A SHARE of thousands of pounds is set to be split between charitable organisations in a bid to bridge the gap between community needs and budget cuts.

A donation of £16,000 will be divided between 25 charities as part of a pledge to support vulnerable and lonely elderly residents and to fund medical research.

Members of the Darlington Building Society voted that helping pensioners and contributing to potentially life-saving healthcare studies should be the priorities of the building society when splitting the £16,000 sum.

Following the vote held earlier this year, employees from the organisation have selected groups in need, including Darlington’s St Teresa’s Hospice, Growing Old Living in Darlington (GOLD), and Bike Stop.

A public vote will now be held to decide how the total figure will be shared amongst the three nominated charities and 21 other community-based organisations in the North-East.

Kathleen Rickaby, customer service consultant at the Darlington Building Society’s Cockerton branch, nominated the Alzheimer’s Society to be shortlisted for a cash boost.

She said: “This was a wonderful opportunity for the staff at all branches to give back to charities that mean a great deal to them.

“The Alzheimer’s Society has offered support to myself and my wider family in recent years so I’m very pleased that they, as well as all other shortlisted charities, will receive some support from the affinity initiative.”

Up to £1,600 is available per branch to be donated to their three shortlisted charities.

The organisation that receives the highest number of votes from the public will be named as the Darlington Building Society’s respective branch partner and benefit from all in-branch fundraising activities throughout the year.

Darlington Building Society’s brand and customer insight officer, Josh Palin, said: “Listening to what our members say is extremely important to Darlington Building Society but we also want to give the people of our region a chance to have their say on who we support.

“We want everyone in the community to feel involved because there are so many organisations that do fantastic work around us.

“Through this programme, we hope to be able to support the charities our members and the public feel have the greatest need.”

The voting process is now open to the public and building society members both online and in society branches on Tubwell Row and off West Auckland Road in Cockerton.

To vote, visit darlington.co.uk