News & Resources

FAQS

Find answers to common questions about DASH’s services, referrals, and how we can support you or someone you care about. If you need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

How do i get help?

If you’re looking for support, simply reach out to us through our Get Support & Make Contact Page or contact us directly. We’ll guide you through the process, listen to your needs, and connect you to the right services. DASH offers a range of housing and holistic support options tailored to help individuals facing life’s toughest challenges.

Can i refer someone?

Yes. For information and guidance on how to complete a referral, go to Get Support.

What happens when i contact dash?

A member of our team will speak with you to discuss your needs. They will help you understand your options, or signpost you to other support services if appropriate.

Who can access Dash services?

DASH provides supported housing to single adults over the age of 18 who are residents of County Durham, with mid to high support needs and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. We also provide housing and health related floating support to adults over the age of 26. See How Can We Help for full details of the types of support DASH offers.

How quickly can i get support?

DASH do not offer emergency accommodation. All referrals are reviewed and responded to within 3 working days. If your referral is accepted, you will be invited to attend a Support Needs Assessment. Accommodation is allocated on a priority needs basis.

New trustees wanted

We particularly want to attract new trustees who have skills and experience in housing development or management, HR and volunteer management

Latest News

Housing & Support Worker

Working across all our Supported Housing Services, you will be responsible for providing excellent support to our service users with mid to high needs which may include mental and physical health issues, substance dependency and housing related support needs.

Thank you Moto Foundation

We received £1000 from Moto Foundation which will go towards purchasing new bedding and towel sets for referrals to our complex needs women’s project.

New trustees wanted

We particularly want to attract new trustees who have skills and experience in housing development or management, HR and volunteer management

It takes a community to make a community

DASH is delighted to be a partner in the Gilesgate & Belmont Wellbeing Project. This is a mutual aid partnership project which was established in April 2020 in response to the need to support local people during Covid19.

Resident testimonial

Dash have done nothing but support me from start to finish. When I first arrived I was rock bottom and had nobody at all to turn too,

Raise funds with easyfundraising

Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for Durham Action on Single Housing Ltd DASH with easyfundraising?

Gardening at Harry Mears House

Our residents at one of our supported accommodation projects have been busy clearing the surrounding areas of weeds and rubbish.

Testimonials from our residents

Since arriving at DASH things have improved greatly where I live at Harry Mears House. In March 2022 new double-glazed windows were installed. All the flats now have new showers and flooring.

Our Vulnerable Women’s Project gets a splash of paint!

We are grateful to the Henry Smith’s Charity for their kind donation towards the internal decoration of our Vulnerable Women’s Project

Providing support and accommodation within County Durham since 1972

3900 Accommodation referrals | 558 People accommodated | 359 Positive move on’s (over the last 5 years)

Tilbury Douglas volunteers do a fantastic job!

Tilbury Douglas, a major construction company, contacted DASH to see if we needed any help. We asked if they could help with some painting work at Harry Mears House, one of our properties and they agreed.

Durham Impact Project

DASH is working together with Durham Community Action to create an exciting new project where volunteering opportunities across a number of organisations will work in collaboration.

Improvements at Harry Mears House

The properties in our supported accommodation project at Harry Mears House have undergone some much-needed major improvements.

Safena & Tamzin volunteer profile

Met in year 8 at secondary school in Vietnam and have been good friends since. Came to Durham together (by chance) and now live together studying masters programmes.

Brian’s story

With the help of DASH and their support and guidance throughout I have managed to stay extremely motivated in what I wanted to do with my life. I desperately wanted my own place to call home and live close to my sister in a better area where everything was there for me without having to go into areas which I felt were not best for me.

Becca’s 84 Mile Hadrian’s Wall Walk

In August, Becca will be completing the full 84 Mile Long Hadrian’s Wall Walk, solo, to raise money for DASH. Please support Becca in her efforts raise funds for DASH

Want to join the team at DASH?

We have an opening for a Support Work Assistant to join our team and make a real difference to the lives of our residents. As a Support Work Assistant you will be expected to work as part of a team providing access to supported accommodation for a female client group with complex needs.

Zed’s story

I had the most tremendous mentor, Rachel, who I can’t praise enough. She always went above and beyond to support me and push me to do more. She’d always have me involved with the workshops and events DASH would host and it truly was an experience that will stay with me forever.

Thank you – Weigh To Shop

DASH would like to thank Carolyn for her contribution in providing a much welcomed service to its residents over the years. This is Carolyn's story. My background In 1976 I started my catering career with a 2 year OND in Catering Management course at...

Free Cakes For Kids Project

Durham University’s Free Cakes for Kids project got in touch asking if our residents accept a donation of homemade cakes. Of course, the answer was a unanYES!

Freemens Cheque Presentation

Alan Ribchester and Eric Bulmer from the Durham City Freemens present Stephen Lowther, DASH Housing & Support Worker, with a cheque for £500

Carolyn & The Canny Kitchen

Over the past few years I have done many cookery workshops with the participants from DASH and every time I’ve enjoyed preparing, cooking & eating the dishes they have made with me

ISO 9001-2015 Award

Once again DASH has been successful in retaining Quality Management Certification ISO 9001-2015. Audited by a third-party certification body, British Assessment Bureau, who provide independent confirmation that organisations meet the requirements of ISO 9001-2015.

Hudson House extension and conversion

DASH successfully applied to Durham County Council and Homes England for funding to support the conversion of the first floor and part of the ground floor to provide 4no. 1 bed. self-contained flats which are being let at affordable rent

Volunteering with DASH

A time to say thanks

Volunteers Week takes place 1-7 June every year. It’s a chance to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers make to our communities and say thank you.

