Charities in County Durham
There are 1,400 registered charities based in and around County Durham. 986 of them (70%) are small, with an income under £100,000 a year. The most common causes are children and young people, education, and the arts and heritage.
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What they work on
- Children and young people427
- Education344
- Arts and heritage206
- Disability158
- Poverty and hardship79
- Older people63
- Animals43
- Environment43
We count a charity under a cause when its description on the register makes it clear, which is true of 929 of the 1,400. Charities are placed by their registered address, so the numbers include some national charities with an office here. Volunteers are as reported by the 803 local charities under £1 million a year that file an annual return, from the returns held in October 2026. Data from the Charity Commission register, last refreshed in June 2026.
Charities for children and young people in County Durham
5 of the 427 we found.
County Durham Arts in Education Agency
DH9 · Income £100k to £1m
County Durham Arts in Education was established in 2001. It trades under the name of The Forge and provides an arts in education service to young people principally in County Durham and the wider region.
The County Durham Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs
DL2 · Small charity, income under £100k
Educational activities e.g. public speaking, stock judging, cookery, craft Meeting and social events e.g formal meetings with speakers, inter club eventsQuizzes and competitions.Personal developmentTraining - First Aid,…
St.andrews Youth Club, Brandon
DH7 · Income under £10k
St Andrews Youth Club, Brandon develops and delivers social education activities for children and young people aged 5-18 years living in the Brandon Byshottles area. The project provides, in the main, recreational and…
Deric Youth Bus Project
DH7 · Small charity, income under £100k
The charity delivers centre based services for young people, children , elderly and the wider community. The services are delivered by trained youth work staff and professional agencies - providing advice, support and…
Oxhill Youth Centre
DH9 · Small charity, income under £100k
We are a Youth club who provide a mixture of activities for young people age between 8 and 25. Below is just a small list of some of the activities we provide are Annual PantomimeTable Tennis…
Education charities in County Durham
5 of the 344 we found.
County Durham and Darlington Nhs Foundation Trust Charity
SR8 · Income £100k to £1m
The Charity, with the help of invaluable contributions from supporters of our hospitalsand community services, provides an opportunity to undertake activities and enhance patient care that might otherwise not be…
Headway County Durham
DH9 · Small charity, income under £100k
A registered charity set up to help improve the lives of those who have suffered brain injuries in the County Durham area. This includes support, services and information for brain injury survivors, their families and…
The Sedgefield Educational Foundation
TS21 · Income under £10k
Funding suport for education and training
Muker Educational Trust
DL12 · Income under £10k
Educational grants
Barningham Relief in Need and Educational Charity
DL11 · Income under £10k
Supporting education and/or training of young people
Arts and heritage charities in County Durham
5 of the 206 we found.
The Spennymoor Youth Theatre Group
DL15 · Small charity, income under £100k
Spennymoor Youth Theatre Group provides training in the performing arts to young people with an interest or talent in this field regardless of their financial status.
Darlington Community Theatre
DL1 · Small charity, income under £100k
Our aim is to advance the education of the public in the performing arts by establishing and operating a community theatre in Darlington and its surrounding areas
Cleveland Chamber Orchestra
TS21 · Income under £10k
Music concerts
The Weardale Museum
DL13 · Small charity, income under £100k
We are a small independent folk museum run by volunteers for the past 35 years and located at the High House Methodist Chapel .We provide a sense of place for those who live and visit Weardale by telling the stories of…
Friends of the Oriental Museum
DH3 · Income under £10k
The charity was formed for the purposes of providing financial and practical support to the Oriental Museum (which is part of the University of Durham) and to inform members about all aspects of the history, culture…
Disability charities in County Durham
5 of the 158 we found.
Friends of Wear Valley Centre
DL14 · Income under £10k
Support social activities for people with learning disabilities who attend Wear Valley Centre in Crook, County Durham
Darlington Mencap Society
DL1 · Small charity, income under £100k
The charity provides social activities, help and support for people with learning disabilities in friendly and welcoming club premises in Darlington. It operates 3 evenings per week using volunteers to provide all…
Chester-le-street Town Football Club
DH2 · Income £100k to £1m
Adult Men's and Women's football teams, junior teams providing coaching for under 5 - 18 year olds, Walking Football Section for Over 50 years of age, who if, due to a lack of mobility or for other reason, they are not…
Hetton Buddies
DH5 · Small charity, income under £100k
Hetton Buddies provides weekly recreational activity sessions for children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities and their parents, carers and families.
Heel and Toe Ltd
DH2 · Income £100k to £1m
Heel & Toe Children's Charity provides therapy to children with Cerebral Palsy and other physical disabilities. Our highly experienced therapy service can provide assessments, block treatments or regular 1.1 sessions.…
Poverty and hardship charities in County Durham
5 of the 79 we found.
