A busy and much-loved Bishop Auckland community hub is set to smash an important target in its drive to raise much-needed funds to keep its doors open – and continue welcoming local children, young people and families to its popular clubs and activities.
Since October 2021, Auckland Youth and Community Centre Limited (AYCC) has been working in partnership with the Co-op Community Fund, after being chosen as one of three local good causes to benefit from a year-long fundraising campaign, thanks to the generous support of the Co-op and its customers. As the current campaign ends on Saturday, October 22nd, the Woodhouse Close based charity is pulling out all the stops to raise as much money as possible in the time remaining.
AYCC intends to smash its initial target of £1,200 and hopefully go on to raise much more besides.
Always keen to help local causes to benefit as much as possible from their charitable initiatives, the Co-op Community Fund is working to help out as much as possible, wherever possible. Meanwhile, AYCC staff and volunteers are working hard to spread the word in the local community and online – to encourage people to consider lending their support whilst shopping at the Co-op.
John Wiseman, AYCC Business Development Manager, said:
“Everyone at AYCC is really excited about our current partnership with the Co-op Community Fund. We’re so grateful to the Co-op’s staff and customers for giving us this opportunity. We’re ready for the last leg of the campaign, which has raised us over £1,000 so far. Before it closes in a few weeks, we aim to smash our original £1,200 target, and hopefully raise much more. It’s vital that we raise as much as we can. £1,000 will pay for two weeks keeping the doors open, the lights and heating on, the building clean and tidy and all running smoothly. After that, every £200 we raise will pay for us to run one full After School Club session; the Club has been running for decades and it’s now more popular and over-subscribed than ever.”
Tracey Ablett, Member Pioneer for Bishop Auckland, Shildon and Newton Aycliffe, said:
“It has been fantastic working with AYCC this year and Co-op colleagues would really love to see them smash their fundraising target. Since the introduction of the Local Community Fund the Co-op members have raised £95.66 million for UK causes, and in the local community our members have raised £44,962 for causes which promote our community missions of Fair Access to Food, Fair Access to Mental Wellbeing and Fair Access to Employment, Training and Opportunities for Young People.”
Councillor Samantha Townsend (representative for Shildon and Dene Valley division on Durham County Council) said:
“Many people may be unaware of the great work that AYCC do for the young people of Shildon. AYCC provide excellent detached youth work services in our town and recently have set up a very successful youth club in the Foundations building on Tuesday nights. Following the pandemic our young people are desperate for high quality youth services and the youth workers at AYCC provide that. Please support them in their fundraising efforts.”
