FEARS over the funding future of a Teesdale charity have been allayed by its chairman.
Peter Wood, chairman of the trustees of Teesdale Day Clubs, said the lunch club charity has enough funding to last until the first quarter of 2020 – quelling fears from some of its members.
There were worries that the plug on Durham County Council funding to Teesdale Day Club would be pulled completely.
Mr Wood said it was “unlikely” the Association of Day Clubs would get funding from Durham County Council after this year.
However, the charity will be on the look out for sponsorship soon from dale firms.
He added: “We are trying to be responsible and look ahead. What we are doing is planning strategies – we will definitely be looking for sponsorship from local businesses.”
Teesdale Day Clubs organises weekly lunches, events and trips to alleviate social isolation – relying on a team of more than 100 dedicated volunteers to keep going.
Sessions are held weekly and members enjoy a freshly prepared meal together and take part in other activities including music, quizzes, arts and crafts, talks by guest speakers and day trips.
A successful bid to the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund gave the club £409,750 to see it through to 2019.
But Mr Wood was not being complacent.
He added: “Beyond that we are looking how to call that one up – we will be looking for sponsorship rather than going to funders.
“We are doing this as a responsible body so we can continue beyond 2020.”
Member Arthur Barker attends Cotherstone Lunch Club.
The 87-year-old, from Startforth, said: “You get a great deal of social contact and I thoroughly enjoy it.”
When it came to the new lunch club being launched in Startforth, Mr Wood said the association was happy to give them any help they may need and wished the organisers well.
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