Tag: Local Communities

Fund grants support youth, health, and learning initiatives across East Anglia

Tees are committed to supporting our local communities to a better future. The Tees Better Future Fund builds on Tees’ heritage and legacy as a firm that values life-long learning and connecting people and communities through the generations. The Fund is delighted to offer grants of up to £5,000 for local projects focusing on learning and education and health and wellbeing, including supporting mental health for young people, children and families.

 We are delighted to announce that the four latest projects to receive a grant are:

• East Anglia Youth Rowing
• Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire
• Bishop’s Stortford Youth Project
• Living Pictures

 Look out for more information about these four excellent charities and their invaluable work in their local communities.

 East Anglia Youth Rowing

Tees Better Future Fund is delighted to announce that East Anglia Youth Rowing is one of four projects to receive a £5,000 grant this year.

EAYR aims to give young people from all backgrounds access to the benefits of rowing in East Anglia and show that it is a sport for everyone. In particular, the charity focuses on supporting young people living in rural communities with “hidden deprivation”, where many students are entitled to free school meals.

EAYR’s programme introduces rowing to students at state schools; at the end, the young people who wish to continue rowing are fed into local clubs. The Tees Better Future Fund grant will continue this project in North Cambridge Academy – just a stone’s throw away from Tees’ Cambridge office.

East Anglia Youth Rowing runs a summer camp, which the Tees Better Future Fund grant will also help to support. As well as rowing, EAYR arranges talks with professionals from STEM subjects, plus breakfast and lunch is provided – a lifeline for some families during the holidays. Also, in a bid to break down barriers between the university and the town, EAYR has encouraged Queen’s College, Cambridge to hold a state school rowing competition, giving local students an excellent opportunity to visit the college.

The charity was only set up two and a half years ago, but 600 young people have already benefited from their brilliant work. EAYR is branching out into Norfolk in September 2024, and they have plans to expand further into Suffolk. Tees is proud to support EAYR as they grow and continue to have a significant positive impact on the lives of young people in East Anglia.

 Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire

 Tees Better Future Fund is pleased to share that Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire (HSRSC) is a recipient of a £5,000 grant.

HSRSC supports local families with children aged nine and under through tough times, either with a home-visiting service or specialised family support groups. The Tees Better Future Fund will help three families access home-visiting support in Royston, a service that offers practical and emotional support to families in crisis.

 Families come to HSRSC with a variety of difficulties – some might have fled from domestic abuse, others may not have any friends or relatives locally, or they could be struggling to cope with a child’s illness. The home-visiting service matches each family with a trained volunteer who visits them weekly and offers tailored support – they might help with a weekly shop, play with a child with additional needs, or support parents with behaviour management.

Families usually receive home-visiting support for an average of 6-9 months. By the end, HSRSC hopes to have empowered the families, improved their confidence, and helped them cope with the difficulties they face. In the year 2022-23, 100% of parents felt they were more able to be involved in their children’s early development and socialisation at the end of home-visiting support.

HSRSC, established in 1983, turned 40 last year, and its work is more vital than ever. The charity has recently seen an increase in the number of families with complex needs, and the cost-of-living crisis has significantly impacted their financial stability. Tees Better Future Fund is, therefore, proud to help three families in need access vital support from HSRSC.

 Bishop’s Stortford Youth Project

 Tees Better Future Fund is pleased to share that the next charity to receive a grant is Bishop’s Stortford Youth Project (BSYP).

BSYP was established in 2013 to provide safe spaces and opportunities to local secondary school-age young people. The Tees Better Future Fund will help to fund the drop-in sessions at Thirst Youth Café, a welcoming space for young people to meet, make friends, and take part in fun activities to increase happiness, health, and well-being.

The Fund will also support the continuation of BSYP’s youth volunteer programme, which helps young people learn new skills and develop their potential. Participants work in Thirst and connect with young people on their own. Not only does the programme give young people a confidence boost, but it is also excellent work experience and has helped many participants get jobs when they go to university.

 Alongside Thirst, BSYP have a 1:1 mentoring project in local secondary schools, where students meet with a youth worker every week for 6-10 weeks. They also run a wellbeing project; local GPs refer young people to BSYP who are on the waiting list for other services, such as CAMHS.

