Grant giving
During the financial year 2006/07, 67 small grants were awarded by the northern region employee committee totalling £37,844. For further information regarding the awards granted within your area, please see the 'In your area' section of the website.
Here are some examples of our support:
Dragonfly sensory garden
A grant of £500 was awarded to improve the Dragonfly Sensory garden at Broadgate Farm in Durham. The Dragonfly wildlife and sensory garden has been specially dedicated to people who are disabled and visually impaired providing learning experiences, discovering textures and smells from plant, metal and wood sculptors. The garden is approximately half an acre in size and has been designed to encourage wildlife, such as frogs, water voles, bats, toads, etc and is home to great crested newts which are an endangered species.
Washington Village Community Association
Washington Village Community Association was established in 1970 and is run entirely by volunteers. It runs a toddler group and play group, martial arts classes, a flower club, family discos, etc. A grant of £500 was given for the purchase of tables and chairs for adults and children.
Wearside Walkers on the road to fitness thanks to Northumbrian Water
Thanks to Northumbrian Water, a group of walkers from Sunderland are firmly on the road to fitness. Northumbrian Water awarded the Wearside Walkers a grant of £310 towards organising their monthly walks from their fund at the Community Foundation. Northumbrian Water, who is leading the water industry in promoting the health benefits of drinking enough tap water, also provided the walkers bottles of its bottled tap water, '97'.
Dorothy Tait, community relations manager at Northumbrian Water, joined the group on their first walk of 2006 from East Boldon Metro Station to Seaham and said….
"The walks are organised by Ford, Pallion and Millfield Development Project in Sunderland and take place in different locations across the region every month. The walks are open to all ages and abilities. The project is keen to encourage more people to join in so for more information contact Martin Robson on 0191 567 4477."
Pipeline fund gushes grants!
In January 2005, Northumbrian Water pledged its commitment to the communities in the Hexham and surrounding area, with the launch of its £150,000 Pipeline Fund. Water supplies to the area were cut when a torrential river Tyne flood washed away pipes crossing the river. Northumbrian Water received tremendous support from the people and agencies in the area affected and was committed to recognising that support with the creation of its Pipeline Fund.
The money was shared out for community projects throughout the area which lost supply and the fund was administered by the Community Foundation for Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
The fund has now fulfilled its objective and has awarded over £150,000 to 42 different projects in the Hexham, Allendale, Slaley and Catton areas. This funding has in turn released another £150,000 worth of match funding for two of the projects, thereby doubling the total amount available to benefit the local area.
Allendale Sports Club received a maximum grant of £10,000 from the fund towards the first phase of developing their sporting facilities. Securing this money means that a further £54,000 will be released towards the next phase of the development which will see a full size competition sports pitch, two junior pitches, a club house, changing facilities, car parking and environmental landscaping achieved. Likewise, Hexham Community Partnership’s Hexham Routeways project will realise a further £100,000 funding following their grant of £8,000 from the Northumbrian Water Pipeline fund. This will see a town-wide approach to improve the welcome for visitors and locals by presenting the local history through plaques, panels, audio tours and leaflets.
A number of other projects were also supported with large grants. Leisure Tynedale were awarded £10,000 towards new gym equipment and a new inflatable for the swimming pool, Hexham East Play Area received the final £10,000 they needed for their new fully accessible play area and Fawside in Allendale will now be able to install their rainwater recycling facility and upgrade the water supply.
Hexham Rowing Club
£5,000 was awarded to Hexham Rowing Club to purchase a double scull shell which was subsequently named Northumbrian Water.
Hexham male voice choir
£2,000 was awarded to Hexham Male Voice Choir for the purchase of a digital piano.
East End play park
The new East End play park at Dene Park, was officially opened in May 2006. The project received a contribution of £10,000 from the fund, which has made a significant contribution to the funding of the new play park.
If you would like to make an application to any of our funds, please contact the Community Foundation for your area.
Cleveland Community Foundation - www.teesvalleyfoundation.org
County Durham Foundation - www.countydurhamfoundation.co.uk
Tyne & Wear and Northumberland Community Foundation - www.communityfoundation.org.uk