Christmas Gift Giving

After announcing Susan Gill as a deserving winner of Steel River’s Community Spirit Award, I couldn’t help but feel like I could do more to help the amazing work she does. Susan set up Neighbourhood Welfare Middlesbrough, a cafe designed to provide support for the homeless in Middlesbrough. It offers food, showers, clean clothes etc…basics that we all take for granted every day! I can’t imagine the standard of living of these people, and they are just not being supported enough by the system. This is why people like Susan are incredible. She not only set up a charity cafe to help fill this need, but she continues to campaign for better services and support for the homeless in Middlesbrough. She spends a lot of time and effort, working hard to try and get the needs of these people noticed and addressed. With all the good work she does, a bottle of gin is certainly a good way to unwind, but it’s not going to help the organisation in their efforts to provide vital services and support to the homeless community in Middlesbrough. So I popped round with a £250 cheque, and I was honestly so impressed by them.

Hartlepool Carers

Hartlepool Carers are a local organisation that support unpaid carers, from young too old. That means people who are looking after a wife, husband, kids, mum, dad, sibling, friend…you name it. These people do so out of love and necessity, but without advice and support from organisations like Hartlepool Carers it can be too easy to become overwhelmed and feel isolated. That has only become an even bigger reality since lockdown hit. 

Hartlepool Carers have been amazing since C-19 hit, adapting their services to cater to the changing needs of carers in a self-isolating world. This includes their support of young carers. This Christmas they have arranged a virtual Christmas for over 70 families with a guest appearance from Santa himself (via zoom of course). To make it super special they asked for gift donations that can be given out, since a lot of these children won’t get the magical Christmas many of you spend hours frantically arranging for your kids at home. 

I wanted to help them out with this as best I could, and since Gin isn’t an option, chocolate seemed like the next best thing. So these chocolate gifts, as well as others donated by other members of the community, will be rushed from house to house by the magical elves at Hartlepool Carers. 

Now I couldn’t go without taking some gin, especially after all the amazing work the women at Hartlepool Carers have been doing. So I made sure they had some ready to drink to celebrate a successful virtual Christmas. They deserve it!

Local School Laptop Donation

February 12, 2021

In lockdown learning is hard enough for kids without the added barrier of equipment, or lack thereof. Many schools have been struggling with the demand for laptops and so I wanted to help where I can and donate 20 new laptops to local schools in Thornaby who are struggling most with the demand.

Gift Giving Week

December 15, 2020

As part of our mission to support the Teesside community, I organised a gift giving week that involved supporting 5 amazing organisations, based in Tees Valley, through a £200 donation.

Neighbourhood Welfare Donation

April 9, 2021

As part of my mission to support my local community, I recently visited the amazing Neighbourhood Welfare Homeless Cafe and Hub in Middlesbrough. Susan Gill and her dedicated team of volunteers work tirelessly to meet the needs of the local homeless community. I feel privileged that I can assist in their efforts with a £250 donation.

Teesside Philanthropic Foundation: Raffle Donation

October 23, 2020

Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation host an annual raffle to raise much needed funds. This year, I was asked to participate in the live drawing of the prize winners!