It takes a community to make a community

DASH is delighted to be a partner in the Gilesgate & Belmont Wellbeing Project.

This is a mutual aid partnership project which was established in April 2020 in response to the need to support local people during Covid19. It is delivered by members of Gilesgate Residents Association, Laurel Avenue Community Association, Durham City Baptist Church, Kings Church, Emmanuel Church, Belmont Labour Branch and DASH.

The project provides distribution of donated food Monday – Saturday. Food is collected from local supermarkets which would otherwise be sent to landfill. Volunteers have a daily list of deliveries and provide ‘treat and a chat’ on the doorstep to residents who are elderly and isolated in addition to making up food hampers for those who are struggling due to poverty. It also provides free books, DVDs, jigsaws, craft materials and children’s toys and board games. The project reaches a min 75 households each week (+100 residents).

The project is coordinated on a daily basis by Cllr Christine Fletcher and Victoria Ashfield, a Durham City Parish councillor. There are currently 26 active volunteers who between them give over 1,500 hours of their time a year.

Cllr Christine Fletcher said “Having the support of DASH to help us deliver this much needed help to our local residents who are struggling is wonderful. It takes a community to make a community work. We needed help to collect the food boxes and DASH has provided the essential transport to make it happen. This help from DASH shows us that when we work together we can make a massive difference. We look forward to working with DASH over the coming year.”