We believe that people are greater than the issues by which society often defines them - homeless, drug addict, alcoholic, suffering mental illness. We feel that we can make a difference by believing in people when they do not believe in themselves.
The 700 Club have provided more than 350,000 bed-nights to those who would otherwise be forced to sleep rough, to sleep on a friend's floor, or to occupy some other kind of inappropriate accommodation.
The 700 Club offers a range of services to those who are homeless or inappropriately housed to help them as individuals overcome the barriers to living independently and to settle in a home of their choosing.
The 700 Club made a successful bid for funding from the County Durham & Darlington Community Safety Fund. The fund, administered by the County Durham Foundation, supports projects and initiatives across County Durham & Darlington that help keep communities safe and inspire public confidence.
Darlington Building Society in partnership with the County Durham and Darlington Community Foundation are helping to support a Mental Health Worker as part of the 700 Club Staff Team.
The 700 Club have received a Spirit of the Community award of £5000 from the Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank Foundation. It will be used to part fund an initiative directed towards the large number of individuals begging in Darlington Town Centre.
The 700 Club has co-opted Christopher Hunter to the Board of the 700 Club in an appointment that will be presented for formal ratification at the AGM in September 2018. He will hold the office of Treasurer.
In September a group of 700 Club service users and 700 Club staff travelled to Edinburgh. A trip to the zoo, a tour bus of the city and the Camera Obscura provided a full and enjoyable day.
The Shadow Secretary for Housing, John Healey MP and the MP for Darlington, Jenny Chapman, visited the 700 Club in September, met staff and heard about the excellent Trailblazer Project, an initiative to prevent homelessness.
The Virgin Money Foundation has awarded a second grant of £20,600 to support Bridge2Home, a project designed to help individuals and couples gain access to private rented sector housing.