CHARITY
Charity champions – Tees business representatives at the launch of the Infant Hercules Charity Club .
PICTURE : DOUG MOODY
Force for good
Small businesses back Infant Hercules Charity Club
A
generous group of small Teesside businesses and individuals are putting their money where their mouth is to help less fortunate Teessiders in difficult times – but there ’ s still room for a few more .
Tees Business is one of the businesses who have joined the Infant Hercules Charity Club – and executive editors Dave Allan and Martin Walker are calling on more local firms to join forces with them .
The Infant Hercules Charity Club is corporate membership of prominent local charity Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation , designed to allow small local businesses to support the cause in an affordable way .
Formed in 2011 , the foundation has raised more than £ 3m through a series of fundraising events and support from many prominent local businesses including Bulkhaul , Port of Middlesbrough ( AV Dawson ), Cleveland Cable Company , Tees Components and Middlesbrough College .
As patrons , the larger firms pay £ 5,000 per year to support the foundation , but joining the Infant Hercules Charity Club costs just £ 100 per month or £ 1,000 per year .
Dave Allan said : “ As a passionate Teesside business , Martin and I are proud to do our bit to support the foundation and it ’ s exceptional work helping those most in need right here on Teesside .
“ It ’ s an effective but very affordable way to support local charity while forging closer relationships with other businesses as a force for good . We ’ d love more local
92 | Tees Business firms to join us in the Charity Club or even sign up as patrons of the foundation .”
The Philanthropic Foundation ’ s Diane Williamson said : “ This level of business membership of our charity is perfect for successful but smaller businesses who can ’ t commit to the sums involved with being a patron of our foundation but who are keen to support our local charity work on a corporate level .
“ We ’ ve had a fantastic response since its launch and the members really appreciate the way we give back to them and make them feel part of a community .
“ As we win the fight against Covid , we plan to roll out much more in 2021 .
“ We plan to keep membership numbers to a tight maximum but there ’ s room for just a few more to help Teessiders in need in these most challenging of times .”
Benefits of joining the Infant Hercules Charity Club include :
1 . The opportunity to publicly show support and make a difference for the most disadvantaged Teessiders
2 . See your business listed and personally mix with some of Teesside ’ s most influential , successful businesses and business leaders 3 . Logo on charity website 4 . Facebook article when signing up and mentions on Twitter
5 . Invitation to exclusive quarterly business gathering ( limited to 1 representative of each organisation ) where prominent local business leaders tell their story , offer business tips and take part in a Q & A with members .
Backing - Martin
Walker and Dave Allan with the Philanthropic Foundation ’ s
Alisdair Beveridge .
Previous speakers at the exclusive business Q & A sessions have included Karl Pemberton ( Active Chartered Financial Planners ), Dean Benson ( Visualsoft ), Stephen Elliott ( Endeavour Partnership ),
Mark Wilcockson ( British Business Bank ), Bill Scott and Christine Stobbs ( Wilton Group ), Andrew Rowe ( Azets ), Alisdair Beveridge ( The Build Directory ), Clare Wheeler ( Business Cogs ), Phil Cunningham , Rachael Coates ( The Serviced Acccommodation Company ) and Charles Clinkard ( Clinkard ’ s ).
Along with Tees Business , the companies who ’ ve already kindly joined forces to make good things happen on Teesside are HR Alchemy , Durata UK , Abacus Bean , Communicate Technology , Marton Electrical . PALI , JH Mechanical Services , the Serviced Accommodation Company , ITS , M Wasley Chapman & Co , Steel River Consultants , Resolution Communications , Nicholson Group and Logic Architecture .
Individuals who ’ ve joined the army of local charity angels include Mark Kenrick , the Cunningham family , Jeremy O ’ Connor , Nigel and Claire Vaughan .
To join , to arrange a meeting or for more information , please contact Diane Williamson via info @ teessidecharity . org . uk