KEEP ON KEEPING IT LOCAL Something amazing is happening in Teesside. This unique place that we all call home never ceases to amaze me. I honestly believe we’re unique. I don’t believe anywhere else looks after its own people in their hours of need in the way we do. There’s a bond that ties us, beyond anything you’ll find elsewhere. I think that’s why the Philanthropic Foundation continues to go from strength to strength. I’m walking on air in the knowledge that we’ve gained no fewer than EIGHT new patrons over the past six months alone. That’s eight local companies – well, seven and a family, to be accurate – who’ve been willing to dig deep to help their fellow Teessiders. A hearty welcome to Caswells Group, Forman Vehicle Services, Anderson Barrowcliff, CJ Leonard & Sons, Sapere Software, Archers Law, Acklam Hall and the Smith family. For the record, each company has committed to donating at least £5,000 a year towards the work of the Foundation across Teesside. We now have a grand total of 46 patrons – our highest number yet. We couldn’t have reached that number, of course, without the continued support of many Patrons who’ve backed us year after year and have again renewed their generous commitment for a further 12 months. Each of them is listed on the back page of this magazine - while you can read about many of them in the pages of this issue. With our supporter numbers climbing consistently, it’s clear that we’re reaching increasing numbers of people – and I still feel there’s much more we can do and achieve. Our standing in the community is ever-growing – but there is still so much work to do to win more support, do more good work in our community and reach more people who need our support. Of course, there’ll always be a role for the work that many excellent national charities carry out, but the Foundation is 100% honest and 100% committed to Teesside.
Emma Waites (left) of Henderson Insurance Brokers with the Unicorn Centre’s Claire Pitt and a four-legged friend.
RIDING TO THE RESCUE
A Middlesbrough riding school for the disabled has thanked Teesside Philanthropic Foundation for galloping to its rescue after intruders made a series of “shocking” night-time attacks on the centre’s horses. Horses at the Unicorn Centre, a purpose-built Riding for the Disabled facility in Hemlington, came under attack when youths threw stones and eggs at them. Staff at the centre were further alarmed when night-time intruders, sometimes armed and with dogs, entered the premises for late-night “lamping” to shoot wild animals. Manager Claire Pitt said: “The Centre was being targeted by local troublemakers and the situation was getting desperate. “As animal-lovers, it was very distressing to know our horses were being hurt by people throwing stones at them and even covering them with eggs.” Talks with the Police resulted in CCTV cameras being erected before the Unicorn Centre turned to the Philanthropic Foundation to help pay for the cost of erecting fencing around the premises. Having previously received £5,000 from Teesside Philanthropic Foundation towards a new floor, the Unicorn Centre received a further £5,750 towards new security fencing. “We are so grateful and indebted to the Foundation for their support,” added Claire. “We’ve been able to focus again on what we do – providing riding therapy sessions to more than 200 local children and adults with disabilities.” Philanthropic Foundation trustee Emma Simkins of patrons Henderson Insurance Brokers said: “It’s brilliant that we’ve been able to help the Unicorn Centre in their hour of need.”
I believe people like to see exactly where their money is going and how it’s helping – and that’s exactly what we promise and deliver. Please keep on Fighting for Teesside Together.
ANDY PRESTON Founder-Chairman
Published by: Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation Editor: Dave Allan, DNA PR & Publicity Photography: Photography: Doug Moody, Sharone Robinson, Tom Banks. Printed by: Quoin Website: www. teessidecharity.org.uk Email: info@teessidecharity.org.uk Facebook: Teesside Charity Twitter: @teessidecharity
EVENTS
ARE YOU ON THE BALL?
