Free pitch available at Barnard Castle's weekly charter market for charity stalls

A CHARITY raised ten per cent of its annual income in just one day at Barnard Castle's Wednesday market, while another gained two new volunteers.

Barnard Castle Town Council offers one free stall for charities at the weekly Wednesday market but it is not always taken up.

In a rare twist, two charities took up the offer last week.

St Mary's Roman Catholic Church Cemetery Fund raised £110 by selling bric-a-brac and a range of home-made preserves.

Sue Roberts,from the charity, said: “The cemetery is not maintained by the council so we have to look after it, it costs about £1,000 a year.”

The group usually holds two stalls on the market each year.

Also enjoying a successful day on the market was the Alzheimer's Society which hoped to recruit volunteers and raise awareness of the disease.

Co-ordinator Carole MacMurtie said: “We have had a lot of donations and we have had people who have told us stories about people they know that have Alzheimer’s. We’ve had two people wanting to volunteer, so that is very good.

“We are trying to recruit side-by-side volunteers who offer support to people with dementia who want to be in the community doing things like bowls, cycling or walking. It is that social interaction that they miss. There is huge demand for it, so we have had to try and get more volunteers.”

The group is also looking to recruit volunteers for its Singing for the Brain and Games for the Brain services which are offered at the Methodist Church Hall and the Hub, both in Barnard Castle.

Barnard Castle Town Council is hoping more charities will want to take up a stall at the market.

Deputy town clerk Jane Woodward said: “We always have a charity pitch available which is free.

“It would be good if we had a charity every week – it is something we want to work at.”