Site operators of the Bilsdale TV mast have donated £10,000 to a scheme that benefits communities in Teesside and County Durham thanks to a new “strong relationship.”

Arqiva made donations of £5,000 each to Wheatly Hill Community Centre and the Cornerstone charity as it looks to extend its help for homeless people in Teesside.

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County Durham Community Foundation introduced the organisations to Arqiva with the money directed by the Funding Network, which links potential donors to charitable causes.

Since the TV mast fire in August 2021, Arqiva say they have created a strong relationship with the County Durham Community Foundation.

This also resulted in Arqiva donating £50,000 to the Foundation to help it identify and support vulnerable people affected by the loss of their TV service.

Chief Executive of Arqiva Paul Donovan said that the company would focus on reducing digital exclusion as this was a “big lesson” for the company.

He added: “We have seen the problem exposed when free air-to-tv and radio services were disrupted because of the fire at Bilsdale.

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“It’s good we, as an organisation, can go beyond just issuing an apology for what happened to doing something which is a practical benefit in the region, and I know that all the people in Arqiva are really very proud of that.”

Wheatly Hill Community Centre revealed it would be using the money for its meals on wheels service.

Michelle Cooper, County Durham Community Foundation chief executive, said the community centre supported a deprived area with ‘pride and passion’.

She added: “The funding through the Funding Network is supporting them to keep this operation going and bring in someone who they actually pay to drive and can rely on to help them deliver the much-needed community support.  It’s not just about food it’s about the connection with an individual.”

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Charity Coronorstone currently services County Durham, however, with the help of the donation they hope to expand into Hartlepool.

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