Community Foundation North East Yearbook 2025

Welcome from the Chair and CEO

2025 is a major milestone: we’ve become Community Foundation North East and set out a new strategy to achieve our mission of building a thriving, generous and inclusive region.

Since our last strategy, we’ve increased grantmaking and non-financial support for local charities and community organisations. We’ve mobilised resources around Covid, the cost-of-living crisis and poverty. We’ve grown giving and donor engagement. We’ve shone a light on issues through our Vital Signs research and heard from a thousand people in our On the Table conversations. And we’ve adopted a responsible investment approach to our endowment.

But we are ambitious to do more. Our new strategy draws on evidence, experience and listening to communities. Central to it is a clearer focus on five impact areas: tackle poverty, widen access to opportunity, improve health and community safety, strengthen culture and community life, and sustain our environment. Subject to review, this strategy will take us to at least 2028 when we will mark our 40th anniversary.

And, while our roots are firmly in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, our refreshed identity as Community Foundation North East recognises that our donors, our funding and our research cover a wider area. But the change doesn’t mean diluting current commitments. Instead, we will look to collaborate with partners who have complementary

expertise and resources so together we can build thriving, generous and inclusive communities across the region.

Our work relies on the expertise of our team and dedication of our trustees. Thanks especially go this year to Mark Pierce who retired from his role driving our policy and research work. We also said goodbye to two long-serving board members: Lucy Winskell and Andrew Haigh. Happily, both will remain involved as an honorary Vice President and Corporate Patron respectively. Succeeding them, we are delighted to welcome to the Board Lucia Bridgeman and Dawn Creighton.

The Yearbook highlights our work over the past year and connects to the areas where we want to have impact in the years ahead. As ever, our huge thanks go to everyone who supports our mission and shares our goals for this great region.

Our new strategy draws on evidence, experience and listening to communities.

Highlights of the year

Our On the Table community conversations engaged nearly 1,000 people in discussing responses to challenges and opportunities in our Vital Signs research.

The Steve and Christine Convey Fund was established with a major donation from the family’s estate to help people find pathways to opportunity and employment.

We received £1m into the Newcastle Building Society Community Fund via a second tranche of dormant assets via the scheme with the Reclaim Fund.

We supported the permanent installation of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree at its new home at The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre in Northumberland.

We ran the new Mayor’s Opportunity Fund in partnership with the North East Combined Authority and Point North.

We launched the Dynamo Digital Inclusion Fund at the North East Tech Charity Dinner with the aim of helping people gain confidence in digital technology and create pathways to jobs.

Thanks to the people and businesses who supported Community Foundation North East this year by partnering on our events and giving their expertise pro bono.

Accenture

We contributed expertise to the development of the Government’s regional place-based philanthropy strategy and to its Social Impact Investment Working Group

We brought together philanthropists, businesses, funders with MPs, Lords and civil servants at our first ever event at the Houses of Parliament with a focus on bringing opportunity home to our region.

ARK Associates

Association of Chairs

Book Direct

Brewin Dolphin

Castle Peake Group

Charity People

Clive Grey

Evelyn Partners

How Might We Community

Igloo Regeneration

ION Consulting

Naomi Kinghorn

Muckle LLP

Naylors Gavin Black

Newcastle Building Society

Oculus HR

Peridot Partners

Pitman Training

Rule 28

Sharon Race

Solutions Accountancy

Ashley Summerfield

Tecuna UNW

Ward Hadaway

Womble Bond Dickinson

1,224

602

95

full approved financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2025 are available on our website www.communityfoundation.org.uk or by contacting

154

Our region’s Vital

Signs

North East England covers 3,350 square miles and has a population of 2.7m people.

29% adults engaged in civic participation in last year

England: 33%

20% are aged 65 and over England: 19%

SE England: 35% [increased from 26% last year] !#*

£14 investment per person by Arts Council England

London: 39% [up from £13 last year]

101 recorded crimes per 1000 people

England: 87

SE England: 74 [down from 109 last year]

7%

from a Black, Asian or other non-White ethnic background

England: 19%

21%

identify as disabled

England: 17%

57 years healthy life expectancy for men

England: 62

SE England: 64

[down from 59 in the last two years]

14%

increase in average rental costs in the year to March 2025

London: 7%

South East: 5%

£661 weekly median full-time pay

England: £728

SE England: £779

31%

household recycling rate

England: 43% [stayed the same compared to last year]

31%

children living in relative poverty after housing costs

England: 31%

SE England: 25% [up from 30% the previous year]

28% of 16-64 year olds are economically inactive

England: 21%

SE England: 18% [up from 27% the previous year]

64.9%

attaining GCSEs at Grade 4 and above

England: 67.1%

SE England: 70%

£

64% of people have given to charity in the last 4 weeks

England: 67%

SE England: 71% [down from 66% in 2021/22]

Impact where it counts

Community Foundation North East enables people and businesses to support communities and causes across our area, focusing on key areas which philanthropy can best address. We strive to have the greatest impact for people and places less well served by charitable funding and those which face prejudice and discrimination.

