Aims hero image

Aims & objectives

The aim of Tees Valley Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life of the people of the Tees Valley and our fundamental reason for being is to gather and distribute resources given to us by local donors for the benefit of the people.

Our Mission

We are at the heart of local giving in the Tees Valley and we’re passionate about empowering local communities to address disadvantage and exclusion.
We help local charities and community groups by distributing grants and investing in their long-term sustainability, and we help local people achieve their potential in their chosen field.

We Make It Happen: img

We Make It Happen:

The primary aim of the Tees valley Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life of the people of the Tees Valley; we help those in the community who are working hard and doing brilliant things to make things better for people.
We make this happen using a three tier approach.

1. We harness the charitable aims of local business and individuals img

1. We harness the charitable aims of local business and individuals

Providing access to advice, support and money, including: TFM Cash for Kids, Billingham Legacy Foundation, Tees Valley Sport Future Champions, University of Teesside

2. We give targeted support to carefully selected community organisations  img

2. We give targeted support to carefully selected community organisations

That deliver social return on investment aligned to our own objectives. These have included: Peat Rigg Outdoor Training Centre, Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation ‘Kickz’ programme

3. We created a new way to provide support that's fit for the 21st century  img

3. We created a new way to provide support that's fit for the 21st century

Our “Intelligent Investment” initiative gives support to emerging social enterprises and charities to become financially sustainable through a bespoke package of help which can include training, professional guidance, start up investment and access to soft loans. We see this as a key part of our future development in the coming years.

Principally this objective is met by the management of our endowment fund.

The income generated by these funds is spent across the Tees Valley according to the wishes of the original benefactors. Further income is raised from the management fee we levy on funds we administer on behalf of other funders.

We spend our money in 4 ways:

1
In the grants we distribute to local groups and individuals.

This is a mixture of small grants (up to £1,000) from funds under our control and ‘flow-through’ funding where we administer the funding process on behalf of other funders.

2
In the funding we provide to long-term partners who share our aims and objectives

These may be organisations we support to deliver benefits to the local community; or organisations better placed to distribute grants in specialist areas of support.

3
We focus on invest in growth

Investing in the growth, development and financial sustainability of local community groups and enterprises

4
Operating our own organisation

Our operation is under the overall control of a Board of Trustees and delivered operationally by our staff team, with the support of a group of advisors and consultants.

Who’s involved?

Check out some of the people and organisations who
help us to make it all happen.

View our donors
Businesses
British Steel logo
ICI logo
EDF logo
Wilton Centre logo
Middlesbrough Football Club logo
Northern Electric & Gas logo
People
Jeff Taylor small picture
Jeff Taylor

Chair

Hugh McGouran small picture
Hugh McGouran

Chief Executive

Emma Read FCA small picture
Emma Read FCA

Trustee

Apply for a grant

Tees Valley Community Foundation offers a wide range of support in funds, specialist grants and mentoring. Click the apply button to register for an account and tell us about your cause.

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