A Who’s Who of the Teesside business scene will, as always, be attending the Foundation’s Annual Ball. Wynyard Hall’s sumptuous Grand Marquee will again be the venue for Teesside’s biggest, most glamorous annual fundraising dinner on the evening of Friday, October 12th. But reserve your tickets fast if you want to be there - because well over half of the 500+ tickets have already gone! We’re looking forward to another amazing night of fundraising after smashing our record last year when our generous guests helped us bring in £75,000 in one night! As always, we can promise a memorable night of great food and entertainment hosted by funnyman Jason Cook - and funds will go to the most worthy causes right here on Teesside. We promise that not one penny of the funds we raise will be spent outside of the region we love.
JUMPING TO IT
A sky-high-five for our eight brave fundraisers who recently took a leap of faith by skydiving from an aeroplane from between 10,000 and 15,000 ft in aid of our charity.
Tables of 10 are £940 or you can buy individual seats for £94 each. To reserve your seats email diane.w@teessidecharity.org.uk
Together they raised a fantastic £3,600 for the Philanthropic Foundation, which we will share between many of the amazing Teesside charities and worthy causes we support. So a massive thank you and congratulations to our friends Chris Daniel and Darren Frost from our friends at Biffa Waste Services, Paul Ralston, Iain Hepplewhite, Alisdair Beveridge of our patrons The Build Directory, Shamin Ali of our friends Tilly Bailey Irvine, Katy Parkinson and Margaret Cholmondeley of our friends Lexonik by Sound Training.
WHEELY GREAT FUNDRAISING
More than £3,000 was raised between the Philanthropic Foundation and our friends at Remembering Rebecca through the Tees Wheels Challenge. As part of our ongoing Charity Champions Challenge for young fundraisers, The Tees Wheels Challenge gave around 80 local kids chance to take part in a fantastic event. Some went on a bike, others on a scooter and some in a wheelchair, but it was the taking part that counted in an event at Middlesbrough Sports Village.
Margaret Cholmondeley exits the plane on her skydive.
SUPER SIX
Our great supporter Mary Gallagher and five of her running colleagues tackled the Stirling Marathon to raise funds for Teesside Philanthropic Foundation. Mary, who is originally from Stirling but now lives in Middlesbrough, was joined on the big run by friends Katie Scott, Mohammed Hai, Ryan James, Mark Teasdale and Luis WillsFaisca. Mary also ran last year’s Great North Run for the Teessiders in need that we support.
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EVENTS
ACKLAM HALL AT THE DOUBLE Our new patrons Acklam Hall are set to play host to two of the region’s best events of the Summer in aid of the Philanthropic Foundation – and tickets for both are being snapped up fast.
All three speakers will recall great tales of Clough, many of them hilarious, as part of a night hosted by Riverside PA announcer Mark Page.
The Middlesbrough venue holds its first ever Sportsmen’s Dinner on Friday June 8 when the theme will be a tribute to one of the town’s most famous sons, Brian Clough.
Funds from an auction and raffle at an event that features a three-course dinner will go towards Acklam Hall’s chosen charity, Teesside Philanthropic Foundation. Tickets are priced £55 each or £500 for a table of 10.
And Acklam Hall’s first Summer Ball on July 14 promises to be a truly special occasion as the venue launches what it believes will become a fixture in its annual calendar. The Brian Clough Tribute Night will feature a talk by former Hartlepool United player John McGovern, the man who became Cloughie’s captain at both Derby and Nottingham Forest as the outspoken managerial genius swept all before him. And McGovern will feature in an audience Q&A with two more sons of Middlesbrough who both got to know Cloughie better than most – Mark Proctor and Alan Peacock. Peacock was Clough’s striking partner as the scoring legend netted 204 goals in just 222 games for Middlesbrough in the late 1950s and early 1960s, while Proctor was signed by Clough’s Forest from Boro.
Meanwhile, the black tie Summer Ball promises to be a celebration of the very best that Acklam Hall has to offer. It will start with arrival fizz and canapes in the gardens before a four-course gourmet dinner in the Brierley. Guests will then be invited upstairs to the ornate Drawing Room to dance the night away to talented duo Swing Thing. Numbers are strictly limited to 110. Tickets are priced £90 per head, include an arrival drink. To book tickets for either the Sportsmen’s Dinner or Summer Ball, contact Acklam Hall’s Events Team on 01642 822000 or email info@acklamhall.co.uk.
