Mayor Kim McGuinness has announced the launch of the second round of her £1m Opportunity Fund, aimed at creating meaningful opportunities for residents living in some of the North East’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
£225,000 Available for Community-Led Places and Spaces
This round will invest £225,000 in grants to support community-led places and spaces that help meet basic day-to-day needs. The focus is on creating opportunity, improving skills, digital access, and health outcomes, while also tackling child poverty.
Grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 are available for organisations working within the priority neighbourhoods identified by the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON).
Mayor Kim McGuinness, one of eight ICON commissioners, emphasised the importance of grassroots initiatives:
“This is about investing in the heart of our communities – the people and projects working every day to lift others up, tackle poverty, and provide real opportunity. We’re backing the kind of grassroots work that really changes lives by meeting local needs, revitalising villages, town centres and high streets, and restoring pride in place. If you’re building opportunity in your community, I want to hear from you.”
A Collaborative Effort for the North East
The Mayor’s Opportunity Fund is delivered in partnership with Community Foundation North East and Point North.
Rob Williamson, CEO of Community Foundation North East, said:
“We are delighted to be delivering this second round of The Mayor’s Opportunity Fund with colleagues at Point North. Community hubs are the essential lifeblood of towns, villages, and neighbourhoods across the North East, providing spaces for people and services to come together. Strengthening community life is one of Community Foundation North East’s key impact areas, and this round of the Fund will help increase inclusion, build connections, and provide vital support for people and places most affected by some of our area’s challenges.”
Michelle Cooper, CEO of Point North, added:
“We’re thrilled to have worked with the North East Combined Authority on the first round of the Mayor’s Opportunity Fund. Many of the groups the Fund supports are on the forefront of addressing poverty and the consequences of poverty.
For 30 years we’ve been making grants to communities in County Durham and the wider North East. By providing match funding for the Mayor’s Opportunity Fund, we are maximising the difference of every pound, making sure that we can make a difference to the most amount of people and that we can lay the groundwork for a stronger, brighter tomorrow for the North East.”
How to Apply
Organisations based in Tyne & Wear and Northumberland can apply through Community Foundation North East: www.communityfoundation.org.uk/apply/
Organisations based in County Durham can apply through Point North: www.pointnorth.org.uk/grants/
The deadline for applications is Midnight on Monday 7 July 2025.
Impact of the First Round
The first round of the Mayor’s Opportunity Fund awarded over £250,000 to 33 small charities and community groups. The funding targeted organisations making a real difference in disadvantaged neighbourhoods by bringing people together, creating opportunities, and building resilience.
Two further rounds of the Mayor’s Opportunity Fund will take place in 2026.
