Double-award winning volunteers, who provide a guiding hand to the tens of thousands of tourists who visit Durham every year, have been given a second cash boost by the city’s freemen.
The Durham Pointers received a £4,000 donation from the freemen in 2016 after earning a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The money was used then to fund new designs for their familiar pink tabards, new rainwear and the printing of 30,000 information leaflets highlighting city attractions as well as a pamphlet detailing the history of the ancient Market Place - including the near-700 year history of the freemen.
The 70-strong group, which has at least two volunteers on duty in the heart of the city every day, in all weathers, between Easter and November, has now been handed a Gold Award from North-East Tourism bosses as the region’s best information providers.
And to underline the pointers’ latest success the freemen have donated a second cash injection of £1,350 – the money now earmarked for renewing and reprinting the Market Place pamphlet, their new Conceptual Map, showing places of interest close to Durham City and the Children’s Quiz leaflet which all combine to enhance the experience of visitors to the city.
“The freemen’s generosity underpinned our work with the first donation and their continuing support allows for the further development of the free information handed to visitors who come from all over the world,” said vice chair Trevor Carter.
The chairman of the wardens, Eric Bulmer added: “The volunteers work with enthusiasm and commitment to share our city’s historic heritage with visitors from both at home and abroad and that is something we firmly believe is worthy of our support.”
