Every year hundreds of North East businesses support charities and good causes across the region or help their own teams to make the most of their potential, giving something back to the communities and workers around them.
These are just a few of the inspiring examples that have been highlighted to BUSINESSiQ.
Hazel and Elder Court, Middlesbrough
A social value project that has transformed Hazel and Elder Court community meeting room in Middlesbrough is now complete. The work, which totalled £15,000, was funded and delivered by Esh Construction as part of its commitment to give back to the local community throughout the re-development of Rivers House.
The community space has received a complete kitchen upgrade, including a new breakfast bar and electrical appliances. The entire building was redecorated, with new blinds, furniture and flooring installed, including anti-slip vinyl in the kitchen and toilet area, and carpet tiles in the main hall and offices. The bathroom facilities were also renewed and accessible toilets installed.
Shawn Clark, contracts manager at Esh Construction, said: “This is a worthy project that we are proud to have played our part in and will make a real difference to those who rely on the community meeting room for socialising and activities. It is usually the case in projects like these that we donate funding and don’t always get to see the finished product, whereas on this occasion we were responsible for seeing the works through from start to completion. We hope the local community enjoy the facility for years to come.”
Esh Construction worked on behalf of Thirteen Group to convert Rivers House, which is located near to the community centre. Originally an office space, Rivers House was extended and re-modelled to create 18 one and two-bedroom supported housing apartments.
Thirteen’s head of community resilience, Angela Corner, added: “We’re thrilled that Esh Construction’s commitment to supporting the local community has led to this much-needed donation to refurbish the community meeting room at Hazel and Elder Court in Middlesbrough. It will ensure that residents and community-based groups will benefit and leave a lasting legacy on the area."
Muckle reaches out
Leading law firm Muckle LLP is lining up charity experts to feature in its new podcast series, Charity Matters, which is dedicated to exploring the most talked about topics within the charity sector.
The series, hosted by Muckle LLP’s specialist lawyers, delves into crucial subjects and trending topics relevant to the charity sector, covering everything from financial challenges to cryptocurrency donations and sustainability.
The first episode features Samantha Pritchard, Partner of Muckle LLP’s charities team, Senior Associate Alison Jones, and Charlotte Campbell, Director of Fundraising and Operations at the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (Chuf).
Chuf is a North East based charity that supports children and babies who are diagnosed with heart conditions and was amongst the first UK charities to accept cryptocurrency donations. Chuf works closely with The Giving Block, an online not-for-profit US-based platform that enables the charity to convert cryptocurrency donations into traditional currency.
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Opencast names charities
Independent tech consultancy Opencast has named the six non-profits it will support this year through a donation from its profits, following a vote by people working across the business.
The non-profits include a river pollution trust, an ex-offenders’ recruitment service and a Newcastle-based elderly care support agency. UK-wide non-profits include a refugee education programme, a rewilding nature project and a suicide prevention campaign.
The company’s donation to the Opencast Charitable Fund in 2023 is over £66,000, drawn from the 2.5 per cent committed from its profits in the past year. Other charitable donations mean that Opencast’s total non-profit commitment in 2023 is just under £104,000.
The six non-profits were chosen by Opencast’s people after a vote across the company, and include three working in the North East and three with a UK-wide focus. Each of the six non-profits chosen for this year receives a grant of £9764.
Opencast’s six non-profits of choice for 2023 are:
Refugee Education UK – equipping young refugees to build positive futures by thriving in education.
The Recruitment Junction – working to support people with convictions into paid work across North East England.
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – provoking conversation, running life-saving services, and bringing people together so they get help when they need it and don’t die by suicide.
SEARCH – Services For Older People – providing support, activities and information to the over 50s in the West End of Newcastle.
Rewilding Britain – working to see rewilding flourishing in Britain, reconnecting us with the natural world, sustaining communities and tackling the extinction and climate crises.
Tyne Rivers Trust – works with people and communities to protect and enhance the River Tyne and its tributaries.
Opencast’s charitable giving programme, including the Opencast Charitable Fund, is made possible through the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
Stef Monaco, Opencast’s head of social impact, said: “For the second year running, we gave our people the chance to have a say in choosing which non-profits should benefit from our grants in 2023. We’re delighted on the back of that to have finalised our six non-profits of choice – and hope the grants will help them to make a real difference to the people and communities they serve."
Amazon backs foodbank
A group of colleagues from the Amazon fulfilment centre in Gateshead recently volunteered at a local foodbank, helping to pick and pack food parcels for the community.
The County Durham and Sunderland Foodbank provides food packs for nearly 3,000 people, including children in the region, every month, and helps to resolve crises for those who are struggling locally.
Five volunteers from the Gateshead site visited the charity to help the team there manage the foodbank’s stockroom and create food parcels for families who use its services.
Kerry Lunt, an employee at Amazon in Gateshead who took part in the volunteering, added: "Foodbanks are vital for easing the mental load people carry when it comes to feeding their families. It was great to be able to volunteer alongside the fantastic team at Durham Foodbank and hear more about the things they do for people in need.”
