funding available for community projects in County Durham

Grants from believe housing are enabling people to cook hearty meals, use community laundry facilities, and get together with new friends. 

These are just some of the community projects to recently receive funding from the housing association, which is urging not-for-profit organisations to apply to its 2023-24 Community Investment programme as soon as possible. 

After receiving a £500 community grant, The Well community café in West Auckland launched a new project offering recipe bags on a “pay what you can afford” basis. 

Project manager, Andy Mitchell, said: “We’ve offered recipe bags for years, using ingredients with a long shelf life such as tinned food, but wanted to offer something more substantial with meat and fresh fruit and veg. 

“The £500 from believe housing meant we could do that, so people can get one bag of ingredients to make a hearty, nutritious meal like casserole for up to four people and we only ask them to pay what they can afford.” 

The Wider World Project received £1,000 for a range of activities in the Belmont and Carville area of Durham, promoting wellbeing and reducing isolation particularly for older people. 

Over the festive period, the group gave gifts to local older people, hosted a community get together, and shared wellbeing messages with local people and businesses and is planning more community activities in the coming months. 

And The House of Hope, in Thornley, used a £500 grant to buy a washing machine and dryer for its new Scrub-a-dub-dub community laundrette.  

People struggling to do their laundry at home can call 07478 942 140 or email thelittlehouseofhope@gmail.com to arrange a convenient and private appointment to use the facility for free. 

Damian Pearson said: “We still have funding available to support more brilliant projects like these, which are strengthening communities and improving lives. 

“If you’re involved with an organisation that could benefit from £500 or £1,000 to start or sustain a group or project please get in touch, we can support you with the application process and could award funds before the end of the financial year.” 

To be eligible, projects must be delivered in areas where believe housing has homes – in central, east or south-west County Durham – and meet at least one of the following themes:  

• Health and wellbeing 
• Employability and training 
• Increasing household income 
• A greener, fairer future 
• Tackling inequalities as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. 

The housing association’s Bridging the Gap grants are specifically aimed at initiatives addressing the cost-of-living crisis, such as money and energy saving advice, clothing and foodbanks, food provision, community appliances, or improving digital access.  

For more information on community funding available from believe housing, and how to apply, visit www.believehousing.co.uk/community-funding