Our Work

Our aims are to tackle disadvantage and improve quality of life in the North East and Cumbria. As a region we still experience levels of poverty and social disadvantage that are among some of the highest in the country. The Foundation focuses on problems that are particularly acute in our area and broader social and economic concerns where there are solutions here that we can share nationally.

We use a variety of tools to achieve our aims.

  • Grant programmes tackle certain needs and fund projects that result in particular outcomes or changes.
  • Policy work informs and influences the environment in which the activities we support take place. As a neutral body we also provide independent research and analysis, and space for organisations to learn from each other.
  • Our VCS training and development activity aims to increase the effectiveness of the voluntary sector through courses, capacity building support and investments in its infrastructure.

We intend to complete our current programmes of work in 2014. To achieve this we are now making grants on an ‘invitation to bid’ basis only,  working principally with organisations with which we have an existing relationship and which have the capacity to deliver our objectives. This will ensure we make best use of our funds to achieve the most impact for disadvantaged people.

Applications for grants are by invitation only. We regret that we are unable to accept any other requests for funding.