Regional Charity supports local organisations

The Hospital of God at Greatham has a long and proud philanthropic history of working with vulnerable people living in the North-East of England. Next year, the Charity will celebrate its 750th anniversary.

The Charity runs an annual small grants programme which provides funding to local community-based organisations. The aim of the funding is to empower local communities to help and support themselves creating and building on their strengths and assets, with a particular focus on those who are experiencing disadvantage. The grants programme also supports smaller and emerging local based groups with core and activity funding.

The Trustee’s Grants Committee has recently allocated over £100,000 of funding to 39 voluntary and community sector organisations. The organisations are based with the Hospital of God’s geographical area of focus which covers Stockton to Northumberland. Some of the organisations that received funding include:

• A Way Out Limited – a Charity which supports vulnerable women, young people and families in Teesside.
• Sunderland Community Transport CIO – an organisation which aims to reduce social isolation, encourage participation and build healthier communities by providing affordable, safe transport for voluntary and not-for-profit community groups.
• Black Ethnic Skills & Training Initiatives – a Charity which provides support to BME and refugees in the Newcastle area, promoting community cohesion and providing skills and training initiatives.
• Five Lamps – A Charity delivering services to socially, economically and financially excluded customers.
• Heaton Churches Together - a registered Charity of 9 churches working together to support each other in our faith lives and to be of service to our local community.

The Charity also supported Kids Kabin, who run creative workshops to enable children and young people to learn new skills, meet new people and benefit their own communities. Last year 1,300 children and young people took part in these workshops. Kids Kabin have a focus on empowering people living in low-income areas and work within neighbourhoods in Newcastle and Middlesbrough. As well as running workshops in community centres, Kids Kabin delivers innovative, accessible workshops in street settings and public spaces, removing some of the barriers created by buildings and geography.

Speaking about the grant, Chief Executive Will Benson said “Thanks to the grant from the Hospital of God, we’re now able to upskill our staff and volunteer team. Over the next year, all members of the team will take part in training on key issues and challenges facing the communities we support in Middlesbrough and Newcastle. This investment in training will enable us to better assess, target and respond to those in the greatest need.”

The Hospital of God also has a specific element to their grants programme which is used to support voluntary and community sector organisations within Stockton-on-Tees. One of the organisations to benefit within this round of funding is Cultivate Tees Valley CIC, an environmental organisation that works in partnership to build a better world by growing food security for those living across the Tees Valley and by transforming unused urban and rural land into spaces where food is grown. Initiatives focus on combating isolation and improving mental health by connecting people through food and environmental initiatives.

Margaret Bousfield, Chair of the Grants Committee said “The Hospital of God’s long established grants programme continues to support a wide range of voluntary and community sector organisations. I am delighted that through our grants programme, our Charity can support other organisations to make a positive social impact and it is wonderful to see the difference our grants make.”

The Hospital of Grants Committee consider applications on an annual basis and the next round of funding opens December 2022.

Established in 1273 by Bishop Robert de Stichell, the Hospital of God employs over 100 staff and its portfolio of services span:

• Residential care at Stichell House a 35-bed purpose-built facility set in the landscaped grounds of the Greatham estate;
• Community day services for people living with dementia or memory issues and their carers in East Durham and Hartlepool;
• The Bridge; a one stop dementia care and advice hub service;
• Community pastimes; a one-to-one service supporting people living with dementia or facing social isolation to be as independent as possible;
• Almshouses in Greatham, Norton and Stockton-on-Tees, enabling elderly people to live independently;
• The Charity owns 120 private properties and facilities which it leases on a commercial basis; and
• A grants programme which provides grant funding to local organisations to make a positive social impact.

Photograph shows young people participating in activities at Kidz Kabin.