Northern Rock Foundation

Hundreds of older people live happier, healthier lives thanks to a pioneering project in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne, which has been funded by the Northern Rock Foundation every year, since it was set up 10 years ago.

The Greater Walker Community Trust has received another boost this year with a grant of £ 60,000 for the project, announced in the latest round of grants which have just been announced by the Northern Rock Foundation.

Jen Brumwell, from the Greater Walker Community Trust said ?I don?t think we would have survived without the Northern Rock Foundation. This project has been a lifeline for thousands of older people over the last 10 years.”

?People can become increasingly isolated as they get older, finding it difficult to leave home due to illness or a lack of confidence. Projects like this help people to get out of their homes enabling them to keep active, assisting them to maintain and develop friendships and helping them to continue to enjoy life.?

The Trust is based In Monkchester Community Centre and it runs a range of activities including a lunch club, arts and crafts , entertainment evenings and supported holidays as well as hairdressing services and advice on problems like benefit issues and housing advice.

Northern Rock Foundation has awarded almost £2 million to projects across the North East and Cumbria in the latest grants round which take place every 3 months.

Commenting on the awards, the Foundation?s Chief Executive Penny Wilkinson said ?I am delighted to announce our latest round of grants. We have always supported those organisations in the North East and Cumbria who work with the most disadvantaged, whether they are young homeless people struggling to find somewhere safe to live or older people who are finding it difficult to make ends meet.”

?In our support of organisations such as the Greater Walker Community Trust we recognise the huge value of the work they do in communities. Older peoples project are one of our priorities and over the last 12 years we have provided £8 million in grants to help older people.”

?As an organisation we believe we are unique in the way we both understand and work with organisations in the charity and voluntary sector.?

Other grants made include £174,000 to Hartlepool Citizens Advice to provide help and advice for homeless people to find and maintain a home and £93,000 to Hartlepool MIND to help with core costs for a project which supports people with mental health issues ? a problem which can affect as many as 1 in 4 adults at any one time.

In Sunderland over £50,000 has gone to help Southwick Neighbourhood Youth Project and in Durham , Centrepoint, a project for homeless people has received almost £100,000 to set up Lifewise, a series of life skills courses to help 16-25 year olds handle issues such managing debt, sexual health and cooking and nutrition.

Ends

Northern Rock Foundation is a charity and company limited by guarantee with an independent Board of Trustees that makes all decisions on governance, finance and policy. The Foundation aims to tackle disadvantage and improve quality of life in North East England and Cumbria. The Foundation?s work is delivered by a professional staff team of 14 based in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The Foundation was established when Northern Rock demutualised in 1997. Up to December 2007, the bank gave, by covenant, 5% of its annual pre-tax profits to the Foundation, totalling more than £190 million. The Foundation will receive £15 m in 2010 from Northern Rock, as part of the arrangement under which the bank was taken into temporary public ownership. Maintaining this arrangement is a condition of any sale of the bank in that period. The Government has asked the bank?s board to identify a viable long-term future for the Foundation.

Full list of funding approved in March 2010 (contact details for funded organisations are available from the Foundation on request).