Close to £ 1m raised in fight against North-East poverty
NEWS COMMENT
County Durham Community Foundation ’ s Poverty Hurts appeal has raised close to £ 1m .
CHARITY FUNDS
Close to £ 1m raised in fight against North-East poverty
County Durham Community Foundation ’ s Poverty Hurts appeal has raised close to £ 1m which will support community-focussed organisations fighting the causes and consequences of poverty in the North-East .
Thanks to the kind donations and support of the people and businesses of the North- East , the foundation is now distributing an outstanding £ 921,263 to charities , community initiatives and projects which are supporting the people across County Durham facing hardship because of the cost-of-living crisis .
The figure was revealed to Poverty Hurts supporters at a special online event , hosted by Chris McDonald , who also launched the appeal back in November alongside the foundation ’ s chief executive , Michelle Cooper MBE .
Attendees also heard from those tackling poverty on the front line , thanks to the support from Poverty Hurts including Susan Mansaray of Purple Rose Stockton CIC , who support refugees and asylum seekers in Stockton , and Gemma O ’ Brien from Sacriston Youth and Community Project , who are a Whole of Family service .
Ending stigma and helping people to ‘ feel normal ’ is at the heart of the work of these projects , Susan Mansaray of Purple Rose Stockton CIC said . “ We support asylum seekers and refugees coming into Stockton , every week we run a Friday drop-in and we see 80 or more people every single week .
“ We provide food and basic essentials and just a welcome place . The whole idea behind the drop-in was so people can socialise , feel welcome and feel normal , because I didn ’ t feel normal when I was going through the system .”
Gemma O ’ Brien of Sacriston Youth
Youth and Community Project said : “ We do things from cookery classes to baby and toddler groups to employability support and community meals . We cut across all aspects of life and respond to what the residents of Sacriston tell us they need .
“ We ’ ve seen covid and the cost-of-living crisis compound the poverty in our area . We ’ re always providing food , snacks and drinks ! “ The conversations people have over food are different , you really get to hear and understand what ’ s going on in the community and how we could be responsive to needs .
“ People know they can always come and eat with us . And we couldn ’ t do this without the support of County Durham Community Foundation .”
Michelle Cooper said : “ The Poverty Hurts Appeal might have ended but poverty certainly hasn ’ t . We continue to work tirelessly to support the region ’ s most amazing people and community groups , who often work without recognition to improve the lives and life chances of local people .
“ We ’ re hugely grateful to everyone who has contributed towards this enormous sum , which will make a lasting difference to people ’ s quality of life .
“ This is not the end - poverty and life outcome inequality continue to grow . It is not right that in 2023 , one-third of children in the North-East live below the poverty line .
“ We ’ ll keep supporting our community partners , who are working hard fight poverty and enrich lives .”
The County Durham Community Foundation says it has distributed more than £ 600,000 from the Poverty Hurts Appeal already , supporting 33,277 people through charities and community groups .
THE VALUE OF FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON
I
’ ll soon be celebrating my first year of working at the North East England Chamber of Commerce .
Whilst a lot has changed , and then changed again in British politics and policy during that time , a lot of the issues I find myself writing about are similar if not the same .
I ’ ve heard businesses of all sectors and sizes ask the same question : “ How do we attract and keep great employees ?”
The North-East , in particular , has higher rates of economically inactive people than the rest of the country , meaning that there are more people in our local economy that are out of work , and not actively seeking employment . We ’ ve seen government trying to address this in their spring budget , with sweeping reforms to childcare policy , as well as support for those with ill health or disabilities in finding jobs that suit their needs .
I ’ ve noticed more and more that employers are trying to find out about candidates as a person as a priority , rather than what skills they have .
Value-based recruitment is the practice of hiring someone for having the right attitudes that match your company ’ s values and culture .
The person you ’ re hiring might not be the “ finished product ”, but instead might show the ambition , determination and passion to make them the ideal candidate .
Yes , it might mean investing time and money into training . Yes , it might mean investing time into underpinning your company ’ s values . But doing these things is exactly that – an investment .
The return on that investment is a highly dedicated , driven employee who represents their company with pride , and someone who might even stay with the company longer for it .
Callum George Policy advisor , NEECC
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