During the year our funding supported all ten of our Vital Signs themes, and covered our whole region.

The causes we supported

Culture

£2m

Community

£1.9m

Justice

£0.6m

Living Standards £0.9m

Access £0.3m

Environment £0.4m

Education £1.1m

Based on our experience, research and community conversations, we have set out five areas where we aim to have an impact in our strategy from 2025:

• Tackle poverty by helping organisations meet basic needs for food, shelter and services, those working to prevent people falling into poverty, and those giving a voice to the people it most affects.

• Widen access to opportunity by backing efforts to raise educational attainment and skills, removing barriers to learning, training and jobs, and supporting home-grown talent and local enterprise.

The places that benefited

NE England-wide

Northumberland

£1.8m

£1.7m

Newcastle upon Tyne

£1.6m

NE England-wide

Gateshead

Northumberland

£1.3m

£1.8m

£1.7m

Sunderland £0.5m

Newcastle upon Tyne

£1.6m

• Improve health and community safety by supporting community interventions helping people and places at greatest risk, including healthy living activities, advice and advocacy, counselling, crisis intervention, and preventing re-offending.

Gateshead

£1.3m

South Tyneside £0.9m

North Tyneside £0.5m

Sunderland £0.5m

South Tyneside £0.9m

County Durham £0.3m

North Tyneside £0.5m

Tees Valley £0.2m

Outside NE England

£0.1m

County Durham £0.3m

Tees Valley £0.2m

Outside NE England £0.1m

• Strengthen culture and community life by engaging people in culture for fun as well as for skills and opportunities. And by supporting efforts to grow volunteering and participation and backing community hubs and organisations led by people they serve. by helping organisations address the local impact of these global environmental issues and

We gave £3.1m to projects supporting young people aged 12-17:

““The funding received through the Community Foundation is enabling us to target those most at risk of not entering into the workforce, with a particular focus on young adult carers who require bespoke support in developing skills and supporting their wellbeing as they venture into the next stage of their lives. This funding will allow us to make a significant difference to many young carers and young adult carers for the year to come.”

Luke Bramhall, Chief Executive, Newcastle Carers

We gave £600k to projects working with Refugees and Asylum Seekers:

““Grants from the Ringtons Fund and the Watkin Family Fund at the Community Foundation have been crucial to providing the best possible experience for the members of Northumberland County of Sanctuary, making a huge contribution to the welcome we try to provide to people who have come to find sanctuary in Ashington.”

Sarah Greaves, Northumberland County of Sanctuary

71%

of our funding went to organisations in the most deprived half of our postcode areas

Investing in local organisations

Local charities and community organisations play a vital role in tackling the key challenges in our region. They do brilliant work with modest resources and are the catalyst for millions of hours of volunteer time. Community Foundation North East aims to strengthen their hand through funding and pro bono support.

Income by number of grantees Costs we supported

Less than 10K 64

10K-50K 102

50-100K 78

100-250K 111

250K-500K 95

500K-£1m 47

£1-10m 70

Over £10m 28

Core running costs £4.3m

Costs of specific projects/activities £3.8m

Equipment costs £0.3m

Capital costs of buildings £0.4m

Grants for individuals £0.1m

£0.5M

76% of the organisations we supported in 2024-25 were in the under £0.5m priority

In 2025, 27 grassroots voluntary and community sector organisations in Gateshead received support from Gateshead Council’s Thrive Fund run in partnership with Community Foundation North East.

£700,000 funding was allocated in the first of a three-year programme, with priorities agreed in consultation with the sector. They included support for young people with special educational needs and their carers, information and advice in communities, ensuring the voice and views of residents are heard and maximising benefits for people on low incomes. Grant recipients included Chopwell Community Association, Blaydon Youth and Community Centre, The Soundroom Community Music Project and Gateshead Older People’s Assembly.

244 organisations with income under £100,000 received grants

51% success rate for external applicants

“Accessible support out in our communities makes a huge difference to the health and wellbeing of our residents. We’re thrilled that we have been able to provide 27 grassroots organisations up to £30,000 each for a range of projects. These organisations do amazing work, and we can’t wait to see how the projects progress over the coming months to support a fairer and thriving Gateshead.”

