Housebuilder’s donation helps local elderly people to socialise outside of the house

Local housebuilder, Barratt Developments North East, has donated £1,500 as part of its Community Fund initiative to MHA Communities Gateshead West; a charity that supports local older people in maintaining their independence and helps them live more fulfilled lives. This donation will ensure that its members are able to access socialising events, such as lunch clubs and trips out, as loneliness and isolation is high amongst the over 55s.

The charity, which is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary this year, serves approximately 200 residents across former mining villages and rural areas including Chopwell, Rowlands Gill, High Spen, Greenside, Crawcrook, Winlaton and Blaydon. Through befriending, lunch clubs, assisted shopping, outings and escorts to appointments, the charity is able to help to tackle loneliness and isolation in people living near Gateshead that are over 55. 

Although a nationwide charity, the need for Gateshead West branch was identified by a local GP, Dr Imlah at Rowlands Gill Medical Practice. The practice had noticed a significant proportion of its older patients were visiting them for a chat, finding visiting the surgery as a source for social interaction, which in turn highlighted that there was a significant number of people in the community suffering extreme loneliness and isolation. To combat this, two of the village churches, Strathmore Road Methodist and St Barnabas, initially started the branch as a voluntary befriending scheme, before developing into the MHA Communities branch known today by its members as a safe space for social, physical and mental wellbeing.

Like many charities, MHA Communities Gateshead West is finding that funding is becoming increasingly difficult; with council budget cuts, lottery funding suffering a decrease and the cost of living crisis giving rise to less donations all being a factor. The charity revealed it is working hard to avoid passing on the increased cost of food and heating venues to its vulnerable members, many of whom are on state pensions and disability benefits. 

Barratt Developments’ donation will be used specifically to pay for MHA Communities’ volunteer expenses, which helps to get less able members to its lunch clubs, dementia sessions and trips out. Without the support of donations, many North East communities would be left without a lifeline. In making the donation, Barratt Developments is not only supporting the charity with its crucial work, but is also encouraging other organisations to step forward during what is a financially challenging time for the charity.

Steve Ball, Sales Director at Barratt Developments North East, commented: “The incredible work done by the volunteers at MHA Communities is critical to our local community, and a cause that we are pleased we have been able to support. Charities are increasingly suffering from the decline in donations, and so for companies who are in a position to support, we strongly urge them to do the same in order to ensure that charities within the community, such as MHA Communities, are able to continue helping and supporting their members.”

Hannah Rowan, Scheme Manager at MHA Communities, said: “Many of our members are living alone and experiencing isolation, or have limited mobility or memory issues. Barratt Developments’ generous donation will allow us to support more members through socialisation activities such as lunch clubs and trips out, as well as helping more people to attend our dementia sessions. In turn, these events will truly have a hugely positive impact on older people’s mental health and wellbeing within the area, and ensure that they feel valued and an important part of the local community.”