EDUCATION
Rescue rangers – Etc . staff helped out in the sensory garden at SARA Pet Rescue and Adoption in Kirkleatham , near Redcar . Pictured , from left , are Marie Turbill , Emma McGuinness , Richard Smith , Claire Simpson , Lisa Mellany , Alison Knapton , Anne Hunter and Holly Newton .
Let ’ s make ‘ Time for Tees ’
Tees Valley colleges show unity for the good of their communities
Time for Tees was always going to be a great idea . What ’ s not to love ? A giant effort aimed at encouraging as many people as possible to give a working day to good causes in the area .
The benefits are two-fold : first , there is the obvious direct assistance given to community projects , charities and organisations across the Tees Valley . After all , hundreds of extra pairs of hands can make a big impact , not to mention awareness raised .
Secondly , and perhaps of equal importance , is the opportunity for colleagues to spend time together , outside of the usual work environment , but still with a shared objective .
“ This is what Time for Tees is all about ,” said the Education Training Collective ’ s chief executive and group principal , Grant Glendinning , “ Being part of a wider initiative , with so many colleagues out doing good in our communities .”
Launching the campaign last year , Grant has always been quick to give credit where credit ’ s due . He explained : “ I took inspiration from Carlisle ’ s Give a Day to the City campaign . That sees hundreds of people and dozens of businesses giving time to good causes each year .”
Growing up in Hartlepool , after returning to the region to take up the chief executive role at the Etc ., the idea of bringing a similar project to our doorstep felt like too tempting an opportunity to miss .
Getting off to a flying start and supported by friends at Catalyst Stockton and the MFC Foundation , colleagues from Bede Sixth Form , NETA Training , Redcar and Cleveland College , Stockton Riverside College and The Skills Academy , all part of the Education Training Collective , joined forces to give a day to Teesside . And with it came a call to other local businesses to get on board . Middlesbrough College Group and
Darlington College heard that call , and in an
38 | Tees Business