WE’LL GIVE YOU A RUN FOR YOUR MONEY...
We’re looking for Teessiders of all fitness levels to join us for one or more of the fantastic forthcoming running events in the area. Get sponsored to raise funds for the Foundation and we’ll promise to make sure your cash goes to good causes right here on Teesside. • On July 1, there’s the Ali Brownlee 5k Riverside Run, starting and finishing at Boro’s Riverside Stadium. • On September 2, there’s the Tees Pride 10k - Middlesbrough’s biggest annual running event. • Then September 8, it’s the Great Tees 10k - Stockton’s big new running event as part of the Great North City Games. • Finally, on September 9, comes the big one - The Great North Run, the world’s biggest half-marathon. And we can guarantee you a start in the race! For more details about all of the runs, visit the Events page on our website at teessidecharity.org.uk Right: Nik Tunley and Catherine Devereux are among those who’ve run the Tees Pride 10k for the Foundation.
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THE BIG SLEEP
More than 40 big-hearted Teessiders gave up their comfy beds for a night sleeping on the hard floor as part of the latest Big Tees Sleepout. The event, outside Middlesbrough College, raised around ÂŁ8,000 in the fight against local poverty and homelessness. Well done to all our friends who took part including people from our Patrons Cool Blue Brand Communications, Sapere Software and Henderson Insurance Brokers.
Registration is now open for our next sleepout event - this time at Ormesby Hall in Middlesbrough on Friday November 9. We’re looking for individuals or groups of friends or workmates to join forces with us and get sponsored for one night away from their beds to do something extraordinary. For more details or to sign up, visit bigteessidesleepout.co.uk Below: These pictures by Doug Moody show some of the fundraisers at our latest sleepout.
Fantastic work too by our supporter Phil Genery who took part in his fifth Big Tees Sleepout.
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MENTORING PROJECT Image: Some of our volunteer mentors with children on a visit to Middlesbrough FC
HOW WE’RE GUIDING VULNERABLE TEES CHILDREN A Mentoring Project designed to guide and inspire vulnerable local children has been launched by Teesside Philanthropic Foundation.
Aged six to 11, the kinship children, who are currently being cared for by their grandparents, live in Middlesbrough, Billingham and Norton.
With the initial support of seven volunteer mentors, the Foundation has invested more than £7,000 to set up the project with the support of commercial property specialists Python Properties.
The Foundation’s mentoring manager Jenny Williams has recruited seven volunteer mentors, who undertook training before agreeing to give up an hour of their time each week to meet their matched young person.
It was the idea of Martin Johnson and Peter Broome of Python Properties to launch the mentoring scheme after they saw a similar project making a hugely positive impact on children in the Bolton area.
Over the course of 12 months, they’ll spend their time chatting and listening to the children, taking part in fun activities and helping to guide them through challenges they have as a result of their difficult family circumstances.
Initially working with charity Grandparents Plus and local schools, the project is now supporting five local children who are struggling to overcome challenges in their young lives as a result of their parents being unable to care for them.
The Foundation is delighted that Jayne Stephenson, Dave Nicholson, Nica Atkins, Jo-Ann Swinnerton, Sandra Johnson, Anne Francis and Calvin Conradie have kindly agreed to give up their own spare time to support the children as mentors.
Peter Broome and Martin Johnson of Python Properties inspired the launch of our Mentoring Project.