BSYP has seen a dramatic increase in mental health issues among young people in recent years, so their work is becoming more vital. With a well-established base in Thirst Café, BSYP are now continuing to explore ways that they can take their services to young people – particularly those in surrounding villages that may be isolated due to limited transport links. We look forward to supporting the café’s excellent work and seeing what BSYP does next to transform the lives of young people.

Living Paintings

We are delighted to announce that Living Paintings is the next charity to receive a grant from Tees Better Future Fund.

Living Paintings designs Touch to See books for blind and partially sighted children and adults. These books are then distributed via a free postal library service, allowing anyone to access the resources, regardless of financial position and location. The Tees Better Future Fund grant will go towards providing this vital service to blind and partially sighted children in Cambridgeshire for another year.

There are 26,000 blind and partially sighted children in the UK. They live in an isolated world, so Living Paintings’ books are intended to be a shared reading experience. These unique books help blind and partially sighted children gain literacy skills and integrate into the world. The books are visually impressive, so sighted children love using them, too, putting across a positive message to the wider population about the resources available for blind children.

Established in 1989 by Alison Oldland MBE, Living Paintings is the only organisation like It. In 2023, Thanks to their accessible picture books and resources, 100% of child library members had more shared experiences with sighted friends, family, and peers, and 99% benefitted from improved confidence in reading.

Demand is high for Living Paintings’ service. Last year, they doubled their child beneficiaries within six weeks thanks to a popular project for the King’s Coronation. The charity is currently exploring how it can support 0–3-year-olds at a time when they are developing key cognitive skills. Tees Better Future Fund is proud to support such a unique charity as it continues to provide a vital service to blind and partially sighted children.

The Tees Better Future Fund proudly announces its latest triumph in fostering positive change within communities, as it awards a £5,000 grant to Cambridge Acorn Project. Selected as one of four recipients in the recent round of applications, the Cambridgeshire-based charity is set to make a profound impact on the lives of children and families facing trauma, abuse, or emotional distress.

Cambridge Acorn Project stands as a beacon of hope, dedicated to alleviating the inequalities experienced by families across Cambridgeshire. With a therapeutic model of social work, the charity extends its support to children, young people, and families who have endured trauma while navigating the challenges of poverty.

“We’re delighted to have been awarded funding from Tees’ Better Future Fund. This money is vital to extending our services in Cambridge and ensuring more children and families can access our support. With Cambridge being one of the most unequal cities in the UK it is imperative that we can embed our services in local communities to ensure quick and easy access to therapeutic support for children and families who have experienced trauma and abuse.”

The demand for their services has surged as an increasing number of children and families find it challenging to access support from existing channels, particularly around mental health services. In response to this pressing need, the Cambridge Acorn Project is expanding its reach by establishing a new satellite hub in the King’s Hedges ward, complementing the success of their existing Cambridge Drop-In Hub in Abbey Ward.

The King’s Hedges area of Cambridge is amongst the 20-30% most deprived in the UK, underscoring the pervasive deprivation prevalent within the city. The extended satellite provision aims to make therapeutic support easily accessible to more children and families, allowing them to drop into their local wellbeing hub without the need for a professional referral. This innovative approach is rooted in person-centred service delivery, ensuring that support is delivered in a manner that aligns with their needs and preferences.

“Cambridge Acorn Project is truly inspirational – tirelessly dedicating itself to delivering comprehensive, trauma-informed therapeutic and structural support to children and families navigating trauma and poverty. Having collaborated closely with CAP over the past year, we have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of their work and the urgent and increased demand for CAP’s services. The forthcoming expansion through a new satellite hub in King’s Hedges is a beacon of hope, ensuring that more children and families can readily access the vital support they deserve. We are delighted to stand in partnership with Cambridge Acorn Project as they continue their mission to alleviate the suffering of children and their families, making a lasting difference in our community.” Commented Janine Collier, Co-Chair of the Tees Better Future Fund.

Trained, registered therapists, social workers, caseworkers, and assessment practitioners, along with supervised peer-support volunteers, will form a dedicated team providing a range of services through the new satellite hub. From enrichment support for children to family support fostering safe homes, the hub will serve as a comprehensive resource hub offering planning support, casework support, and a referral pathway to the legal clinic delivered in partnership with Tees.

