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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Tom Keighley

North East business life: charity, community and award events in the region

Barratt Developments North East has partnered with North East property and construction firm Hellens Group to raise £50,000 for the Percy Hedley foundation.

Hellens Group held a series of events including a ladies' lunch, a golf day and a garden party to raise part of the funds. And Barratt donated £26,500 to the effort.

Louise Horsefield, head of fundraising and engagement at Percy Hedley Foundation said: "On behalf of the Percy Hedley Foundation, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Barratt Homes for this generous donation in support of the amazing anniversary campaign by Hellens Group. The money raised will make a huge difference to the children and young people we support. We look forward to an exciting future working together."

Read more: Newcastle racecourse bounces back

Carl Sobolewski, managing director of Barratt Developments North East said: "We’re really pleased to support the Percy Hedley Foundation. It’s a phenomenal charity for people with additional needs, but also their families and its incredible impact is felt by a lot of people in the North East."

Kate Hellens, director at Hellens Group said: "We are very grateful to Barratt Homes and their generous donation towards the Percy Hedley Foundation. We hope that this donation will lead to more opportunities to work with the Foundation in the future and provide the necessary support for all students."

Cleveland Containers staff with their foodbank donations. (Supplied by Harvey & Hugo)

Cleveland Containers has donated £4,000 of food and other essentials to a number of foodbanks across the region.

Staff at the Stockton-based firm clubbed together to support four foodbanks with the company providing additional funds.
The team chose to donate to the White Feather Project in North Ormesby, a charity which aims to eliminate food deprivation, providing £750 worth of collected food and a £250 monetary donation. The team also helped Hartlepool Foodbank, Harbour Support Services in Hartlepool and Little Sprouts in Stockton, which will each reach £1,000.

Cleveland Containers chief executive officer Johnathan Bulmer said: "It’s difficult for a lot of families this year, especially at Christmas time, and we want to help by proving necessities, such as food and toiletries, to those who need it most. If we can assist a few families by reducing their financial burden and allowing them to have a Christmas dinner this year, then we’ve achieved what we set out to do."

Gateshead order fulfilment company The Storage Place says it has become carbon neutral following a partnership with net zero specialist Positive Planet.

The firm has adopted eco-friendly packaging and electric vehicles to make deliveries, as well as preparing to plant trees as part of a carbon reduction plan.

Paul Griffiths, managing director of The Storage Place, said: "We’re beyond thrilled to be officially carbon neutral after partnering with Positive Planet. Businesses need to take responsibility for the impact they have on the environment and we have made great progress in highlighting sustainability within the fulfilment industry.

"We’re looking forward to taking our newly sustainable processes into 2023 and continuing to deliver a quality service to our clients."

Members of the Primula and Bright Red teams at the Primula's Team Valley base. (Supplied by Primula)

Gateshead squeezy cheese brand Primula has surprised three North East charities with donations totalling more than £120,000.

The firm, which donates all its profits to good causes across the region, country and around the world via the Kavli Trust, asks employees to nominate organisations to become beneficiaries. Three chosen included food poverty charity Feeding Families; blood cancer charity Bright Red and Sunderland Carers.

All three were recently invited to the Primula headquarters where they thought they were pitching for further funding. Primula brand communications manager Gareth Watson said: "Sharing is at the heart of everything we do here at Primula and has been for the last sixty years, ever since we became part of The Kavli Trust. We’re delighted to support three incredible charities working hard to supported communities across the North East, which is among the hardest hit regions amid the cost-of-living crisis.

“Feeding Families, Bright Red and Sunderland Carers are three, incredible charities who have already supported thousands of families across our region during these challenging times, and to know these donations will positively impact the lives of those living on our doorstep is a great assurance.”

Juliet Sanders of Feeding Families added: "We’re very grateful for the donation, which will be used to continue providing thousands of food boxes to families across the North East who are likely to be struggling this Christmas."

The Bradley Hall Festive Fundraiser Bingo Bonanza at The Fed, Gateshead. (Supplied by Bradley Hall)

Property company Bradley Hall has raised £75,000 for three local charities at its annual fundraiser.

