The Teesside Charity

Charity Number: 1140740

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £6 million total raised (since 2011)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Quarterly review (panel meets 4 times per year)
  • Grant Range: Up to £5,000
  • Geographic Focus: Tees Valley region (TS postcode areas)

Contact Details

Website: www.teessidecharity.org.uk

Email: info@teessidecharity.org.uk

Phone: 01642 686018

Grant Applications: grants@teessidecharity.org.uk

Hardship Fund: Rachel.p@teessidecharity.org.uk

Pre-Application Support: The charity welcomes contact from applicants who need support or would like to discuss their application. Contact the team at info@teessidecharity.org.uk for assistance.

Overview

The Teesside Charity, registered charity number 1140740, was founded in 2011 by Andy Preston (now Middlesbrough mayor) and Tanya Garland. Since its establishment, the charity has raised over £6 million to support local causes across the Tees Valley region. The charity operates on a unique model focused on “getting money from Teessiders who are doing well and redistributing it locally to those who need it most,” with all activities concentrated within approximately eight miles of central Middlesbrough. The charity has supported over 49,000 people across the region in the last year alone. Andy Preston describes it as “a movement” and “a powerful force for good, unique in the UK in standing up for the people of one urban area.” The charity targets social groups, charitable organisations, and vulnerable individuals within the TS postcode, helping businesses and individuals join together to make the Tees Valley a better place to live, work, and do business.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Awarding of Grants (rolling application)

  • Grant amounts up to £5,000
  • Panel meets four times per year to review applications
  • Applications submitted via email to grants@teessidecharity.org.uk
  • Applicants must have an annual income of less than £2.5 million

Golden Giveaway (biennial event)

  • £25,000 divided between 20 worthy Teesside causes
  • Each organisation receives at least £500, with potential for one to win up to £5,000
  • Public voting determines final allocation
  • Patron panel selects 20 finalists from entries
  • Next Golden Giveaway scheduled for 2026

Pitching for Purpose (annual competitive event)

  • Live pitch event for small or new Teesside charities
  • £5,000 total pot shared among finalists based on audience votes
  • Applications typically open in January, with live event in March
  • Requires pre-pitch presentation in addition to final event

Hardship Fund (rolling basis)

  • Supports vulnerable individuals and families experiencing financial hardship
  • Provides essentials including fuel vouchers, beds, white goods, carpets, school uniforms, and e-shopping vouchers
  • Applications only accepted via referral from schools or recognised charitable organisations (not from individuals)
  • Must live within TS postcode area

Scholarship Programme

  • Partnership with Teesside University
  • £5,000 per student distributed over three-year course
  • Focused on first-generation university students in business and computer science courses

Priority Areas

  • Projects that provide far-reaching social benefit to the Tees Valley community
  • Support for disadvantaged children and families
  • Educational support and youth development
  • Community groups and grassroots organisations
  • Poverty alleviation and hardship relief
  • Projects benefiting vulnerable populations affected by poverty and homelessness
  • Initiatives that fill gaps not covered by other charitable funding

What They Don't Fund

  • Salaries (as a general rule)
  • Projects outside the TS postcode areas
  • Direct applications from individuals (for Hardship Fund)
  • Organisations with annual income over £2.5 million (for Awarding of Grants)
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The charity is governed by an experienced Board of Trustees, including:

  • Andy Preston (Founder): Former Middlesbrough mayor and entrepreneur who originated the charity concept. Preston states: "It's a pretty unique charity as it's focused on getting money from Teessiders who are doing well and redistributing it locally to those who need it most. Everything we do is within about eight miles of the centre of Middlesbrough."
  • Tanya Garland (Co-Founder): Managing Director of nationally acclaimed communications agency Cool Blue, headquartered in Teesside.
  • John McCullagh: Teesside-born businessman who served a mechanical apprenticeship with Head Wrightson Machine Company. Now Director of MMC Group alongside his brothers.
  • Mark Bolland: Grew up in Middlesbrough and now runs his own communications consultancy in London, having previously worked for HRH The Prince of Wales.
  • Sarah: Joined the board in 2022, representing px Group. Newcastle University graduate who has worked for several North East businesses and resides in Saltburn. Member of Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra.
  • Ian: Dentist and dental director serving as trustee.
  • Alex: Works in regeneration sector as trustee.

Senior Staff

  • Diane Williamson - Charity Manager: With the charity since April 2014, responsible for day-to-day operations. Diane focuses on connecting people and working collaboratively with other charities. She has over eight years of experience with the organization.
  • Rachel Power - Funding Coordinator: Joined May 2025, coordinates all applications for funding and monitors fund usage. Contact point for Hardship Fund applications.

