We provide grants to local charities and community groups across the North East, Cumbria and North Yorkshire through the Newcastle Building Society Community Fund.
We are continuing to focus on key issues in our communities that have been raised in the Vital Signs report such as employability, food poverty, debt management, homelessness and the environment.
Find out more about Vital Signs, visit the Community Foundation website.
In January 2026 14 charities were awarded £85,738 through the Newcastle Building Society Community Fund.
Here’s more about the most recent grant recipients and the amazing work they do:
Grant awarded - £10,000
The charity supports young people with disabilities through 1 to 1 training, skills development, volunteering, and placements. Helping provide employability support to its members.
The grant will be used towards project costs for the work placement in Gateshead.
Find out more at https://skills4work.org
Grant awarded - £10,000
The Initiative runs clubs, groups, holiday activities, and youth projects for young people in Hexham and the surrounding area.
The grant will be used towards costs to run weekly term time employability and skills development sessions with young people in Hexham, Northumberland.
Find out more at https://www.hexhamyi.org.uk/.
Grant awarded - £19,900
The project works to break the cycle of reoffending by providing people with criminal records the skills, support, and opportunities they need to build positive futures.
The grant will be used to for project costs for a Self-Employment Incubator, providing certified training, mentoring and business start-up support to ex-offenders in North East England.
Find out more at https://oswinproject.org.uk/
Grant awarded - £5,000
The charity focuses on improving the wellbeing of young people in need and supporting them to build their self belief.
The grant will be used towards delivering a North Shields Children's Youth Employability & Financial Literacy Programme in North Tyneside in 2026.
Find out more at https://www.buildingselfbelief.org/
Grant awarded - £5,000
Claro provides practical help through training and personal development to improve people’s quality of life, confidence, independence and self esteem.
The charity will use the grant for core costs of employability support for individuals in Harrogate experiencing mental health difficulties.
Find out more at https://www.claroenterprises.co.uk/
Grant awarded - £5,000
The grant will be used to enable visually impaired people living in Northumberland to breakdown the barriers that prelude them from the pathway of volunteering.
Grant awarded - £2,300
The Trust manages the Sunderland Empire theatre with the goal of offering community engagement through workshops and outreach programmes to provide inclusive training and mentorship.
The grant will be used to improve access to high quality theatre careers education for a local secondary school in Sunderland.
Find out more at https://sunderlandempiretrust.org/
Grant awarded - £4,920
The charity provides inclusive spaces across Alnwick and North Northumberland for youth work, family support, and community development.
The grant will be used towards supporting six, family friendly biodiversity days in Alnwick, Northumberland.
Find out more at https://communityatne66.co.uk/
Grant awarded - £4,976
The charity provides youth provision for 6 to 18 year olds in several villages around Durham. Providing a fun, engaging, and safe environment for young people to develop confidence, resilience and social skills.
The grant will be used towards running weekly cooking sessions for young people in Durham.
Find out more at https://www.durhamareayouth.org.uk/
Grant awarded - £3,218
The grant will be used to purchase equipment and food to help address food poverty in Willington, County Durham.
Grant awarded - £1,010
The Church has created a warm hub space for up to 30 people, providing inclusive activities and refreshments.
The grant will be used towards core costs for the Warm Welcome project in Wooler, Northumberland
Grant awarded - £5,000
The Association supports the community to tackle social isolation, building skills and confidence, and improve the quality of life in the area.
The grant will be used towards supporting older and vulnerable people in the community over the winter period in Fenham, Newcastle.
Find out more at https://www.farcentre.org.uk/
Grant awarded - £5,000
The charity works with young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. They empower young people by giving them the knowledge, support, and confidence they need so that they can live independently.
The grant will be used to support for young adults in Cumbria experiencing housing insecurity.
Find out more at https://www.carlislekey.co.uk/
Grant awarded - £4,414
Working out of their hub in Walker, the charity’s mission is to provide the opportunities, resources and support so that their community and its young people can belong, contribute and thrive.
The grant will be used towards products and advice for care experienced young people newly moving into supported housing.
Find out more at https://ymcanewcastle.com/
