Northern Rock Foundation

Supporting the work of volunteers, encouraging partnerships between business and charities, and helping voluntary organisations to find new and innovative ways to provide services are just a sample of the 147 projects funded by the Northern Rock Foundation in 2010 and reported in the 2010 Annual Review which has just been published.

Charities small and large benefitted from a total of £11.95 million, including Gateshead charity Your Voice Counts which supports people with learning disabilities, and Newcastle based Cyrenians which works with homeless people.

Over half of all grants made were to keep the core work of charities going – funding day to day staff and running costs helping charities like Waddington Street Centre in Durham which works with people with mental health problems and Eva Womens’ Aid in Redcar which supports victims of domestic abuse. Northern Rock Foundation is one of the few funders that is willing to give grants for these types of on-going costs and demonstrates what’s special about the Foundation’s work and how important its support is for charities in the region.

75% of charities that received a grant this year had also been funded by the Foundation before, often over many years, underlining further how the Foundation’s grants underpin many charities income.

Chairman Alastair Balls said ‘Northern Rock Foundation is an exemplar of what can be achieved through sustained and generous corporate philanthropy. Recently the government’s intention to proceed with a sale of Northern Rock plc, our corporate funder, was announced. We hope that the long-term future of Northern Rock Foundation will not be at risk as a result of this process and instead that the work of the Foundation, tackling disadvantage and supporting civil society, can be ensured.’

Recently released results of an independent survey of 350 of the Foundation’s grantholders carried out in 2010 emphasise how much charities value the Foundation’s work. Penny Wilkinson Chief Executive said ‘Our grantholders told us that the service we offer as a charitable foundation is outstanding, but most importantly they emphasised that Northern Rock Foundation makes a real difference in communities across our region.’

In 2011 the Foundation plans to give out £8 million in grants. Penny Wilkinson added ‘We remain committed to supporting quality provision for vulnerable people and to helping the voluntary and community sector to look ahead and respond to changing times in innovative and enterprising ways.’

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For further information contact Hilary Florek 0191 285 7100 or 07831 552624 hilary@hilaryflorekpr.co.uk