£100,000 has been awarded for regeneration projects in Newcastle communities, raised by contractors BAM and developers Ask Real Estate, and housing association Home Group.

Seven community groups will receive funding to deliver projects that until now have been out of reach. The first to get underway is the Pendower Good Neighbour Project. The charity works with residents on Pendower Estate, in the west end of Newcastle, to improve their quality of life and to make the estate a great place to live.

They have received support to transform overgrown garden space on the estate into a greenspace for both residents and visitors. Other projects to follow over the next several months include those for The Mercy Hub, Northbourne Youth Initiative, West End Women and Girls Centre, Building Futures East, West End Foodbank, and The People’s Kitchen.

Gillian Roll, head of strategy and product innovation at Home Group, said: “We’ve been based in the North East for over 85 years and are as committed now to enhancing lives, building aspirations and meeting the needs of people living in the Newcastle area as we’ve ever been.

“When complete next year, we hope One Strawberry Lane will be a beacon for enablement, collaboration and innovation for Newcastle’s voluntary and community sector. In the meanwhile, we want to start relationships with communities in and around the west end now.”

Home Group has contracted BAM for the construction of its new head office, One Strawberry Lane, next to St James Park. The programme is part of Home Group’s wider plans for engagement with the city’s voluntary and community sector once the building is finished.

“The team and I are progressing very well with these seven terrific schemes. To BAM, it’s so important to look after and improve the lives and conditions for people in the areas around us.

“Coming from the city myself, it gives me great pride to help my local community and it is part of our DNA as a business to think of others.’’

Craig Madge

Project Manager, BAM