Our Partners

We work with like-minded groups of people to be able to deliver our Plan A. Our community partners provide a lifeline to so many people in so many ways.

Jubilee Fields Community Centre

The community centre is located within the heart of the Jubilee Fields estate in Shildon. They are a key partner in the estate's stakeholder group as they cater to all ages and abilities. The centre and its management committee has had a recent ‘make-over’. Local companies including our partners Mears and global paint firm PPG have contributed to both its sustainability and internal decoration. They are looking for funding to allow the centre to be open longer hours to cater for the needs of the community.

Jubilee Fields Community Centre

Lifeline Community Action

Lifeline Community Action (LCA) are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation who operate out of Newton Aycliffe, but support families across most of our housing areas. Established in 2010, Lifeline continue to provide support to those most financially and socially disadvantaged and currently work with over 50 referral partners. We are working with Lifeline and a number of partners in Newton Aycliffe to look at setting up a central support and advice hub in one of the retail units in the town centre.

Lifeline Community Action Lifeline Community Action Facebook page

Shildon Alive

Shildon Alive was established in 2004 to address poverty and deprivation in Shildon. They have developed a range of projects and activities mostly run by volunteers.

Shildon Alive operate out of several retail units in Shildon town centre with the aim to produce 'A centre for food, finance and community solidarity'. They have recently received further Lottery funding to look at developing new premises just outside the town centre as they have outgrown their current premises.

They are the largest credit union collection point in the North-East with over 750 members.

Shildon Alive

The LADDER Centre

The LADDER centre is a community partner which delivers its services from one of our properties on the Lakes Estate in Ferryhill.

The centre was opened in December 2002 and provides a variety support services to every age group.

We have worked with the centre to deliver everything from early years to youth work whilst supporting them to deliver employability and financial wellbeing services.

The Ladder Centre, 5-7 Coniston Road, Ferryhill, DL17 8EZ.

Open every Monday to Friday in the IT suite from 8:30am to 1pm.

Supported job club sessions run every Monday and Thursday 10am until 12pm.

The LADDER centre

Approach Too

Based in Ferryhill, Approach Too is a community interest company set up in 2015 and works with children and young people through six primary schools and one secondary school to bring in different opportunities and raise aspirations.

Working with Approach Too we have set up ‘The Right Thing Project’ engaging 15 young people in keeping Ferryhill tidy. These young people carry out monthly litter picks across the town and are sponsored through our CRF grant.

Approach Too Facebook page

Durham County Carers

Durham County Carers are a support organisation that offers specialist advice and information to those who care for a partner, disabled child, relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage without their help. They offer one to one support, help with completing forms for benefits and grants, a listening ear and an opportunity to meet other carers.

Durham County Carers

Could you be our next partner?

We are always looking to expand our reach to support our communities. If you are part of a group or organisation who share our community values we would like to hear from you.

Get in touch

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.