Member Article

Community groups celebrate project funding boost

Community projects from Teesside and County Durham joined together at a special event at Middlesbrough Football Club’s Riverside Stadium, to bid for funding that could turn their vision for improving their communities into a reality.

Five local community groups were shortlisted and given the opportunity to bid for a stake in North Star Housing Group’s USay! grants fund. Applicants who took part included a youth group from Teesdale; a family support service from Cockfield and Evenwood; a community gardening project from Teesside; a recovery support project from Middlesbrough; and a charity that works with and supports disadvantaged young people from Hartlepool, through the creative arts and media. Each of the groups was hoping to receive a grant of up to £1000 for their project.

Residents from the local area were given the power to become one of the Dragons’ Den Dragons for the day, deciding which of the projects they wanted to see receive funding.

Lawrie Duffy and Stacey Hackett who set up Middlesbrough-based recovery support group, RECIPE, were delighted to receive £1000 for their project. They said: “We are really pleased and so very grateful that the project has been awarded funding. The team at RECIPE, which includes our dedicated volunteers, works tirelessly to help, support and empower people to achieve and sustain their own recovery goals. The funding is vital to make sure we can continue helping people who need our support.”

Since 2011, North Star Housing Group, parent company of Endeavour and Teesdale Housing Associations, has awarded over £147,000 in grant funding to help local community projects like RECIPE. The USay! fund is part of the programme and is made available annually to applicants from initiatives that help the local community to thrive and become more resilient, and make a real difference to the areas they live in.

The recent event in Middlesbrough was attended by 140 tenants and staff from Endeavour and Teesdale, with guest speakers to discuss the impact of welfare reform, fuel poverty and reducing household debt, as well as providing information on local Community Investment programmes.

North Star’s community investment funds are having an immediate and visible impact, helping a wide range of community projects across the region.

Community and voluntary groups who would like to apply for funding or would like further information about North Star USay! fund or the Community Strengthening Grant Fund, can contact Peter Locke on 01642 796 217 or email Peter.Locke@northstarhg.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by North Star Housing Group .