Banks Group in £375,000 community support

A County Durham-based family business has reinforced its commitment to local communities with grants totalling nearly £375,000 over the past year.

The Banks Group, a North East developer that prides itself on its “Development With Care” ethos, has distributed funding to more than 80 organisations from its community fund, which is managed independently by Point North, supporting charities, sports clubs, parish councils and cultural initiatives. 

Around £300,000 of the total directly benefited causes in the North East, with groups in County Durham receiving the majority, reflecting Banks’ mission to create long-term benefits for the areas it serves.

Recipients include well-known organisations such as Beamish Museum, New Writing North, Durham Wildlife Trust, Locomotion and disability inclusion charity Integrating, alongside smaller grassroots projects. 

Lucy Hinds, executive assistant at the Banks Group, said: “Development With Care ensures we work in a responsible manner, with particular consideration for the local communities in which we operate, and part of this is ensuring we enhance the facilities and opportunities that their residents can access.

“We are proud to have supported hundreds of charitable and environmental causes over the years and to have helped to deliver long-lasting positive changes that make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Michelle Cooper, chief executive officer at Point North, added: “The Banks Group is an exceptional partner in creating social value across the North East, with a dedicated focus on working alongside local people to bring about real, lasting change.

“We’re proud to work with a team that places community at the core of everything they do, and we look forward to the continued impact our partnership will deliver across the region.”

The group’s grant-giving legacy now exceeds £7.5 million since the company was founded in 1976, while its employees have raised over £100,000 for adopted charities, including The Alzheimer’s Society, Bright Red, The Tiny Lives Trust, The Samaritans and Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

Lucy added: “As we approach our 50th anniversary, our commitment to communities remains as strong as it always has been and we’re always open to hearing new ideas for how we can help community groups extend and enhance the positive impacts they make.”

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