HEXHAM Community Partnership has appointed two new board members ahead of its move to seek charitable status.

Public Relations specialist Sarah Wilson took early retirement recently from Northumberland County Council’s communications team, and will work closely with HCP’s new marketing and PR officer – a vacancy currently being advertised.

The second new appointment to the board is Sue McArdle, head of business assurance at Greggs plc. An accountant by training, she is also a governor at Prudhoe Community High School.

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HCP chair Neil Wilkinson said: "These are exciting times for the Partnership as we seek charitable status for our activities. Our new volunteer board members bring a range of skills in finance, charities and communications that will help us achieve that goal.

"We are busier than ever before as the town recovers from the pandemic and faces the challenges of a stagnant economy and cost of living increases. Becoming a registered charity will enable us to access new sources of funding that will help us to increase our range of activities."

Hexham Community Partnership (HCP) is the development trust serving Hexham and the surrounding communities in the Tyne Valley.