Charity helps young people put down roots

A County Durham homelessness charity is creating new opportunities for vulnerable young people after securing funding to transform unused outdoor space into a community garden.

Moving On Durham has received a £2000 grant from the Banks Group’s Community Fund to support work at its new supported accommodation facility in Croxdale for 16 to 18-year-olds.

The funding will help convert three overgrown allotments at the site into a shared garden, with raised beds, tools and equipment enabling residents to grow their own fruit and vegetables while developing practical skills and confidence.

An outdoor activities programme will also be introduced, alongside community events designed to bring residents and local people together.

Founded in the late 1980s, Framwellgate Moor-based Moving On Durham supports young people facing homelessness and those at risk of losing their accommodation.

Today, the charity manages around 170 properties across County Durham, providing supported accommodation for more than 200 young people each year.

Its new Croxdale facility, currently being converted from a former social club, will accommodate up to eight residents and provide round-the-clock support from qualified staff.

Moving On Durham chief executive Peter Richards said: “Starting to live independently is a tough enough challenge for anyone, but when you lack the family support network that most of us take for granted, which many of our young people do, it can be so much harder.

“We aim to give these young people the chance to find their feet with whatever support they require, to help them if they encounter problems and to equip them with the skills and knowledge they will need to thrive as they move into adulthood.

“Our new Croxdale facility will give some of our youngest service users a solid base on which they can build their lives, with expert staff on hand at all times to help them do so.

“The garden will be a really important part of the project, whether for making new friendships while working alongside their peers or simply as a relaxing space in which they can spend some time whenever they want to.

“The support that Banks is providing has made this project possible and we’re looking forward to getting outside later in the year.”

Banks Property is currently delivering a 350-home residential development at nearby Tudhoe, including a 15 per cent allocation of affordable housing.

Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, whose  community funds are independently managed by Point North, added: “Moving On Durham’s comprehensive approach to dealing with local homelessness issues makes both a short and long-term difference to the quality of life that their young tenants can enjoy.

“Everyone knows the positive impact that spending time outdoors can have on their sense of wellbeing, and we hope the new Croxdale residents will enjoy working on their new garden.”

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