Seven community groups across the north east of England will share grants totalling £210,000 as part of a funding programme from the Virgin Money Foundation.

The Community Anchors’ Fund will support a range of initiatives including working with vulnerable youngsters and tackling poverty and homelessness.

The groups to benefit from the latest round of funding are Action Foundation, Auckland Youth and Community Centres, Community Campus, Future Regeneration of Grangetown, Community Ventures, Moving on Durham and North Tyneside YMCA.

This fifth round of grants from the Fund will help organisations across the region continue to support communities impacted by Covid-19 and brings the total amount donated to community groups since the outbreak of the pandemic to more than £1 million.

Dean Titterton, Chief Executive at North Tyneside YMCA, said: 

“We’re absolutely delighted to be awarded this vital funding and support from Virgin Money Foundation to help vulnerable young people in North Tyneside via our ‘Hatch’ mental health project.

“We are all too aware that mental health issues among young people are rising dramatically. The additional pressures of the pandemic, coupled with consistent and damaging cuts to youth services over the last decade, have left many young people isolated and without essential support. Projects like YMCA North Tyneside’s Hatch provide a much-needed bridge within our society, helping to reach vulnerable young people in their time of need.”

Bill Niblo, Chairperson at Auckland Youth and Community Centres, said: 

“The money will help us to keep the doors open in these difficult times and allow us to continue to offer consistent and reliable support to local people and groups – providing warm, welcoming, safe and comfortable spaces for an ever-growing range of activities for all ages and needs.

“The past year has been a real test for us all, and I’m really proud of the way that our staff and volunteers have adapted to the changing circumstances. With the help of funders such as Virgin Money Foundation, our collective efforts will continue to help local people build resilience and move out of poverty while, more strategically, we continue to work with our wonderful partners to tackle disadvantage and strengthen community cohesion.”

Nancy Doyle-Hall, Executive Director of the Virgin Money Foundation, said: 

“The true economic and social impact of the pandemic is still not known but what we have seen is the impact it has had on local communities. Organisations and local groups have rallied and this latest round of funding through the Community Anchors programme will help these groups in their endeavours.”

The Virgin Money Foundation launched in 2015 and since then it has made over £10 million of grants to community groups throughout the UK.