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HALL-RAISERS! LADIES’ LUNCH RAISES £3,500
Acklam Hall’s Michael Jones and Foundation trustee Alastair Waite with Foundation patron representatives Jayne Stephenson, Sue Theobald (Barclays), Heather Forman (Forman Vehicle Services), Harriet Spalding (Mandale), Lisa Preston (Hunters), Theresa Carling (Endeavour Partnership), Adrienne Stark, Chris Nolan (Erimus Insurance Brokers) and Zoe Traherne (InBond).
Our new patrons Acklam Hall played host to our latest Ladies’ Lunch, with nearly £3,500 raised for worthy causes here on Teesside. The sell-out event saw guests entertained by speakers Janice Auton and Vicki Murray from Poppy’s Hairdressing and The Boutique At Poppy’s. Janice and Vicki talked about their journey over the past 30 years and passed on some fab hairdressing tips.
Pat McBride, Marie Kilgallon and Morita Metcalfe.
Danielle Croce and Helen Stewart of Calm Digital with the Fouundation’s Jenny Williams.
Thank you to all those who supported the charity fundraiser including our patrons Mandale, Erimus Insurance Brokers, Barclays UK (Middlesbrough), InBond, Forman Vehicle Services, Endeavour Partnership, Hunters Estate Agents, Archers Law, Jayne Stephenson and Adrienne Stark. Date for your diaries: The next Ladies’ Lunch is at Whinstone View near Great Ayton on Thursday November 22.
Sisters Jayne Stephenson, Louise Hall and Julie Bradley.
Wendy Beacom and Shamin Ali (both Tilly Bailey & Irvine).
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STOCKTON | HARTLEPOOL | MIDDLESBROUGH
TEN GRAND FOR TEES HOSPICES What would we do without our four wonderful hospices? That’s why the Philanthropic Foundation has donated £2,500 each to Butterwick Hospice, Alice House Hospice in Hartlepool, Zoe’s Place in Middlesbrough and Teesside Hospice. All four carry out incredible work to ensure Teessiders facing the end of their lives can do so with dignity and care, with their loved ones around them. Patricia Boynton of Butterwick Hospice said: “All of our services are free of charge but we have daily running costs of £10,000 a day. So donations such as this one are absolutely invaluable.” It was the fourth successive year the Foundation has supported our local hospices in this way.
STOCKTON
SOWING THE SEEDS OF LOVE
STANDING UP FOR TEESSIDE
SPECIAL FEATURE FOCUSING ON TEESSIDE CHARITIES WE’VE REC All pictures by Teesside Centurion Doug Moody
A new kitchen is all kitted out at fantastic Stockton charity Sowing Seeds Ministries following our £1,000 Golden Giveaway donation. Led by Gram Seed, this small but inspiring charity works with young people to steer them away from a path of criminal activity and addiction – and Vicky Powell of our patrons The Key Yarm paid a visit to see the new facilities. Based in Central Stockton, Sowing Seeds Ministries work with schools, churches and prisons whilst offering a safe, welcoming place for anyone who needs it to go for a hot drink, food, support, a non-judgemental ear and, most importantly, practical help. CEO Gram tells his amazing and inspiring story everywhere he can, with the aim of helping to stop others living with or indeed losing their lives through addictions and criminal activity. Right: Vicky Powell of the Keys Yarm during her visit to Sowing Seeds Ministries’ with the charity’s Gram Seed, Rebecca Vallily and Glen Boston.
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MIDDLESBROUGH
IN FAIRBRIDGE WE TRUST ”Absolutely invaluable.” That’s how our £10,000 donation was described by staff at the Prince’s Trust’s Fairbridge programme that supports vulnerable young people aged 11 to 25 across Teesside. Karen Eve of our generous patrons Castlegate Shopping Centre paid a visit to see the Fairbridge activities in the shadow of Teesside’s iconic Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough. Karen heard how our donation – made possible by the generosity of our supporters and patrons – will provide vital to 30 vulnerable young Teessiders at risk of falling out of the education system. It will help the Fairbridge programme give them the support they need, guide them away from a life of unemployment and poverty – and inspire them to succeed.
