2021
CHARITY / VOLUNTARY AWARD
WINNER :
SPREADING THE HAPPINESS
The issue of school holiday hunger has recently been given a huge profile by Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford – but it ’ s been a passion of Spreading the Happiness for years .
Created by mother and daughter Patricia Gibb and Shonette Bason , the Wynyard-based charity supplies hampers to families needing extra support . Last year , it fed over 930 families UK-wide , with schools identifying the families that should benefit .
And while Shonette was delighted to receive the charity award , she was first to say : “ It ’ s all about the children .”
She said : “ It feels so exciting but it ’ s not just about me , it ’ s all about the children we feed and the fact our charity has got recognition is so overwhelming . “ It just spurs us on , puts us at the forefront of people ’ s minds and helps us push forward with the sustainability of solving child food poverty .
“ We were talking during lockdown to Manchester United and Marcus Rashford , so hopefully by winning this award , it will put us at the front of their mind again as we go back to them with the sustainable approach . Hopefully he can then take it forward , rolling it out as we have nationally , but with him as the front person , which has more draw than we do as a small charity .
“ The awards were electric – all the women deserve awards . Although I did feel kind of excited that we won , I can ’ t lie !”
Sponsored by Industrial Technology Systems ( ITS )
Happy – Malcolm Knott , MD of category sponsors ITS , presents the Charity / Voluntary award to Shonette Bason from Spreading the Happiness .
FINALIST : FINALIST :
THE HALO PROJECT
Halo is a national charity based in Middlesbrough which provides support to black and minoritised victims and survivors of domestic abuse , sexual violence , forced marriage , female genital mutilation and honour-based abuse .
With a national helpline for victims and agencies seeking specialist support , Halo also provides refuge to women and children in its Halo Homes and delivers bespoke training across the UK to raise awareness .
In addition , the Halo Hub initiative is a student-led platform set up in universities to raise awareness of hidden harms on campus , signpost survivors to specialist support and work to prevent sexual violence through training , safeguarding and student action .
RECOVERY ADVOCATES AND CONSULTANTS UK ( TRAC UK )
TRAC UK is the first charity of its kind in the North-East as a free , peer-led service providing a gateway for hope and recovery in the community .
Led by founder Annalice Argyle , the organisation empowers vulnerable , addicted women , many of whom suffer not only from substance misuse but also from issues such as prostitution , homelessness , domestic violence , mental health problems and social services involvement around children and family relations .
TRAC UK strive to reduce stigma around these issues and educate that addiction does not discriminate , while delivering a message of hope that women can and do recover .
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
Industrial Technology Solutions ( ITS ) CEO Malcolm Knott said : “ From the moment we arrived to leaving , slightly worse for wear , we had a great night . Being able to talk to people we ’ d not seen for 18 months and catch up was brilliant . Reading the nominee stories in the programme and realising how many varied and inspiring female figures we have in
Teesside was mind-blowing .
“ If you were in the top three – you were amazing ! Spreading the Happiness was rightly the top Charity / Voluntary award winner . The event made you proud – to be from Teesside , to be a ‘ Smoggie ’, and of the strength and depth of inspiring women in our region .”