community groups in south west durham could secure vital funding

Community groups struggling with rising costs can apply for a £10,000 grant to help run new or existing services and activities.

Believe housing has found that some not-for-profit organisations in its communities are struggling to pay for basics such as rent and staff because of rising costs and a lack of external funding available to help meet core funding needs. 

It has now launched a pilot project; with two Core Cost Grants of £10,000 available in the southwest of County Durham.  

Damian Pearson, Community Investment Performance Team Leader at believe housing, said: “We want our Core Costs Grants to make a real difference to organisations supporting communities and believe housing customers. 

“This funding could even mean survival for groups or projects that residents cherish and rely on so we have set a tight deadline for applications, so we can award the funding in January and give two groups a happy start to the new year.” 

To be eligible for a Core Costs Grant, groups must deliver services and activities that support communities where believe housing has homes, including its customers. 

For the pilot, these areas are Billy Row, Bishop Auckland, Coundon, Crook, Escomb, Howden Le Wear, Hunwick, Leeholme, Sunnybrook, Tindale Crescent, Stanhope, Frosterley, West Auckland, St Helen’s Auckland, Willington, and Wolsingham. 

Its projects must link to at least one of believe housing’s key themes of: 

• Tackling inequalities as a result of the rising cost of living. 

• Health and wellbeing: improving mental and physical health, as well as building the confidence of individuals. 

• Employability and training: including volunteering and other upskilling activities. 

• Increasing household income: activities including debt and benefit advice, feeding families, and employing people. 

• A greener, fairer future: by reducing, reusing, and recycling. 

And the funding must be used to help cover essential running expenses for between nine and 12 months. 

To apply, organisations should visit www.believehousing.co.uk/community-funding/ and submit an ‘expression of interest’ by Sunday, 1 December. 

Eligible groups will be sent an application form so they can submit further details before the final deadline on Sunday, 15 December.