Councillor Maria Hall, Cabinet Member for Localities, Communities and Volunteering

154 organisations were new recipients of our funding

89% of organisations funded were registered charities

88 organisations benefited from our pro bono support including trustee and skills match

Growing giving and philanthropy

Key to the Community Foundation’s mission is growing more and better philanthropy to benefit our area’s people and places. People and businesses from all walks of life trust us to support and guide them in their giving journey. National data shows a stagnation in the value of charitable donations with an increasing reliance on a smaller pool of donors. So, it has never been more important to grow the giving cake to support causes on the doorstep.

“During the year, Newcastle Building Society made a £1 million donation to its fund at Community Foundation North East which helps improve lives across the region, by tackling some of the biggest challenges facing communities. The donation boosted the fund’s endowment to over £3.5m enabling distribution of around £150,000 every year to charities tackling poverty, barriers to opportunity, debt, homelessness, and sustainability.

“Providing grants to charities supports the organisations working directly with people in need and helps target the key issues in our communities. The Community Fund is one of the most powerful ways we deliver the Society’s purpose to connect our communities with a better financial future. Our longterm partnership with Community Foundation North East means we benefit from their unique expertise in maximising returns from the fund and helping direct support to local communities across the region.”

Andrew Haigh, Chief Executive, Newcastle Building Society

In 2025 a major donation from the estate of the late Steve and Christine Convey created a new fund at Community Foundation North East dedicated to helping people find pathways to opportunity and employment. Steve and his brother Peter built Convey Bros into a successful window cleaning business which still thrives today. Christine sadly died in December 2023 and, unfortunately, had already experienced the loss of her husband, Steve, but also their two sons Adam and Lee.

Following Christine’s death, the executors of the family estate decided that the assets should be used to help others in the community have the chance to pursue a life of opportunity, especially those who have run into barriers in their lives. The Steve and Christine Convey Fund at Community Foundation North East will provide support to community organisations in perpetuity, including support for young people in the Ponteland area to reflect where the Conveys lived. In its first round of grants, the Fund provided almost £150,000 to five organisations.

““There can be no better memorial to Steve and Christine than the creation of the Convey Fund at Community Foundation North East. Every year, the Foundation, advised by Steve and Christine’s executors, will distribute grants to organisations supporting intervention work for children, young people, and young adults. The purpose is to broaden their horizons, provide new opportunities, and inspire them onto positive pathways.”

Richard Roberts, Convey estate executor

£4.7m

Total donations to invested funds

Top

3 ways donors were introduced to us:

1: self-referral

2: fund-holder introduction

3: staff contact

£4.9m

Total donations to annual funds £ £ 9 new funds set up in 2024-25

In 2025, the Community Foundation marked six years of the North East Giving Network, with a celebration at Newcastle Cathedral. Giving Network members have collectively supported 24 local charities and community organisations with funding of £113,000.

Inspiration for the Giving Network came from the many people from professional backgrounds – often at an earlier stage of their careers – who care about the region’s people and places and wanted to give back, but for whom setting up a fund was not yet the right option. Members commit to donating £30 a month, which the Community Foundation matches. Each year the Giving Network comes together to meet four organisations tackling issues raised in our Vital Signs research. Members then allocate their share of the fund to the organisations they want to support.

The celebration event brought many past recipients together with current and former members of the Giving Network. It was an opportunity to reflect on the work the fund supported and appreciate that £30 a month, when given collectively, can make a huge impact.

Influencing change and listening to communities

This year we embarked on a major project called On the Table designed to bring people together over food, to make connections and talk about the issues that are important to them, informed by our Vital Signs research.

Our Vital Signs reports explore ten themes for donors and funders: economy, education, health, environment, culture, homes, community, justice, living standards and access.

On the Table is a simple but powerful idea inspired by community foundations in the US and Canada. In Autumn 2024 we invited partners, donors and grantees to host an event, with a toolkit alongside a contribution for food, room hire and any access support.

We encouraged hosts to consider our Vital Signs reports and the issues they explore, to discuss how they are affecting their communities, and what solutions might be.

62 different organisations got involved, hosting 120 separate conversations across the whole of the North East, with nearly 1000 people taking part.

Some discussions were issue-based, including On the Tables focusing on the women’s sector, social housing provision, and employment of ex-offenders.

Hosts told us conversations were rich, fruitful and productive in helping identify issues and build connections between people. Feedback from the conversations identified over 50 priorities in communities where philanthropic support can make a difference.

The themes of poverty and inequality featured heavily in the conversations, and there was discussion about the needs of rural communities, experiences of women and

We also heard clearly the need for the community sector in our region to be better connected, through collaboration and leadership, to enable more impact and move away from competing particularly around funding, when there is so much work to be done in communities.

And we had feedback about the importance of core funding and longer-term support for organisations to keep doing what they do well, without the need for endless innovation.

On the Table has helped Community Foundation North East develop our new strategy, by highlighting issues we need to tackle, and shaping our five new impact areas. It also demonstrated clearly how important core and multiyear funding approaches are in enabling those amazing charities in our region to make a difference to those they work with.

