WINNER: MY SISTER’ S PLACE
2025
CHARITY OF THE YEAR
WINNER: MY SISTER’ S PLACE
Sponsored and shortlisted by CF Fertilisers
“ We’ re with people at the darkest times of their lives and we see them come out of the other side.”
In the past year alone, Middlesbrough charity My Sisters Place has stood alongside 5,600 survivors of domestic abuse – and the words of its CEO, Lesley Storey, summed up why it proved such a popular winner of the Charity of the Year title.
She told the 370-strong audience at Hardwick Hall:“ We see the potential in people. We see them go on to do amazing things in their lives and that, for me, is just incredible.”
It’ s the second time the charity has won the award, its previous success coming in 2020.
Lesley told Tees Business:“ I’ m really overwhelmed to get this – I didn’ t expect it at all. There are so many amazing charities on Teesside and the other finalists( Coworking Thursdays and Footprints in the Community) are both doing amazing work.
“ One of the things that really inspires me about Teesside is the wealth, depth and creativity of the voluntary sector – it’ s incredible.”
Describing herself as“ a Geordie who loves Teesside”, Lesley – who’ s been CEO since late 2020 – was keen to thank the charity’ s staff, trustees and service users, saying:“ They’ re all heroes.”
And as someone with lived experience of abuse, she admits it helps drive her to make things better for others.
She said:“ I’ ve had the experience but everyone’ s experience is different.
“ We’ re one of the first charities in the domestic abuse field to have a therapeutic service. We also do work around economic abuse, and we work with men and children, so we’ re quite exceptional in terms of the sheer range of services we offer.
“ And we see the potential in people. We love to do education programmes and we love it when women go on and get jobs, go to uni or do a course somewhere.
“ That’ s one of the things I really love – seeing people’ s potential and development. It’ s so rewarding.”
Winner – My Sisters Place CEO Lesley Storey receives the award from Michael Wooster, production manager of category sponsor CF Fertilisers.
FINALIST: FINALIST:
Coworking Thursdays
Coworking Thursdays is a communitydriven CIC supporting women in business across the Tees Valley. Founded by two solopreneurs, it hosts monthly coworking events, workshops and retreats that prioritise connection, wellbeing and sustainable growth.
Registered in Guisborough but with events across Teesside, since 2022 it has empowered dozens of women to combat loneliness, build confidence and thrive, both personally and professionally.
From the outset, women have been central to its success – not only as founders but as active participants who shape the tone, energy and impact of every event. Now operating at full capacity and planning to expand, Coworking Thursdays is creating a lasting impact through collaboration, community and care.
A WORD FROM THE SPONSOR
Footprints in the Community( FITC)
Redcar-based FITC delivers a range of services in Redcar and Cleveland that help reduce poverty and isolation and improve health and wellbeing.
Founded by current CEO Ruth Fox MBE in 2011, FITC works with around 200 volunteers and 120 local organisations to provide services for those most in need. Its projects support and encourage people by helping to improve their mental and physical health, raising their aspirations and improving employability skills through a range of activities and volunteering opportunities.
All FITC’ s key staff are women and all are instrumental in shaping the direction of the charity and its day-today management as it helps to improve the lives of many people across the borough.
Michael Wooster, production manager, CF Fertilisers: Community is hugely important to us and a key area of focus is supporting local causes and charities. We often reflect on how volunteering makes us feel and we have lots of words coming back to us –“ humbling”,“ inspirational” and a sense of recognition of how fortunate we all are. This serves to reinforce why we do what we do and why charities should be recognised and celebrated, so we are really proud to sponsor this award.
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