We are very proud to manage over 140 charitable funds on behalf of local companies, families, individuals, trusts and public bodies.
Our fund holders have a range of charitable interests which cover a variety of local needs. This is a list of the current funds available to support the communities of County Durham and Darlington.
This fund supports individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds that show initiative and need help to achieve their own potential, or to excel in a particular skill or ability.
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations within County Durham and Darlington. Income from this fund is pooled with income from other fund holders through County Durham Community Foundation's Community Action Fund.
This fund supports the Haematology Department at Newcastle's RVI Hospital. Grants are made for the benefit of doctors and/or students studying haematology at the hospital to assist with the purchase of medical text books, etc.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within the ex-district of Wear Valley, with priority given to those based in Bishop Auckland and the surrounding area.
This fund supports projects in the ex-District of Easington at the discretion of the donor.
This fund supports people with disabilities, elderly people, young people (including education) and environmental projects near and on Arriva's bus routes or depots.
This fund supports social action at a local level within Teesdale with a focus on the theme of aspiring.
This fund supports groups and projects working in County Durham, especially Derwentside helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds that show initiative and need help to achieve their own potential, or to excel in a particular skill or ability.
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations that are charitable, educational, philanthropic or benevolent in purpose and which are located within close proximity to a current or proposed Banks Group operation or will be affected by a Banks Group operation. Grants will assist with:
• Protecting biodiversity
• Energy-saving measures
• Developing or improving outdoor spaces
• Tackling global challenges at a local level
• Ensuring the improvement and maintenance of sport and community facilities
• Supporting improvements to facilities to overcome disabilities
For more information on this fund please click here to visit the Banks Community Fund website.
This fund supports social action at a local level within County Durham
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within Darlington
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within County Durham
This fund supports social action at a local level within County Durham
This fund supports initiatives around sport, school projects, community projects, elderly people and young people at the request of the donor.
This fund is a bursary scheme to support the development of skills and the capacity of the voluntary sector, for people who live or volunteer in the Easington, Sedgefield and Darlington areas.
This fund supports small local community and voluntary groups within Darlington, particularly those based around sport and leisure activities.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within the ex-District of Derwentside.
This fund supports community initiatives within the vacinity of the Brenkley Lane Surface Coal Mine
This fund supports small informal community and voluntary groups working within the ex-district of Chester-le-Street. The fund also gives welfare support to individuals in need, or equipment and travel costs for talented individuals.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups and organisations within the ex-district of Chester-le-Street.
This fund supports local community and voluntary groups working with Children and Young People in County Durham and Darlington.
This fund supports small local grassroot community and voluntary groups, with a priority for Chester-le-Street plus supporting women in the area, in the most appropriate way through direct grant support or the organisation of events or conferences, to gain confidence and achieve their true potential. All grants will aim to alleviate disadvantage, provide increased access to existing or new activities and services, contribute towards regeneration initatives, develop skills, experience or share knowledge at a community level, or open up opportunities for marginalised people.
This fund helps to increase access to sport and exercise for people who face social exclusion and isolation as well as supporting community projects that increase local services, build skills of local people, increase community cohesion and respond to local economic needs.
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations within County Durham and Darlington.
This fund supports community groups in the Derwentside area.
This fund supports small local community and voluntary groups within Darlington
This fund supports the work of the Princes Trust’s Development Awards Scheme, by matching grants awarded by the Prince’s Trust.
This fund provides education, mentoring and career support for 16-25 year olds who have left full time education with minimal or no qualifications, have no satisfactory job and require special help to reconnect with work and/or education.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within County Durham
This fund supports social action at a local level within Darlington
This fund supports voluntary and community groups in Darlington.
This fund supports community projects with a focus on arts, sport, medical, crime prevention, children & young people and education working in Darlington.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within Darlington.
