County Durham Community Foundation 
Linx Hemlington Detached Youth Project have used a £5,000 grant to bring practical help and community spirit to Middlesbrough.
Sara Mirsalehi, who leads the project, said: “Middlesbrough often features in the press for the wrong reasons, however, during this crisis, we have seen a lot of communities working together, wanting to help and seeing what can be done.”
Quick action
Linx acted fast when the virus struck. They quickly worked out who needed help, and what kind of help, and began delivering food parcels and checking in with people.
But they didn’t stop there. Normally they run a youth club and do outreach work, so they began putting together books, activities, jigsaws and crafts to help young people stay busy.
Amazing
Sara Mirsalehi is ops manager for Linx. She said: “It’s been really amazing and we’re grateful to be in a position to help some of our families. When we drop food off and move back, they will come to the door and tell us what a difference it makes. One mum told us ‘you have no idea how excited my child was to see strawberries.
Community Spirit
“Another family were struggling with their children arguing and we gave them some tennis rackets. They told us it stopped all the arguing and the children are now playing with each other and talking together.”
The National Emergencies Trust (NETs) launched an appeal as Coronavirus arrived in the UK. Community foundations were chosen to help share out funds.
A further £200,000 was raised by County Durham Community Foundation through a Crowdfunder appeal and private donations.
To find out more about our grants – click here