Dave Allan (Teesside Centurion), Emma Simkins (Henderson Insurance Brokers), Dave Nicholson (Nicholson Group) and Harriet Spalding (Mandale) present cheques to Debbie Coulson (Teesside Hospice), Victoria Rogers and Rachel Wilmore (both Zoe’s Place), Anita White (Alice House) and Debbie Jones (Butterwick Hospice).
N JUST FOUR OF THE AMAZING CENTLY SUPPORTED.
Left Top: Karen Eve of Castlegate Shopping Centre with young people at the Prince’s Trust Fairbridge programme in Middlesbrough.
REDCAR & CLEVELAND
WARM HEARTS FOR WINTER WARMERS The Foundation was proud to make a £1,000 donation through our Golden Giveaway to Age UK Teesside towards the purchase of dozens of winter warmer packs for those in need in the Redcar & Cleveland area during the prolonged cold winter weather. Jayne Stephenson, who along with husband Keith is one of our generous patrons, called in to hear about the positive impact more than 50 winter warmer packs have had over the cold winter months. Each pack includes a fleece blanket, flask, hot water bottle, neck warmer, thermal socks, hand warmer, thermometer, woolly hat and gloves. Age UK Teesside does much fantastic work in providing information and advice, insurance, social events and befriending for older people within the communities of Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Redcar & Cleveland. Left Bottom: Jayne Stephenson at Age UK Teesside’s centre in Redcar with charity chief executive Anne Sykes.
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Every month the Foundation presents Teesside Hero awards to unsung
LOCAL HEROES
community champions – volunteers who go above and beyond the call of duty to help make our region an even better place to live and work. Each of them receives a trophy and £1,000 to donate to a Teesside worthy cause of their choice. Thank you to restaurants Al Forno in Middlesbrough and Chadwicks Maltby for donating dinner vouchers for our Teesside Heroes.
TEESSIDE HERO
TEESSIDE HERO
TEESSIDE HERO
Dr Adrian Davies
Jane Morgan
Charlotte Sands
Presented by: Andy Preston
Presented by: Paul Drake (Sapere)
Presented by: David Carter (Carter
Background: Former head cardiologist
Background: Driving force behind
for James Cook University Hospital who remains the driving force behind South Cleveland Heart Fund, a charity that’s raised more than £2 million to keep the region’s cardiothoracic unit at the leading edge of patient care.
Donated £1,000 to: South Cleveland
the Ellen Timney Foundation, a charity launched in memory of her mother that donates up to £25,000 a year to help the most sick and disadvantaged Teesside children.
Donated £1,000 to: CAUSE Christmas
Background: Youngest ever Teesside Hero. Ingleby Barwick school girl, 14, who helps her mum run a local charity Remembering Rebecca in memory of the young sister she lost when she was just six years old.
Heart Fund.
Hamper Campaign shared with Remembering Rebecca.
Donated £1,000 to: Remembering
TEESSIDE HERO
TEESSIDE HERO
TEESSIDE HERO
Niall Southall
Pete Livingstone
Terry Bytheway
Presented by: Cllr Ron Arundale
Presented by: Jo-Ann Swinnerton
Presented by: Bill Scott
Background: Middlesbrough dad-of-five who has helped raise over £500,000 for more than 20 charities since launching his Elvis tribute eight years ago.
Donated £1,000 to: STAMP Revisited.
(Middlesbrough FC)
Background: With the support of dozens of Teesside friends and co-chairman Paul Randall, raised more than £100,000 under the name of the Boro Walkers Association..
Donated £1,000 to: Boro Walkers Association.
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Steel)
Rebecca.
Background: A therapeutic care volunteer on James Cook University Hospital’s spinal unit who inspires with his selfless, caring attitude and acts as a role model for other volunteers.
Donated £1,000 to: Butterwick Hospice shared with Teesside Hospice.
