Opening Up New Horizons For The Bilton Hall Community

Exploring Christmas markets in Edinburgh to rollercoasters at Flamingo Land – funding from the Reece Family Trust has helped Bilton Hall Community Trust give local people the chance to get out, explore new places and spend time together.

Based in Jarrow, Bilton Hall is an independent, community-led centre offering activities, support and opportunities for people of all ages.

Its roots stretch back decades, but the organisation as it exists today was shaped by a pivotal moment in 2006, when the community was faced with the prospect of losing the centre altogether. Rather than see it close, local people stepped forward to secure its future, with Centre Manager Joanna Tuck among those leading the way.

Today, Bilton Hall continues to be largely volunteer-led, supported by a small team funded through a range of community projects.

Funding from the Reece Family Trust has enabled the team to add a series of affordable community trips giving local people opportunities to visit places they might otherwise not get the chance to experience.

Groups have travelled to York, Scarborough and Edinburgh, while families and young people have enjoyed trips to Flamingo Land and Wickham Thorns.

Around 35 to 45 people have typically joined each of the larger trips, with the funding used to cover transport costs and make the days accessible to as many people as possible.

For Joanna, one of the most striking things has been seeing just how significant a relatively simple day out can be. She said:

“The funding has been essential in allowing us to put these trips on. There are so many places that aren’t actually that far away, but people simply haven’t had the opportunity to visit them.

“Edinburgh was a great example. Lots of people had never been before, and it gave families and friends the chance to experience somewhere new together that they probably wouldn’t otherwise have been able to go to.

“The buses were full and people really appreciated the opportunity. Without the funding, those trips just wouldn’t have happened.”

Flamingo Land has long been a popular request, while Blackpool and its famous illuminations are already among the suggestions for a future trip.

For an organisation built around bringing people together, that social connection is every bit as important as the destination.

The Reece Family Trust supports grassroots organisations across Tyneside and South Northumberland, helping them create opportunities that strengthen communities and improve people’s health, wellbeing and life chances.

At Bilton Hall, that support has translated into full coaches, new experiences and hundreds of miles of shared memories, showing how the right funding in the hands of a trusted community organisation can make an immediate difference to local lives.

Find out more about their work here https://www.biltonhallct.com/ and contact enquiries@reecefamilytrust.org to speak to us about your project.