Since 2022, the County Durham Pound has helped unlock over £1 billion in social value for local people, businesses and communities. That’s not a projection, that’s what happens when the right organisations commit to spending local. Social value can be generated through local hiring, supporting community projects and engaging with local businesses or charities to…
County Durham Pound associates and social value ambassadors Esh Group empowered over 20,000 primary school pupils across the North East to consider careers in construction, science and technology through the delivery of their Get into STEM workshops and toolkits. Get into STEM with Esh Group Since 2015, Esh Group has led this initiative, designed to…
At the heart of every social value initiative lies collaboration. The powerful partnership between Waterstons and St Cuthbert’s Hospice is a perfect example of how working together can deliver valuable savings for charities. St Cuthbert’s Hospice provides free care and support to those coping with life-limiting illnesses, approaching the end of life and families…
Lucy Youlton joined Esh Group as an Apprentice Social Value Coordinator in August 2023. Now 18 months into her role, the 19-year-old, from Chester-le-Street reflects on the importance of social value in construction, an award-winning start to life at Esh and the community impact being made across County Durham through key social value engagements. My…
Meet Simon Harris – not the Irish PM but believe housing’s new recruit A tenant who feared his punk look and years away from employment, caring for his partner, would prevent him from finding a job has landed a role with believe housing. Former freight worker Simon Harris gave up his job at Newcastle Airport,…
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A range of electric vans and cars has been added to believe housing’s fleet as it continues to find ways to reduce its carbon footprint. The County Durham-based housing association, which manages more than 19,000 affordable homes, now has three Vauxhall Combo-e Life and 11 Vauxhall Vivaro-e vans and two Nissan Leaf cars in its…
Contractors working on the creation of the new Durham Investigative Hub are celebrating a major new milestone after boosting the social and economic value of the project beyond £10m. The Durham Gate development, which will provide more than 6,600m2 of up-to-date accommodation including 48 modern cells, has been intentionally designed to improve local opportunities, life…
Northumbrian Water’s Branch Out fund was set up to help enable local communities, land managers, organisations and individuals to make a positive difference to the natural environment in the North East. The fund, which offers grants of up to £25,000, supports projects that reconnect habitats for the benefit of people and wildlife, building resilience for…
