Latest News
April 2011
Charities across the North East and Cumbria celebrate Northern Rock Foundation’s latest round of awards
Performers from Headway Arts in Blyth are celebrating an award of £58,858. The group specialises in using drama and the creative arts to work with young people with disabilities and adults with learning disabilities.
Seven Stars Learning Disabled Theatre was established in 1997. It currently has ten members who meet four days each week to perform and to write scripts. It works with 300 people with learning disabilities each year through performances and workshops.
Frances Castle who runs Headway Arts said, “By supporting the Seven Stars Theatre Group the Northern Rock Foundation has been instrumental in changing people's lives for the better, giving us the opportunity to provide social, physical and creative opportunities through drama, opportunities from which learning disabled people are often excluded. Without this grant Headway Arts would not be able to support this group who provide inspiration to others, both disabled and non-disabled."
This together with the two other projects featured below are 3 of 21 awards, totalling over £1.3 million made by the Northern Rock Foundation in its latest round of grant making, part of the £8 million programme for 2011 which was recently announced.
Another group to benefit are Hartlepool Carers, who provide practical help and support to over a thousand carers across the Borough. The Foundation has made a grant of £101,250 over three years to help the project’s volunteer programme. 115 volunteers have signed up to give their time to support carers and vulnerable older people.
Claire Jewson the Volunteer Coordinator at Hartlepool Carers said, “This service makes a difference to all the people who use our volunteer services, some of the most isolated people in our society. I know people have been very worried lately with the press reports of cuts happening that they would lose the service. So this funding will provide reassurance to people receiving our service that we and it will be here for the next few years as a source of help and support to both them and our valuable volunteers who also get a lot out of the project themselves.”
An award of £150,000 over three years will help Moving On a charity based in Durham City to help homeless young people across County Durham. Moving On aims to break the cycle of youth homelessness in County Durham and provides services across the county. These include the provision of housing advice and pre-tenancy support, a young people’s group called MO’s Army, floating support to tenants and a life skills programme.
Moving On Project Manager Karen Bilton said, “We are delighted to receive this grant which will help young people aged 16-25 who are experiencing homelessness or housing issues to access the support they need to enable them to find permanent and sustainable accommodation.”
. A full list of all the grants made is included with this release.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
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 15 based in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The Foundation is the largest independent grant maker in the region and is amongst the top 50 trust and foundation grant-makers nationally in terms of grant spend.
The Foundation was established when Northern Rock demutualised in 1997. Up to December 2007, Northern Rock gave 5% of its annual pre-tax profits to the Foundation.
The Foundation received £15 million per year in 2008, 2009 and 2010 as part of the arrangement under which the former Northern Rock business was taken into temporary public ownership.
In January 2010, the former Northern Rock business was separated into two companies:
- Northern Rock plc - a new mortgage and savings bank
- Northern Rock (Asset Management) plc (NRAM). NRAM became part of UK Asset Resolution (UKAR) in October 2010
From January 2011 Northern Rock plc has agreed to donate 1% of pre-tax profits to the Foundation under a two year agreement to be reviewed annually.
For further information contact Hilary Florek 0191 285 7100 or 07831 552624 hilary@hilaryflorekpr.co.uk
List of awards
Name |
Grant Amount £ |
Term (Years) |
South Tyneside Council for Voluntary Service |
85,000 |
3 |
West Cumbria Domestic Violence Support |
70,000 |
3 |
Sunderland Counselling Services |
75,000 |
3 |
Moving On ( Durham) Ltd |
150,000 |
4 |
Durham University – Centre for Social Justice and Community Action |
108,181 |
2 |
ADDvance |
45,000 |
3 |
Hartlepool Carers |
101,250 |
3 |
Headstrong Productions T/A (Headway Arts) |
58,858 |
3 |
Redcar & Cleveland Mind |
107,533 |
3 |
Blue Sky Trust |
52,865 |
3 |
Reaching Out |
20,000 |
3 |
Riverside Community Health |
44,247 |
1 |
SPARC |
25,000 |
3 |
Trinity Youth Association |
70,942 |
2 |
Tow Law Community Association |
30,000 |
3 |
Helix Arts |
70,000 |
2 |
Longbenton Youth Project |
71,522 |
2 |
Petteril Bank Youth Project |
30,000 |
3 |
Streetwise |
48,700 |
2 |
The Cyrenians |
40,000 |
1 |
Escape Family Support |
40,000 |
1 |
TOTAL |
£1,344,098 |
|