Sainsbury's Bishop Auckland

We are a non-profit registered organisation that works from our community hub in St. Helens Auckland. Since taking over the venue, we have developed our services to include activities that aim to improve physical and emotional health, upskill, and educate, as well as reduce financial and social barriers. These activities and services include: Various Social/Learning Groups Cooking workshops Groups/events that involve food horticulture School holiday projects for families Eco Market Community events Community partnerships with external organisations and local authorities. Training opportunities Various volunteer opportunities Our social groups aim to enrich lives by offering activities that bring people together, build friendships, and support networks. We also aim to build new skills and offer educational opportunities, often working with other organisations and authorities in our area. From our groups, we can build trust, understanding, and thus support where needed. Food has always been a big part of what we are about, from our cooking workshops that are designed to inspire everyone to make better food choices through practical and fun sessions aimed at all ages and abilities, to nutritious meals and snacks created mostly from surplus foods and served within our social groups. Our Eco Market is an inclusive project aimed at helping to reduce food waste through the redistribution of surplus foods to our community. As an extension of this, foods are also shared with other organisations and schools. From this project, we can also actively reduce and educate others about the environmental impact of food waste and how a good diet can improve health. We do this through the provision of advice, guidance, recipes, and information. We want to build a stronger safer and more cohesive community, where opportunities for self-development and growth are accessible for all so that we can enhance the quality of life for residents in our local community.

The coffee morning is a volunteer-led group dedicated to bringing residents of Middridge together and strengthening community connections within the village. Recognising that many people in Middridge, particularly older residents, experience loneliness and isolation due to limited mobility, living alone, or reduced opportunities to socialise, the Middridge Community Connect Association runs a free two-hour weekly coffee morning at Middridge Village Hall. This welcoming session provides a warm, friendly space where residents can meet others, enjoy conversation, and feel part of their community again. For many attendees, the coffee morning offers an important opportunity to leave the house, build friendships, and reconnect with neighbours, helping to reduce social isolation and improve overall wellbeing. The sessions are organised and delivered entirely by local volunteers who are passionate about supporting their community and creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome regardless of age or circumstance. By removing financial barriers and keeping the event free to attend, the association ensures that all residents can take part, particularly those on fixed or limited incomes. The relaxed and informal atmosphere encourages conversation, laughter, and companionship, which plays a vital role in improving mental health by reducing loneliness, boosting confidence, and giving people something positive to look forward to each week. In addition to the emotional benefits, the coffee morning also supports physical wellbeing by encouraging residents to remain active, maintain routines, and engage socially, all of which contribute to healthier and more independent living. The gathering has become an important hub within the village, strengthening community spirit and helping neighbours support one another beyond the sessions themselves. Middridge Community Connect Association aims to reconnect people, improve mental and physical health, and ensure that no resident feels isolated, demonstrating how a simple volunteer-led coffee morning can make a meaningful and lasting difference to the wellbeing of the Middridge community.

Angel Trust was formed as a local charity for the local people of Darlington and County Durham. Our aim is to improve the local community and make life better for those living within it. We have created a food bank in Bishop Auckland town centre after being inundated with request for food support from individuals, through local referral agencies like social services, police, Macmillan, schools etc.