FEATURE
Clean sweep – Some Etc . staff lent a hand to Friends of True Lovers Walk in Yarm .
Paws for thought – Some of the charitable work by Etc . staff benefited Maxi ’ s Mates Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Dunsdale near Guisborough .
Good work – Low Grange Community Centre in Stockton was one of the local organisations to benefit from Etc .’ s Time for Teesside initiative .
Pickers – More Etc . staff took time out to clean the beach at Redcar . where a team helped to enclose the outdoor space , making it a safer , more private place for children to play .
MAIN provides services to children with autism from five up to adulthood and their families .
The charity ’ s chief executive officer , Heather Whyman , said : “ We really appreciate everything the team did for us , for giving their time , providing the materials , and fencing off the back of the play area . It was a brilliant day .”
Over at North Ormesby Resource Centre another team of Etc . volunteers helped to revamp the sensory garden .
Centre manager Jackie Reilly said : “ We have a unit for people with dementia . The team worked throughout the day to help us create a sensory garden , and what a fantastic job they did .
“ This will enable our service-users to enjoy the outdoors in a safe and tranquil environment , using touch and smell to hopefully help bring precious memories to them and promote mental health and wellbeing .”
Now keen to make Time for Teesside an annual event , Grant said : “ For the group and all those who took part , the benefits of Time for Teesside were two-fold – this was a chance to help others and play an active part in our communities , and it was
an opportunity for staff to do something completely different and spend time with colleagues who they may not have worked with directly before .
“ We had a fantastic day , but the best bit for us was knowing we were making a difference .
“ To have 250 people collectively giving up to 2,000 hours to good causes across Teesside can have a real impact .
“ We hope next year other members of the business community will consider joining us .”
The Etc . incorporates Bede Sixth Form College , NETA Training , Redcar and Cleveland College , Stockton Riverside College , and the Skills Academy .
To find out more about the Etc ., its colleges , employer services and courses , including further education , higher education , apprenticeships , part-time , commercial and professional courses , visit the-etc . ac . uk .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 161