A SENIOR figure at a North East building society has spoken of his pride at becoming chair of a “wonderful” charity providing accommodation options for people in need.

Chris Hunter, Deputy Chief Executive of Darlington Building Society, has been volunteering as treasurer of the 700 Club since 2018, and has now become chair, succeeding former Darlington Mayor, Lee Vasey.

The charity began 30 years ago this year when a public appeal was launched for 700 people to donate £50 towards buying a terraced house for £35,000 to provide accommodation for homeless people.

The 700 Club was born, and the charity has grown and diversified over the years, providing accommodation and services for a number of people through a range of housing schemes.

Chris, who joined Darlington Building Society in 2017, said: “It’s an honour to be asked by the board to become chair of a wonderful charity that’s carrying out such vital work in the local community.

“Darlington Building Society was established in 1856 to help local people achieve their dreams of having a place to call home, and the invaluable work of the 700 Club fits perfectly with that core purpose.

“Lee Vasey has done a great job as chair, leading the 700 Club through a successful period in its 30-year history. I look forward to building on strong foundations and helping to shape the charity’s strategic direction, so we can continue to help those in need.”

Yvonne Beattie, Chief Executive of the 700 Club, said: “The charity has grown over the years to become a more specialist housing provider, and Chris’s knowledge and experience have proved to be a massive asset. We are thrilled to have him as chair at a challenging but exciting time.”

Lee Vasey, who has decided to step down after serving on the board for 12 years, added: “Everyone on the board, along with the staff team, share the credit for the enormous strides the 700 Club has made over the years, and Chris’s expertise has been invaluable. He is an excellent choice as chair.”

Meanwhile, Paul McWeeney, Head of Customer Experience at Darlington Building Society, has become Vice Chair of Darlington Credit Union (DCU), in another move underlining the Society’s community commitment.

(Image: Paul McWeeney)

Paul has a wealth of experience in customer care, working for major companies at a senior level, including Barclays, Barclaycard, and Vodafone. He joined Darlington Building Society 18 months ago and became a Non-Executive Director at DCU shortly afterwards.

DCU strives to be a secure and ethical place for savings and loans through being an affordable and fair lender and helps to build financial resilience for its members and communities.

Paul said: “Darlington Credit Union carries out a priceless community role and I’m humbled to have been appointed Vice Chair. It’s hugely rewarding to be able to share my expertise and experience, knowing that it’s making a real difference to people’s lives.

“I wanted to join Darlington Building Society because of its commitment to the community, and this is another example of that.”