Believe housing reaches milestone in community grants
Believe Housing has been awarding the funds since 2017, benefiting not-for-profit organisations across County Durham.
The grants, ranging from £500 to £30,000, have supported more than 700 initiatives.
The initiatives address various social issues, including the cost-of-living crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Louise Taylor, executive director of governance and strategy at believe housing, said: “Like many organisations, we have faced financial pressures, but we’ve remained committed to providing grants that help our customers and communities.
“Passing the £1m milestone is a proud occasion for us, as we know the impact these grants have, whether funding a small local initiative or supporting a larger-scale project.
“Over the years, we’ve got smarter and worked hard to understand the needs of our communities, empowering organisations to deliver the right services for local people.”
The millionth pound was awarded to Howden-le-Wear Village Friends.
The group focuses on reducing social isolation among elderly residents in the Howden-le-Wear and Crook area.
It received £6,893 to fund a men’s supper club and the connect group for bereaved women.
Ms Taylor, Rachel Edmunds, corporate social responsibility manager, and Beau Mason, community investment coordinator, visited the group to celebrate the milestone.
Ms Edmunds said: “We’ve supported the launch of new projects and helped to sustain valued services, from youth and sports clubs to debt advice and mental health support.
“In 2023-24 alone, we awarded £268,397, which helped organisations secure £118,124 of match funding for projects with a social value exceeding £5m.
“The true impact is always most evident when we visit groups or receive feedback on how these projects have helped people, and we look forward to continuing to work with partners and communities to build on this.”
Jackie Gent, who helps run the group, said: “We are very proud of the way Howden-le-Wear Village Friends has expanded over the last four years, and we are humbled by the lovely feedback we’ve received from our members.
“The funding from Believe Housing has been invaluable as it’s allowed us to develop exciting and supportive activities for our two new ventures.
“Thank you, Believe Housing, we couldn’t have done it without you.”
The community funding scheme has adapted over time to address different social issues, from tackling inequalities resulting from the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis to celebrating the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.