Teesside Charity

Teesside Charity, formerly the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, was established in 2011 by local civic leaders to enhance quality of life for Teesside residents facing financial hardship, ill health, or difficult circumstances. Guided by values of community, compassion, and regional pride, it fosters social cohesion, opportunities, and resilience through place-based philanthropy, empowering grassroots solutions to local challenges and building a culture of giving in an area marked by deprivation.

The charity funds poverty relief, mental and physical health support, education access via scholarships (e.g., £5,000 bursaries with Teesside University for disadvantaged students in computing and business), skills development through apprenticeship incentives for local employers, and community facilities strengthening ties. Priority beneficiaries include vulnerable groups like older people, youth, and economically disadvantaged adults, with grants supporting small charities, community centres, youth clubs, and training schemes that tackle exclusion and boost life chances.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, community groups, and academic institutions operating exclusively in Teesside (Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar & Cleveland), with a preference for smaller, locally embedded organisations delivering direct impact; no religious restrictions apply, but projects must benefit the defined area.

Typical grants range from £1,000 to £5,000 for projects, running costs, small capital, or core activities, awarded via online forms during fixed funding rounds (e.g., 2025 Golden Giveaway: 25 April–2 June; scholarships: 23 October). It excludes non-local initiatives, favouring flexible, catalytic investments by local trustees that drive sustained regional transformation and grassroots empowerment.