In Autumn 2025, we launched the Community Voice Fund in partnership with Bridge Creative CIC. The fund was created to give people with a learning disability and autistic people living in County Durham the opportunity to develop and lead projects that would benefit others with similar lived experience.
The Community Voice Fund offered small grants to support six-month projects. Applicants were asked to design projects that would make a positive difference to the lives of people with a learning disability and autistic people living in County Durham. The aim was to ensure that people with lived experience were at the centre of creating solutions, sharing ideas, and leading change within their communities.
Following the application process, a number of applicants were shortlisted and invited to take part in a public pitch event in November 2025. At the event, each applicant delivered a presentation about their proposed project, explaining what they hoped to achieve and how their project would benefit others.
Members of the public attending the event then voted on the projects. The voting process helped determine the level of funding awarded to each project, giving local people a direct role in supporting the ideas they believed would have the greatest impact.
As a result of the programme, six projects were successfully funded across County Durham. These projects are being led by people with a learning disability and autistic people, with ongoing support from our team and Bridge Creative CIC. The projects focus on improving opportunities, wellbeing, inclusion, and community participation for people with lived experience.
The funded projects will run throughout 2026 and will provide valuable opportunities for participants to develop skills, gain experience, and make a positive contribution to their communities.
Impact for People with Lived Experience
The Community Voice Fund gave people with lived experience the chance to:
- Design and develop a project that would benefit other people.
- Take part in a competitive application process.
- Present their ideas to a public audience at a pitch event.
- Manage project budgets and funding.
- Develop skills in planning, organisation, and communication.
- Lead and deliver a project from start to finish, with support where needed.
- Build confidence and gain experience in project management and leadership.
- Make a meaningful difference to the lives of other people with a learning disability and autistic people in County Durham.
The programme demonstrates the value of investing in lived experience and empowering people to lead work that matters to them and their communities.