To open this new satellite hub one morning per week in term time, the Cambridge Acorn Project will also need to increase staffing around the satellite hub to ensure they can undertake outreach hub services and also undertake follow-up work generated from contacts at the hub.

“The additional staff capacity will not only enhance our ability to provide personalised therapeutic support to children and families but also strengthen our collaborations with schools, businesses, and voluntary partners. Together, we can create a network of support that has the potential to support emotional recovery for children and families post-trauma,” emphasised Hannah Chapman, Cambridge Acorn Project’s Charity Manager.

As an example of the transformative nature of their work, a parent who has recently accessed the existing hub explained: “This service has saved my sanity and given us hope for the future. I don’t know what would have happened without the understanding, support, and encouragement I’ve gained”.

The Tees Better Future Fund and the Cambridge Acorn Project are united in their mission to create a better future for children and families facing adversity. This grant represents a shared commitment to building resilient communities where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

The Tees Better Future Fund proudly announces its latest round of grants, with Enterprise East Group emerging as one of the recipients. This grant will propel the impactful work of Enterprise East Group, a Saffron Walden-based community interest company committed to combating social isolation and employment barriers for over six years.

Dedicated to the fundamental belief that everyone possesses unique talents and potential, Enterprise East Group focuses on uplifting individuals on the margins of society. Their mission revolves around fostering community integration and creating accessible pathways to employment for those facing diverse challenges, including learning and physical disabilities, mental health issues, ex-offenders, addiction recovery, care leavers, homelessness, and low-income families.

Having already positively impacted the lives of over 8000 individuals, Enterprise East Group continues to grow its reach daily.

The Tees Better Future Fund grant will specifically support a new educational collaboration between Enterprise East Group’s community café, Café Cornell, and the local Dig-It community allotment. This innovative project will utilise both sites to host inclusive ‘Plot to Plate’ workshops, combining gardening and cooking skills.

Weekly sessions will engage participants from Enterprise East Group’s employability and social inclusion programs, as well as the wider community. Attendees will learn the entire process of cultivating seasonal fruits and vegetables, from planting and tending to harvesting and maintenance. Once the produce is ready, participants will collaborate with chefs in their community café to master the art of preparing delicious and nutritious meals.

In 2023, our Tees Better Future Fund granted Sports Connections Foundation (SCF) £5,000 to help fund their project, which supports the good health & well-being of children and young people through sport and physical activity.

SCF embarked on an ambitious summer sports programme for primary school-aged children. Using Great Berry Primary School in Basildon as a base, SCF organised multiple sports sessions (involving hundreds of children), with an emphasis on football. This was delivered by former professional footballer and manager, Paul Brush. SCF’s unique sporting offer is to work with a variety of professional athletes to develop young sporting leaders in communities. SCF recognises that many families are unable to send their children to sports camps during the summer, but initiatives such as ‘Inspire Through Sport’ make this possible.

Amongst other activities, SCF delivered their infamous ‘Pro Kick Challenge’ for the whole school. To complete the challenge, the children attended a session where SCF founder and former professional footballer, Junior McDougald, spoke about the importance of community and supporting each other and children across the world. The children then had lots of fun taking penalty kicks in the inflatable goals, where their shot speed was recorded. The cheers from the children in the school hall were deafening – even the teachers joined in, much to the amusement and joy of the children!

The project promoted children participating in healthy activities and having fun, whilst also helping them to learn the importance of supporting each other and the community around them. The project also improved the children’s confidence and self-esteem, whilst helping them to develop invaluable leadership skills and build their resilience. The children enjoyed being taught by inspirational, famous sportspeople who are highly qualified in their field. One of the project’s main values and aims is total inclusivity, and observers at the school told SCF that children who didn’t normally take an interest in sports thoroughly enjoyed being involved in the project.

Charlie Neal, a member of the Tees Community Involvement Development Board, attended one of the ‘Inspire Through Sport’ sessions and said, ‘It was an honour to see first-hand just how amazing the work is that SCF carries out in our local communities and how valuable it is for the children involved. Led by Paul Brush, the sports camp provided a fun, yet educational platform for the children to develop both their footballing and communication skills further. We are proud to have supported such a crucial project through the Better Future Fund and we look forward to backing similar initiatives that help our local communities in the future.’