GOLDEN GIVEAWAYS Wonderful local charity Neoangels and the sporty students at Kirkleatham Hall School were the biggest winners at celebration events for the Foundation’s latest two £20,000 Golden Giveaway. North Tees University Hospital-based Neoangels and the Redcar school each received cheques for £5,000 as we split a total of £40,000 between 30 local charities, schools, sports clubs and community groups. They were clear winners in public polls to decide who won the biggest share of the Giveaway cash. The cash will help Neoangels to carry on caring for the families of babies on the neonatal unit at the hospital, including supporting families with parking passes, canteen vouchers, memory boxes, kangaroo wraps, milestone cards and journals. Sport and PE is a “massive part” of education for Kirkleatham Hall School’s students, who have a range of conditions including autism, Downs Syndrome and learning difficulties. New sports equipment has now been purchased by the school, which regularly hosts sports as wide-ranging as Soccability, netball, table tennis, swimming, athletics and wheelchair basketball.
Kirkleatham Hall School representatives celebrate their £5,000 success.
£20,000 Golden Giveaway winners celebrate with our patrons, headed by charity Neoangels.
Other big winners at the Sporting Golden Giveaway were Friends of Stainsby School of Gymnastics, St Patrick’s RC Primary School, Guisborough Town Under-14s, Norton Hockey Club, Abingdon Primary School, Impact Fitness Zone, Firebird Gymnastics Club, Eskdale Academy in Hartlepool, Cleveland Juniors FC, Billingham Amateur Swimming Club, Street League Tees Valley, Stockton Grange Estate’s Community Association, Juggling and Unicycling Stockton-on-Tees and Dormanstown Community, Sports and Social Club. Cheques were presented by Trudie Chapman (Cool Blue Brand Communications), Shaun Hughes (Erimus Insurance Brokers), Paul Drake and Shaun Merifeild (Sapere Software), James Dale (Anderson Barrowcliff), Dave Nicholson (Nicholson Group), Alisdair Beveridge (The Build Directory), Craig Rye and Phil Lyons, (both InBond), Jonathan Willett (Henderson Insurance Brokers) and David Badger (Hunters Estate Agents). Other Golden Giveaway presentations were made to Element 1 CIC, EVA Women’s Aid, Rye Hills Academy, Priory Woods School, Reagan Jack Rainbows, Rubies, Larchfield Community, Bishopton PRU, Project Linus, Teesside Dementia Service, JPC Community Farm, The Junction Foundation, 1st Loftus Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers, St Ann’s Partnership. Cheques were presented by Chris Nolan (of our clients Erimus Insurance Brokers), Paul Gibson (Active Chartered Financial Planners), Adrienne Stark, Larah Hunt (Charles Clinkard), Andrew Dewing (Anderson Barrowcliff), Rose Stoker (Middlesbrough FC), Terry Forman (Forman Vehicle Services, Nigel Willis (First Choice Labels, Rebecca Wilkinson (Hunters Estate Agents), Alastair Waite.
Paul Gibson (Active Chartered Financial Planners) with members of Element 1.
Julie Connaughton of JPC Community Farm with son James at the Golden Giveaway.
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FAST Fund-backed wheelchair racer Jade Jones-Hall returned from the Commonwealth Games with two medals.
YOU ARE GOLD! YOU ARE FAST! Massive congratulations to four Teesside sportswomen we’ve backed through our FAST Fund who all did themselves proud at the Commonwealth Games – including two Gold medallists!
Skelton-born Kelly-Jo, who lives in Stockton and works in Middlesbrough, received £2,000 through the FAST Fund.
Middlesbrough-born Jade Jones-Hall, who lives in Eaglescliffe, took Gold in the paratriathlon, silver in the wheelchair marathon and was then chosen to carry England’s flag at the closing ceremony on Australia’s Gold Coast.
Eaglescliffe athlete Amy Carr was another who did herself proud in the Commonwealth Games on the back of being named Female Sports Personality of the Year in the North East Disability Sports Awards.