Founding Vision

Andy Preston articulated the charity's dual aim: “to create new apprenticeships aimed at getting those who are currently furthest away from employability to a state of work readiness and to continue to assist some of the most deserving, but hard-up community groups in our area.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Awarding of Grants Programme:

  1. Submit completed application via email to grants@teessidecharity.org.uk
  2. Contact info@teessidecharity.org.uk if you need assistance with your application

Hardship Fund:

  • Applications accepted only through referrals from schools or recognised charitable organisations
  • Email Rachel.p@teessidecharity.org.uk for application form
  • Must provide evidence of TS postcode residency

Pitching for Purpose:

  • Applications open via website (typically January)
  • Successful finalists invited for pre-pitch presentation
  • Live pitch event (typically March)

Golden Giveaway:

  • Next application window opens in 2026
  • Details published on charity website when available

Decision Timeline

  • Panel normally meets four times per year to review grant applications
  • Specific meeting deadlines published on website (e.g., 12pm Friday, November 14, 2025 for December 2025 meeting)
  • Decision timeline from application to notification varies by quarterly schedule

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The charity provides transparent communication throughout the process and welcomes pre-application discussions.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policy not publicly specified. Applicants are encouraged to contact the charity team directly to discuss unsuccessful applications and potential for resubmission.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

  • Pre-Application Support: The charity actively encourages applicants to “get in touch with our team and we will assist you” before submitting applications. This suggests they value relationship-building and want to guide applicants toward success.
  • Community Benefit Focus: Applications must clearly articulate “which areas of Teesside your project will benefit and how you believe the project will benefit the public/community.” Generic applications are unlikely to succeed.
  • Financial Transparency: Detailed budget breakdowns are required. The charity wants to see “financially savvy” organizations that understand value for money.

Recent Grant Examples

  • Zarach: Received £23,070 for their work supporting disadvantaged individuals
  • Doorways Middlesbrough: £1,000 to provide two-course lunches three days per week for vulnerable individuals (established March 2023)
  • Stitch and Craft: £434 for equipment replacement (water boiler, sewing machine service, scissors)
  • Various schools: Smaller grants for pupil necessities and uniform support

These examples demonstrate the charity funds both larger infrastructure projects and smaller, practical needs.

Key Success Indicators

  1. Geographic Specificity: Projects must clearly serve TS postcode areas. Vague geographic scope will likely fail.
  1. Filling Funding Gaps: Founder Andy Preston states they help “community groups and causes that might fall between the cracks of other charitable funding.” Applications should demonstrate why other funders haven't supported the work.
  1. Local Impact: With all work focused within eight miles of Middlesbrough center, hyper-local impact is valued over broad regional approaches.
  1. Practical Solutions: The hardship fund focuses on tangible items (beds, uniforms, fuel vouchers) rather than abstract services, suggesting preference for concrete deliverables.
  1. Collaboration: Manager Diane Williamson “loves connecting people and working collaboratively with other charities,” indicating partnership approaches may be favorably viewed.

Language and Terminology

The charity uses accessible, community-focused language:

  • “Bridging the Gap” (tagline)
  • “Making Teesside a better place”
  • Focus on “vulnerable,” “disadvantaged,” and “hard-up” populations
  • Emphasis on “local people for local people”

Avoid corporate jargon; use straightforward language that demonstrates local knowledge and community connection.

Standing Out

Given the competitive nature (particularly for Golden Giveaway and Pitching for Purpose), successful applications likely:

  • Demonstrate deep roots in the Teesside community
  • Show engagement with local networks
  • Provide specific, measurable outcomes
  • Reflect understanding of local challenges
  • Connect with the charity's mission of supporting those “furthest away” from opportunity

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic Precision is Non-Negotiable: Your project must serve TS postcode areas. If your work extends beyond this, clearly delineate which aspects serve Teesside specifically.
  1. Engage Before Applying: The charity actively offers pre-application support. Use this—it demonstrates commitment and allows you to tailor your application to their current priorities.
  1. Think Small and Local Over Large and Regional: With a maximum grant of £5,000 and focus within eight miles of Middlesbrough, hyper-local, practical projects aligned with community needs will outperform ambitious regional initiatives.
  1. Demonstrate You Fill a Gap: Show why mainstream funders haven't supported your work and how you serve populations or needs that fall “between the cracks.”
  1. Budget Transparency Matters: Provide detailed breakdowns and demonstrate cost-effectiveness. Remember their general rule against funding salaries.
  1. Consider Multiple Entry Points: Don't just apply to Awarding of Grants—Golden Giveaway and Pitching for Purpose offer alternative routes with different selection criteria. Pitching for Purpose particularly suits charismatic organizations comfortable with public presentation.
  1. Build Relationships Through Membership: Consider joining as a Centurion (monthly donor) or attending events like the Annual Ball or Ladies' Lunches. The charity values collaborative relationships, and demonstrating commitment to the wider Teesside philanthropic community may strengthen applications.

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