A CHARITY set up to support the people of Teesside has reached a significant milestone, raising £6m since it was founded in 2011.

For 13 years, The Teesside Charity has provided a lifeline for young people, families, community groups, the homeless, those recovering from an addiction, the long-term unemployed, those living in poverty or living with a disability.

Chair of trustees, Lee Bramley, said: “This is a remarkable achievement by all involved and we are so proud that the charity has been able to help so many people across Teesside.

“Working alongside local initiatives, schools and charities, our ethos is to help make Teesside a better place to live, work and do business. It never fails to amaze me how powerful the people of Teesside are when we combine our efforts.”

The £6 million milestone was reached thanks to the charity’s monthly and yearly donations from businesses and individuals.

Money has also come from their popular events across the region, including their sell-out Annual Ball which raised an incredible £81,500 this year and a total of £719,500 since 2011, as well as fundraising efforts by their supporters.

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The money raised helped the charity launch its Hardship Fund in 2014. The fund was created to fight poverty, put food on tables, keep families and elderly people warm and ensure children have clean clothes and school uniforms. The fund has been in high demand since its launch and has supported thousands of families across Teesside.

Diane Williamson, charity manager, said: “We support bed poverty, fuel poverty, and food poverty, all sadly prominent in Teesside. This financial year, we have distributed more than £67,000 in hardship funding to 7,360 Teesside families so far.”

The Teesside Charity’s efforts don’t just stop there, in 2017 and 2018 the charity purchased two caravans including an adapted caravan based in Filey. To date, the charity has provided 700 families with a free of charge stay to relax and make memories.