Can I once again take this opportunity on behalf of myself and my wife Olive to thank all of you in the local community who helped and supported my Mayoral year charity appeal. The donation of over £36,000 pounds to the “County Durham Society for the Blind and Partially Sighted” and “Durham Association of Clubs for Young People” has made a real difference to their work, not only in our ward of Neville’s Cross, but also across the whole of the City.

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY

Grants and support to “Crossgate Community Partnership”.

Grants to the “Friends of Flass Vale” to support their work in looking after the Local Nature Reserve

Grants to Durham Heritage Centre and Museum for restoration of historic stained glass windows and lighting

(Photograph by kind permission of Dennis Jones)

Tree planting at Aykley Heads

Investment in the £2M Heritage Lottery Fund bid to refurbish Wharton Park.

Grants to the “VIPS” (Visual Impairment Problem Solving in County Durham)

Grants to Lowes Barn Bowls Club, including the purchase of a mower for volunteers to do additional grass cutting of the areas around the nearby play equipment.

Grants to the “Durham Community Association” (Shakespeare Hall) for internal maintenance.

Grant to “St Cuthbert’s Hospice” for equipment in their visitor’s café

Grant to help establish a Durham Woodcraft Folk group.

Community Noticeboard at Neville’s Cross.

New bus shelter at Merryoaks.

Grants to support the annual Eco-Fest event at St. John’s Church.

Grants to Neville’s Cross Over 60s Club

Grant to Durham Food Bank.

PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY

New handrail for Crossgate.

New controlled parking scheme for North End.

New controlled parking scheme for Old Dryburn Way and Boste Crescent.

Additional dropped kerbs to assist wheelchair users and parents with pushchairs (in progress).

Road and pavement repairs in several areas including Shaw Wood Close, Farnley Hey Road and St Bede’s Close (in progress).

Archery Rise ‘Shovel & Shake’ pilot scheme.

Clearing up the back Lane between Flass and Mowbray Streets.

SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE

New play equipment at Allergate

New play equipment in Allegate

New play equipment at Lowes Barn Playing fields, Merryoaks.

Refurbishment and repairs for Scout Hut at St John’s Church.

Grant to Durham Air Cadets (234 Squadron) to support their Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme.

Grants to “The Venue” (young people’s project in North Road)

Grants to “Student Community Action”, Durham University

Support to “Ruth First Educational Trust”

(Grenville and wife Olive with RFET scholars at Durham Town Hall-photograph by kind permission of Mike Thompson RFET)