Middlesbrough-born swimmer Aimee Willmott won Gold on the Games’ first day of competition, narrowly defeating previous winner Hannah Miley in the 400m individual medley.
The talented Teesside athlete, who has received £4,100 Via the FAST Fund, represented Scotland in her first senior international competition in the T37 long jump for athletes with Cerebral Palsy.
We were proud to support Aimee with a £2,000 grant through our FAST Fund - Financial Assistance for Sportspeople on Teesside – while Jade has herself received £1,000.
The fund is designed to help talented Teesside sportspeople fulfil their potential. The achievements of Jade, Aimee, Kelly-Jo and Amy are ample proof of its effectiveness.
Meanwhile, weightlifter Kelly-Jo Robson also did herself and her country proud by finishing sixth in the 48kg category just three-and-a-half years after taking up the sport.
Find out more about the FAST Fund at fastfund.org.uk FAST Fund-backed swimmer Aimee Willmott celebrates her gold medal success.
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Weightlifter Kelly-Jo Robson with Foundation trustee Lee Bramley of Endeavour Partnership.
JOIN OUR FUNDRAISING ARMY
Battle cry: Alastair Waite (front) is leading the charge for more Teesside Centurions like (from left) Paul Crinnion, Ron Arundale, Dave Allan, Tom Warnock, Paul Good, Chris Nolan, Lisa Preston and Emily Bentley.
Join our fight for Teesside! That’s our call as we continue a recruitment drive to boost our fundraising army. Teesside Philanthropic Foundation is looking to add to its legion of Teessiders willing to donate £19 per month to many of the region’s most disadvantaged families, homeless initiatives, food banks and community groups. As our main picture shows, businessman Alastair Waite is leading the battle cry by asking more people to stand up in the fight for Teesside. Foundation trustee Alastair is one of more than 40 patrons who make large annual donations as patrons of the charity. But he has committed to ensuring the Foundation boasts 100 Centurions in its fundraising army by October when the charity holds its next Annual Ball. Alastair said: “We’re looking for Teesside Centurions who are prepared to make a stand and fight the fight with us for this area.
Teesside Centurions Adam Casey and Phil Carey.
Teesside Centurions Bianca Robinson and Dave Allan.
“The Teesside Centurions group is for those who aren’t in a position to write out a big cheque to instead make a small but significant donation each month, helping make a real difference to our work here on Teesside.”
To sign up as a Teesside Centurion, visit the Foundation’s website at teessidecharity.org.uk and click the ‘Donate’ button to complete your details.
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Paul Drake of Sapere Software
MEET OUR PATRONS
James Dale of Anderson Barrowcliff
Paul Drake - Sapere Software
James Dale - Anderson Barrowcliff LLP
What does your organisation do?
What does your organisation do?
Sapere design and develop quality, easy to use, bespoke web and mobile software solutions for businesses. Most people will have heard of the terms CRM, database and apps – we do all of this but everything is built bespoke to the business’s needs.
We provide first class accountancy, tax and business advisory services to a range of businesses and individuals.
Why does your organisation support the Foundation?
We’ve been based in Teesside for over 100 years and are very proud of where we come from. We are passionate about the area and the fantastic people who live here. As a firm, we want to give something back to a region that has been so good to us. The Foundation is the perfect vehicle to assist us to do this.
Most of us need a helping hand from time to time in life, and as a business we are fortunate enough to be in a position where we can do that. As the saying goes, ‘charity starts at home’ and what better way to do that by supporting a brilliant charity like the Foundation that helps those in the local area that would often be overlooked?
Why does your organisation support the Foundation?
Which of our fundraising events has been your favourite? Definitely the Ball - it’s a highlight of the corporate calendar.
Which of our fundraising events has been your favourite? We are relatively new members so haven’t experienced all the events as of yet but we are looking forward to helping raise some money at the Annual Ball.
