The chief executive of North East tourist destination Beamish Museum has been shortlisted in the Heritage category of the 2023 National Lottery Awards as a result of her incredible work in the local community.
In 1995, Rhiannon Hiles started work at Beamish Museum as a volunteer aged 25 and her creative drive and tenacity saw her become their CEO in 2021. Beamish already allows people to travel back in time to discover what life was really like in the North East during the 1820s, 1900s, 1940s and 1950s, and now Ms Hiles is overseeing Remaking Beamish, the biggest development in the museum鈥檚 53-year history with over 25 new exhibits and attractions, including a reconstructed 1950s Town.
The town features a replica of aged miners鈥 homes that will provide a space for people living with dementia and other long-term health conditions. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the Remaking Beamish project was awarded 拢10.9m by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2016.
She said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a great honour to be nominated for this award. I love the people and their stories and have great pride in the ways in which we engage with our visitors. I spend most days outside in the open-air museum 鈥 its people and our communities are at the heart of what we do.鈥
The National Lottery Awards are the annual celebration of the ordinary individuals and organisations who do extraordinary things with the help of National Lottery funding. This year, 3,780 people and projects were nominated for the work they have carried out with support from The National Lottery. Over the summer, a panel made up of representatives from The National Lottery and partners will decide the winners in each of the individual categories.
Winners will be revealed in the autumn and will receive a 拢5,000 cash prize for their organisation and a National Lottery Awards trophy. Jonathan Tuchner, from The National Lottery, said: 鈥淭he National Lottery Awards honour those who have stepped up and have gone the extra mile to make a difference in their communities, especially during these challenging times.鈥
Property technology company iamproperty has raised 拢4,727 through a series of charity events in July. The funds will support the company鈥檚 charity partner, Tiny Lives Trust which is based in the North East, and cares for premature and sick babies and their families.
As part of the fundraising, iamproperty鈥檚 employees came together with their family and friends at the company鈥檚 annual Family Fun Day at Newcastle Racecourse earlier this month, which raised 拢3,487. Raffle tickets were available on the day to be in with a chance of winning a selection of prizes, with all proceeds going into the charity pot.
Also in July, members of the team took on the 12k Total Warrior challenge which raised 拢1,180 鈥 taking the total raised to 拢4,727.
Ben Ridgway, co-founder of iamproperty, said: 鈥淩aising as much money as possible for Tiny Lives Trust, which continues to be our charity of the year as voted for by our team, is really important to us. We鈥檙e proud of the team for their commitment to getting involved and supporting an important cause, which is local to our headquarters in Newcastle. Special recognition to the Total Warrior team, for taking on the challenge and raising over 拢1,000.鈥
A young North East boxer鈥檚 journey towards his world title ambitions has won the backing of family-owned car dealership group Wingrove Motor Company.
The company has given Cameron Vuong a new Peugeot 208 to help him cover the 16-mile journey he makes twice a day between his home town of Blyth and his training base in Birtley more quickly and easily. After a hugely successful junior career, 20 year-old Cameron turned professional last month after signing with Eddie Hearn鈥檚 Matchroom Boxing team, which also includes household name fighters such as Anthony Joshua, Katie Taylor and Canelo Alvarez.
He won the Senior Elite ABA Title at Lightweight in April this year before following up by taking the Tri-Nation Title in May. Mr Vuong said: 鈥淕etting Wingrove鈥檚 sponsorship with this car will make a massive difference to my training regime and will help me focus more of my energies on getting into the best possible shape for my professional debut and the fights that will follow. I believe I can reach the very top of this sport, I know I can become World Champion and I don鈥檛 want to hang about either.鈥
David Guy, group commercial director at Wingrove Motor Company, which operates Silverlink, Newcastle West Road and Cramlington dealerships and service centre, said: 鈥淐ameron鈥檚 a very impressive young man from a great family and I鈥檝e been watching him develop his craft for several years. We鈥檙e very pleased to be able to give this practical support to someone from our community at the beginning of his professional sporting journey and we can鈥檛 wait to see what he achieves.鈥
Cramlington manufacturer Miller 海角视频 has donated its resources and skilled welders to help an animal charity.
Miller has supported the Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter, the company鈥檚 chosen charity for 2023, by donating two experienced welders over two days to help with the refurbishment of kennels and the main gate at the charity鈥檚 Longbenton facility.
Housing over 142 animals, this refurbishment of six kennels will allow the shelter to provide a safe space for dogs that enter the facility, meaning they are not visible to one another, preventing unwanted distress. Miller also carried out a repair of the main gate significantly increasing the shelters security.
The project came on the back of Miller supporting the charity earlier this year, using its muck-shifting equipment to clear the shelter鈥檚 recreational field to create a pool for the pigs.
Ricky Martin, field service engineer at Miller said: 鈥淎t Miller 海角视频, we firmly believe in giving back to our community and supporting causes that make a genuine difference. We are proud to partner with Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter, knowing that our expertise and resources will contribute to keeping animals safe until they find loving homes, and we鈥檙e looking forward to continuing our efforts for the duration of the year.鈥
Rachael Kendall, general manager at Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter said: 鈥淲e are overwhelmed by the generosity and commitment demonstrated by Miller. The refurbishment of the dog kennels will greatly improve the living conditions of the animals that come into the shelter, offering them comfort and security during their stay with us. The work Miller carried out earlier in the year has already had a massive positive impact on the wellbeing of our animals in our care and we are so grateful - for the company鈥檚 dedication to the shelter and ongoing efforts to raise money for our cause.鈥
Visitors to a Northumberland charity鈥檚 headquarters are sitting pretty thanks to new funding from regional employer The Banks Group.
YMCA Northumberland has used a 拢2,155 grant from the Banks Community Fund to buy four new sofas for the youth lounge that it created last year at its North View premises in Ashington.
As well as providing a welcoming environment for many of the 400 local young people that visit the venue every year, the room was also used over the winter as a warm hub, with dozens of local people making use of the free safe space being offered to them.
The grant has also paid for the independent charity to bring in different items of catering equipment for use in the youth lounge, which already offers free access to games consoles, a pool table, a retro arcade machine and a range of arts and crafts supplies.
Rob Cox, CEO of YMCA Northumberland, said: 鈥淭he youth lounge is at the centre of many of the services we provide and it鈥檚 been really popular with local young people since we opened it last year. Banks鈥 contribution has enabled us to do this much sooner than we鈥檇 otherwise have been able to and we鈥檙e grateful for their support for our work.鈥
Jamilah Hassan, community relations manager at the Banks Group, added: 鈥淵MCA Northumberland is a real beacon in the local community and provides so many different services that make a positive difference to the lives of local families. The youth lounge is a brilliant community resource and we hope the new sofas will help to encourage more people to spend more time there.鈥
