NFU Mutual’s agent and branch offices across the North East have nominated 47 local charities to receive a combined donation of more than £286,000 from a national fund. The six-figure sum is the regional slice of a £1.92m Agency Giving Fund launched by the rural insurer. NFU Mutual’s 280 agency offices and branches were given the opportunity to nominate local charities to receive a share of the fund.
One of the regional charities to benefit is Cleveland Mountain Rescue, which was nominated by NFU Mutual Stokesley Agency, receiving a donation of £6,509.
Gary Clarke, the call-out officer at Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team, said: “Obviously getting to locations in a safe and efficient manner in our vehicles is vital. We have been able to fund a number of ‘response and blue light’ driving courses for our members thanks to the donation, with more courses forthcoming.
“The donation also allowed us to purchase a ’shock box’ for use when training with our Schiller medical monitors which incorporate a defibrillator facility. The ’shock box’ mimics the signals from a casualty’s heart and has proved to be of huge value in enhancing the skills of our Remote Rescue Medical Technicians.
“We plan to use the remaining funds to purchase waterproof clothing for some new members who are due to start with us this year, and to support the procurement of some updated technical rope #rescue equipment pending an on-going review of our current set-up.”
Dave Smith, NFU Mutual regional manager for the North East region, said: “Charities like Cleveland Mountain Rescue are making a wonderful difference to our communities in these challenging times, and we are proud that our agents have nominated a wide range of local causes across the region to benefit from NFU Mutual’s national fund.”
The operator of the Tyne Tunnels is celebrating giving over £140,000 to support its local communities last year. TT2 has donated £140,969 since January 2024 to over 40 charities and community groups that support North East people, animals and the environment.
The firm’s community chest has benefitted many local branches of well-known, big causes including St John’s Ambulance, Crisis, Greggs Foundation and Cancer Research as well as lots of smaller charities and grassroots groups like Wag & Co, which provides doggy company to lonely people and Anxious Minds which helps people facing mental health challenges.
TT2 will continue working with many of their regional partners in 2025, including St John Ambulance, to fund 30 community response bikes; Tiny Lives Trust to fund their transport scheme; and two school Greggs Foundation Breakfast Clubs.
Adrian Wallace, CEO, said: “We facilitate around 1.8 million journeys across the river every month and we are proud to be supporting greater social mobility and regional success, which includes adding value to our local communities and the environment through extensive CSR initiatives and funding.
“Our employees are heavily involved and invested in our work with local causes and giving back gives the team a lot of pleasure and satisfaction. We’re looking forward to continuing to help our communities in 2025, and beyond.”
The 41 causes TT2 helped in 2024 were: Red Nose Day 2024, St John Ambulance, Tiny Lives Trust, NHS Foundation Trust, Cancer Research Ƶ, Dementia Ƶ, Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter, Wag & Co, Pathways4All, Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia, Children North East, Children’s Cancer North, Blyth Town FC, Azaylia Foundation, Sands Charity, Dog’s Trust, Lily Foundation, Stroke Association Boldon Girls & Women Football Club, Red Sky, Hope for Hedgehogs, Breast Cancer Now, Pancreatic Cancer Ƶ, Movember, Maggies, Norham High School, Greggs Foundation, Tyne Rivers Trust, Talbot House, RBL, Teenage Cancer Trust, Bright Northumbria, Oasis Community Housing, St Benedict’s Hospice, Crisis, Cats Protection, Anxious Minds, Feeding Families and Rainbow Trust.
Housebuilders Barratt and David Wilson Homes North East has installed a new ‘Little Library’ at a Newcastle development. As part of a new initiative, the housebuilder is installing little libraries across a number of its developments, encouraging local residents to ‘take one, donate one’.
The installation follows research that one in five children in the North East don’t own a book, a statistic that Barratt and David Wilson Homes is hoping to change. The firm has launched a library at its Meadow Hill development in Throckley which has been populated with books donated by a member of the public, with the collection spanning fact and fiction for all ages, creative books, cooking books, and Maths and English texts for pupils.
Natalie Donnelly, sales manager at Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ Meadow Hill development, said: “We understand how important reading is, especially for young children, and we strongly believe that everyone should have access to a wide range of reading material, regardless of age and where they live.
“To give the local community easy access to obtaining new books, we have installed a Little Library at Meadow Hill development in Throckley, for local residents to enjoy. Little Libraries is a fantastic initiative for local residents to donate and enjoy books, and is completely free for all to use. We’re so glad that our initiative will help people have easier access to reading, children and adults alike, and we look forward to hearing what stories have been shared within our community.”
Gateshead’s Primula pledged £17,500 each to two local charities last year as part of its long-standing commitment to supporting local causes.
Primula is owned by Kavli Trust, which donates all of its profits to good causes and last year saw the business give the five-figure sums to Feeding Families, a charity helping those facing food insecurity, and to the Alan Shearer Centre, which provides essential support for individuals with complex disabilities in Newcastle and the surrounding areas.
Juliet Sanders, CEO of Feeding Families, said: “At Feeding Families, our mission is to provide food parcels and a sense of hope to families struggling to make ends meet. Primula’s generous donation has been invaluable in allowing us to reach even more families in need, and we’re so grateful for their support in fighting food insecurity.”
Lisa Thornton, head of marketing at Kavli Ƶ, said: “As a brand that’s deeply rooted in Gateshead and the North East, we’re always thrilled to give back to the community that’s supported us for so long. These donations reflect our commitment to supporting causes that make a real difference locally and across the Ƶ.
“We encourage people to choose brands that prioritise giving back. When you buy Primula, you’re not just enjoying a delicious product - you’re also helping to make a difference for organisations that need it most.”
Alongside the two key donations, Primula also continued its support for other charities in 2024, including Agenda Alliance, the Teenage Cancer Trust at Freeman Hospital, Heel & Toe, Sacriston Youth Project, and many more.
Staff at Northumberland manufacturer CMP Products raised £4,359.81 for mental health charity Anxious Minds during a non-stop 36-hour cycle challenge.
The static bike challenge took place in the main reception of the Cramlington-based business’ headquarters and saw around 100 members of staff take part in the challenge, with some employees choosing to do more than one time slot.
Leanne Branfoot, CMP Products’ human resources advisor and culture champion, said: “We support a local charity every year and for 2024/25 there was an overwhelming desire to support a mental health charity that is really making a difference in the region.
“The work Anxious Minds has done with individuals in the North East over the last ten years has been truly astonishing and we hope the £25,000 we’re aiming to raise over the course of 12-months will provide much needed support to ensure they continue delivering support when and where it’s needed.”
Anxious Minds was founded in 2015 and has delivered 107,899 counselling and support group sessions supporting children, adults and veterans. Its services include support groups, therapy sessions, helplines, workshops and recovery centres, as well as online resources for anyone with anxiety disorders or other mental health conditions.
Edward Dean, Anxious Minds’ CEO, said: “I would like to give a huge thank you to all the wonderful staff and managers at CMP who have taken part in the bike ride challenge and to all the friends and families who have helped in supporting Anxious Minds by sponsoring the event. I popped along to CMP on day one and it was heart-warming to meet a few of those who were taking part, all armed with enthusiasm, energy and goodwill and all of whom are a credit to your organisation.”
