Community Activity 2024
27/10/209
Helping Make Durham’s Streets Safer At Night
A small band of guardians, offering anyone in distress a safe night-time refuge within a central Durham church, have been handed a timely boost by the city’s freemen.
Their £1,000 gift will support the vital work of the five-strong team operating a funding-dependent Safe Hub within St Nicholas’s Church in the Market Place – providing “pastoral care” to those caught up in disorder, as well as hot drinks, snacks, water, blankets and, where needed, flip flops.
Since February, 2022, more than 4,000 alcohol, drug and domestic abuse related incidents, as well those with suspected mental health issues, have been reported between 9.00pm and 3.00 am on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Many have been serious and, on occasions, life-threatening.
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The Hub is key element of a partnership led by Durham County Council, Durham Constabulary, the parish council, city centre businesses, the Temperance Trust and the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner.
The return of university students at the start of the new academic year has once more raise demand for the services of the Hub. – crewed by three safer streets officers employed by the county council and supported by two volunteers. Originally launched to aid women in distress it now dedicated to offering a helping hand to any vulnerable person.
“Our original aim was to end violence and sexual harassment towards women but we now provide help to anyone who needs it,” said Alan Patrickson, the county council’s corporate director for neighbourhoods and climate change and chair of the Durham City Safety Group.
“We are constantly looking for funding to keep the Hub open in a vital part of the city centre, ensuring it remains a great but safe place for everyone. We are grateful to the freemen for their much-needed boost,” said Alan.
John Booth, a member of the freemen’s charitable trust said: “The trust is delighted to help an excellent city initiative which, with the support of volunteers, offers protection to vulnerable people caught up in night-time disorder within the community.”
25/07/209
Special Internet Lessons Offer Safer Start To Secondary School Life
More than 800 primary school children within Durham City are set to benefit from a national internet safety scheme aimed at making their switch from primary to secondary education less emotionally stressful.
Backed by a £1,000 gift from the city’s freemen, Amber Bee CIC, a national community interest company will, from this September, begin delivering to 14 local primary schools specialist support to youngsters ahead of their switch to city’s secondary schools in the autumn of 2025 and 2026.
The company, based in Chester, has reached out to over two million youngsters across Britain in the last decade, providing support across a range of issues.
Three years ago, it launched its “Barney and Echo, Mindfulness Project,” working with The Police Community Clubs of Great Britain and others to help parents and teachers prepare youngsters for the personal, social and mental health challenges they may face when stepping up to secondary school.
Amber Bee’s project manager, Ian Jackson, explained: “Many of the primary children we deal with are already internet-savvy when they leave to go to secondary school. By offering a flexible way to deal with possible emotional changes, like bullying or grooming, they will be better equipped to make good choices.”
The project, with a core message that mental health is just as important as physical health, is delivered over several months by volunteer teaching professionals, teaching staff and the support of parents. The estimated cost of delivery in Durham is about £5,000, nearly all spent on a work book for each child, as well packs for both school staff and parents. Additional activities are incorporated into lesson planning and are supported by posters and includes a drama production.
“The strength of our work, spread over several months, is simple - it relies on professional volunteers for delivery and enjoys the support of school staff and parents. No costs for wages make it so attractive and we are grateful to outside organisations, like the freemen, to help meet the costs of the material,” he added.
The fourteen primaries involved are:- Laurel Avenue; St Joseph’s RC; Durham Gilesgate; St Oswald’s CofE; St Margaret’s; Belmont CofE; Blue Coat CofE; Neville’s Cross; St Thomas More; St Godric’s RC; Finchale; Framwellgate Moor; Shincliffe CofE; and Belmont Cheveley Park.
23/07/24
The Key To Problem Doors - An Open And Shut Case
Officials of a community hub, who faced being shut out of their own premises by the pending failure of hydraulic entrance doors, have been handed the key to the crisis by Durham City’s Freemen.
Coxhoe Village Hall, built in two stages in the 1930s and celebrating its 90th anniversary last year, is home for a wide range of local organisations and available to people in surrounding villages.
