FEATURE
The Teesside Charity : Diane Williams of the Teesside Charity talks about how the charity bridges the gap between the communities of Teesside . She talks passionately about how the charity is achieving amazing things by bringing together those who can help people in need to make Teesside a better place in which to live , work and do business . The Teesside Charity distributes funds raised to other charities , notfor-profits , community groups and schools across Teesside , and has two caravans near Filey , where families can have a short free-of-charge break . Teesside Charity celebrates heroes of Teesside who go above and beyond for no reward or fanfare with their Teesside Hero Award and last year , they helped 1,200 struggling families through their Hardship Fund .
CEO Sleepout : ITS is proud to support , and is an ambassador for , the CEO Sleepout . Bianca Robinson , the charity ’ s CEO , has been raising awareness since March 2013 , and she says Teesside ’ s leading lights have come together to spend a night under the stars ( or rain , or snow ), uniting to fight homelessness in our area . That incredible first CEO Sleepout event at the Riverside , raising funds for the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation ( aka The Teesside Charity ), sparked a national movement . Since that first event , more than 5,000 business leaders across England and Wales have come together to raise awareness and funds for frontline charities and it has unlocked a deeper understanding and inspired people in business to do more to tackle inequalities at the heart of our society . Bianca is proud of the charity ’ s achievements and says that by the 10th anniversary , CEO Sleepout had raised £ 300,000
from across Teesside and £ 3.8m nationwide to fight homelessness . Since 2013 , the charity has donated to more than 100 charities on the frontline of homelessness and poverty , changing countless lives .
Bianca encourages Teesside ’ s business community to get involved and says : “ All you need is a big heart and a sleeping bag !”
The Centre for Industry Education Collaboration ( CIEC ): ITS is committed to investing in the next generation of engineers and Joy Parvin talks about how the Centre for Industry Education Collaboration ( CIEC ) delivers the award-winning Children Challenging Industry ( CCI ) programme to more than 50 children each year . Our funding enables the CIEC team to train and support the ITS STEM professionals to work with children and give them inspirational role models . The funding also enables one of CIEC ’ s specialist teachers to work with the children to conduct challenging investigations which make credible links between school science and real-life contexts .
Teesside Hospice : David Smith , CEO at Teesside Hospice , talks about how the hospice provides palliative care and support for patients with life-limiting illnesses . ITS has sponsored six or seven fundraising events over the years , including the annual Sunflower Run , which sees hundreds taking part in a 5k or 10k run to raise funds for the charity . I am also proud to be one of the charity ’ s ambassadors .
Darlington Mowden Park RFC : ITS supports numerous sporting communities and Tom Bulmer , of Darlington Mowden Park RFC , talks about how the club hosts many rugby holiday camps , with more than 100 children from across the region attending over the holidays . The camps are part of the club ’ s growing community programme , with players from the club ’ s elite teams lending a helping hand . DMP ’ s community programme delivers a range of sessions to schools and clubs across the North-East .
Thornaby Women ’ s FC and Norton and Stockton Ancients Women ’ s FC : William Robinson talks about how player sponsorship helps support the growth of Thornaby Women ’ s FC , and how one of the players sponsored by ITS has represented England Schools and the other has represented the U15s . ITS also proudly sponsors two players from Norton and Stockton Ancients Women ’ s FC . We ’ ve known these football crazy ladies since primary school , and it is great to see them realise their ambitions in the women ’ s football world too .
We believe that by supporting these organisations , ITS can make a real difference in people ’ s lives . We are proud to be a part of the local community and are committed to doing our part , and we encourage you to reach out to these organisations directly or visit their websites to learn more about how you can contribute to their cause . Also , and just as important , is our commitment to the environment - ITS is a carbon negative company , and we take our environmental responsibilities seriously .
Together , we can make a positive impact on our community and help create a better future for all .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 111