Bernicia Foundation launched with £1 million funding

Housing association Bernicia has opened its new £1 million charitable foundation to support people and communities across the region.

The foundation will fund projects and initiatives that have the potential to deliver lasting community benefits as well as those that support individuals to achieve their ambitions.

The foundation will channel profits from Bernicia’s commercial property arm Kingston. It will be led by Andrea Malcolm, director of people, culture and communications at Bernicia, alongside a board of trustees.

Social and financial well-being will be at the heart of the foundation’s work.

Andrea said: “The Bernicia Foundation is an exciting opportunity for us to award grants to organisations committed to delivering real community benefits, such as tackling loneliness and accessing employment opportunities, as well as providing support for young talent to flourish.”

“As a responsible business and landlord, we recognise the important role and opportunity we have to support our wider communities.

“We are inspired daily by the creativity and determination of people across our region to support one another and want to do all that we can to help.”

Two types of grants will be available from the foundation to organisations and people across the whole of the North East.

Inspiration grants of between £5000 and £10,000 will be made to voluntary or community groups and inclusive grants of up to £1000 will target inspirational young people aged 24 and under or organisations helping young people.

Bernicia chief executive, John Johnston, added: “The Bernicia Foundation will provide additional support to our communities at a time when arguably they need it the most.

“Bernicia’s commercial company, Kingston, which provides estate, property and facilities management expertise to 20,000 homeowners, operate under a profit for purpose ethos and gift aid their annual surplus to Bernicia.

“The Bernicia board are determined that £1 million of this, over the next four years, should be used to support the work of our newly established foundation.”