Addressing some of the social isolation experienced across our region as a result of the pandemic, our latest round of grants from our Community Fund has helped support Platinum Jubilee celebrations across the North East.
Take a look!
Gateway into the Community & Sunderland Bangladesh International Centre
In March 2022, we awarded grants to a variety of organisations across the region to help them celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and tackle social isolation, which increased as a result of the pandemic
Age UK, Darlington and North Yorkshire
Download our press release here.
We awarded a grant of £1,300 to fund Age UK Darlington and North Yorkshire’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration, bringing together up to 100 older people from Darlington and the surrounding area for an afternoon tea party to mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
Having identified groups of people most at risk of loneliness and social isolation, a team of volunteer drivers helped transport local older people to their planned celebration for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, with an afternoon of activities and entertainment and a special performance from the Cockerton Prize Silver Band.
“Since the start of the pandemic, loneliness and isolation has taken its toll on older people in Darlington … Our tea party celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be a fantastic opportunity to help tackle the challenge of loneliness, bringing joy back to people who may feel they have been forgotten”
Auckland Youth and Community Centre, Bishop Auckland
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A grant of £1,500 helped the team at Auckland Youth and Community Centre in Bishop Auckland host a family fun day for around 200 members of the local community, with activities including royal fancy dress and baking competitions, arts and crafts and entertainment!
Auckland Youth and Community Centre is a community hub serving people of all ages through a range of programmes, activities, learning experiences and events, with their dedicated team of trustees, staff and volunteers helping people in the region feel safe, reassured engaged and connected.
“We’re thrilled to have the backing of Newcastle Building Society as we host our upcoming family fun day. Events such as these help to foster a sense of belonging among members of our community, and we look forward to uniting people, young and old, to join in celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.”
Gateway into the Community, Hexham
Download our press release here.
Based in Hexham, Gateway into the Community offer a dedicated day service, individual support and special interest groups for those with learning disabilities in the local area, enabling access to social, leisure and learning opportunities.
Using a grant of £2,000, the team hosted a traditional British afternoon tea party, bringing together over 100 members and their families for a day of celebration with music, a royal bake-off, sporting activities and face painting to mark the Queen’s 70 year anniversary.
“Following a pause to our social activities during the pandemic, our Platinum Jubilee tea party is an opportunity to unite generations of our community that may not ordinarily get the chance to come together for a celebration to mark the Queen’s 70 years of service. Through staging our event we also hope to address the loneliness and social isolation felt throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The Sunderland Bangladesh International Centre, Sunderland
Download our press release here.
A £3,000 grant from our Community Fund helped to cover the cost of a family fun day, welcoming a diverse range of cultures from the Sunderland area, with over 200 people from BAME, refugee and asylum-seeking communities joining an afternoon of food and entertainment from around the world – including international cuisine, African drumming, henna body art, face painting and arts and crafts.
“The grant from Newcastle Building Society will have a significant impact by helping us to better engage and connect with local minority groups. Our Platinum Jubilee family fun day will bring diverse communities together to celebrate commonalities, build friendships and reduce loneliness and isolation amongst BAME individuals and communities.”
Tackling social isolation with community grants
In 2022 to combat social isolation, we awarded grants to a variety of organisations across the region to help them celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Whitley Bay Tea Dance Club, Whitley Bay
Download our press release here.
Using a £1,300 grant, the Whitley Bay Tea Dance Club put their best foot forward, welcoming a network of tea dancers from across North Tyneside for an afternoon of dance and live music to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The event helped encourage new and existing members to join the festivities, giving dancers the confidence to return to socialising with like-minded people in their local community. To mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, a new modern dance sequence – the Platinum Jubilee Waltz – was choreographed for the celebration and performed at the event.
“Gaining grant funding is a huge relief as it means that we can stage a fantastic celebration that we don’t have to charge dancers costly entry fees to attend – an expense that would make the event inaccessible for some. The Queen’s Jubilee celebration will also help to spread the word about the Whitley Bay Tea Dance Club, and we hope to encourage more dancers to join us.”
Yarm Wellness, Yarm
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With a £2,000 grant from our Community Fund, Yarm Wellness’ brought together their volunteers, community groups and local residents for Platinum Jubilee festivities at Yarm Youth and Community Centre.
With a team of 25 volunteers, the centre welcomed around 400-500 local people to their event, with an afternoon tea buffet and entertainment from local musician Tom Powell.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant from the Newcastle Building Society Community Fund which will help to support our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The event will have a huge impact on our community, bringing together the wide variety of people from groups that use our facilities, as well as local residents and businesses to showcase the breadth of activities on offer.”