Which organisation are you most proud that we’ve supported? This isn’t really an organisation but I’m most proud of the Caravan Fund which the Foundation supports. The fund helps disadvantaged families that have never had a holiday and in some instances have never been to a beach to spend a few days in a caravan with a little spending money. This is a really simple way to bring some much needed rest and fun to those that wouldn’t ordinarily have the opportunity to do the sort of thing some of us take for granted.
Tell us something your fellow Foundation supporters might not know about you personally? I recently fed and bathed a herd of elephants – that’s something I never thought I would say!
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Which organisation are you most proud that we’ve supported? I think the support the Foundation provides through the FAST Fund to local athletes is fantastic. Seeing Aimee Wilmott, Kelly-Jo Robson and Jade Jones-Hall perform so phenomenally well in the 2018 Commonwealth Games is testament to the value of the fund and the support it provides to Teesside athletes.
Tell us something your fellow Foundation supporters might not know about you personally? I lived in Australia and New Zealand in my younger days. I also play the guitar and played – badly - in a heavy metal band whilst at school and college.
Terry & Heather Forman - Forman Vehicle Services
MEET OUR PATRONS
Terry & Heather Forman - Forman Vehicle
David Roebuck - Caswells Group
What does your organisation do?
What does your organisation do?
Terry: We make parts for buses, predominantly fire suppression and safety parts. We’ve been in the business for 20 years and supply parts across the world - mainly to London, but as far afield as China and Egypt too.
Caswells Group supplies UK industries with a wide range of workplace products and services, priding itself on building long-term supply relationships and providing an industryleading delivery service.
Why do you support the Foundation?
Why does your organisation support the Foundation?
Service
Terry: We’re proud to come from Middlesbrough, we’ve had some luck in business and wanted to put a bit back into the community. We have supported other national charities in the past, but then you know that you’re also supporting CEO’s on hundreds of thousands a year. Because the Foundation is local, we can see exactly where the money is going.
We are a company that is proud to have had its roots based in Teesside for nearly 50 years and have always been passionate about supporting the region and its local charities. The Foundation is an excellent way to see so many great causes on Teesside benefit.
Which of our fundraising events has been your favourite?
Which of our fundraising events has been your favourite?
Heather: I attended the recent Ladies Lunch at Acklam Hall, which was very good – very friendly and professional, great food and an interesting talk too. It was a lovely afternoon, so I’m looking forward to attending more of those. We’ve also got a table booked for the Annual Ball, which we’ve heard is really good.
The Annual Ball is a highlight for me as it’s a great night out and a good chance to meet up with other local businesses, while raising more money and awareness for the Teesside charities.
Which organisation are you most proud that we’ve supported? Heather: Grandparents Plus struck a chord with us – it’s such a worthwhile cause, in support of local children who are being looked after in difficult circumstances. We also like to see the Foundation supporting anything that fights local homelessness.
Tell us something your fellow Foundation supporters might not know about you. Terry: I was really ill last year and underwent open heart surgery. I could have gone private but even BUPA recommended we go to James Cook University Hospital. They were fantastic and I’m right as rain now. We should be so proud of our hospital and the heart unit. It truly is world class and we’re proud to support South Cleveland Heart Fund that supports it.
Which organisation are you most proud that we’ve supported? It is always fantastic to hear about the Foundation assisting the many smaller organisations which need help, where the support can make such a difference and have a big impact.
Tell us something your fellow Foundation supporters might not know about you personally? After recently having an ancestry DNA test done, it turns out I’m 9% Scandanavian and 7% Russian!
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Our Patrons The generosity and commitment of the Foundation’s Trustees and Patrons is helping to shine a spotlight on Teesside for all the right reasons - from willingness to give, to the strength of our private sector and the area’s ambitions for a more positive future. Thank you to every one of them.
Our Trustees
Registered Charity Number 1140740