This fund supports the relief of poverty and the advancement of education (including training for employment or work), for the benefit of the community within Darlington and its immediate neighbourhood.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within Darlington, with an emphasis on education.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within Darlington
This fund supports rural initiatives in and around Darlington, especially projects aimed at combating economic decline or focusing on agriculture and community farming. The fund also supports projects working with the elderly within Darlington.
This fund supports community initiatives in Darlington to match fund with the Foundation’s Darlington Champions Fund.
This fund supports projects that are related to Northgate PLC’s core business i.e. road safety, traffic management and vehicle-related projects.
Donations from silver and bronze champions are pooled into this fund and given out under one of the following headings as specified by each donor: Children and Young People, Elderly People, Community Regeneration, Education, Training and Skills Development, General Community Support.
This fund supports groups, projects and individuals based in Darlington that work in the following areas:
• Marginalised and disadvantaged groups such as the elderly and the unemployed
• People overcoming problems and improve their and their communities quality of life
• To improve access to existing or new activities
• Contribute towards regeneration initiatives
Develop skills, experience, open up opportunities or share knowledge at a community level
This fund supports young people who need assistance in furtherance of a career in the arts, primarily music. The fund also supports groups and projects working in this field.
This fund supports small, local community and voluntary groups within County Durham, with a preference for groups that are providing opportunities for young people in the arts.
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations within County Durham and Darlington. Income from this fund is pooled with income from other fund holders through County Durham Community Foundation's Community Action Fund.
This fund supports projects in County Durham and Darlington which help disadvantaged young people access new opportunities and achieve their potential.
This fund supports the Dover Family Fund Arts Exhibition in Darlington which takes place every two years.
At the discretion of the Dover committee, an annual grant of up to £1,000 can also be made to Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington to support arts project.
To support charities and good causes at the donor’s discretion, including the Tibetan Foundation. All grants will aim to alleviate disadvantage, provide increased access to existing or new activities and services, contribute towards regeneration initiatives, develop skills, experience or share knowledge at a community level, or open up opportunities for marginalised people.
This fund provides bursaries for young people from the North East who are selected to attend the Durham Chorister School, but for whom the financial commitment would be a burden on their family.
Contributions of £10,000 or more have been received from Friends of Durham Cathedral, Friends of Cathedral Music, Peter & Jayne Cook, Sir David & Lady Chapman, the Dunard Fund and an anonymous donor.
This fund supports music initiatives within County Durham, namely the Cathedral’s Music Outreach Programme, in line with the fund holder’s wishes.
Contributions of £10,000 or more have been received from Friends of Durham Cathedral, Sir David & Lady Chapman, The Lake Foundation, the Dunard Fund and an anonymous donor.
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations within County Durham and Darlington. Income from this fund is pooled with income from other fund holders through County Durham Community Foundation's Community Action Fund.
This fund supports small local community and voluntary groups working within County Durham.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within Darlington.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups within County Durham which have been supported by or are linked to Durham University through it's community initiatives.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups within County Durham who are engaged in therapeutic work to improve the emotional wellbeing of young people aged 13-25, preferably continuing or developing a current project.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups and schools, with preference given to the following types of activities:
• Capital items with a tangible, lasting benefit, including improvements to community buildings
• Biodiversity and habitat conservation
• Energy conservation and increased use of renewables
• Other projects that are community-based and / or community-led
Priority is given to villages situated within 3 miles of the wind farm, including Fishburn, Thorpe Larches, Trimdon, Trimdon Station, Sedgefield, Winterton and Wynyard. Consideration will also be given to groups located within a 10-mile radius of the site, if proof can be given that the beneficiaries come from the above areas.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups and schools, with preference given to the following types of activities:
• Capital items with a tangible, lasting benefit, including improvements to community buildings
• Biodiversity and habitat conservation
• Energy conservation and increased use of renewables
• Other projects that are community-based and / or community-led
Priority is given to villages situated within 3 miles of the wind farm, including Chilton Moor, Colliery Row, Easington Lane, East Rainton, Grasswell, Hetton, Houghton-le-Spring, Littletown, Middle Rainton, Murton, Rainton Gate, South Hetton, Seaton, Sunniside and Warden Law. Consideration will also be given to groups located within a 10-mile radius of the site, if proof can be given that the beneficiaries come from the above area.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups and schools, with preference given to the following types of activities:
• Capital items with a tangible, lasting benefit, including improvements to community buildings
• Biodiversity and habitat conservation
• Energy conservation and increased use of renewables
• Other projects that are community-based and / or community-led
Priority is given to villages situated within 3 miles of the wind farm, including Cassop, Easington Lane, Haswell, Haswell Plough, High Pittington, Littletown, Low Pittington, Ludworth, Old Cassop, Shadforth, Sherburn Village, Sherburn Hill, Shotton Colliery, South Hetton, Thornley and Wheatley Hill. Consideration will also be given to groups located within a 10-mile radius of the site, if proof can be given that the beneficiaries come from the above area.
