A number of County Durham groups offering valuable volunteer services across the county are being given a financial helping hand.

Numerous voluntary groups have sprung up in the face of the coronavirus crisis.

Money available from Durham County Council’s Area Action Partnership (AAP) pot is helping to ensure that groups can keep up their good work.

Overall, the local authority has given £100,000 to each of its 14 AAPs to help community and voluntary groups across the county who have been adversely affected by the pandemic.

An additional £100,000 has also been allocated for countywide projects.

Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships at Durham County Council, Cllr Brian Stephens, said: “The response to the pandemic has been one filled with kindness and community spirit. We are so pleased to offer support for these incredible individuals and groups who are dedicating their time and energy.”

One such group benefitting from the council’s financial backing is Newton Aycliffe Play Cafe.

Thanks to funding secured through the Great Aycliffe and Middridge AAP, Newton Aycliffe Play Café have successfully continued to support families across the area during the Covid-19 pandemic

Great Aycliffe and Middridge Partnership have been allocated £100,000 to help support groups who are working hard to provide support to those most in need.

The Play Café were successful in applying and securing £2,000 to help provide the much-needed food and household essential parcels to families across Aycliffe.

Alison Firby, Play Café Trustee said: “We have seen an increase in demand for our service since the outbreak, receiving more referrals each week. The funding received will help us greatly in supporting these additional families, that find themselves in need during this difficult time.

The Play Cafe is currently operating 2 days per week out of Newton Aycliffe workingmen’s club, where a team of volunteers put packs together and organise their safe distribution.

Another group benefitting is The Lanchester Partnership and Churches Together COVID19 Support Group.

Michelle Atkinson, Lanchester Partnership chair, found herself alongside other residents wondering how people in the community would be affected by measures put in place to tackle the pandemic.

A chance chat on Facebook with another Lanchester local, Laura Bell, led to them teaming up with Churches Together and resident David Toner who were both also already in the process of setting up teams to lend a hand to those most affected by the crisis.

A month after founding the group, 123 volunteers were signed up to help with the essential work, seven days a week, helping with free food parcels, books and emotional support for those in need. The team has responded to over 130 requests for services.

The group have now secured a grant of £5,000 from Durham County Council’s Mid-Durham AAP and councillors Jude Considine and Ossie Johnson, to enable it to continue offering these services for as long as local people need help

For further information on support in the area visit www.durhamlocate.org.uk or call 03000 260 260.

Crookhall Community Association is supporting the recently formed Corona Vulnerable People and Volunteers (Consett) group (CVPVG) during the coronavirus outbreak, thanks to a funding from the Derwent Valley AAP.

The organisation, which runs Crookhall Community Centre, has been awarded a grant of £10,000 to help maintain the running of the CVPVG – a large group of volunteers operating locally and supplying food and services to people in the area who do not have family or friends to support them.

Local councillors, Jane Brown and Malcom Clarke have also provided funds from their small grant neighbourhood budget.

For more information on the Corona Vulnerable People and Volunteers (Consett) Group, visit: https://www.durhamlocate.org.uk/Services/5085/Corona-Vulnerable-Pe or find them on Facebook.