Community charity wins £5k prize
A Sunderland charity has won an award with a cash prize.
Upcycle Outhouse, part of the Parker Trust charity, was named a regional winner in the Jewson Building Better Communities competition 2017, with the project scooping £5,000 worth of materials.
The charity, based on Kayll Road, offers support to young people in the local community with a range of physical, educational and social activities.
With the support from Jewson, the charity can now transform a disused warehouse on its site to expand its city-wide upcycling project, and provide affordable furniture to those who need it.
Karen Wood, manager at the Parker Trust, said: “We’re over the moon to win £5,000, which will kick-start the renovation of our Upcycle Outhouse.
“Hopefully this will be the start of a massive project in Sunderland.”
Upcycle Outhouse was invited to join the 25 other winners at an awards ceremony at the University of Nottingham where celebrity architect George Clarke presented the prizes.
He said: “I’ve been so impressed with the projects and amount of causes helped over the past few years, so it’s been an honour to have supported the Building Better Communities competition from Jewson.
“The funds donated will help the groups and charities make huge improvements to their buildings and, ultimately, make a difference to the communities of today and of the future.”
John Cullen, branch manager at Jewson Sunderland, said: “Massive congratulations to Upcycle Outhouse! We received a record number of entries this year, so this really is a huge achievement.