Hard‑pressed families and communities across the North East are set to receive fresh support as Mayor Kim McGuinness launches the latest round of her Opportunity Fund, aimed at tackling the cost of living crisis.
Round four of the fund will distribute up to £7,500 per grant in a total £225,000 package to grassroots organisations providing immediate, practical help to residents struggling with rising costs.
Kim McGuinness, Mayor of the North East, said: "Too many families are still having to make impossible choices – cutting back on essentials, worrying about bills, and wondering how far their money will stretch.
"That’s why I’m taking direct action.
"This funding is about getting help to people quickly, through the local organisations they already know and trust.
"Whether it’s help with food, advice on energy bills or simply making sure people can access the support they’re entitled to, this funding will make a real, practical difference to people’s lives."
Areas covered by the scheme include County Durham, where organisations can apply through Point North, and Northumberland and Tyne & Wear, where applications go through the Community Foundation.
Applicants must apply by July 27.
The fund prioritises organisations supporting people facing the greatest financial pressures, particularly those with low or unstable incomes and limited access to mainstream services.
Funding will be used to develop and deliver services such as community food provision, low-cost essentials, energy-saving measures, and schemes that improve access to services through digital support or community transport.
This work forms part of Ms McGuinness' broader effort to tackle inequality and poverty in the region.
Her wider plans include a £30 million Child Poverty Action Plan, the Mayor’s Fares transport scheme—which has saved travellers more than £70 million—and a £2.3 million Warm Homes programme that has helped thousands of households reduce energy costs and stay warm.
Earlier rounds of the Opportunity Fund have delivered support to projects helping people stay fed, warm, and connected during ongoing financial hardship.
The latest round is designed to complement wider support schemes and deliver emergency aid directly to neighbourhoods across the North East.
The Opportunity Fund is managed in partnership with the Community Foundation North East and Point North, ensuring funding reaches frontline organisations embedded in their communities.
Rob Williamson, CEO of the Community Foundation North East, said: "Whilst there has been better news on food inflation recently, we know families are still struggling to pay for essentials like food and energy.
"Charities too are struggling to keep up with demand and their own rising costs.
"That’s before the energy price cap rise in July and the ongoing uncertainty across the economy.
"I’m pleased that working with the Mayor, Community Foundation North East will be delivering this fourth round of her fund to support practical, immediate help to those struggling with the cost-of-living.
"Funding will be there to support organisations as we head into the Winter and will make a real difference in communities."
Michelle Cooper, CEO at Point North, also welcomed the renewed support for grassroots groups.
Ms Cooper said: "Across County Durham and the North East, there are incredible community groups quietly doing some of the most important work in our region, opening their doors to people in crisis and offering not just practical support, but warmth, dignity and hope.
"For many people struggling with the cost of living, these organisations are often the last place they turn to, and what they find there changes lives.
"They deserve to be backed, and this round does exactly that."
The Mayor’s Opportunity Fund continues to build on established schemes, reinforcing the North East’s commitment to practical, community-focused action on poverty and the rising cost of living.
Organisations interested in applying for support are encouraged to visit the Community Foundation or Point North websites before the July 27 deadline.
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