THREE charities have been handed an early Christmas present thanks to the spending power of North East shoppers.
Home-Start Seaham, Butterwick Hospice Care Bishop Auckland and St Margaret’s Centre in Durham each received £6,000 from the Durham Shopping Extravaganza.
Held at Ramside Hall Hotel over two days in October, the 27th Durham Shopping Extravaganza raised a total of £20,000. The remaining £2,000 will be given as smaller donations to other local organisations.
Co-chair of the DSE Nicky Swan said: “Our thanks go to our shoppers and our sponsors – Brewin Dolphin, BHP Law, Sherwoods, Lycetts and GSC Grays, – without whose support we couldn’t have raised this fabulous amount, and to the many man-hours put in behind the scenes throughout the year by our very dedicated committee members.
“Our biggest thanks, though, go to the charities who do incredible work in our communities and provide an amazing service to people in need.”
Home-Start has been running for ten years and currently supports 232 vulnerable families with young children.
Manager Jane Burlington said: “This donation is a Godsend and we can really do some good with it. It might be buying a Christmas tree and some presents for a family that has none, new winter clothing and shoes for children or putting money on an electric card or gas key, things that are not seen but make a huge difference.”
Rob Chatwin, manager of St Margaret’s Centre, said the donation would go towards an interactive whiteboard and a new recruit to deliver healthcare training at the centre, which provides activities and courses for adults with mental health issues and professionals working with them.
Helen Kirby, fundraiser at Butterwick Hospice, said their £6,000 would go towards patient services in the Bishop Auckland area.
“It’s brilliant,” she said. “We were able to have a stall selling cards and calendars at the DSE but it’s so helpful to be nominated for a donation like this, which will go a long way.”
John Pratt, managing partner of BHP Law and a long standing sponsor of the DSE, said: “The hard work is done by the ladies of the DSE committee, who every year organise a bigger and better event. We are delighted to support them in raising this fantastic amount for some very worthy causes.”
The Durham Shopping Extravaganza has now raised a total of more than £400,000. This year’s event attracted 1,300 people and more than 70 stallholders, who donated ten per cent of their takings to the final total.
Next year’s DSE is on October 5 and 6, with, for the first time, late-night opening on the first day.
