Tees Business Tees Business Issue 16 | Page 53

CHARITY/ V O L U N TA RY Sponsored by Venator WINNER: HALO PROJECT The Halo Project was recognised for all of its good work in winning the Charity Voluntary award. The Halo Project is a black, asian and minority ethnic (BAME) women-led charity based in Middlesbrough which has helped more than 1,000 girls and women fleeing from violence since gaining charitable status in 2014. The Halo team of eight women provide social and emotional support to ethnic minority women who face or have been subject to a range of abuse including honour-based violence and forced marriage. Founder Yasmin Khan was recently appointed as a part-time national advisor to the Welsh government for violence against women, a role allowing her to share some of her experience and knowledge gained within the Tees Valley. Yasmin said: “ I was so pleased to be nominated along with the other charities – this is a complete shock to us. “We are just so happy that we can shine a light on some of the issues and on what women who we support are going through. “It’s absolutely amazing, we are so pleased.” Yasmin added: “It’s been a hard journey but having good strong women around me who believe in what we are doing and support women who need our help has really helped grow the charity. It has been amazing and I am buzzing to win the award, I really am. It is a brilliant accolade, and in future we are going to get bigger and support more women.” Host Hayley McQueen (right) congratulates Yasmin Khan after Kevin Wilson of category sponsors Venator presented her with the Charity/Voluntary award. Harriet Spalding of Teesside Philanthropic Foundation. Sarah Atkinson of The Bungalow Partnership. RUNNER-UP: RUNNER-UP: Teesside Philanthropic Foundation The Bungalow Partnership Teesside Philanthropic Foundation has raised more than £2.5m for worthy local causes over the past seven years – with women right at the heart of all of its good work. The charity’s three full-time staff are all Teesside women deeply committed to its success, and they are supported by three part-time office volunteers who are all experienced businesswomen in their own right. Chairman Andy Preston is also ably assisted by several female trustees such as Harriet Spalding of property specialists the Mandale Group. Harriet has more than done her bit for the Foundation, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise £7,500. The Bungalow Partnership is a local charity with an all-female management team which has helped improve the emotional wellbeing of more than 1,000 children, youngsters and families, ensuring they feel supported in times of need and can achieve their potential. The charity has helped families enjoy improved relationships, while aiding children and adults in managing the emotional demands of their lives and enabling young children and adolescents to find their voice and speak out about harmful situations. The Bungalow Partnership also provides training to school, healthcare and nursery staff so they are better able to identify children with additional needs. SPONSOR’S MESSAGE Kevin Wilson, VP Human Resources at Venator: “We were really pleased to be able to support the first inaugural Tees Business Women’s Awards especially the Charity/Voluntary category which aligned to the work we have been doing with this year with the Venator Community Fund. It was fantastic to see so many female-led organisations doing great things to support those who most need it most on Teesside. The standard of entry was incredibly high which made selecting a shortlist and a winner very difficult. However, the Halo Project stood out, for us, as a charity run by women for women in our region. Congratulations to the Teesside Philanthropic Foundation and The Bungalow Partnership as well for being shortlisted. We were also pleased to have a number of our female associates shortlisted for the awards which recognises the great talent we have at the Venator head office at Wynyard.”