FEATURE
Donation - AV Dawson ’ s Angela Meloni with Unicorn Centre manager Claire Pitt and members of the charity ’ s team .
All smiles - Rachel Bareham of Zoe ’ s Place with AV Dawson ’ s Allan North , who nominated the baby hospice for a donation . the local area .
“ He was also fundamental in shaping and establishing the company ’ s values and it was this passion for the local community and support for his colleagues that put ‘ family ’ central to these values . He was described by many as a father figure and mentor . It was this generous nature and support for his local community that made this name the logical choice for the fund .”
Available to all colleagues within the AV Dawson group , the fund is designed to support community groups , charities and worthy causes close to their hearts . Worth up to £ 1,000 every quarter , it allows employees to submit a nomination highlighting their chosen cause and why it would be a worthy recipient of the funds . The nomination process gives the colleague an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the individual charity or group that they support , outline why it needs the funds and how it would make a difference to the recipient if their nomination was successful .
To keep the process impartial , the nominations are submitted for review by a panel of five members from across the business , including a director and HR representative .
Two local Teesside charities benefited from the first round of funding , Normanby-based Zoe ’ s Place Baby Hospice and the Unicorn Centre in Hemlington .
Angela Meloni from AV Dawson ’ s TRIP ( Tees Riverside Intermodal Park ) container terminal submitted the nomination for the Unicorn Centre , a Riding for the Disabled Association
facility on the outskirts of Middlesbrough .
She was delighted to secure funds for the charity and said : “ Being a volunteer at the Unicorn Centre , I regularly see the valuable work they do for the disabled community , and like many charities it has faced an exceptionally difficult period throughout the pandemic .
“ In addition to this , most of the people attending the centre are classed as vulnerable , meaning stringent Coronavirus measures are still in place . The charity was desperate for new safety stirrups for its vulnerable riders and the donation will go some way to providing these .”
The second successful nomination was for Zoe ’ s Place , a hospice offering palliative , respite and end-of-life care for babies and infants up to the age of five .
Allan North , from AV Dawson ’ s Trailer workshops , submitted the successful nomination .
“ Every year I take part in the annual Boundary 500 Santa Ride that raises funds for Zoe ’ s Place ,” he said . “ Last year , the ride had to be cancelled due to bad weather , resulting in the loss of donations that would usually be collected from spectators along the route .
“ Being able to secure extra funding through the Maurice Dawson Fund will help us make up some of the lost funding opportunities .”
Rachel Bareham , community and events fundraiser at Zoe ’ s Place , commented : “ Like many other charities in the UK , during 2020 Zoe ’ s Place suffered significantly in the first wave of the Coronavirus pandemic . Donations plummeted by approximately 60 per
cent and , as a result , the charity closed its doors for the first time since opening in 2004 .
“ When Zoe ’ s Place did open back up in August 2020 , we were able to offer only a reduced level of service , caring for fewer families due to shorter opening hours . The situation was incredibly difficult , not only for the charity but for the families that rely heavily on the vital services provided by Zoe ’ s Place .
“ When Zoe ’ s Place operates at full capacity , we are open 24 / 7 and have six cots occupied . This service , which is offered free to those families , comes at a cost of £ 3,600 per day , which the charity cannot meet without the help of fundraisers and donors .
“ We are incredibly grateful for the generous donation made by the Maurice Dawson Fund . The funds will go a long way to helping those families who desperately need respite support and end-of-life care for their child . On behalf of every single child and family at Zoe ’ s Place , thank you !”
AV Dawson has long been a supporter of local charities and community groups . With more than 96 per cent of its employees residing in the Teesside region , it is incredibly important to the business to give back to the area in which it operates .
The firm is an established supporter of the Teesside Charity as well as the Teesside Family Foundation and High Tide Foundation , while it has recently committed to backing Boro ’ s MFC Foundation .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 35