Left to right Ann Thurlow Durham City Freemen, Rita Brown Lady Freeman,
Theresa Ford Freemen Charitable Trust, John Booth Freemen Charitable Trust
Since Covid the premises, which supports more than 20 clubs and groups, as well as providing a venue for special family and community events, has overgone a £150,000 major overhaul. It includes a lift to make the entire premises disabled accessible; the replacement of main electric distribution boards; a face-lift of downstairs toilets and provision of a new facilities on the first floor; repairs to the sprung dance floor, the upgrade of downstairs and upstairs fire doors and new windows.
But after the 21 st century upgrade officials faced an unexpected £4,000-plus additional bill when major malfunctions in automatic hydraulic doors at the front-entrance reached crisis point.
Stuart Dunn Coxhoe Village Hall
Stuart Dunn, who chairs the team managing the centre, said the hydraulics, installed over decade ago, were failing to the point of being beyond repair and posing a danger to people going in and out of the building.
He explained: “When the right-hand door opened, its partner on the left was taking longer to open and close. It made access for wheelchair users and parents with buggies particularly difficult. The risk of colliding with the doors and the threat of injury was frequent. Even trying to lock the doors open was no longer an option.”
Rita Brown
Rita Brown, who also happens to be a Lady Freeman, suggested to Stuart that the freemen’s charitable trust might be able to help. The hall’s subsequent appeal was considered and the trust pledged £2,000 – almost half the cost of replacement hydraulics.
All images by Geoff Kitson Photography - https://geoffkitsonphotography.co.uk/
10/06/24
Freemen Add Punch to Teenagers' Search For A Brighter Future
Troubled youngsters, stepping out on an award winning and unorthodox “pathway” to a brighter future, have been given a £1,000 “purse” to help them on their journey.
Operating outside a traditional school environment, Go The Distance (GTD), a community interest company based on the Belmont Business Park, uses a carefully structured “four pillar” mix of education, sport, confidence and knowledge to provide teenagers with the skills needed to find work.
The discipline cultivated by boxing plays a key role in the delivery of the training and to that end the freemen’s gift will be used to buy essential equipment, including new gloves and helmets, to pursue the sport.
The company’s managing director, Paul Lysaght, explained: “The youngsters we work with are both boys and girls, aged between eight and 17, who for a variety of reasons, are not embraced by the traditional school system.
“They may be held back by autism, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), anger management issues, violence at home, suicidal thoughts, self-harm and other mental health issues. We believe our system offers what they need to find employment and make something of their lives.”
Paul Lysaght
Launched five years ago, the centre relies on a 50-50 split between public funding and charitable support from both local, regional and national organisations, to cover the cost of six specialist staff, along with leasing and running costs of their premises.
There are currently 45 young people on the company’s roll who share the 15 places available each day. The daily routine starts at 9 a.m. and first embraces English maths. Boxing too is a daily feature, as well as a range of other individually tailored supportive options. The centre’s two eight-seater mini buses give attendees the opportunity to reach a range of off-site activities, among them swimming.
A recent £140,000 grant from Sport England has underpinned expansion into the first floor of the building, extend the range of support which includes a counselling service, dancing facility and 15-bed hair and beauty unit. Access for all – including wheelchairs and push chairs – is provided by a lift.
One of the latest additions to the service is the provision of one-to-one support for youngsters from around the county who, for various reasons, have not been in school for 18 months.
“We have achieved everything we originally set out in our first business plan and are now redefining our targets for the future within the second phase,” said 61-year-old Paul, who during his 34 years in management with Durham County Council was, at one time, responsible for the running nine leisure centres.
The work of the team has earned a number of awards, including accolades from the county’s High Sheriff and Durham University – whose own boxing club use the facilities.
Eric Bulmer, chairman of the freemen’s charitable trustees said: “We are pleased to be able to support Go The Distance, whose important work in our community often goes unnoticed. The company provides an invaluable service, offering hope to troubled and vulnerable young people at what is a critical time in their lives.”
22/06/24
Time For Tea And Reflection In A Peaceful Woodland Glade
Ambitious plans by charity workers, to transform overgrown woodland into a haven of peace and tranquility, can now include a public tea room in the trees – thanks to a fresh injection of cash from Durham City’s Freemen.
Staff at LionMouth Rural Centre started work on their £10,000 woodland project, adjacent to their Broadgate Farm site, located between Esh Winning and Ushaw Moor, during the Spring.
