• Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

North East Connected

Hopping Across The North East From Hub To Hub

Building society gives time and expertise to community hub

Please Credit Picture:Keith Taylor

Darlington Building Society in Bishop Auckland has affirmed its community links after forging a relationship with a local community hub.

Building Society team members Karen Collingwood and Graham Walker spent a day at the Woodhouse Close Church and Community Centre volunteering their expertise at its credit union and their time to feed around 100 people at the busy lunch club.

They also presented a cheque for £137, which will go towards the running costs of the Proudfoot Drive facility, which offers support to the people of Bishop Auckland and the surrounding areas in many forms, including a food bank, lunch club, meals on wheels, thrift shop and Credit Union. It also runs its own furniture scheme to provide household items to people who otherwise would be unable to afford them.

Karen Collingwood, Branch Manager at the Bishop Auckland branch of Darlington Building Society, said: “It was very interesting spending the day at Woodhouse Close Church and Community Centre. It’s amazing to see how many projects, clubs and schemes it runs.

“The range of activities and services on offer, and the number of people who use it, testifies to the fact that it really is a vital community asset for people who live locally.”

John Wiseman, Woodhouse Close Church Community Centre Coordinator, said: “We really appreciate the ongoing support from Darlington Building Society.

“More than 500 people use our facilities each week, including the 100-plus people who benefit from our lunch club and meals on wheels services. We’re an important source of support to people who are struggling financially, and those who are combatting isolation and loneliness.

“As a small charity, we have to raise all money we need ourselves, so it means a lot to us to know we have the backing of a local organisation that is so community focussed.”

By admin