Charity helping residents get finances back on track

A RURAL charity’s drive to help people living in remote parts of Teesdale and Weardale cope with the rising cost of living is being supported by a grant.
Utass (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services) runs a range of projects and services for the community and farmers.
The charity says it has seen an increase in the number of people looking for financial advice, as concerns grow about the rising cost of living. Staff are helping people regain control by finding appropriate support.
A £3,000 Newcastle Building Society grant will help Utass meet this growing demand.
Grace Crawford, funding and strategic development officer at Utass, said: “Helping people feel supported in their local community is an essential part of what we do and providing access locally to financial advice is an important part of our work.
“Everyone knows that the increasing cost of living is providing real challenges right across the board and in rural communities like ours, practical help can sometimes be difficult to find.
“We want people to know that we are here to help with financial worries – which we understand can be difficult to talk about – whether through advice we can offer ourselves or by helping people get support from other places.
“Through our long-standing presence in the Durham dales we hope that people can trust us enough to ask for help when they need it.
“We are so grateful for the generous support offered from Newcastle Building Society towards our work and would like to say a huge thank you to all of the staff who help raise funds towards this community fund.”
Donna Stubbs, Newcastle Building Society’s community manager, added: “Utass provides a brilliant example of how a community organisation can make a tangible difference to the quality of life that people in their area can enjoy.
“Connecting communities to a better financial future is absolutely central to the society’s way of working and we’re very pleased to be supporting an initiative which aims for the same goal.”
As well as financial support, Utass also organises other events, services, training and activities for dales people of all ages, including training, farm business support, youth drop-in sessions, retired farmers’ lunches, music and memories singing sessions, group trips and outings and social sessions, such as discussion groups and weekly creative coffee mornings.
Space is available at its Middleton-in-Teesdale premises for groups to hold events. Utass also runs a community transport service which makes two fully accessible minibuses available for residents and organisations.
The charity also hosts a satellite Post Office service two days a week. Call 01833 641010.