Teesside Charity hails record £89,000 fundraiser

A charitable organisation is celebrating a record-breaking fundraiser.

The Teesside Charity’s annual ball attracted best-ever donations of £89,000.

Officials say the money will boost the work of its Hardship Fund, which supports families through shopping and fuel vouchers, beds, electrical appliances, carpets and school uniforms.

They add the figure tops the £80,000 distributed through the fund last year across Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees, Hartlepool and Darlington.

Held in the Grand Marquee at Hardwick Hall, near Sedgefield, County Durham, the ball attracted hundreds of guests who enjoyed live and silent auctions, live music, a silent disco and Shane’s Singo Music Bingo.

The event built on the charity’s work over the last year, which has seen it support more than 40,000 people, including 2845 who received shopping vouchers and 284 who received fuel vouchers.

It has also distributed 56 beds, 28 washing machines, 31 cookers and 17 fridge freezers, while 20 homes were fitted with carpets.

Harriet Spalding, chair of trustees, said: “£89,000 is an incredible amount of money to raise in one evening, but what matters most is what that money will allow us to do.

“Over the last year, we have seen just how important the Hardship Fund is.

“A bed for a child, a working cooker, help with the cost of food or enough money to put the heating on might seem like relatively simple things, but for someone who is struggling they can make an enormous difference.

“Last year, we distributed around £80,000 through the fund, so to have raised £89,000 in one night is quite remarkable.

“It means we can continue to be there for local people when they need us most.

“I would like to thank everyone who attended, donated, bid in our auctions or supported the evening in any way.”   

She added the charity has donated more than £5 million to local causes since it was founded.

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