Member Article

Arqiva unveils on-going support for schemes to benefit communities in County Durham and Teesside

Arqiva, the company which operates the Bilsdale TV Mast, has unveiled its on-going support for schemes that benefit communities in the County Durham and Teesside areas.

It has announced that it has donated £5,000 each to Wheatley Hill Community Centre and the Cornerstone charity as it extends its help for homeless people in the Hartlepool area.

County Durham Community Foundation introduced the organisations to Arqiva with the money directed via the Funding Network, which links potential donors to charitable causes.

Since August’s TV mast fire, Arqiva has forged a strong relationship with the County Durham Community Foundation.

This has involved it donating £50,000 to the Foundation to help it identify and support vulnerable people affected by the loss of their TV services and to assist work on digital inclusion and social isolation. Arqiva will work with the Foundation to build on its work in the local community.

Paul Donovan, director of Arqiva, said: “A big lesson for us is around digital exclusion and, I think, we probably will want to focus that remaining money to help to close that gap as we have seen the problem exposed when free air-to-tv and radio services were disrupted because of the fire at Bilsdale.”

Wheatley Hill Community Centre is using the money for its meals on wheels service.

Michelle Cooper, County Durham Community Foundation chief executive, said the community centre supported a deprived area with ‘pride and passion’.

She added: “The funding through the Funding Network is supporting them to keep this operation going and bring in someone who they actually pay to drive and can rely on to help them deliver the much-needed community support. It’s not just about food it’s about the connection with an individual.”

Cornerstone’s current core activity is in County Durham – with the help of the Arqiva donation it is expanding its services into Hartlepool.

Michelle Cooper said the plan was to help people they may find on the street and treat them with dignity and provide a safe space for them.

Paul Donovan added: “It’s good we, as an organisation, can go beyond just issuing an apology for what happened to doing something which is a practical benefit in the region, and I know that all the people in Arqiva are really very proud of that.”

He added: “Thanks to all at the County Durham Community Foundation for your support, your energy and your direction. We are truly grateful.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by News Gathering .