Bridge in North Durham

The Bridge Project has been well established in the Sunderland and Washington areas for many years, breaking down barriers to education and offering its women a safe environment. Bridge, however, became a victim of its own success, with demands for its services coming from all over the Durham area.

In the past, Social Services North Durham Mental Health Team had referred women to Bridge and it was now being recognised in the area that it was an excellent preventative mental health strategy. From this a partnership began. A joint bid was put forward to fund a worker for the North Durham area. The bid was successful and our new partnership began.

After months of searching for a base to work from in the area, a property came up in Chester-le-Street, and we eventually moved into 1 High Chare on 15th January 2001. With further successful funding from the Adult & Community Learning Fund and the Lloyds TSB Foundation we were able to employ a Development Worker and a full time Administrator. We also developed another partnership with New College Durham and we have grown from strength to strength with the help of their franchise agreement. Thanks to funding from One North East we were able to open our own computer suite and purchase laptops for courses in the community, but most importantly set up our wonderful creche.

True to Bridge form history has repeated itself and word about the success of Bridge in North Durham spread rapidly. By 2003 our building was bursting at the seams so the big property hunt began again.  At last in 2004 our prayers were answered when we were offered the old TV repair centre behind the Chester-le-Street Co-Op.  Alterations were made and our new accessible building was soon open for business. As well as a full course programme running at our centre we also run courses, in Nettlesworth and Croxdale and continue our much valued work in the Harding Ward at the County Hospital.