This fund supports groups based in South West Durham that work with young people to help them achieve their potential.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups and schools, with preference given to the following types of activities:
• Capital items with a tangible, lasting benefit, including improvements to community buildings
• Biodiversity and habitat conservation
• Energy conservation and increased use of renewables
• Other projects that are community-based and / or community-led
Priority is given to villages situated within 3 miles of the wind farm, including Billy Row, Cornsay, Cornsay Colliery, Crook, East Hedleyhope, Esh Winning, Fir Tree, Hedley Hill, Oakenshaw, Roddymoor, Stanley, Sunniside, Thornley, Tow Law and Waterhouses.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups and schools, with preference given to the following types of activities:
• Capital items with a tangible, lasting benefit, including improvements to community buildings
• Biodiversity and habitat conservation
• Energy conservation and increased use of renewables
• Other projects that are community-based and / or community-led
Priority is given to villages situated within 3 miles of the wind farm, including Billy Row, Cornsay, Cornsay Colliery, East Hedleyhope, Esh, Esh Winning, Hedley Hill, Quebec, Roddymoor, Satley, Sunniside, Tow Law and Waterhouses.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups and schools, with preference given to the following types of activities:
• Capital items with a tangible, lasting benefit, including improvements to community buildings
• Biodiversity and habitat conservation
• Energy conservation and increased use of renewables
• Other projects that are community-based and / or community-led
Priority is given to village situated within 3 miles of the wind farm, including Craghead, Edmondsley, Esh, Grange Villa, Greencroft, Hartside, Hett Hills, Holmside, Lanchester, Langley Park, Maiden Law, Pelton Fell, Plawsworth, Quebec, Sacriston, South Moor, Tan Hills, The Middles, Waldridge and Witton Gilbert.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups that carry out the following types of activities:
• Capital items with a tangible, lasting benefit, including improvements to community buildings
• Biodiversity and habitat conservation
• Energy conservation and increased use of renewables
Priority is given to the villages of Cornsay, Cornsay Colliery, Hamsteels, East Hedleyhope and Satley, or to the wider community within a 10-mile radius of the site, if the project directly benefits the residents of the above areas.
This fund will provide awards of up to £12,000 to groups undertaking activities including help with basic skills, work experience, training advice and guidance, job search assistance, confidence building, personal development and support to overcome barriers to training and employment.
This fund supports small local grassroots voluntary and community groups and organisations working within County Durham.
This fund offers local people a second chance in life, by studying at Durham University as mature students, in order to give additional opportunities not available previously without a degree. Funding contributes towards the university fees. Other items such as research materials or field-trip costs may be considered.
This fund supports the Northgate and Central wards. Grants are used to:
• Build capacity and sustainability in local communities, including support for community assets and planning, and involvement in local regeneration
• Build social capital, offering funding for local social developments, supporting job creation, skills development, social networks and community engagement in local organisations, activities and initiatives, and improve the local environment, enabling communities to make it safer, healthier, greener, cleaner, better designed and more welcoming and accessible to all groups - what is now more widely described as 'liveability'.
