Mayor Kim McGuinness is investing £1m in creating opportunities for people living in some of our most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
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.
Round two of the fund launched on 3 June 2025 and will invest £225,000 in supporting community-led places and spaces that meet people’s basic day-to-day needs whilst also helping to create opportunity, improve skills, digital access and health outcomes, and reduce child poverty.
Grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 are available for organisations rooted in or supporting residents in priority neighbourhoods as identified by the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON). Mayor Kim McGuinness is one of eight commissioners overseeing the work of ICON.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said “This 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. We’re backing the kind of grassroots work that really changes lives by meeting local needs, revitalising villages, town centres and high streets and restoring pride in place. If you’re building opportunity in your community, I want to hear from you.”
The Mayor’s Opportunity Fund is delivered in partnership with Community Foundation North East and Point North.
Applicants based in Tyne & Wear and Northumberland should apply through Community Foundation North East https://www.communityfoundation.org.uk/grants/the-mayors-opportunity-fund/
Applicants based in County Durham should apply through Point North https://pointnorth.org.uk/grants/mayors-opportunity-fund-round-2/
The second round will close for applications on Monday 7 July at midnight.
Round One Grantees
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.”
Full list of round one grantees
- Alnwick Young People’s Group
- Barn at Easington
- Building Self Belief
- Bullion Community Centre
- Comfrey Project
- Easington Lane Community Access Point
- Fenham Association
- Ferryhill Residents Association
- Focus Easington
- Friends of the drop in (FODI)
- Full Circle Food Project
- International Community Organisation of Sunderland (ICOS)
- Jewish Council
- Kids Cabin
- Millin Charity
- NE diversity
- New Hope
- Northbourne Street
- Out NE
- Patchwork Project
- RT Community Project
- Sangini
- Seaham Youth Centre
- Sunderland Samba FC
- Sunniside Community Association
- Tyneside Women's Health
- Unfolding Theatre
- Welcome to Badminton
- West End Refugee Service
- West End Women and Girls
- Whitely Bay Big Local
- Workyticket
- Young Asian Voices