Good causes send support to bank

Sep 19 2007 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

GOOD causes across the North-East which have benefited from cash from the Northern Rock Foundation yesterday came out to support the bank.

They have responded in huge numbers to our appeal for organisations to spread The Journal’s campaign to support Northern Rock.

Its charitable arm, which receives 5% of the society’s annual profits, has given away £175m in 10 years to good causes, including the Woodhorn Museum, in Ashington, Northumberland. As a ‘thank you’ staff renamed one part of the building The Northern Rock Foundation Gallery.

Yesterday, the museum’s Deborah Tate said: “Northern Rock is one of our major funding partners and it has helped us to provide a fabulous free facility for the local community and for visitors to the region.”

Nuritza Daghlian, acting director with Newcastle-based Dance City, has a lot to thank the Foundation for after it gave them hundreds of thousands of pounds.

She said: “In recent years Northern Rock has contributed more than £500,000 towards our programme and building our award-winning dance house.

“Their support has been invaluable to us and others across the North-East and we would like to join The Journal’s campaign to return that support.”

Thousands of young people have also been on the receiving end of the Foundation’s good-will cash gestures.

Jill Boak, deputy regional manager with the DePaul Trust, which helps rehabilitate young offenders said: “We have workers who will have met with the young offenders leaving prison and beginning the process of existing in the community, looking at housing opportunities and any on-going issues they have.

“Workers in the community pick up that person and work with them until they no longer need support, reducing reoffending and preventing them from re-entering the prison system.”

And Debra Daglish, from St Oswald’s Hospice, in Gosforth, Newcastle, added: “Northern Rock has been incredibly generous towards St Oswald’s over the years and we’d like to express our support for the company, their staff and the Northern Rock Foundation.

“In 2000, The Northern Rock Foundation awarded us a grant of £250,000, to go towards building a Children’s Service. As a beneficiary and your next-door neighbour – we’d like to reiterate our ongoing support for and huge thanks to everyone at Northern Rock.”

Where thy treasure is, there does thy heart lie

THE Journal has been inundated with emails from businesses and community groups keen to offer Northern Rock support.

Copies of yesterday’s front page calling on people to rally around the bank have been emailed across a network of faithful North-East companies and charities, all passing on our message to their members.

Wrekenton Methodist Church Hall, Gateshead, benefited from a £25,000 grant from the bank’s charity foundation in 2005.

The Rev Elaine Lindridge said: “They helped us when we needed them and they are one of the most community minded businesses in the region. They are really good to work with and offer their full support. So we just wanted to do a little bit from our side.

“We are emailing members of the church with copy of The Journal’s front page and we will be including details in our church newsletter. What we have also done is made sure the industrial chaplain is aware and encouraging others to offer their support.

“We will remember the bank and its staff in our prayers.”

Robert Langley, senior partner at law firm Watson, Burton promised to do his bit to help spread the message of support.

After requesting a copy of the front page to email, he said: “Without Northern Rock, many organisations would not be here at all. The bank’s extraordinary track record of sponsorship and giving has made the region a much richer cultural, sporting and business centre.

“The Journal’s strong support for Northern Rock is to be applauded."