Newton Aycliffe Youth Football Club were one of the fortunate grant recipients who took County Durham Community Foundation’s grant making to the £5 million milestone.
They were awarded £4,000 for their ‘winter training’ project. The project was to provide a suitable and safe facility to continue training and coaching throughout the Winter months for their 22 teams.
The football club, which was established in 1989, now has over 280 players who attend regular weekday sessions, as they continue to grow and thrive as parents realise that their children’s health and wellbeing is of prime importance in a world of fast food and the internet.
Bernard Borsberry secretary from Newton Aycliffe Football Club said “We are so grateful to the Community Foundation for providing us a grant. Prior to obtaining the funding, the club used to use outdoor football pitches. This meant that many sessions were cancelled as the pitches were unplayable as the winter weather set in. We can now provide suitable indoor and outdoor facilities without any increase in weekly subscriptions.
That was critical for us as we wanted to keep the sessions accessible to everyone. The new indoor facilities will also help us attract new children who otherwise may just remain in the house after school.”
Since the Community Foundation was established in 1995 it has given out over £38 million worth of grants to individuals and organisations with a record breaking year in 2017 that saw over £5 million awarded to local groups and individuals.
Community Foundation grants have supported a wide range of groups over the past 22 years, helping local communities create opportunities for all and tackling issues of disadvantage and exclusion. The Community Foundation manages grant funds set up by local people, individuals and businesses, who donate to make a real difference to the lives of others in their area.
The Community Foundation is always keen to work with new donors. You may already be a generous supporter of charities but are looking to find ways to give closer to home. Or your business may support the local community already through corporate fund-raising activities, but some help in managing your giving in a more structured way would be helpful.
If you or your company would like to learn more about supporting your local community, individuals, community groups and charities, please contact the Community Foundation at info@cdcf.org.uk or call 0191 3786340.