Wheels 2 Work County Durham
DH2 · Income £100k to £1m
The charity aims to assist people to get and keep jobs through the provision of transport where public transport is not adequate to meet their needs. Specifically it is establishing a scooter loan scheme in parts of…
North East Ladies Day
DL14 · Small charity, income under £100k
North East Ladies Day provides support to the local community within the North East of England, raising charitable donations to be distributed to local community groups, other charities and organisations, which will…
Ben & Victoria Ononeze Foundation
DL16 · Income under £10k
1. The relief of sickness and the preservation of health, and the relief of poverty and financial hardship among people living in Imo state, South Eastern Nigeria.
Bullion Community Resource Centre
DH2 · Income £100k to £1m
To provide strategic community development in Chester-le-Street and surrounding areas. This includes working in partnership with others to tackle poverty and deprivation to support health and well being, employability…
Communities Together Durham
DH1 · Income £100k to £1m
To promote the efficiency and effectiveness of Christian based charities in the furtherance of their objects or any one of them mainly but not exclusively by the provision of information, advice, support and…
Charities for older people in County Durham
5 of the 63 we found.
Age UK North Yorkshire and Darlington
DL1 · Income £100k to £1m
The Charity provides extensive portfolio of activities based on Health, Learning and Leisure for the benefit of people 50+
Henry Smith's Charity
DH1 · Small charity, income under £100k
Providing grants to assist young people and older people in need in the area of benefit of the Charity
Jacob Wright's Cottages
DH3 · Small charity, income under £100k
Provision of 5 homes for older people in the village of Evenwood.
U3a North East Region
DL13 · Income under £10k
The advancement of education and, in particular, the education of older people and those who are retired from full time work by all means, including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development.
Derwent Valley U3a
NE16 · Income under £10k
The advancement of education and in particular the education of older people and those who are retired from full time work, by all means, including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development in…
Small charities in County Durham
Most charities here are small, often a few volunteers doing good work close to home, and few of them can afford to advertise. Each of these has an income under £100,000 a year and has reported its accounts recently.
Dawdon 2nd Seaham Scout Group
SR7 · Small charity, income under £100k
Weekly meetings involving:Games,Crafts,Compass&Map reading,Rope Knots,Camping Essentials,Hikes Etc. also Community awareness- Friendship & Self well-being .
Durham Samaritans
DH1 · Small charity, income under £100k
Listening, and offering emotional support, to those in distress
Hunstanworth Village Hall
DH8 · Income under £10k
Provide a common hub for the local community. Maintain and improve the village hall for the benefit of all of the parishioners of Hunstanworth. Facilitate local activities and life long education in the community.…
Villa Real School Association
DH8 · Small charity, income under £100k
Fundraising arm for Villa Real School a purpose built mixed day special school for children & young people aged 2-19 years with severe, complex, profound and multiple learning difficulties and autism. Many of them have…
Horden Centennial Centre (Hcc)
SR8 · Small charity, income under £100k
Our community venue is a centre for regeneration; a fully equipped community venue open to all where people can meet, eat, learn, socialise, exercise and be part of community life.
Seaham Unit 299 of the Sea Cadet Corps
SR7 · Small charity, income under £100k
Offering 9 to 17 year olds life-changing nautical adventure based on the customs and traditions of the Royal Navy. Opportunities include Rowing, Sailing, Power-boating, Kayaking, Adventurous Training,…
Hazlerigg and District War Memorial Community Centre and Playing Field
DL4 · Income under £10k
To arrange and provide for the holding of exibitions, shows, meetings, bingos, youth club, mother and toddler.
Livernorth
DH9 · Small charity, income under £100k
See annual report submitted
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Get my personal shortlistQuestions people ask
How many charities are there in County Durham?
There are 1,400 registered charities based in and around County Durham. 986 of them (70%) are small, with an income under £100,000 a year. The figures come from the Charity Commission register for England and Wales, last refreshed in June 2026, and count charities by their registered address.
What do charities in County Durham work on?
The most common causes are children and young people (427), education (344), and the arts and heritage (206). We count a charity under a cause when its own description on the register makes that clear, which is true of 929 of the 1,400, so the real numbers are higher.
How many people volunteer for charities in County Durham?
Local charities in and around County Durham have 20,012 volunteers between them. That's what 803 charities with an income under £1 million a year told the Charity Commission in their latest annual return. Charities with an income under £10,000 don't have to report it, so the real number is higher.
How do I choose a charity in County Durham to support?
Start with what matters to you. Answer a few short questions and we'll pick the few County Durham charities that fit you best, with the reasons why. It's free, takes a couple of minutes, and we never ask for any contact details. No charity can pay to appear on your list. Start with your story.
How can I check a charity in County Durham is genuine?
Look it up on the Charity Commission register by its name or charity number. Its page there shows what it does, who its trustees are and its latest accounts. Every charity on this page links straight to its register record.
Charities in places nearby
Somewhere else, or closer to your street? Search by postcode.