Teams and Bensham Community Care, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people in Gateshead, is delighted to announce it has secured funding of up to £75,000 from the Wolfson 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 hosted lunch clubs, men's groups, and social activities for older adults, many of whom face challenges such as social isolation, ill health and bereavement. The groups, which provide freshly cooked meals, wellbeing activities, door to door minibus transport and the opportunity for meaningful social connections, are well loved by the older adults who attend between one and three times every week.
“It means an awful lot to me. This is the only place I come other than my doctor’s appointments. It will be sad to leave the building we’re in, but if we can move elsewhere, we will take the friendships and atmosphere with us.” (Lunch Club Attendee)
The move from the charity’s current home on Bolam Street in Teams, Gateshead, has been made necessary ahead of the demolition of the neighbouring Redheugh and Eslington Court flats. The new premises at the Holy Rosary Parish House, located less than a mile from Bolam Street, offers an ideal new location, situated right in the heart of the community it serves. However, the building requires significant accessibility improvements, costing almost £250,000, to meet the needs of all beneficiaries, particularly those with mobility issues and wheelchair users.
Funding from the Wolfson Foundation will go toward the renovation of the ground floor chapel, including creating accessible entryways, widening doorways for wheelchair access, installing accessible toilets, and converting the domestic kitchen into a professional kitchen to facilitate the preparation of hot meals.
Not only does the grant help save the charity’s social groups, but it also enables the continuation of its other essential services too, including its hot meal delivery service to local homes. These services have been crucial in ensuring that those who are unable to attend in-person activities are still cared for and supported, with peace of mind that a hot meal is delivered to them at home when they need it.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Wolfson Foundation for their generous support, which helps secure the future of our charity,” said Michelle Scott, Project Development Coordinator. “With this funding, we can ensure that our new home is fully accessible and can continue to provide a welcoming, safe and inclusive space for our beneficiaries. Our mission to combat isolation and improve the wellbeing of older people in Gateshead is as important as ever, and this funding will help us continue to serve older people on our community for many years to come.”
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “Teams and Bensham Community Care plays a vital role in providing a wide range of support to the older residents of Gateshead. We are delighted to help them refurbish their new home and wish them every success for the future.”
For more information about the project, contact Michelle Scott at michelle@teamwork-dt.co.uk. or visit the charity's website page dedicated to the refurbishment project for updates.
Teams and Bensham Community Care is a registered charity in Gateshead, providing essential services for older people, including lunch clubs, social groups, hot meal deliveries, and transport. The charity’s work aims to reduce social isolation, improve health and wellbeing, and help create meaningful connections within the local community.
The Wolfson Foundation is an independent charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to support civil society by investing in excellent projects in science, health, heritage, humanities and the arts. Since it was established in 1955, some £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) has been awarded to more than 14,000 projects throughout the UK, all on the basis of expert review.
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