23 Oct 2026

New digital hub to help people access support, advice and volunteering opportunities

Finding support, advice and opportunities is about to become much easier for people across Newton Aycliffe and surrounding communities.

To mark #GetOnlineWeek, we're investing £8,000 funding through our Community Grants programme to support the development of a new website for Lifeline Community Action, helping more people connect with local services, volunteering opportunities and community support at the click of a button.

According to the latest figures from Ofcom's Online Nation report, around 1.6 million people in the UK remain offline, highlighting the importance of ensuring everyone can access information and services in a way that suits them. This project will help more people take advantage of digital services while strengthening community connections.

The new website is being developed by local business, Digital Edge and is expected to launch in November 2026.

Pauline Chambers, Chief Strategic Officer at Lifeline Community Action, said: "Our new website will help people connect with support, discover volunteering opportunities and become more involved in their community. We're delighted to be working with local partners to make our services easier to access for everyone."

Malcolm Gray, Community Investment Manager, said: "Get Online Week highlights just how important it is for people to be able to access information and services online. This investment will help more people find support quickly and easily, while continuing to access the face-to-face help that's so valuable in our communities."

Pictured: Pauline Chambers (Chief Strategic Officer) and Malcolm Gray (Community Investment Manager)

How do I apply for a Livin home or bungalow?

We advertise all of our available homes on our Find A Home page, simply visit this page for more information.

Before you can place a bid on one of our homes, you must first have an active account with the relevant Choice Based Lettings Scheme. Almost all our homes are located in County Durham and therefore are allocated through the Durham Key Options scheme. Durham Key Options (DKO) is a partnership between Durham County Council and landlords across County Durham.

We have a small number of homes which are located outside Durham, these are all advertised through Tees Valley HomeFinder, Hartlepool HomeSearch and Darlington HomeSearch; They are similar to Durham Key Options but we do not process applications registered for these schemes. If you wish to register an application for homes advertised in this area, please apply directly.

Once your application is approved, you will then be able to bid on homes that meet your needs. You can access the application form directly by visiting the relevant Choice Based Lettings system.

How long will it take for my application to be processed?

We aim to start processing your application within 10 working days. If we require any further information after this point, we will contact you to ask for this. Once we have received all the required information we will notify you of our decision within 20 days, and if accepted we will activate your account. You can also check your application status online by logging into the DKO portal.

How can I get involved with Livin and help to shape services?

To find out more about the different ways you can get involved, please visit our getting involved section.

Can I apply to buy my home under Right to Buy?

Tenants who have been with Livin since before the transfer from Sedgefield Council in 2009 may have the “Preserved Right to Buy” their property. Full details of the scheme are available on the Government Right to Buy website. If you are thinking of applying, please contact us.

Can I apply to buy my home under Right to Acquire?

If you have been a tenant for 3 or more years you may have the right to buy your property under the Right to Acquire scheme. Full details of the scheme are available on the Government Right to Acquire website. If you are thinking of applying, please contact us.