NORTHUMBERLAND charities could get more than they bargained for at Manor Walks this summer as the county’s largest shopping and leisure destination launched its third annual community bursary scheme this week.
Manor Walks Shopping and Leisure is once again offering UK registered charities operating in Northumberland the opportunity to nominate themselves for the chance to receive substantial funding from the annual Hammerson Local Community Bursary.
The scheme, which is funded by Hammerson and supports charities undertaking vital work in the communities that the company operates in, will award a £5,000 grant to one Northumberland-based charity.
All UK registered charities working across Northumberland with a focus on health and well-being, young people, skills and employment or regeneration can be nominated.
The launch of this year’s bursary scheme forms part of Manor Walks’ ongoing commitment to supporting local communities across Northumberland. It follows the centre’s recent search to identify one local organisation to benefit from its first Community Day, which will see the Manor Walks team donate a day’s worth of their time on Friday 05 June 2015 to deliver on-the-ground support.
Bruno Coppola, general manager at Manor Walks Shopping and Leisure, said: “Supporting our surrounding communities is extremely important to us and our annual Local Community Bursary scheme and the newly introduced Community Day are just some of the initiatives we have in place which enables us to give back.
“Every year we work closely with our bursary beneficiary to provide essential funding that will make a genuine difference to their work and to the communities which it supports.
“We are proud to be once again launching our Local Community Bursary scheme, which is funded by Hammerson, and I’d urge all registered charities working in Northumberland to submit their application to us as soon as possible.”
Charities have until 5pm on Tuesday 30 June 2015 to return their completed application form to Manor Walks’ Centre Management. Application forms can either be collected in person from the Manor Walks Centre Management Suite or by emailing info@manorwalks.co.uk.
Manor Walks’ 2014 beneficiary, St Oswald’s Hospice, which provides palliative care for adults, young people and children across the North East, used its bursary to purchase specialist equipment including standing frames for children, pressure relieving chairs and mobile sensory devices.
Laura Elliott, fundraiser at St Oswald’s Hospice, said: “We were delighted to have be a beneficiary of the Hammerson Local Community Bursary. Working with Manor Walks has been such a positive experience and with their support, we have been able to reach out to the local community. Receiving bursaries such as this one is very important in helping us to raise the £7.5 million we need each year, to keep the Hospice open and available to those who need us.”
With over 100 retailers including Northumberland’s only multiplex cinema and a great range of family restaurants as well as high street favourites and independent stores, Manor Walks Shopping & Leisure in Cramlington offers a huge amount of choice to suit a range of tastes.
To keep up-to-date on Manor Walks visit www.manorwalks.co.uk, Like the official Facebook page and follow @ManorWalks on Twitter and Instagram.