The business community of County Durham has come together to support an appeal to fight poverty in the area ahead of its 2022 launch.

County Durham Community Foundation’s Poverty Hurts campaign for 2022, which will officially get underway at an event in Durham city on November 4th, has so far attracted support from organisations including members of Durham Business Group, insurance provider NFU Mutual, estate agency Urban Base, pensions specialist Sandringham Financial Partners, and Stowe Family Law.

The £1m appeal, which will fund vital lifelines for almost 32,000 local children and young people being hurt by poverty in all its forms, comes in the wake of research published by the North East Child Poverty Commission revealing that almost two in five of the region’s children are living in poverty – the highest rate of any UK nation or region.

With the expertise of the foundation’s team, donations from businesses in the community will unlock match funding opportunities, bringing about long-term solutions as well as providing immediate support to those in the county most affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

Kate Sowden, NFU Mutual’s Agent and Group Secretary, who is based at the organisation’s Durham city branch on Meadowfield, said that grassroots support was a key consideration when deciding where to place £3,000 raised through its agency giving fund.

She explained: “We are deeply involved with the production of food, and the ability to ensure we could help with the further distribution of that through smaller charities in our locality, was forefront in our minds.

“What struck me about the Poverty Hurts appeal was the ways in which funds can be allocated to some amazing concerns in the area that I wouldn’t have heard of had the foundation not been involved – from breakfast clubs for children to community centres providing essential support. With the team’s knowledge, we feel we can make some real difference in County Durham.”

There are many ways in which organisations can choose to support the appeal, from one off donations through its charity giving page on the enthuse platform, to regular contributions to the wider Poverty Hurts Fund, which is the route chosen by Sandringham Financial Partners, a Darlington-based independent financial advisory firm co-founded by Rachel Denham.

Rachel grew up on a local council estate and put herself through a Youth Training Scheme so she could support her mum, who had several jobs to make ends meet for their family.

She said: “I know what it’s like to have aspirations that feel impossible, and desperately try to make something of yourself, but that kind of help often doesn’t come from those around you as they’re in the same boat.

“The real change to the quality of my life came from someone giving me an opportunity to go much further than was realistically possible just from my own desire to succeed, someone in the position to do that.

“So it was really important to me that right from the beginning of the business we would give something back to the local community, and the foundation is the ideal recipient of that support as it’s there for the local causes that often fall through the cracks.” 

Durham Business Group also champions Poverty Hurts, having devised its own membership campaign with the support of the foundation, the Friendly Forty project, to help mark the organisation’s 40th anniversary. As part of this, 40 of the group’s members will sign up to become ‘friends’ of the appeal, giving regular donations over the course of a year that are sustainable and right for those individual businesses – from as little as £2.74 a day. The aim is to raise £40,000 that will be used to provide valuable enrichment opportunities for local people.

The inaugural ‘friend’ is Urban Base, whose Director Jan Dale said: “In celebration of 40 wonderful years of magnificent work providing a special bond between members of the business community, we are privileged to offer some valuable funding we hope will, in a very small way, make a big difference to families in our region living in poverty.

“Friendly Forty is a fantastic idea, and the phrase, ‘the past we inherit the future we build’ has never seemed more apt.”

Durham Business Group CEO Alison Gittins added: “We know how far the County Durham Community Foundation team can make donations stretch, making a difference to so many across our region, and this year’s cost-of-living crisis brings additional challenge, with families having to choose between heating and eating.

“Durham Business Group exists to build relationships, and we know that when we work together, the magic happens! There’s a long way to go but with the strength and commitment of our business community and the belief and passion of the foundation in supporting those communities in need, together we can achieve.”

One local business urging others to get behind the Poverty Hurts campaign is Stowe Family Law, which serves families throughout the county from its Durham office. Managing Partner Christopher Birch said: “We’re proud to support County Durham Community Foundation with a donation to help fund incredible projects that fight poverty and enrich lives.

“We wholeheartedly encourage other local businesses to get involved and contribute in any way possible.”

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic saw £1.3m in grants awarded by the foundation in just 120 days across Durham, Tees Valley and Darlington, helping vital services to meet local needs. This coordinated effort led to the foundation’s Chief Executive Michelle Cooper, who is also Vice Chair at UK Community Foundations, the national voice for the country’s 47 local accredited Community Foundations, being made an MBE last year.

Michelle said: “We will help all our Poverty Hurts supporters maximise their giving, to make a real and lasting difference to individuals, families and causes in the area.

“Last year, one £1,000 grant alone helped 186 people, including 81 children, so every penny donated will make a huge difference to people facing crisis and hardship because we’ll match it with 50p to create a future legacy of ongoing support across County Durham.”

The appeal also has the backing of High Sheriff Shona Harper-Wilkes, who added: “The need is growing and we need to act now. If everyone in County Durham gave just £2, we’d have £1m to create life-changing interventions.”

Support the appeal at cdcf.enthuse.com/cf/poverty-matters or to receive an appeal information pack from the foundation, email info@cdcf.org.uk or call the team on 0191 378 6340.

You can also find out more about County Durham Community Foundation’s work to enrich local lives at cdcf.org.uk.