Glenn Jones, Chairman of the Board of trustees at the Foodbank, says: “We are extremely grateful for the amazing ongoing support we receive from the Amazon fulfilment centre in Gateshead and appreciate all of its contributions, whether they are monetary or practical. "
Grant for mental health work
A Durham charity which uses art therapies to help local people manage and overcome mental health issues has received a four-figure boost from the Newcastle Building Society Community Fund at the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
RTProjects works alongside people affected by depression, anxiety and those at risk of suicide and aims to help them to develop emotional resilience and coping strategies which enable them to live a full life.
Based in Gilesgate in the centre of Durham City, the charity provides a mixture of group art therapy sessions and one-to-one support, and has helped more than 700 people since it was set up 14 years ago.
Around 40 people currently take part in sessions every week, most from around the local area, but sometime from as far afield as Stanley and Hartlepool.
The £2,000 grant, which was awarded after the charity was nominated by a Newcastle Building Society member, is now being used to help it cover its running costs.
Beano, who set up RT Projects in 2009 with co-founder Emma Beattie, says: “RTProjects grew out of my own experience of how using art for therapeutic reasons helped my recovery from a very challenging period in my life, and from realising the huge impact that it could also have for others in a similar situation.
“Support such as Newcastle Building Society’s is an absolute lifeline for us."
£55,000 raised
Full-service property specialist Bradley Hall hosted its annual Festive Fundraiser in December with the aim of raising money for local charities NE Youth, Bravehearts of the North East, and Great North Children’s Hospital Foundation.
The event, which hosted 600 guests at The Fed, Gateshead, was supported by key sponsors – Housebuilders Strata Homes and Pubs with Rooms company The Inn Collection Group – and raised £55,000 in total.
Since the launch of its annual fundraiser, Bradley Hall has raised and donated over £300,000 for local charities, community action projects and grassroot sports clubs. The firm has contributed to helping over 30 different regional charities and sporting groups including NE Youth, Marie Curie Newcastle’s Hospice, Heel & Toe Children’s Charity, Morpeth Rugby Club, ABF The Soldier’s Charity, Glendale Agricultural Society, as well as local food and toy banks across the region.
As a northern business, it’s important for us to do what we can to support community organisations and charities which support our local people. Our Festive Fundraiser brings together a lot of people who can each give a little
Neil Hart, group CEO at Bradley Hall, said: “As a northern business, it’s important for us to do what we can to support community organisations and charities which support our local people. Our Festive Fundraiser brings together a lot of people who can each give a little, meaning that we can collectively make a positive impact to the charities which we work with. Thank you to everyone involved.”
Flexible working for mums
In the legal world, flexible working arrangements represent a very rare opportunity, as mums Emily O’Neill and Philippa Walker know only too well.
However, both believe they have found the perfect work life balance, after Jacksons Law introduced term time contracts and flexible working arrangements, which are enabling them both to progress in their careers, whilst also taking time away from the office with their children.
Philippa is in partner Erica Turner’s commercial property team. It was Erica who came up with the idea to widen the talent pool the firm could choose from by offering term time contracts and flexible working arrangements.
Philippa said: “I think it’s pretty much unprecedented in the legal market – it’s certainly not something I’d heard of before and very much represented a rare opportunity, so I was surprised and very interested to find out more about it.
“I’m a mum of two young children and it’s hopefully going to allow me the opportunity to find the perfect balance and excel in my career while also being a parent, as Jacksons are really looking to embrace this idea of term-time contracts and support me in the role.”
Helen Milburn, partner and head of private client, wills, trusts and probate, has welcomed Emily to her team.
Emily says: “My flexible working arrangement means I can have a good balance between my work and family life.
“It’s a really beneficial arrangement for the likes of me. Once my twin toddlers go to school, I might prefer to do term-time-only working. I get the feeling that they will be flexible with things like me attending sports days and assemblies too!”
Help for young workers
Applebridge Family has underlined its commitment to developing young talent after being welcomed into The 5% Club.
The Club is focused on creating a thriving UK economy through a wide range of 'earn and learn' opportunities. Members pledge to have 5% of their workforce engaged in apprenticeships, sponsored student programmes, or formalised training schemes within five years of joining.
By becoming a member, Middlesbrough-based Applebridge demonstrates a robust commitment to having 5% of its UK workforce as apprentices, graduates on formal programmes, or sponsored students within the next five years.
Applebridge Family CEO, Donny Hughes, said: "Joining the 5% Club marks a significant milestone in our journey towards empowering young talent. It's not just about fulfilling a quota; it's about nurturing a skilled, diverse, and dynamic workforce capable of propelling our industry forward."
In 2022, Applebridge was ranked as the 4th best SME Apprentice Employer in the UK and the company was also awarded Training Company of the Year at the CECA North East Awards 2022. Employees Bailey Middlemas and Ryan Fort lifted the Trainee Civil Engineer of the Year award in recent years, while Madeline Collins was announced as Apprentice of the Year at CECA’s 2023 awards.
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