Mayor Kim McGuinness has launched the next round of her £1m Opportunity Fund, to take place this summer.
More than 30 more community projects have already benefited from the first round of funding, aimed at projects to bring people together, tackle poverty, and create opportunity for others.
Grassroots organisations across the North East have delivered rewilding projects, community cleanups, affordable meals, art therapy, and outings for young people thanks to the fund, described as ‘a lifeline’ for the region’s most in need.
We are taking expressions of interest for the second round.
Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “The Mayor’s Opportunity Fund is about investing in the heart of our communities – the people and projects working every day to lift others up, tackle poverty, and provide real opportunity."
“So far, we’ve funded 33 brilliant organisations right across our region, from youth clubs and community meals to supporting women in recovery.
“We’re backing the kind of grassroots work that really changes lives."
“But we want to do more. My mission is to make the North East the best place in the UK to grow up, get a job, and succeed, and that starts with supporting local organisations who are already making that happen."
“If you’re building opportunity in your community, I want to hear from you.”
The first round of grants from the Mayor’s Opportunity Fund saw more than a quarter of a million pounds awarded to 33 small charities and community groups.
Funding was targeted at organisations making a real difference in disadvantaged neighbourhoods by bringing people together and encouraging opportunity and resilience.
One successful project was ‘Seaham United’, which used a grant of almost £10,000 to breathe new life into Seaham Youth and Community Centre in County Durham.
Along with paying the wages of a youth and community worker, the £9,989 awarded was used to buy a new commercial oven and for the provision of 500 hot meals at 99p for young people and old people using the centre.
“The Mayor’s Opportunity Fund has been an absolute lifeline for us,” said Seaham Youth and Community Centre Coordinator Ethan Lowerson-Marshall.
“Seaham is a town that had three pits – Seaham, Dawdon, and Vane Tempest – and in the past it would have been assumed you’d grow up to work in the mines or in the coal mining community just like your Mam and Dad."
“But those opportunities aren’t there now, so for us to be able to provide the services we do for the community, be it luncheon clubs for the older residents or the support and guidance to help set our young people on the right track, is absolutely crucial."
“We could not have continued in our work or made plans for the future without the mayor’s support.”
The first round of the Mayor’s Opportunity was delivered in partnership with Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland and Point North, which provided match funding and helped to ensure the fund reached grassroots organisations in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, County Durham and Sunderland.
Among other successful projects were Green Hands Together by Building Self Belief in Consett, County Durham, which enlisted young people to transform wasteland into a community garden, and the ‘Recover and Heal’ project at The Barn at Easington arts and nature centre, for women in recovery from addiction and abuse.
Building Self Belief CEO Christine Thomas said: “We what’ve been able to do here with the mayor’s support has made a huge difference.
“It’s allowed us to absolutely transform this land from a derelict eyesore to a flourishing community space, and to consolidate all the good hard work done so far.
“Now, people are volunteering to get involved, they’re donating plants and equipment. It’s brought everybody together.”
The Barn at Easington therapist Nicola Balfour said: “The mayor’s support for this project has allowed us to offer hope to women on their journey to recovery."
“The journey to recovery is difficult and is one which involves a lot of people, and it’s one that thanks to the Mayor’s Opportunity Fund has allowed us to play our small but much needed part.”