Junior McDougald, Founder of Sports Connections Foundation said, ‘We are very grateful to the ‘Tees better Future Fund’, it enabled us to deliver fantastic sporting and educational outcomes for hundreds of children in Basildon. As a children’s charity, we utilise professional sportspeople and young community ambassadors to help inspire the next set of sporting leaders in the community. It was amazing to see so many happy children at our summer camp at Great Berry Primary School this year.’

Damien Pye, Great Berry Headteacher said ‘SCF have delivered the pro kick challenge to over 420 children from 4 years to 11 in the Tees Better Future Fund project, it didn’t matter whether they were into sports they all had a great time. I could hear the loud cheering and them supporting each other from my office all day. It’s a brilliant inclusive activity that teaches the children so many important life values using sport as an inspirational tool.’

A great Berry Pupil said, ‘I loved taking part in the pro kick challenge, it was great fun, It also taught us about supporting each other and what we can do for other children in poorer places around the world’.

Sports Connections Foundation is a charity, that uses the positive power of sport to engage, motivate, and inspire children & young people who are disadvantaged, hard to reach or at risk.’

Sports Connection Foundation’s current programmes are:

• Inspire Through Sport – provides sport-inspired youth work and sports camps, coaching and mentoring for children and young people
• ProKick Schools Challenge – provides primary schools with an inspirational football-related sponsored activity
• Inspire Through Sport International – provides funding and vital educational resources to an impoverished orphanage and a nursery in Burkina Faso, Africa
• Sporting Wishes – special sporting memories visiting flagship sporting events for children with life-limiting conditions.

Tees Better Future Fund is very pleased to announce that Action for Family Carers in Essex is one of the three community projects to receive a Tees Better Future Fund grant in the latest funding round.

Action for Family Carers is an Essex charity, which for over 30 years has been providing information and support to carers who have unpaid, caring responsibilities for others.

Their mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of carers including young carers. Action for Family Carers does this by offering an array of different activities and support groups across Essex such as:

• young carer club nights and support in schools
• young adult carer transition support when moving to further/higher education or employment
• counselling for carers
• day care  and Activity Groups for vulnerable older people and people with dementia and memory loss
• whole family support
• targeted support such as GP liaison.

These programmes have helped over 1000 families and that number continues to grow every day.

The grant funding will go towards a new club, to support young carers in the Chelmsford area. They will support young carers across Essex by providing practical and emotional support as well as respite care. This club will allow young carers to spend time with their peers, take part in arts and crafts, get a healthy snack, and provide them with the opportunity, to unwind and enjoy themselves away from their caring responsibilities.

Chris Vince, Young Carers Service manager for Action for Family Carers, said :

“The support we get from local charities like the Tees Better Future Fund is essential to allow us to do the work we do, supporting young carers across Essex and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for such a generous donation.

Young carers provide such a vital role in supporting family members in need and we want to do everything we can to support them and ensure they are successful in their lives.”

Daniel Bowen relationship management leader of the Tees Better Future Fund said:

“It’s a privilege for Tees to work alongside local charities, like Action for Family Carers, who provide respite and support to young carers who look after others within our community. There are approximately 10,000 young carers in Essex and without their vital support through unpaid work, the individuals being cared for would not manage.

Extending support to children who care for others is not just an act of compassion, but a vital investment in their well-being and the future of our society. These young caregivers exhibit remarkable strength, resilience, and selflessness, shouldering responsibilities far beyond their years. We have a responsibility to invest in these young people, to ensure that they receive the support and resources they need to navigate their unique journey. By recognising their challenges, providing some respite and guidance and the opportunity to connect with others who understand, we hope these young carers will be empowered to maintain their well-being, pursue their dreams, and unlock their fullest potential.”

Tees Better Future Fund is delighted to announce that CHIPS (Children’s Integrated Playschemes) in Bishop’s Stortford, is one of the projects in the second round of applications, to receive a Tees Better Future Fund grant.

CHIPS create safe spaces for children with additional needs to play together and support their parent’s/carers’ well-being by offering them short breaks from their caring responsibilities.

