The head of a Morpeth young people’s charity is set to officially reopen Newcastle Building Society’s upgraded branch in the town.
The Society has created an enhanced, open plan branch in Morpeth’s Market Square as part of a continuing multi-million pound investment programme across the whole of its branch network.
Hayley Brown of Barnabas Safe & Sound will cut the ribbon at a special event at the branch on Thursday 6 June in front of dozens of invited customers and guests.
Based at the Stobhill Youth & Community Centre, Barnabas Safe & Sound has been providing supported accommodation to vulnerable young people since 2001, and aims to prevent youth homelessness and promote independence in Northumberland.
It works with local young people aged between 16 and 25 who are at risk of, or are experiencing housing crisis, and support around 100 young people every year.
Barnabas Safe & Sound has previously received funding from Newcastle Building Society in support of its work, with a recent £2,000 grant paying for technology and software to be installed within its media suite that can be used to help service users learn new computing skills and complete homework assignments.
The upgraded Morpeth branch provides customers with better access to services, information and advice, as well as additional space for transactions, while a community space offers a free location in which local people, groups and good causes can hold meetings and events.
The reopening event, which starts at 11am, will also feature singers from the Music in Care Charity and a hamper give away, while plants and refreshments will be given out to customers.
Andy Rose, manager at Newcastle Building Society’s Morpeth branch, says: “While many financial institutions are closing branches across the North East, the investment that’s been made in this and other branches clearly demonstrates that the Society is here to stay and grow on the region’s High Streets.
“We’ve had a great reaction to the new branch since we reopened a few weeks ago, and hope that as many people as possible will come along to our official reopening event to take a look for themselves at what we’ve done.
“Our support for Barnabas forms part of our commitment to supporting our local communities in which we’re based, and we’re extremely pleased to have Hayley carrying out the official opening honours for us.”
TRANSFORMING OUR BRANCH NETWORK AND INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES
| Working on | Completions | Investment |
| 11 new branches remaining | 17 completed | More than £3m so far and a further £3m to come |