Young people are building confidence, skills and brighter futures thanks to nearly £100,000 in funding from Durham Freemasons Charity supporting King’s Trust programmes delivered across the region. Since 2023, Durham Freemasons have backed a unique ‘Dragon’s Den-style’ initiative where young people pitch community project ideas to a panel of experienced Freemasons who challenge, mentor, and fund the strongest proposals.
The partnership began when Gillian Hutchinson of Teesside-based college group, The Education Training Collective, approached Durham Freemasons Charity for seed funding to support the delivery of The King’s Trust 12-week Team Programme. Gillian leads the programme on behalf of the delivery partners, coordinating its implementation across the Education Training Collective, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, East Durham College and Derwentside College. Together, they support young people aged 16-25 who are not currently in education, employment or training.
An initial £50,000 was awarded over two years, alongside an additional £25,000 to The King’s Trust national charity to mark the Coronation year launch and support the charity’s direct work supporting young people in the region. A further award to locally delivered Team projects for 2026 brings the total investment from Durham Freemasons to nearly £100,000.
Each year, twelve projects are funded across three terms. By the end of 2026, nearly 100 community projects will have been supported across the province, from community garden clearances and sports club refurbishments to care home redecoration and community centre improvements.
Working in small teams, participants develop their ideas, research materials and costs, and present a formal pitch to three “Dragon-like” Freemasons with extensive life and business experience. The Dragons question each team before deciding how to support the project.
New for 2026 is the inclusion of members of the Order of Women Freemasons in the Durham area as Dragons, strengthening collaboration and broadening the mentoring support available.
One standout project took place at Willow View Care Home in Norton, Stockton, where students redecorated and revitalised a dementia dependency unit, transforming a plain white space into a brighter and more welcoming environment for residents.
Keaton, assistant leader of the group, said:
“When we first arrived, the unit was completely white, and we didn’t know what to expect. We worked with the care home team to choose from several colours and selected red, purple and blue to create a brighter, more welcoming space. We also added wallpaper near the lift to finish it off.”
He added:
“As assistant leader, I helped manage the team and supported others when they needed guidance.”
Bethany, who led on health and safety, said:
“I made sure everyone understood the risks and stayed safe while we were working.”
She added that Durham Freemasons funded the full project and would even consider additional support for a residential trip.
Deputy Head of Durham Freemasons Andrew Foster said the initiative is about more than funding:
“This term has been amazing. Seeing how the Durham Freemasons Charity, which is entirely funded by Freemasons, is making a difference in our communities and giving opportunities to young people who, for various reasons, face personal developmental barriers, is truly humbling.”
He also praised the confidence shown by participants who pitched for additional support for a residential course, saying:
“Asking if we might give them additional support recognises their entrepreneurial spirit, but more importantly, it showed how much their confidence has grown through this programme.”
Alyson Davey, a Grand Officer of the Order of Women Freemasons and one of the Dragons, said:
“I’ve really enjoyed being involved. It’s been wonderful to see Freemasons working together on projects like this, and I hope we’ve made a real difference to the young people.”
This year marks the 50th anniversary of The King’s Trust (formally the Prince’s Trust), while the Education Training Collective celebrates 30 years of delivering the programme locally.
Gillian Hutchinson said:
“This 12-week programme helps young people build confidence, teamwork and communication skills, while giving something back to their community. Young people don’t always get the best publicity, but those on The King’s Trust programmes prove every day that they want to make a positive difference.”
Through funding and hands-on mentoring, Durham Freemasons are helping young people overcome barriers, develop real-world skills and deliver meaningful improvements across the province of Durham.
