TBCC's Holy Rosary Refurbishment Project receives £15,000 from The Bernard Sunley Foundation

Teams and Bensham Community Care, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people in Gateshead, is thrilled to announce it has secured £15,000 in funding from the Bernard Sunley Foundation. The grant will support the charity’s ambitious project to refurbish its new premises at the Holy Rosary Parish House, ensuring the space is accessible, safe, and fit-for-purpose to better serve the local community.

For 35 years, Teams and Bensham Community Care has been a lifeline for older adults in the area, hosting lunch clubs, men's groups, and a variety of social activities designed to combat isolation, promote wellbeing, and offer a sense of belonging. The charity provides freshly cooked meals, wellbeing activities, door-to-door minibus transport, and opportunities for volunteering and meaningful social connections. With many attendees facing challenges such as ill health, social isolation, and bereavement, the groups are deeply valued by the community, with participants attending one to three times each week.

The charity’s move from its current location at Bolam Street in Teams, Gateshead, has become necessary due to the upcoming demolition of the neighbouring Redheugh and Eslington Court. The new premises at the nearby Holy Rosary Parish House is ideally situated in the heart of the community it serves. However, the building requires upgrades to ensure it meets the needs of all of the charity’s beneficiaries, particularly those with mobility issues and wheelchair users.

Funding from the Bernard Sunley Foundation will contribute to the renovation of the ground floor chapel where the lunch clubs and men’s groups will take place. Planned improvements include accessible entryways, widened doorways, accessible toilets, and the conversion of the domestic kitchen into a professional-grade facility to support the preparation of hot meals for attendees.

The Bernard Sunley Foundation is a charity that helps communities all over the UK by funding practical projects that make a difference. They focus on supporting organisations that improve people’s lives, from refurbishing community spaces and hospices to helping schools and charities get the facilities they need. Their grants help turn great ideas into reality, creating lasting benefits for local people and the places that bring them together.

“The lunch clubs get me out of the house and mixing with local people, doing activities and getting a hot meal. We would go mad sitting at home looking at the same four walls every day. The lunch clubs give us something to look forward to.” (Lunch Club Attendee)

This grant not only supports the continuation of the charity’s social groups but also ensures the ongoing success of its hot meal delivery service, which serves vulnerable members of the community who are unable to attend in-person activities. By providing a steady source of nutritious, hot meals, the service offers peace of mind to families and individuals who may otherwise struggle with access to food and support.

We are incredibly grateful to the Bernard Sunley Foundation for their generosity, which will play a crucial role in securing the future of our charity and creating a more accessible, welcoming space for those we serve. This funding enables us to continue our vital work in reducing isolation and enhancing the wellbeing of older people in Gateshead for years to come.

If you or someone you know would like to join us at one or more of our lunch clubs (held mid-morning to mid-afternoons on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays) or one or both of our men's groups (held mid-morning to mid-afternoon on Mondays and Thursdays), contact our team on 0191 4600297. There's a range of activities at each group, a freshly cooked two-course meal, refreshments and accessible minibus transport from home and back again in the local area.