The freemen, who last Autumn pledged £1,000 towards the woodland development, have now stepped forward with a further £3,000 to help underwrite costs of the tea room to meet new public demand for refreshments at the centre’s thriving plant nursery.
More that two dozen local people, aged from their teens to mid-60s and struggling to cope with social or learning difficulties, or suffering or recovering from mental health issues, are supported by two full-time, three part-time staff, backed by a team of 16 volunteers, at the centre.
The attendees are offered day care support and training in woodwork, horticultural, art, pottery, cookery and conservation.
The farm’s adjoining overgrown plot contains trees and shrubs - some of them rare - which will be embraced within the managed woodland venture. The development work, tackled by staff and clients, will include public access. It will feature a pathway, lined by scented plants and shrubs, leading to an open glade with seating, benches and a view of the nearby river.
The addition of a tea room has been dovetailed into the plan to meet “consistent and continuing demand” from visitors coming to the farm’s nursery.
Centre manager Brigid Press explained: “We had a thriving tea room before Covid forced us to close it down. We then had to utilize the area to provide chairs, desks and sufficient space for clients to allow us to re-open. Now clients have been reluctant to give their own little pieces of territory and it does work better for us as a day centre – and take on more clients.”
She admits the new wood-built tea room in the tree trees – with its own power supply - will be a scaled down version of the original but will have additional seating, as well as a gazebo providing sheltered seating for customers.
Although providing an element of self-service it will staffed by some of the day-care users who will also be helping cook and bake the produce they will be serving.
“Those involved will be playing a larger public-facing role than previously and will be trained and certified in food safety before starting,” added Brigid.
Eric Bulmer, chairman of the freemen’s trustees, said: “Once again the Lionmouth staff, including its many volunteers, have demonstrated their enthusiasm and dedication to continue developing the site for the benefit of its vulnerable clients , local community and visitors.”
29/03/24
Helping Performing Arts Festival To Grow Will Be “Just The Ticket”
A £500 gift from the city’s freemen will in particular help the Durham Fringe Festival reach a wider audience for this year’s five-day event by targeting specific wards within the city facing socio-economic challenges - including limited home internet access - with additional printed promotional material.
Festival director, Stephen Cronin, said: “Statistically the north east has the smallest arts and culture sector in Britain and the festival seeks to provide a platform for artists, performers and creatives to develop and test work, supporting career progression.
“Over the past three years we have seen an appetite and demand from audiences for a fringe festival in Durham City. It is proving to be a powerful tool in bringing people into the city at a time when it needs a boost the most – when the students go home for the summer. We’re really grateful to the freemen’s charitable trust for supporting us to further grow and diversify our audience at this stage of the festival’s development.”
The event, which features shows from genres across the performing arts, including dance, music, theatre, magic, stand-up, cabaret and children’s shows, was launched in 2021 by local residents, intent on helping recovery from the economic and social effects of the pandemic. This year the team is encouraging more submissions of dance and movement-based performances.
The festival has been supported by a team of over 80 volunteers, whose ages range from 11 to over 80. The call for volunteers for this year’s festival will be launched shortly and organisers invite people wanting to join and help to check their web site for details.
This year’s shows will be presented over eight performance spaces across seven venues. New venues include Durham |Distillery and Dunelm House, adding to the core cohort of the Sir Thomas Allen Assembly Rooms, Cafedral, Durham City Theatre and Fabios. Audiences can also enjoy performances with the iconic backdrop of Durham Cathedral, in the festival marquee on Palace Green.
Tickets will go on sale in early May.
Eric Bulmer, chairman of the freemen’s charitable trustees said: “We are delighted to support the Durham Fringe Festival, particularly in widening its reach to target those in our community who face challenges during these difficult economic and social times. We wish them every success with their event in July."
18/03/24
Baby Memorial Offers New Comfort For Parents
A striking granite and limestone memorial, designed to offer a focal point of remembrance for parents of dozens of babies who died before, during or immediately after birth in a Durham Hospital, will be unveiled in a city churchyard in mid April.
The ambitious £100,000 project – incorporating the unique memorial, flanked by limestone benches and accessed via a network of upgraded access footpaths and handrails - was mooted by two churchwardens from the city parish of St Cuthbert with St Aidan to provide “solace and support to any family who lost a child.”
