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 four of the fund launched on 24 June 2026 and will invest £225,000 to help directly tackle the cost of living and affordability crisis, funding local projects and advice services that will tackle our communities most pressing issues.
Grants up to £7,500 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: “Too many families are still having to make impossible choices — cutting back on essentials, worrying about bills, and wondering how far their money will stretch. That’s why I’m taking direct action. This funding is about getting help to people quickly, through the local organisations they already know and trust."
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-4/
The fourth round will close for applications on 27 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