This fund makes welfare grants to families in need to help keep the family together.
This fund supports activities and outings for elderly people near Four Seasons Care Homes in County Durham and Darlington.
This fund is used towards diabetic research for the benefit of the people of County Durham. The fund provides bursaries to support students or staff of any medical institution in Darlington, Durham or the wider North East who need financial assistance, for example to attend seminars, extra tutorials, placements or help towards fees to research the effects of diabetes on individual patients, methods of prevention, or a cure.
This fund supports capacity building training for community groups in County Durham with a preference for Sedgefield. Projects should have an IT element, either in training or the type of organisation being supported.
The fund also encourages and supports young people in the fields of health, sport and economic development.
This fund supports the education of the Children and Young People of Staindrop.
This fund supports young people up to the age of 21 from disadvantaged backgrounds that show initiative and need help to achieve their own potential, or to excel in a particular skill or ability.
This fund also supports young people with a special aptitude for sport where they have the clear potential to make the grade at international level.
This fund supports community initiatives within the vacinity of the Hazelhead Wind Farm
This fund supports groups that work with members of the Health and Wellbeing Partnership and are also working with the relevant health network in their area, in order to have an impact on the local priorities. Grants awarded range from £4,000 to £10,000.
This fund supports groups who operate within the administrative area served by Durham County Council and who can demonstrate that the money will be used for:
• Improving physical health
• Improving mental health and wellbeing
• Addressing health inequalities
• Supporting users and carers with long term conditions
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations within County Durham and Darlington. Income from this fund is pooled with income from other fund holders through County Durham Community Foundation's Community Action Fund.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups, which benefit disadvantaged elderly people in the Durham City area (area of the Henry Smith's Charity).
This fund supports community safety projects. The recipient is selected by the current High Sheriff.
This fund provides financial assistance to individuals with cerebral palsy, their families and carers who live in County Durham and Darlington.
This fund supports community groups in the Derwentside area.
This fund supports small local grassroots voluntary and community groups within the ex-district of Derwentside.
This fund supports young people and groups that work with young people with physical and learning disabilities. The aim is to provide increased access to existing and new activities and services in order to develop skills experience and open up opportunities or share knowledge.
This fund supports students currently studying law at Teesdide University. Two awards will be made annualy as follows:
This fund supports social action at a local level within Teesdale with a focus on the theme of inclusive.
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations within County Durham and Darlington. Income from this fund is pooled with income from other fund holders through County Durham Community Foundation's Community Action Fund.
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations within County Durham and Darlington. Income from this fund is pooled with income from other fund holders through County Durham Community Foundation's Community Action Fund.
This fund supports students from County Durham studying Physics at Durham University
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups, with preference for those that advance horticultural skills in Chester-le-Street and Easington.
This fund provides bursaries to enable students at the College of St Hild & St Bede in Durham City to further their studies or undertake activities in relation to their study, e.g. field work for a dissertation.
This fund provides grants of up to £1,000 to ill, elderly or disabled individuals and their carers in the Tees Valley area who are in need of respite care, or who need temporary support following hospitalization, a bereavement or because of dependency treatment.
This fund gives priority to Methodist causes undertaking community projects, and thereafter projects working with people in greater need including unpopular causes.
This fund supports people registered at Burnhope Surgery as well as the people of Burnhope and its surrounding area. In addition the fund supports projects and people on an ongoing basis at the discretion of the donor.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within County Durham, with priority being given to groups working in the north of the County.
This fund supports hospitals, infirmaries or convalescent homes within County Durham and Darlington.
The fund supports small local community and voluntary groups within County Durham that create opportunities for young people.
This fund supports small local community and voluntary groups within Darlington that create opportunities for young people.
