Tudhoe children’s club secures future

A County Durham children’s club is set to continue running its popular after-school sessions.

Tudhoe Community Centre has received a £2000 grant from the Banks Group to help fund twice-weekly activity sessions for children aged six to twelve. 

The sessions, held every Monday and Tuesday at St David’s Close, offer a mix of crafts, sports, games and outdoor play, attracting around 20 young people each week.

As part of the programme, children also prepare and share a free teatime meal, helping them learn practical cookery and teamwork skills in a friendly environment.

Run in partnership with Spennymoor Youth & Community Association, the project also provides local families with advice and support on wider challenges they may face.

Organisers say the funding will keep the club running until July next year, with low voluntary fees helping to ensure it remains accessible to all families.

Michael Fishwick, project coordinator at Tudhoe Community Centre, said: “Our sessions are designed to give local young people the chance to try all sorts of different things in a structured environment, with our team of qualified and experienced youth workers on hand to help everyone get the most possible enjoyment out of them.

“A number of our members come from disadvantaged areas or have challenging behaviours and additional needs, and we work hard to make sure we’re accessible and welcoming to everyone, with the right support in place wherever it’s required.

“We see a really positive impact on the behaviours of the children that come to our sessions, as well as a lot of new, very firm friendships forming that continue outside the community centre, and we got a great deal of positive feedback from local families about how much their children enjoy taking part.

“Consistency is really important for getting the best out of this project, but finding funding for it is not always easy.

“The Banks Group’s generous support means we know we can now plan ahead for the whole year with confidence.”

The Banks Group, which manages community funds across the region through Point North, is also behind a proposed 350-home development in Tudhoe that includes plans for affordable housing.

Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, added: “This is a really important project that is having a positive short and long-term impact on the lives of children and families in Tudhoe.

“We’re very pleased to be able to back the Community Centre team’s firm commitment to giving local young people all the opportunities that they can.”

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