Two Richmondshire charities have been given a cash boost.
The Bridge at Catterick Garrison and Dementia Forward have each received a £1,000 grant thanks to Efficiency North's scheme which allows social housing landlords to channel cash into local causes. Richmondshire District Council uses Efficiency North to procure repairs and maintenance work for its housing stock.
Last year Efficiency North introduced a new Social Value policy to empower social housing landlord members to help channel the consortium’s surplus into their local communities. As a member, the district council decided to invest the £2000 allocated to them into two community projects.
Council Leader, Councillor Angie Dale (pictured centre) said: "Both of these charities fit with our work to support local people – especially through the pandemic. The charities have both worked tirelessly through this difficult time to provide a service to people most in need, so to be able to give them something back from our role as social housing landlords is a very rewarding.”
The Bridge provides valuable, day-to-day help to members of the community in Richmond, Catterick and the surrounding villages - with a focus on health and wellbeing, helping them to live independent and active lives. It is also one of the four covid19 Community Support Organisations in the district.
Jacqueline Brakenberry, Chief Officer at The Bridge (pictured right), commented: "This grant is a massive boost at a time when services are stretched. We plan to re-open soon with the new restrictions, which means our door to door accessible minibus service will only be able to pick up three or four people at a time, so we will have to make more runs. This money will help keep that going.”
Dementia Forward’s Richmond group, provides support and information to anybody affected by dementia with a comprehensive range of services aimed at people living with dementia.
Jill Quinn, CEO of Dementia Forward, (pictured left) said: “These are uncertain times in terms of funding and yet we are more needed and more busy than ever. The funds will go towards the covid adaptions we are making which include extending our helpline work and the provision of activity resources to people’s door steps.”
Lee Parkinson, Chief Executive of Efficiency North added: “Efficiency North is proud to support voluntary sector organisations such as The Bridge and Dementia Forward which are providing essential services to support the most vulnerable people in society. The exemplary work they do to support communities in the Richmondshire district is even more vital at this time.”
