Title: Housing Fund Makes a Splash With £5,000 For Gateshead Group

Date: 03/04/08

Funding from The Gateshead Housing Company and its partners will help isolated residents from Bensham and Teams to keep fit and healthy.

The £5,000 award from the housing company’s Community Fund will enable local organisation Teams and Bensham Community Care Project to continue running their popular weekly exercise sessions.

The project offers older residents from the Teams and Bensham areas of Gateshead the opportunity to take advantage of services that they would normally have trouble accessing by providing transport to other parts of Gateshead.

As well as their popular aquafit sessions, and weekly exercise groups, the project also organises a walking club for the over-60’s.

Reverend Brian Howell, Chairman of Teams and Bensham Community Care Project said: “The members of the exercise group are thrilled to be able to continue their classes thanks to this funding.

“The classes have really changed their lives, giving them greater mobility and confidence."

The Community Fund offers cash and in-kind awards from £500 to £10,000 to groups that aim to improve the lives of people in the borough.

The fund has already made a number of donations to local groups and will support projects that:

• Improve the lives of young people and young adults

• Improve the lives of older residents

• Be environmentally friendly and help to make Gateshead a 'greener', more sustainable place to live

• Benefit a whole estate or neighbourhood by involving residents of all ages joining together to make a difference.

The company's partners Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) North East, Gateshead Council’s Local Environmental Services and Morrison Facilities Services Limited are also supporting the fund.

Bill Fullen, Chief Executive of The Gateshead Housing Company said: “As well as making over £1m a week of improvements to local homes, we want to do more to make Gateshead an even better place to live.

“Our community fund will allow hard working groups like Teams and Bensham Community Care Project to make a real difference to the lives of local people.”

The Community Foundation, which currently manages over £40m of charitable and community funds are administrating the fund on behalf of the housing company.

The Gateshead Housing Company is holding an advice session at Gateshead Civic Centre on Monday, 28 April from noon to 4pm, to help groups who are unsure of how to apply for funding.

Groups in Gateshead wanting to find out more about the scheme should log onto www.communityfoundation.org.uk to download information and application forms.

Groups can also e-mail general@communityfoundation.org.uk or telephone 0191 222 0945.

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