Cultural, Environment and Sport Organisations

Arts Council North East

Arts Council England works to get more art to more people in more places. It develops and promotes the arts across England, acting as an independent body at arm's length from government. Between 2006 and 2008, it will invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and the National Lottery in supporting the arts. This is the bedrock of support for the arts in England. Arts Council England believes that the arts have the power to change lives and communities, and to create opportunities for people throughout the country.

Culture North East

Culture North East is a thinking, networking and advocacy organisation that works at a strategic level to champion the role of culture across our region. It exists as one of eight Regional Cultural Consortiums sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS). It is committed to strengthen its role as DCMS' regional strategic advisory body for culture, to generate ideas that will inform, enhance and sustain the cultural life of the region and to add real value to the work of the cultural sector in North East England.

English Heritage North East

English Heritage exists to protect and promote England's spectacular historic environment and ensure that its past is researched and understood. It is the Government's statutory adviser on the historic environment. Officially known as the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England, English Heritage is an Executive Non-departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Its powers and responsibilities are set out in the National Heritage Act (1983) and today it reports to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Although sponsored by DCMS, English Heritage works with a range of Government Departments, notably CLG and Defra, to help realise the potential of the historic environment.

Environment Agency

The Environment Agency is the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. Its role is to make sure that air, land and water are looked after by everyone in today's society, so that tomorrow's generations inherit a cleaner, healthier world. It was set up under the Environment Act 1995 and given specific duties and powers.

It is a public body with around 60 per cent of its funding coming from Government, much of the remainder is from various charges schemes. The Environment Agency is independent but works closely with Government to get the best possible results for the environment. It works through regional offices that work closely with regional organisations to develop the right solutions for local environments. A series of area offices work with local authorities and others to tackle immediate environmental issues.

Forestry Commission

The Forestry Commission delivers practical programmes to make sure that, as communities and individuals, we can get the most from our forests and woods. It is constantly looking for ways to share its knowledge, plan activities and develop new initiatives to provide benefits for the economy and for our health and wellbeing. It works with a range of partners from private sector landowners to sports clubs, local communities and national businesses, on a variety of recreation, regeneration and educational schemes.

Its responsibilities span research, commercial timber production, sustainability programmes and policy, as well as learning and leisure. Its goal is always to ensure that, at a practical level, Britain can use its forests to contribute positively to as many of the nation's needs as we can while sustaining this great resource for the future.

Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd

Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd's mission is to realise the economic, social and cultural regeneration potential of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site and the communities and environment through which it passes. It aims to achieve this by sustainable tourism development, management and conservation activities which benefit local communities and the wider region and in a way that reflects the values embodied in the World Heritage Site Management Plan. It aims to ensure that Hadrian's Wall will be world-renowned for best practice in World Heritage Site management, for the quality of the visitor experience and for its contribution to the local and regional economy through sustainable tourism.

Museums, Libraries and Archives North East

MLA North East is the strategic development agency for museums, libraries and archives in the region. It is part of a wider MLA Partnership with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and the eight other regional agencies. Together they work to improve people's lives by building knowledge, supporting learning, inspiring creativity and celebrating identity. The Partnership acts collectively for the benefit of the sector and the public, leading the transformation of museums, libraries and archives for the future.

National Trust

The National Trust is a charity, completely independent of Government. It relies for income on membership fees, donations and legacies, and revenue raised from its commercial operations. It has 3.5 million members and 43,000 volunteers. More than 12 million people visit its pay for entry properties, while an estimated 50 million visit its open air properties. It protects and opens to the public over 300 historic houses and gardens and 49 industrial monuments and mills. It also looks after forests, woods, fens, beaches, farmland, downs, moorland, islands, archaeological remains, castles, nature reserves and villages.

Natural England

Natural England works for people, places and nature, to enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas; promote access, recreation and public well-being; and contribute to the way natural resources are managed so that they can be enjoyed now and in the future. It works towards the delivery of four strategic outcomes:

• A healthy natural environment
• Enjoyment of the natural environment
• Sustainable use of the natural environment
• A secure environmental future

North Pennines AONB Partnership

Each Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has an organisation responsible for co-ordinating efforts to conserve and enhance it. In the North Pennines, this is the North Pennines AONB Partnership. The AONB Partnership is made up of 22 statutory agencies, local authorities and voluntary/community organisations which all have an interest in, and help care for, the North Pennines AONB and UNESCO European & Global Geopark. The work of the AONB Partnership is carried out through its Staff Unit, based in Stanhope, in Weardale.

Northern Film and Media

Northern Film & Media is the Regional Screen Agency for the North East of England. One of nine Regional Screen Agencies across England, it exists to develop the moving image sector of the region. It does this by focusing its energies and expertise upon developing creative and commercial ideas, engaging with audiences and communities, and providing a dedicated location service. It also offers funding, schemes and services to help develop creative talent and technical ability of those working in film, television, animation, commercials, multi-media and innovative technologies.

Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership

The AONB designation exists to ensure that the natural beauty of the Northumberland Coast is conserved and enhanced. The AONB Partnership works with a host of other organisations and individuals, undertaking a variety of activities to meet this aim. Activities include:

• Environmental and landscape improvement projects
• Provision of information about the AONB, the work of the Partnership and others
• Information, publications and area improvements for visitors and residents to enjoy and explore the area
• Advice to organisations, land managers and the community in the conservation and enhancement of the AONB and minimizing impacts on the AONB
• Advice and support to local authorities on caring for the AONB through their various functions, such as highways and planning
• Public consultation on issues and priorities in the AONB
• Lobbying locally, regionally and nationally through the AONB Association

The Partnership's work is guided by a five year Management Plan.

Northumberland National Park Authority

The Northumberland National Park Authority has the responsibility to look after Northumberland National Park - one of 'Britain's Breathing Spaces'. As the 'guardian' organisation for this protected landscape, the National Park Authority exists to conserve the landscape, heritage and wildlife of the area and to provide opportunities for people to enjoy and understand it. The Authority is also committed to supporting the local economy in and around the National Park borders to ensure a thriving, living countryside for future generations.

The Northumberland National Park Authority works to achieve these things through a variety of partnerships with others, such as the Joint Local Access Forum and community groups, and by providing a helpful planning service, free expert advice and a range of grants for sustainable business, tourism and community projects.

Northumbrian Water

Northumbrian Water, along with Essex & Suffolk Water and Analytical and Environmental Services, is part of Northumbrian Water Limited, which is a member of Northumbrian Water Group (NWG). It focuses on its core competencies of water and waste water management, and aims to deliver value to all stakeholders by being a leading performer in the industry.

Northumbrian Water is firmly rooted within the communities it serves. This understanding of, and commitment to, those communities is demonstrated by its leadership in initiatives such as 'Water for Health', affordable housing and in its approach to corporate responsibility. Its mission is clear - to be a national leader: its strategy reflects this and provides a clear direction for all its activities.

Sport England North East

North East people have a passion for their sporting heritage, traditions, achievements and heroes. Sport is central to the local culture. From St James Park to the Great North Run it creates a sense of regional pride and prestige. Involvement in sport whether it's casual or organised is recognised as a powerful tool to raise regional aspirations for health, sport, economic activity, education and skills, community cohesion and social inclusion. It is fundamental to delivering the wider social changes we are all committed to achieving. For this to happen, however, more people have to get active. Sport England north east's aim is to increase participation amongst all social groups. Its newly established regional sports board launched the North East Regional Plan for Sport and Physical Activity in March. This is the route map that will help the region hit the Government's ambitious target of 70 per cent of the population becoming physically active for 30 minutes at least five times a week by the year 2020.