A COMMUNITY foundation has enjoyed the most successful year in its history, giving out more than £2.5m to nearly 1,000 good causes.

The County Durham Community Foundation (CDCF) made 954 grants in the last 12 months, including £1.6m to groups and organisations and £827,000 to individuals; with the average grant standing at £2,636.

Of the £2.5m, £1.99m went to County Durham, £171,000 went to Darlington and £344,000 was spent in other areas.

Among the notable causes to benefit were First World War commemoration projects such as the Tommy sculpture in Seaham.

CDCF chairman Mark I’Anson said: “It’s with great pride that I report that this year has been our most successful ever with incoming resources of more than £4.5m; grant making for our community of over £2.5m; an endowment of over £9m and a small surplus in running costs, thereby protecting our reserves.

“This is an outstanding result and highlights the huge long-term benefits of our development strategy.”

In his notes to the Foundation’s annual report, Mr I’Anson adds: “The next year will be our 20th year and it is heart-warming that such a small county has been so generous in providing the means to help those who are delivering vital services and activities at a grassroots level.”

CDCF has now awarded more than £25m in 10,000 community grants since 1995.

In the last year, it created 25 new funds, received £3.8m in donations, helped more than 250 people into work and supported 11 local people represent the area in international competitions.

It distributed £3.52 for every person in County Durham and Darlington, has a 99-strong volunteer force and is now the seventh largest community foundation in the UK.

Grants were made on the following priorities: aspiring, healthier, greener, inclusive and safer. Around two-thirds of applications were approved, with nearly half of grants made for work with 13 to 25-year-olds.

The area given the most cash was the East Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP), at £330,735, with Weardale the lowest at £30,016; while the Mid Durham area received the most per person, at £6.05, compared to £1.58 for Derwent Valley.

The Durham area received the highest number of grants, at 100, with Weardale again the lowest, with 12.

CDCF is currently running its Surviving Winter appeal to help older and vulnerable people survive the freezing weather. For further details, visit cdcf.org.uk or call 0191-378-6340.