At the sixth of its annual events, the firm raised funds for Marie Curie Newcastle’s Hospice, Heel & Toe Children’s Charity, and NE Youth. Since the event was conceived, Bradley Hall has raised and donated nearly £300,000 for local charities, community projects and grassroots sports club. Beneficiaries include 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.

Neil Hart, Bradley Hall’s group CEO said: "This year’s festive fundraiser has been our biggest fundraising success yet and I am incredibly proud that we have been able to make a positive impact to local causes. Thank you to the 700 people who attended the event, purchased tables, donated and took part in our auctions. I would also like to say a huge thank you to our sponsors for the event; The Inn Collection Group, Smart Vision Screens, Smart Outdoor, Strata and Portfolio North. Their support further added to the donations to Marie Curie’s Newcastle Hospice, Heel and Toe Children’s Charity and NE Youth and will make a huge difference to service users and their families.

"As a firm we aim to support local economy, business, and communities with a full service approach to residential and commercial property. Our vision is to work together with key organisations and people to make the North a consistently better place to live, work, and socialise – which is at the heart of our community efforts."

Miller UK has donated £4,000 to the People's Kitchen. (Supplied by Miller)

Cramlington manufacturer Miller UK has donated £4,000 to Newcastle charity the People's Kitchen.

Staff at the firm, which specialises in making groundbreaking attachments, have been fundraising for the last 12 months including an Easter hamper raffle and the Miller Mileage challenge, a competition to see who could do the most miles – by foot, running or cycling - over the course of a month.

Members of the team also did a sponsored cycle from Miller headquarters in Cramlington to Thompsons of Prudhoe's facilities. The demolition company also donated £500 towards Miller's fundraising.

Barry Robison, director of Marketing at Miller said: "It is very important that Miller gives back to the local community. Every year we put a vote out to the team to choose a charity that they would like to help in the local area and there was an overwhelming consensus to focus our efforts on supporting a charity dedicated to helping vulnerable people. The People’s Kitchen does such a fantastic job supporting vulnerable people and providing a safe haven. It’s truly admirable the time the volunteers dedicate to the charity and we are pleased that Miller has been able to contribute to help those in need, especially in the cold winter months. Well done to the team at Miller for their great efforts."

Housing association Gentoo Group has raised £13,788 for its two corporate charities, Sunderland Mind and Action on Dementia Sunderland - chosen by a vote of more then 1,000 staff.

Throughout 2022, Gentoo team members raised more than £13,000 through fundraising activities in Gentoo’s offices, depots and buildings including coffee mornings, bake sales and a popular monthly payroll deduction scheme. The money raised will help to provide care and social activities for those affected by dementia and their families and those struggling with mental health issues, providing counselling services and support groups.

Susie Thompson, executive director of Housing at Gentoo said: "It’s been a difficult year full of uncertainty, but I am blown away by the generosity of colleagues and their dedication to give back to the residents of Sunderland. Both charities provide vital services and support to residents living in and around our neighbourhoods and it’s great to know our donation has contributed to their amazing work. It's been a privilege to support them over the last year and we wish them all the best for 2023."

(Supplied by O Agency)

Property auction specialist iamproperty has raised £15,364 for the Tiny Lives Trust which supports premature and newborn babies and their families.

Team members raised the funds through a series of activities including a family fun day, a charity boxing match, the Great North Run and a sponsored golf day. In June the Family Fund Day at Newcastle Racecourse raised £3,471, while Ellen Gration, business development manager, later took to the ring for a charity boxing match in aid of Tiny Lives Trust, raising £700.

In September teammates Rob Wallace, Hope Killick, Dan Milne and David Simms, took part in the Great North Run, with the starting line not far from iamproperty’s HQ in Newcastle. Sponsorships saw them raise a total of £1,267.

Following the Golf Day, Jamie Cooke, managing director, said: "We are so proud of our team for helping to raise money and awareness for Tiny Lives Trust. It’s a challenging time as we’re all facing increasing costs, so we appreciate the generosity of our team and our Partner Agents more than ever. A huge thank you goes out to our four GNR runners, agents and partners who joined the golf day and everyone who donated to our chosen charity. The money we raise will go a long way in making a difference to the lives of babies and families that need the support."

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