Member Article

Why our business gave away £130,000

TONIGHT one of the region’s best-loved charities will celebrate its 20th anniversary in the spectacular setting of Durham Cathedral.

Hundreds of guests, including many groups and individuals it has helped, will play a part in Country Durham Community Foundation’s landmark event.

It’s a milestone the charity could never have dreamed of reaching without its army of supporters – including many companies willing to literally give money away.

One such company, Chester-le-Street based Cestria Community Housing, insists its relationship with the charity is much more than a box-ticking exercise for public relations purposes.

In a little over six years, it has donated more than £130,000 to support the charity’s work – and, even in these tough economic times, believes it is money will spent.

“We don’t regret a penny of what we have donated – because the feedback we have received from those we have supported has been unbelievable,” said Christine Scott, the organisation’s Assistant Director of Corporate Services.

Together with Julie Clarke, the Assistant Director of Finance, Christine supports the organisation’s Giving Committee – putting her on the frontline of Cestria’s corporate social responsibility strategy.

As one of County Durham Community Foundation’s major supporters, the organisation will be sponsoring the VIP reception at Monday’s event.

More importantly, however, it has made a long-term commitment to the independent grant-making charity, which currently manages more than 200 funds on behalf of companies and philanthropists.

Julie explained: “We have set up a fund in perpetuity, so whatever happens to Cestria, the money will always be there. We’re never going to want it back – you could say it’s our legacy.”

And even though Cestria, which has a social housing stock of 4,300 properties, last year went into partnership with the much bigger ISOS group, which owns 17,000, it remains autonomous as far as CDCF is concerned.

Christine said: “The partnership made sense because of the possibilities for efficiencies and opportunities it opened up, but it won’t affect Cestria’s relationship with CDCF.

“That remains really important to us. And it’s not just about us having that feel good factor you get from giving to charity.

“We’re a community housing association – and the word ‘community’ is in our name for a reason.

“The projects we support are all about building relationships, wellbeing and health – it just naturally aligns with our vision as a company. So if there is a gap that isn’t being met in our community, we want to fill it.

The grants approved by the association tend to be for relatively small amounts, enabling it to spread its influence far and wide across the area in which it operates.

For example, earlier this year it gave £1,000 to North Durham Knights, an American Football team that needed help to fund equipment and pitch hire.

And it awarded £2,000 to enable a local scout group to enjoy a weekend of adventure activities in Hexham, Northumberland.

On the face of it, it’s all rather modest and low key – and often the grants given are not widely publicised – but, says Christine, it still makes business sense for Cestria to continue its charitable work.

She said: “Why do we do it? Because it helps the communities we work in and encourages sustainability. We haven’t got tenants who want to jump from property to property, or move out of the area.

“Most are happy and content. They are aware of the work we do in the wider community and they value it.

“Even now, six years on, people still talk about the first project we backed, an initiative in South Pelaw to support healthy eating.

“And, yes, you could say that’s good for our PR, but it means more than that to us. The feedback we get tells us our work is valued.”

Christine and Julie will be among Cestria staff representing the company on Monday to mark CDCF’s 20 years of giving.

The high-profile event will be led by the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Paul Butler, with contributions from Dean Michael Sadgrove, the Lord Lieutenant Sue Snowdon, and the foundation’s Chairman, Mark I’Anson.

But the real stars of the show will be the many beneficiaries present – and those, such as Cestria, who have backed them.

CDCF’s Chief Executive Barbara Gubbins said: “None of what we have achieved would have been possible without our donors, so the event on Monday is our chance to say a special thank you to them.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ken Oxley .