County Durham Volunteering Kitemark award is renewed

DASH video

We are pleased to present our new film about DASH. It includes interviews with staff, volunteers, residents and a DASH trustee. The film was produced by Izzy Gale who is one of our volunteers and a keen amateur film maker. It summarises in a few minutes the work we do at DASH to support our residents and deliver our mission.

Mark – volunteer

Thank you Emmanuel Church

We think DASH is a great part of Gilesgate and so we’re really pleased to have been involved in supporting its work for several years now.

Thank you Durham SCOOP!

SCOOP is a Durham-based student-led zero-waste shop whose profits are donated to charities working in Durham and across the North East. The SCOOP shop opened before Christmas in Riverside Walk, Durham, selling rice, lentils, pasta, porridge oats, tea, coffee, dried...

Bea – volunteer

Peter – volunteer

Alyssa – volunteer

Hi, I am Alyssa. I am a third-year childhood studies student at the University of Sunderland. I started volunteering with DASH as I wanted to gain voluntary experience, develop skills and be a part of helping the community. I heard about DASH online and applied to...

Olivia – volunteer

"I'm Olivia, a third year Philosophy and Theology student at Durham University. I'm originally from the US, but have really enjoyed living in the UK for the past few years!Throughout my time in Durham, I have really enjoyed working with a wide variety of local...

Jess – volunteer

Hello, I am Jess. I am a second year Business and Financial Management student at the University of Sunderland. I am a mature student, and I knew, when I took the leap into university life from full time work, I would need to find an extra focus to keep me busy. I...

The Big Easter Sleepout At Home

All across the country, compassionate people just like you will give up their beds for one night to sleep out at home – on the sofa, floor, or somewhere safe outside – each pledging to raise or donate £100 to fight homelessness.

Tamzin – volunteer

I grew up in Vietnam and was frequently involved in volunteering with local organisations, so I wanted to continue this work when I came to university. I particularly wanted to volunteer in the social care sector, as I aspire to be a social worker when I graduate....

Volunteering through lock down

We are extremely grateful to the volunteers who have continued volunteering for us through lock down – remotely.

Lauren

I would really recommend volunteering with DASH because the staff are really supportive and flexible, and the volunteering activities are super rewarding!

Looking for a new years challenge?

A TEAM of Town Planners has initiated a 2021 challenge – to make a virtual journey from Land’s End to John o’ Groats to raise money for Durham Action on Single Housing!

Hudson House refurbishment and extension scheme

DASH became a Registered Provider of Social Housing (RP) in March 2020 and we are now in the build stage of our first project as a RP – the extension and refurbishment of our headquarters, Hudson House in Gilesgate, Durham.

Co-op Local Community Fund

You can help us to maximise the income we receive from the fund by promoting our cause, encouraging anyone you know who is a Co-op members to support us or to become a member and support us directly.

Eggs thrown at DASH volunteer

One of our student volunteers has described how she and her housemate had eggs thrown at them while they were handing out hot water bottles to rough sleepers on Silver Street in Durham

Staff and residents scare each other!

Staff and residents at our Vulnerable Women’s Project in Gilesgate celebrated Halloween by spending the evening making creepy decorations and dressing up and scaring each other!

Once a month donations

Once a Month is a student-led volunteering project within the Durham University Student Volunteering and Outreach organisation. Their aim is to tackle period poverty by donating sanitary products to charities and homeless shelters

Osla – volunteer

I’ve really enjoyed the work at DASH so far and highly recommend it as a volunteer: there are so many opportunities for growth and it has also helped me gain an understanding of issues surrounding those threatened with homelessness as well

Harry and his guitar raise funds

Harry, a 7 year old from Framwellgate Moor, Durham, decided he wanted to raise some money to help us with our work in tackling homelessness

Helen Banecki – volunteer

Coming from Durham myself I have always been aware of the socioeconomic issues facing the area. My volunteering work in the past at Food Banks as well as my degree in politics have exposed me to the wider issues which can cause people to become homeless or leave them...

Eloise – volunteer

When starting my course in sociology and politics at Durham University, I was keen to be involved in Durham life, not just through the university but in the local community too. The disparities between the student and local populations are sometimes very stark in...

Richard Callaghan

After our youngest daughter was born I took some time out to take care of our children so that my wife could go back to work, but alongside part time work I still wanted to feel like I was doing something useful and gaining some new experience. I was already...

Beauty Banks charity partnership

We are really pleased that DASH has been invited to join the BEAUTY BANKS movement as a charity partner. Through an expanding collaboration with Superdrug BEAUTY BANKS are able to support charities across the UK with donations of personal care and hygiene products for...

VWP food donations

Food donations have been gratefully received at DASH from Sainsbury’s in Cheveley Park and Iceland in Gilesgate. These were delivered by volunteers from the local community including members of the City of Durham Labour Party and Emmanuel Church. Food parcels have...

Covid 19 – Supported Housing Services

We want to inform you of the steps we are taking during the Covid 19 pandemic to ensure that the residents who use our service and our staff are as safe as possible

Hudson House extension

The new accommodation will be let in accordance with DASH’s allocation policy with a strong emphasis on local connection

Everyone in for good – update on rough sleepers

In April 2020 government funding backed an ‘Everyone In’ campaign to provide accommodation for those living on the streets and reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19. As council agreements with the local businesses in which people have been housed come to an end,...

Natasha – volunteer

As a literature student, I hoped that I might be able to use my passion for the written word to assist with the invaluable work undertaken by DASH.

...