The Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of The Northern Echo parent company is providing £128,000 in cash to support charities across the country.

The Foundation asked the public to decide where this money should go. People nominated in their thousands and a shortlist of 10 charities in each region will now be in with a shout of sharing in the £16,000 giveaway.

The public can now decide which of the 10 charities in the North East region get the money, with readers cutting out a coupon from the paper to say who should benefit.

Readers now only have until Sunday, November 20 to vote for their chosen charities, three of which are based in County Durham.

Read more: Readers' Choice: Charity helping families bereaved by suicide to win share of £16K

The Northern Echo: Heel & Toe provides therapies for children and young people with complex needsHeel & Toe provides therapies for children and young people with complex needs (Image: The Northern Echo)

The first being Heel & Toe which supports children with complex needs and is based in Pelton that provides various free therapies and support for children living with physical/neurological disabilities.

The charity has been going since 2008 and helps children and young people from birth up to 19 years from all over the North East.

The next charity is The Angel Trust Based in Bishop Auckland. Giving a helping hand to those living in County Durham and Darlington, the charity has a community pantry and foodbank.

The Northern Echo: Staff and volunteers at The Angel Trust community pantry and foodbankStaff and volunteers at The Angel Trust community pantry and foodbank (Image: The Northern Echo)

It also hosts social events intended to lift the public’s spirit in times of hardship, the charity has hit the news recently with the positive it has had on the North East.

Quinn’s Retreat is the third hyper-local charity to receive a share of the cash on offer. Based in Barnard Castle, the charity was set up after two parents lost their 17-year-old daughter, Quinn, to suicide in December 2018.

Providing short breaks away for local families affected by bereavement by suicide, this service is always in demand.

The Northern Echo: The County Durham Together Awards 2021 take place at Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham City. Winner of the Unsung Hero Award, Tracey BeadleThe County Durham Together Awards 2021 take place at Ramside Hall Hotel, Durham City. Winner of the Unsung Hero Award, Tracey Beadle (Image: Chris Booth)

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