumberland Log Bank

Addressing fuel poverty in rural Northumberland

What is the Northumberland Log Bank?

The objectives of the Northumberland Log Bank are:

The prevention or relief of poverty in rural Northumberland and surrounding areas by providing seasoned wood fuel to those suffering financial hardship, chronic ill-health, disability or isolation, or to those who have difficulty obtaining or handling logs due to advanced age.
The prevention or relief of poverty in rural Northumberland and surrounding areas by signposting the recipients of the wood fuel to other organisations which could help improve their circumstances.

[A project supported by Northumberland County Council]

The Log Banks at Wooler and Haydon Bridge

photograph showing barns used by Wooler and Haydon Bridge log banks

Why have a Log Bank?

Fuel poverty is affected by three key factors – income, fuel costs and home energy consumption/energy efficiency – and relates to homes that have to spend a high proportion of their household income to keep their home at an adequate standard of warmth.

Fuel poverty can have a detrimental impact on physical health as well as increasing the risk of mental health problems and negatively impacting children’s education.

A key issue for Northumberland is improving the energy efficiency of people’s homes.

Fuel poverty is a particular challenge because of the Northumberland’s geography.

In terms of emissions, wood is considered a better fuel than coal, oil or LPG (currently) particularly if it sourced locally and sustainably. The efficiency of it burning as a fuel depends on the stove/fire, moisture content, and similar. In light of recent legislation, we want you to know that all the logs we supply are seasoned and dry.

Fuel Poverty by Region 2017

Region	No. of households	No. households in fuel poverty	% of fuel-poor households
North East	1,169,080	138,230	11.8%
North West	3,149,809	414,032	13.1%
Yorkshire	2,299,620	243,876	10.6%
E Midlands	1,991,813	184,848	9.3%
W Midlands	2,403,401	303,702	12.6%
London	3,371,821	397,924	11.8%
South East	3,792,517	330,916	8.7%
South West	2,451,433	265,799	10.8%
N’land	143,347	15,883	11.1%
Hexham	33,734	3,767	11.2%

Northumberland

Northumberland is 96.7% rural, 49.1% of the population live in a rural area, round 156,000 people.
Council Tax Support claims: 17 of the 20 highest claiming parishes are rural. Rural areas have lower take-up of benefit entitlement, particularly among older residents.
Average rural household disposable income dropped by 3% between 2013 and 2017, rising in urban areas by 4%.
A third of Northumberland’s employee jobs had hourly pay below the real living wage – putting the County in the bottom 11% in England.
In 2017 14,847 (24.18%) youngsters throughout Northumberland faced poverty – up from 23.48% on the 2016 figures. The sharpest percentage rise in the Berwick constituency was in Wooler. Other wards to notice a significant increase are Shilbottle and Rothbury.
In 2016, Northumberland was home to almost 1 in 4 people over the age of 65. (24%). By 2036, this is predicted to rise to 1 in 3.
13.2% of the population of Northumberland live in one of the 10% most deprived areas of England.
See the following map of Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) across Northumberland 0 there is an arc of deprivation (blue-turquoise) from the north across to the west of the county.

Credit: The above image contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (Source: see Note 2).

Foodbanks

From April to September 2019, more than 42,000 food parcels were handed out to people in the North East … and the number is rising.
In 2017/18 the West Northumberland Foodbank (Hexham, Haltwhistle & Prudhoe) received a record 2,986 requests for help. A total of over 1,140 people from 493 households, including 450 children, were provided with food and support.
Rural food banks in Northumberland are providing approx 440 parcels per month (for urban areas it is approx 340 parcels).

Where have we got to?

There are two Log Banks, both on farms, one just outside Wooler serving north Northumberland and the other near Haydon Bridge for west Northumberland/Tynedale, and we are opening a third at Kirkharle in central Northumberland in March 2021.
We are a non-registered charity with a Constitution under the auspices of Northumberland Community Voluntary Action.
We have a bank account at the Northumberland Community Bank.
We have trustees and a growing team of volunteers.
Several large estates across Northumberland, many farms, companies and individuals have donated logs and wood.
Northumberland County Council bought us a trailer.
And most important of all we are now delivering logs to about 60 households all over Northumberland.

How to improve?

We need to expand and supply about 200 households but keep it as simple as possible.
The number of households we deliver to can increase hugely as we find more volunteers.
We need an electric van to reduce our costs and carbon footprint, and we have funding to purchase battery operated chainsaws.
Working closely with food banks means we are able to connect with those in need.
We now only need a few thousand pounds a year to operate, to train volunteers and for equipment.
We hope to remain non-intrusive – all we ask is for log recipients to sign a letter to allow us to have their contact details and to agree the safety of the fire/log burner is their responsibility.
We focus on the second Log Bank Object – signposting households in fuel poverty to other organisations who could help make their lives more sustainable – in the summer months.

Would you like to help?

Can you spare a few hours a week to help collect, prepare and deliver logs?

We are looking for volunteers, especially those with appropriate skills or anyone interested in undergoing training: developing skills and knowledge around safeguarding are also essential.

Many thanks!

The Northumberland Log Bank is still just a sapling, but it would not have sprouted without the support of the following individuals and organisations. A huge thank you!
Kate Thick (Founding Trustee)

Mark Robson, Turvelaws Farm
Marc Johnson, Northumberland Community Voluntary Action
Tom Johnston, The Glendale Gateway Trust
Lord James Joicey, Ford and Etal Estate
Tim Miller-Fay, Northumberland County Council
Robbie Burn (volunteer)
Alan Phipps (trustee)
Keith Bell, A&J Scott Ltd
Ian Fletcher, Lantra Instructor and Assessor
Vanessa Proudlock and Northumberland Estates
Newcore Capital
Langley Castle Estate
Lilburn Estate
James Ritchie (trustee)
Paul Cowie, (trustee)
Whitfield Estate
Capheaton Hall
Mary Dickinson
Wooler Parish Council
William and Clara Nichol
Mark Davies
Barbara Morris
Graham Williamson
Rob Cogan (volunteer)
David Spearman (volunteer)
Peter Trevelyan (volunteer)
Julie McLean Wilson (volunteer)
Katharine Oliver
Lynda Swinden
Kirkharle Estate
Andrew and Tony Thick
Cynthia and Larry Rackley (volunteers)
Michael Coxon, Tower Farm
Ruth Armstrong
Mather family, High Heugh Farm
Margaret Brown and family
Lynda Swinden
Fallodon Estate
Jill Mindham-Walker

Thank you to our funders!

A little of what we do…

Contact details

Catherine Thick (Founding Trustee)

Tel: 07900 963234 Email: katethick@hotmail.com

Notes

‘A little of what we do’ gallery images by Graham Williamson 2019 unless otherwise indicated. ‘Wooler Log Bank’ button by Graham Williamson 2020. All other images and text provided by Kate Thick and used with permission.
Source: Northumberland County Council ‘Indices of Deprivation 2019 – Northumberland Summary Report’ [Online]. Available: https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Northumberland-Knowledge/NK%20place/Indices%20of%20deprivation/Indices-of-Deprivations-2019-Summary-Report.pdf [Accessed 2 Mar 2020].

[Last updated: 20 January 2021]