Founded by parents in 1994 as a pilot project by Herts County Council, CHIPS now supports over 200 families, of which there are some 230 children with additional needs and their siblings.

CHIPS now runs six different playschemes and various special interest clubs, across East Hertfordshire and Broxbourne for children aged 3-19 years. The children with additional needs who attend the sessions would likely not be able to access mainstream activities. CHIPS sessions provide the opportunity for them to try new activities safely and receive the personal/medical care they require.

Over the last 30 years, CHIPS has supported hundreds of children and that number continues to grow every day.

CHIPS will use the grant to fund additional hours of staffing, which will provide the 1 to 1 support that the majority of the children with additional needs require. The children will be able to attend the playscheme more regularly on Saturday mornings and during the school holidays, to meet up with their friends and enjoy fun and new activities.

The Playscheme is now based at Avanti School, in Bishop’s Stortford. CHIPS is looking for new staff and volunteers to help at sessions.

Sally Powell Co-Chair of the Tees Better Future Fund commented:

“The vision of CHIPS for their play schemes and the valuable support they provide to families with children with additional needs has deeply inspired us. Recognising that access to activities is crucial for every child’s development, we aim to assist those who may face difficulties during this period, boosting their confidence, nurturing their skills, and empowering them to thrive in the face of challenges. Additionally, this project aims to enhance support for families with children with additional needs, promoting both their physical and mental well-being.”

CHIPS Chairman Graham Nickson commented:

“CHIPS is very grateful to the Tees Better Future Fund for its generous donation which will enable us to run extra playscheme sessions for our children. Without the playschemes, too many children coming to CHIPS would miss out on the simple joy of playing with other children.”

We have completed the second funding round and are thrilled to announce that one of the three community projects to receive a Tees Better Future Fund grant is The Expert On Myself (TEOM) based in Cambridgeshire.

The Expert On Myself is a community interest company in Cambridgeshire that helps people speak and organishttps://www.teeslaw.com/our-community/ations listen. They create valuable opportunities for people to educate professionals about the issues that affect them. Their expertise is from personal experience and from many years of working with people.

Founded in 2021, The Expert on Myself helps organisations be more inclusive and socially aware, by listening to people about the issues that affect them.

The Tees Better Future Fund grant will help TEOM to plan and create a training programme for organisations wishing to improve their services for people with autism.

Lisette from TEOM commented:

“We are delighted to be able to use this funding from Tees Better Future Fund to help organisations better meet the needs of local autistic people. We have already had enquiries from autistic people wanting to get involved in the project, and from organisations who are keen to have training from autism experts.

The TEOM team are excited to be working on this project and looking forward to meeting lots of new people.”

Janine Collier, Co-Chair of Tees Better Future Fund said:

“The inspiring vision of The Expert On Myself for the ‘Experts on our Autism’ project has resonated with us. This initiative aims to foster social awareness and inclusivity, addressing a crucial topic in today’s society. Bringing those with lived experience together to inform a comprehensive training programme for local organisations to improve their services, communications and work environments, allows reaching far beyond the direct beneficiaries of the project.

By offering support to individuals who may face challenges in this area, we aspire to boost their confidence, develop their skills, and empower both them and their organisations to flourish. Through the comprehensive training programme, this project will contribute to promoting a better understanding within organizations, enhancing mental health and increasing accessibility and opportunities for the autistic and allistic.”

In phase one of their ‘Experts on our Autism’ project, TEOM will recruit five autistic individuals in Cambridgeshire. The TEOM team will hold three separate sessions with the individuals to gather information, coalesce the information into a plan, and create the training programmes to be delivered.

Phase two of the ‘Experts on our Autism’ project will focus on engaging three local organisations that want to improve the way that they offer services to autistic people. TEOM will support the five experts to deliver the training that they have created to each organisation.

The support from the Tees Better Future Fund will in turn benefit the five experts by building their confidence and skill set, allowing them to add valuable experiences to their CVs. The project will also benefit the wider society as the organisations will be more inclusive and socially aware.

If you are autistic or an organisation looking to expand your knowledge on autism, please contact TEOM through their website form or via their social media.

The Tees Better Fund was set up in May 2022 to offer grants of up to £5,000 for projects that support learning and education and/or promote good health and well-being in Cambridgeshire, Essex, and Hertfordshire.