This fund supports the priorities as agreed by the Limestone Landscape Partnership for the benefit of the Limestone Landscape area, primarily situated along the east coast of County Durham.
This fund supports community initiatives within the vacinity of the Marr Wind Farm
This fund, pending maturity, is transferred to the Children and Young People’s Fund.
This fund provides grants of up to £500 to provide equipment and / or respite care for children and young people who have a disability or a life shortening illness, in line with the fund holder’s wishes.
This fund supports projects that benefit people living in County Durham and Darlington with a special interest in young people aged 18-25 years.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within County Durham.
This fund supports local voluntary and community groups in rural areas of County Durham that work with disadvantaged people such as the elderly, young people and those suffering from illness or disability.
Income from this fund is pooled with income from other fund holders through County Durham Community Foundation's Rural Fund.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups and schools, with preference given to the following types of activities:
• Capital items with a tangible, lasting benefit, including improvements to community buildings
• Biodiversity and habitat conservation
• Energy conservation and increased use of renewables
• Other projects that are community-based and / or community-led
Priority is given to villages situated within 3 miles of the wind farm, including Bishop Middleham, Cassop, Cornforth, Coxhoe, Fishburn, Kelloe, Old Cassop, Old Quarrington, Quarrington Hill, Running Waters, Shadforth, Station Town, Thornley, Trimdon, Trimdon Colliery, Trimdon Grange, Trimdon Station, Wheatley Hill and Wingate.
This fund supports projects working in ex-coalfield or rural areas
This fund supports projects and groups that provide support and advice to homeless people.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups based in County Durham and Darlington.
This fund supports small scale community environmental improvement projects in County Durham and Darlington.
This fund contributes towards the maintenance of the Oakenshaw Reserve.
This fund supports local voluntary and community groups and organisations that work with children and young people who are at risk of, or are already involved in, criminal activities or anti-social behaviour. Individuals in this situation are also supported by the fund through education or training, providing improved employment opportunities.
This fund also supports people who have recovered from cancer or another such life limiting/threatening condition, and are looking to retrain in order to improve their employment opportunities and quality of life.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups with a preference for those that work with children and young people who are at high risk of or are already involved in criminal or anti-social behaviour.
This fund supports projects in County Durham and Darlington that are concerned with combating crime and also work with offenders to assist and encourage rehabilitation.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups, with priority given to groups supporting women, in particular, the elderly, in line with the fund holder’s wishes.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups within County Durham that fit in with the requirements outlined by ENTRUST through it's objects D, DA and E. Priority will be given to the Coxhoe area of County Durham although projects from outside County Durham will also be considered where there is a clear benefit to the people of County Durham.
The fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within Darlington.
The fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within County Durham
The Prince's Trust Development Awards Programme provides grants to help young people get into education, training or employment. Grants of up to £500 are available to be used towards the following:
This fund supports grants that are:
• consistent with the Foundation’s charitable purpose;
• within the range of £250 to £5,000;
•benefiting the residents of the ex-district of Derwentside;
• consistent with the aims and objectives of the Project Genesis Trust, namely:
providing or assisting in the provision of facilities for the recreation or other leisure time occupation;
providing or assisting in the provision of facilities to encourage the study appreciation and enjoyment of the arts (including an arts centre);
encouraging the understanding and appreciation of local history and other matters of historic artistic architectural or scientific interest (including a heritage centre);
the conservation, protection and improvement of amenity land and its flora and fauna.
This fund supports initiatives that work to reduced teenage pregnancy, within Gateshead, although consideration will also be given to projects that are based in the north of County Durham.
This fund provides grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 to communtiy and voluntary groups and schools, with preferance to the following types of activities:
This fund supports groups, projects and individuals within a 10 mile radius of the Roman factory that work with the following:
• Marginalised and disadvantaged groups such as the elderly and the unemployed
• People overcoming problems to improve their and their communities’ quality of life
• Groups providing increased access to existing or new activities
• Regeneration initiatives
• Groups that develop skills, experience, open up opportunities or share knowledge at a community level
This fund supports local voluntary and community groups in rural areas of County Durham that work with disadvantaged people such as the elderly, young people and those suffering from illness or disability.
