However, County Hall bosses have reassured the sector that a funding package of £1.3m will still be available next year. Budget proposals recommend more money for charities directly supporting those people worst affected by the recession.

These will include services such as credit unions and the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Glendale Gateway Trust, based in Wooler, was created in 1996 and has since secured £4.9m of funding for the community.

On Saturday, November 21 the trust is staging an open day and tours to give people an insight into its achievements.

The theme for the inaugural event is The Future of the Uplands. There will be 60 places available at the Cheviot Centre, Wooler, from 6pm-8pm.

The national park authority has invited Peter Jackson, a board member of One North East to chair the meeting.

People who want to confirm a place, or who have a question that they would like to raise, should e-mail npforum@nnpa.org.uk or telephone (01434) 611516.

Northumberland Care Trust, in partnership with Age Concern, is looking for volunteers to become "senior health mentors" to other older people in their community.

Ann Kirkup, project co-ordinator for the health mentor scheme in Northumberland, with Jean Sanders in Newbiggin, who has volunteered as a senior peer mentor.

The volunteers will be trained to help, support and encourage those they are mentoring on the benefits of healthy eating and exercise, as well as offering social interaction.

Cheviot Futures, which looks at practical measures that can be taken to adapt to and profit from changes, will be passing on its message to young people at the Glendale Agricultural Society's Children's Countryside Day next month.

The Defra and EU-funded group, which counts farmers, landowners, and a range of bodies ranging from the Environment Agency to the RSPB as members, is putting up £8,000 to support the event.

Wooler's new multi-coloured Christian Aid charity shop opens its doors for a week from Monday, May 11, at the start of Christian Aid Week.

Sue Burston, Christian Aid group organiser for the town, said that in the last 11 years the event has raised more than £40,000 for some of the world's poorest communities.

The area covers the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site and the whole of Northumberland National Park.

IT experts from the Northumberland National Park have built the new website, which offers advice on how to get access to European funding.

Mr Hargreave, who farms at High Learchild near Whittingham, takes over the post from Tom Comber, who was chairman for two years. He will be assisted by vice-chairman Simon Orpwood.

Mr Hargreave, who has been a member of the society for five years and director for two, said: "I am delighted to have been asked to be chairman and I look forward to working with the committee to further strengthen our position.

The night, entitled 'An Evening of Entertainment' will feature the Wooler Choral Society.

It takes place on Friday, March 27, and begins at 7.30pm. Tickets are £3.50 and are available either in advance or on the door.

Rachael Smith, who lives in Wooler, will work along side Sara Nelson and Martha Goldie to organise the showcase agricultural event, which will be held for the 117th time on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Parish councillors have been told by the Trust's Market Town programme manager Tom Johnston the funding has been crucial to the town's regeneration and economy.

The Pussycat heifers - part of the Ponteland and Stamfordham Entertainments cast who represented Northumberland in Blackpool 2008

Each local group of the federation will put together its own team to take part in some traditional sports such as football and rugby, while there will also be some more unusual disciplines to contend with - such as a pantomime competition.

Mavis Harris, footpath secretary for the Ramblers' Association Hexham group.

Northumberland County Council is considering cuts to its Rights of Way and Countryside Management Team in its 2009-10 budget, as it seeks to make savings across all departments in order to meet finance targets set by the Government.

There will be red squirrel family days at Bolam Lakes on April 8 and Druridge Bay on April 15, followed by a red squirrel walk around Dechant Wood near Berwick on April 19.

There will also be events at Cragside and Kielder later in the year, while the Save our Squirrels team will be at Bellingham Show and Glendale Show in Wooler in August.

The pupils dropped off cards in the classroom, which were then taken for recycling to be turned back into card products. Last year, 73.6 million cards were collected nationally and people in Northumberland alone handed in 197,000 cards.

Robert Lane from the Woodland Trust said: "I was staggered when I saw how many cards the pupils at Glendale Community Middle School had collected.

"Every card that's dropped off at WHSmith, Tesco, TK Maxx or M&S makes a real difference to our work to plant new woodland. Those trees will become tomorrow's natural playground, giving future generations somewhere to enjoy forever."