Durham - Just an hour challenges 2006
March – Pity Me Nature Reserve
The estates team took part in a project to tidy up a local nature reserve with volunteers from Durham County Council. 45 hours donated.
March/April - St Charles RCVA Primary School in Spennymoor, County Durham
Pupils from the school carried out a survey which shows bullying mostly happens in the playground. Twenty enterprising students, aged 11 and called ‘buddies’, designed an ‘anti-bullying garden’ for victims to escape to for advice, friendship and safety. Enthusiastic volunteers spent hours doing back-breaking work involving clearing, digging, levelling, building, painting and planting to create the garden, which is 30 metres long and 14 metres wide. 133 hours donated.
May - Ecorangers
Volunteers took part in the Ecorangers event at Herrington Country Park at Penshaw. They presented a short pre prepared quiz to groups of pupils about why water is precious. 30 hours donated.
June – Valley Road Community Primary School, Sunderland
Volunteers teamed up with other businesses through Business in the Community to create an outdoor play area for use by the the under 5’s. 15 hours donated.
July - Weardale Railway
18 volunteers helped to give the station at Stanhope a face-lift and helped with clearing the tracks before the railway is re-opened. 116 hours donated.
July - Villa Real School
Villa Real School caters for pupil aged from 2 years to 19 years all of whom have Severe or Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties or Autism. The school needed help with a number of tasks including painting a breeze block wall; cladding raised flower beds, building chicken wire cage, levelling their allotment and constructing a polytunnel, etc. 210 hours donated.
In addition to the challenge days litsed above, volunteers have given time to help with projects related to education and the community in general on an individual basis.
Grants Awarded from the Community Fund
December 06
Blind Life in Durham - funding of Curling Competition - £300
The Wednesday Cub - to fund transport for a day out - £100
South Pelaw Residents Assoc - equipment for a set up of a mother and toddler group - £300
Lilac House Residents & Tenants Assoc - purchase furniture for garden of a community house - £499
Hawswell & District Mencap Society - contribution towards games for playgroup - £540
Denehouse & Chapel Hill South Residents Assoc - hall hire - £160
Seaham Healthy Lifestyles Group - hall hire - £225
Wingate Fitness Group - hall hire - £300
August 06
Burnside Junior FC - £320
Independence 4 Disability - £200
St. John’s Ambulance - £200
May 06
Coxhoe Together, Durham City - £200
Fishburn in Bloom, Sedgefield - £300
Wheatley Hill History Club, Easington - £500
Crook Town Community Carnival, Crook - £500
February 06
Dragonfly Sensory Garden , Durham City - £500
The Young Ones, Durham City - £300
Christians Against Poverty, Darlington - £300
Teesdale Disability Access Forum,Teesdale - £300
Durham Traditional Music Festival, Durham City - £250
Grants awarded from the Environment Fund
December 06
Wheatley Hill & District Community Assoc - towards trees and benches for community garden - £1,040
Cotherstone Village Hall - towards cost of outdoor furniture and office equipment - £600
August 06
Hedley Hope Community Association - £1,000
Woodhouse Close Allotment Association - £3,000
Ouston Community Association - £1,000
The Weardale Environmental Trust - £3,000
Grange Villa Community Enterprise - £840
Chester le Street Community Association - £1,000