A working group was established in the summer of 2021 and fundraising has so far raised £50,000.
Durham City Freemen’s Charitable Trust was one of the latest organisations to pledge support - with a £1,000 gift to help towards the costs of foundations on which the memorial stands.
Historically, in the 1950s, 60s and into the 70s, stillborn babies and those who died very soon after birth, at what was then the nearby Dryburn Hospital, were buried in unmarked plots in the churchyard.
Over many years an annual service has been conducted by the University Hospital of North Durham’s chaplaincy in St Cuthbert’s church. More recently “a small but growing number” of relatives have been contacting the church to ask where individual graves are sited.
A church spokesperson said: “The whole issue of baby loss is very current and topical and there is clearly a need for a place of focus for relatives of the babies to visit, reflect and remember. We believe the memorial will impact positively on those seeking solace for the loss of a child for generations to come.”
The ornate screen, nearly a metre high and some one and a half metres long, will be sited on the south side of St Cuthbert’s. The design, dominated by snowdrops and doves, is the creation of Lara Sparey, a Greater London-based artist and designer who has run her own workshop and studio for 25years.
“As a bereaved parent myself, the memorial will remain one of the most poignant commissions I have undertaken. Thank you too, to the Freemen, for your contribution to this very special piece,” said Lara.
Significant funding to underpin the project was pledged by both the county and city parish councils. Fees to cover the cost of engaging a consultant heritage arc architect were met by a grant county’s Area Action Partnership.
Further donations have come from the Diocese of Durham, the Benefact Trust, the Sir James Knott Trust, the Rank Foundation, the Barbour Foundation, Bellway Homes. and Direct Giving. Parishioners have also contributed to the fund.
Eric Bulmer, chairman of the freeman’s charitable trust said: “It is a privilege to provide a donation to a memorial which will provide comfort and support to families whose lives have been impacted by the loss of a baby.”
12/02/24
Solan, Connor, Fawcett Cancer Trust
The freemen’s £2,000 gift will be used to streamline bespoke services delivered to hundreds of patients and bereaved families from the Spennymoor headquarters of the Solan, Connor, Fawcett Cancer Trust, established over eight years ago.
Founder, Mark Solan, who launched the venture after the cancer claimed the lives of both his mother and grandmother said the organization was having to re-think its approach.
“Advances in treatment means terminally ill patients are surviving longer – sometimes for up to ten years. It’s great news but it means more people need our help and support for much longer. Alongside the cost of living crisis, our own costs are rising and with the NHS on its knees, we are having to rethink what we do and how we do it – as any other business would,” said Mark.
“But we could not do what we do without the incredible generosity of people like the freemen,” he added.
In 2017, the year the fledgling service gained charitable status, Mark received a regional prize in the Pride of Britain Awards, followed two years later by recognition from the then Prime Minister Theresa May who marked his community work with a “Point of Light Certificate.”
In addition to responding to calls for help from cancer patients and their families, the charity – supported by a 36-strong team of volunteers – also responds to referrals from Macmillan Cancer Support, St Cuthbert’s Hospice and the NHS.
One of the changes planned at the substantial headquarters is the switch of the wellness centre to an unused former ground floor shop to provide more services – which include counselling, complimentary therapy, hair and beauty and a wig bank – giving easier access for a growing number of patients with mobility issues.
The ages of those receiving support range from just a few months to pensioners in their 90s.
At the end of January the charity was supporting 253 adults and children with an active cancer diagnosis; 100 adults and children in remission but still needing practical and emotional help; 63 people who had lost loved ones; and 113 who had been discharged and in remission. During the same period a total of 147 people who had received help were reported to have died.
The charity offers help with fuel costs, groceries and transport to hospital appointments, while tradesmen, cleaners and gardeners are on hand to offer household services. Those with mobility problems have access to wheelchairs, mobility scooters and chairlifts. Donations are vital and extra funds are raised through coffee mornings and social events
“It is a privilege to support Mark and his dedicated and caring team who provide an invaluable service to the local and wider community of Durham, especially when the major support services are under so much pressure,” said Eric Bulmer, chairman of the freemen’s charitable trust.