This fund provides financial assistance to individuals with cerebral palsy, their families and carers who live in County Durham and Darlington.
Income from this fund is transferred to the Hylton House Trust for grant making.
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations within County Durham and Darlington. Income from this fund is pooled with income from other fund holders through County Durham Community Foundation's Community Action Fund.
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations within County Durham and Darlington. Income from this fund is pooled with income from other fund holders through County Durham Community Foundation's Community Action Fund.
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations within County Durham and Darlington. Income from this fund is pooled with income from other fund holders through County Durham Community Foundation's Community Action Fund.
This fund will support small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within the natural boundaries of South West Durham as developed with the help of CDDC, i.e. bordered in the East by the A1, the West & South with North Yorkshire and the North with the River Wear.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups that provide physical sports at a community level
This fund gives education and training grants to young people (under 25) who are, or who have been in the care of, looked after, or under a Supervision Order to the local authority in the following areas for a minimum of six months:
County Durham, Darlington, Hartlepool, Redcar & Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Gateshead, South Tyneside or Sunderland.
This fund supports enterprise education, access to work and skills training including mentoring and coaching for all ages, small capital and revenue grants to help people set up businesses, become self-employed or start social-enterprises or other charitable activities.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups working with children and young people, with a preference to the ex-districts of Teesdale and Weardale (excluding Bishop Auckland).
This fund supports older and vulnerable people across County Durham & Darlington through the winter months. This will be achieved in three main ways:
1. Groups
Grants will be awarded to community and voluntary groups that run winter programmes for the elderly and vulnerable including additional food, equipment and transport.
2. Individuals
Grants will also be awarded to those in fuel poverty to help them purchase any of our top ten energy efficient household items.
3. Infrastructure Organisations
County Durham Community Foundation will be working in partnership with infrastructure organisations (such as NEA & AGE UK), to provide workshops to older and vulnerable people in order to help them out of fuel poverty in the long term.
This fund supports projects which help disadvantaged and disabled young people between the ages of 14 and 28 years to achieve their potential.
Income from this fund is transferred to the Whitbread fund for grant making.
This fund supports children and young peoples’ groups in Newton Aycliffe or the surrounding areas, including schools, delivering:
• Non-statutory education and training
• New or enhanced activities or services
Woodham Technology College is the main beneficiary school, with £1,000 set aside annually to fund pupils to go on expeditions abroad.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups that offer inspirational experiences and opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people in County Durham and Darlington.
This fund supports the activities of UTASS (Upper Teesdale Agriculture Support Services)
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations within County Durham and Darlington. Income from this fund is pooled with income from other fund holders through County Durham Community Foundation's Community Action Fund.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within County Durham.
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations within County Durham and Darlington. Income from this fund is pooled with income from other fund holders through County Durham Community Foundation's Community Action Fund.
This fund supports community and voluntary groups from areas around the wind farm, with priority being given to the villages of Sedgefield, Trimdon, Fishburn and Wynyard. The fund will help projects around local carbon emissions reduction, sustainable energy, energy efficiency or general environmental enhancement projects.
This fund supports projects that improve and enhance West Park in Darlington
This fund supports projects which help disadvantaged and disabled young people between the ages of 14 and 28 years to achieve their potential.
This fund supports community and voluntary organisations within County Durham and Darlington. Income from this fund is pooled with income from other fund holders through County Durham Community Foundation's Community Action Fund.
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within Darlington
This fund supports small local grassroots community and voluntary groups within County Durham
This fund makes welfare grants to families in need to help keep the family together.
This fund provides educational bursaries for young people in County Durham and Darlington (with preference for Easington, Peterlee, Durham City, Meadowfield, Langley Moor and Ferryhill).
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