About us
We’re Point North and we want a better today and a brighter tomorrow for everyone in County Durham, Tees Valley and the North East.
Point North is a Community Foundation
We’re a member of UK Community Foundations (UKCF), a movement of 47 accredited and independent community foundations.
Point North is the official community foundation for County Durham and Tees Valley.
As individual community foundations, we are locally rooted, and as UKCF members, we are nationally connected.
Each year, we collectively mobilise over £180 million to grassroots charities and community groups throughout the UK.
You can view a copy of our Quality Accreditation 6 certificate by clicking here.
Who we are
We’re Point North, a charity and a grantmaking organisation.
In simple terms, this means we raise funds through our donors – people and businesses who want a better today and a brighter tomorrow for local people. We then distribute those funds as grants to community groups.
Our work began in County Durham in 1995 to support local non-profits in addressing the needs of local people. And now, our mission is to fight poverty and enrich lives for everyone in County Durham, the Tees Valley and the wider North East.
Our small team is proudly rooted in County Durham, where our journey began nearly 30 years ago. Together, we’re determined to make today better and tomorrow brighter for our communities.
The majority of our grants support voluntary groups and charities that are making a difference in County Durham, Darlington and the Tees Valley, but you’ll also find Point North grants in the wider North East and beyond.
Our Board of Trustees is a diverse group of professionals from various sectors of the business and voluntary communities, ensuring a broad perspective and expertise in our governance.
What we do
Put simply, we get money in and get it out to where it can make the most difference to the most amount of people.
This means we raise funds from donors and supporters who want to make a difference locally. We then grant those funds to voluntary organisations, community groups, or charities that are doing various things to fight poverty and enrich lives.
Our grants support a wide range of community projects and organisations.
Whether that’s helping young people achieve their potential, supporting elderly care programmes, or funding local arts and cultural events; Point North is here to create a better today and a brighter tomorrow for communities in County Durham, Tees Valley and beyond.
Our purpose
At Point North, we’re all united by the same mission: fight poverty and enrich lives so that everyone has the opportunity to live a full life.
This means people have enough food, a safe place to live, quality education, a job with fair pay and the chance to enjoy themselves, fulfil their potential and create a better, brighter future for themselves and their families.
Having the bare minimum, though, is not enough; everyone deserves the chance to live healthy, happy, fulfilling lives in a sustainable, resilient, prosperous community.
By working together with local partners and our supporters, we aim to make a lasting difference for as many people as possible.
of people in the North East are living in poverty
Where to next?
Our supporters
Our work wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our donors and supporters, meet some of them here.
Our people
Meet all the people behind Point North. And in some cases, meet their pets too!
Our approach
Find out more about how we raise funds and make grants to support communities across County Durham and Tees Valley.
FAQs
We answer your questions about becoming a supporter, applying for a grant or about Point North.