Background information

Pennywell Neighbourhood Centre has existed as a project on the Pennywell estate in the west of Sunderland since 1989, originally funded by Save the Children, the City Council and the Health Authority.

The centre has a written constitution, and is a registered charity.

Its management committee is comprised of eight full members, who are elected resident representatives, two affiliated members who are representatives of local community groups and organisations, and two associate members who are employees undertaking activities within the centre, or under the Association's direction.

When the centre first opened, its aims were to address the health and social needs of the local community.

At that time, the centre operated from a converted council house, and project workers and volunteers worked alongside healthcare professionals.

As funding from Save the Children drew to an end, a decision was made to raise further funds to relocate to a larger purpose-built premises, which would also be capable of housing a fully fledged primary care team, and a piloted salary GP service until then, Pennywell did not have its own GP surgery.

The proposal was subject to widespread consultation across the local community, and the residents set about raising money towards the cost of the new building themselves, with a Buy a Brick scheme.

This fundraising scheme is well used now, but at the time it was quite unique.

Other funds came from SRB, English Partnerships, ERDF, the Lottery and the Northern Rock. In 2000, the project relocated to its present setting.

Buy a Brick Appeal

Now a well used fundraising tool, the centre's appeal was quite new, and captured the interest of a lot of people.

As the relocation of the centre was to be set in the centre of Pennywell, and community ownership was seen as crucial by both the centre management committee and staff, any fundraising appeal had to ensure that residents felt they made a real difference to the centre when they contributed.

The centre launched its Buy a Brick appeal locally, and set donations for purchasing bricks at levels which enabled everyone to contribute.

Bricks were available in standard brick colour, bronze, silver and gold, and were priced at ?1.00, ?10.00, ?100 and ?1000 respectively.

Each brick purchased was engraved with the buyer's name or organisation, and when building began, the bricks were built into a colourful wall in the entrance of the building, along with the foundation stone laid by the Right Honourable Frank Dobson, MP, for everyone to see as they walk in.

Local organisations, and businesses were approached, as well as past and future funders, and of course, residents. The appeal raised ?10,000.

Our Buy a Brick wall