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WOODSMITH FOUNDATION INVESTS OVER £315,000 TO SUPPORT OVER 65S IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES

07 December, 2022

The Woodsmith Foundation has awarded grants totalling over £315,000 to fund initiatives aimed at supporting those aged 65 and over in the local area.

Eight organisations will benefit from funding the Foundation, which is funded by Anglo American, to help them deliver a range of programmes that will help senior citizens from Teesside to Scarborough.

Carers Plus Yorkshire have received £53,196 to support people over 65 with poor mental health with one-to-one support whilst creating new inclusive social activities.

Elizabeth McPherson CEO, Carers Plus Yorkshire, said: “We are delighted to be working with, and supporting residents over 65, who would like to build and maintain their positive mental health.

“The combination of skills between ourselves and Mind will bring a new and strong partnership to the communities we are seeking to serve; over time we hope to capture learning and create a great blueprint to share with other communities and partners.”

Age UK Teesside will use their £40,000 grant to provide benefits advice to those aged 65 and over in Redcar and Cleveland.

“The cost of living crisis is having a profound impact on mental and physical health and has the potential to result in many avoidable deaths this winter and beyond. The Woodsmith Foundation is providing a lifeline to older people in need,” said Grants & Fundraising Manager Laura-Jane Wedgwood.

“The service will help ensure people are claiming their welfare benefit entitlements. Now more than ever, older people are suffering from financial hardship and fuel poverty.”

Woodsmith Foundation Chief Executive Leah Swain said: “We believe people over the age of 65 are a positive asset in our society, but some people might need a helping hand to ensure they can live independently for longer, stay healthy, keep connected to friends, family and their community and enjoy life.

“We are delighted to be able to award funding to a wide range of organisations delivering much needed support to local people including financial advice, help in the home, support for long term health conditions, and opportunities to get out and about and make new friends.”

The Woodsmith Foundation was set up to bring wider community benefits in addition to the positive economic impact of the mine. It has supported projects in Redcar and Cleveland Borough, Scarborough Borough and the North York Moors National Park to the tune of over £1.5million since 2017.

Anglo American pledged a four-year, £4m funding package when it acquired the Woodsmith Project in March 2020.

For more information on the Foundation, visit www.woodsmithfoundation.org.uk

For further information, please contact:

Leah Swain, Chief Executive
[email protected]
Tel: +44 (0) 07724 832982

Notes to editors:

About the Woodsmith Foundation:

The Woodsmith Foundation, previously Sirius Minerals Foundation, was established to distribute funds to local community projects, which can range from wellbeing support and social activities, skills training, action on social issues such as climate change, to improving public spaces and facilities The articles of association define the area of benefit as within the North York Moors National Park and the boroughs of Scarborough and Redcar & Cleveland. Once the mine goes into production a small proportion of annual funds may also be deployed outside the area of benefit, provided the Foundation’s objectives are still met.

Anglo American makes a donation to the Foundation of £1m a year while Woodsmith Mine is under construction. Longer term, it will be funded by percentage of mine revenue, which is expected to amount to several million pounds per year.

The charitable objectives of the Foundation are to:

  • Advance education, including supporting projects and training that benefit people by enhancing their skills;
  • Promote the general health of the community;
  • Advance environmental protection and improvement including the enhancing of the local landscape;
  • Provide and improve facilities in the interests of social welfare and leisure time with the aim to improve residents' well-being;

Help gain skills to those in need, because of financial hardship by being out-of-work, particularly the long-term unemployed.

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