““It was a very useful exercise and provided a focus on wider discussion for our organisation that we do not usually have the time to engage in and benefit from”

Investing responsibly

The Community Foundation endowment model means we can provide a permanent funding stream now and in the future. But stewarding our assets also means investing responsibly.

We delegate management of our endowment investments to three firms – Cazenove Capital, CCLA Investment Management Limited and Rathbone Investment Management Limited – whose approach integrates environmental, social and governance factors alongside financial returns. With their support, we report progress against our responsible investment goals.

Net zero

We seek to align with the UN Paris Agreement and commit to our investment portfolio being net zero by 2050, but with early progress to at least a 45% emissions reduction by 2030.

Data from our managers shows that by 31 March 2025, the carbon emissions of our share portfolio has reduced further to below 20%, well ahead of our 45% target by 2030.

Emissions tracking

And, in 2025, the carbon footprint of our shareholdings was 72% lower than a comparable benchmark of investments – an improvement on 2024 when we were 48% lower. The difference is equivalent to the annual energy use of 5 homes.

Engagement

We expect our investment managers to vote at company AGMs and engage with them on matters important to us and our stakeholders.

Number of shareholder resolutions for companies in our portfolio

Votes cast by our ISPs

Percentage of resolutions voted on by our ISPs

Examples of engagement by our managers with companies we own.

Modern slavery –CCLA

Our Modern Slavery UK Benchmark looks at how active companies are in addressing this global issue. The Benchmark supports investor engagement around modern slavery in companies’ operations and supply chains, and helps drive improvements in their business practice. We assign companies to one of five performance tiers corresponding with the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s maturity framework. In 2024, we assessed 110 companies and engaged with 67. Importantly, 25 companies improved their score sufficiently to move up one or more performance tiers in the Benchmark.

Responsible investment data is compiled by Cazenove Capital using data shared by all our managers. More information is available from our office.

Labour standards –Cazenove

The UK social care sector faces persistent challenges including recruitment and retention, staff shortages and concerns over fair pay and working conditions. Recognising the crucial role of care staff in delivering good outcomes for vulnerable people, we engaged with two healthcare Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). The focus was on improving labour standards promoting fair pay, safe staffing levels, workforce stability and investment in training. We sought greater transparency on practices and clear policies on staff wellbeing. Our aim is to ensure sustained quality care, while reducing risks, to support responsible investments in the social care sector.

Climate Change –Rathbones

BP had one of the most ambitious strategies for reducing carbon emissions of any of the major oil and gas firms we invested in. But we had concerns that the company wasn’t aligned with the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. We met with BP whose management explained why they believed their strategy was in alignment, and who discussed their investment in carbon capture and storage (CCS) on Teesside (a way of preventing carbon emissions from industry getting into the atmosphere). Later, Reuters reported that BP had abandoned plans to cut oil and gas output by 2030, following pressure from large shareholders to fall back into line with the firm’s competitors and to move more slowly towards net zero. As a result, we divested our holding of BP in three tranches during 2024.

Your giving options

Anyone can be a philanthropist by giving money, time and expertise. Community Foundation North East’s expert advisors are here to make sure what you choose to do is effective and rewarding.

Give with others

Through Community Foundation North East, you or your business can give with others to make a bigger difference. Our collective funds cover issues like young people, women, arts and the environment. Others focus on a particular place. We also have initiatives for younger professionals, for companies and for people whose roots are in the region. You can support a current fund or talk to us about new areas where people could come together to give.

Start your own fund

You can start a charitable fund at Community Foundation North East for you, your family, your business or for a professional client. You can choose to have an invested fund, where gifts are held as capital earning income each year to help your chosen causes. Or you can have an annual fund, with gifts held as cash to help causes each year. Some people choose a combination of invested and annual funds. For both, we have options to suit how involved you want to be. And you’ll get feedback on how you’ve made a difference.

Leaving a lasting legacy

You can leave a gift in your Will of any size to help your community for generations to come. An unrestricted legacy gift leaves us the flexibility to support changing needs in the future. You can also leave a gift to support a particular cause or place by adding to a collective fund. Or, with a gift of £10,000 or more in your Will, you can set up your own fund.

Give time and expertise

As well as funds, we provide opportunities for people to share their expertise pro bono, or to become involved as trustees of local charities.

““There’s a real sense of solidarity in giving to the Women’s Fund. We know that every change that’s happened for women and girls in the last 200 years, every social step forward that we’ve made, has come from women working together. And that’s really what the women’s sector is. The Women’s Fund stands alongside the sector and in its small way enables some of that change to happen.”

Cullagh Warnock Panel Member, The Women’s Fund

““Dynamo set a fund up at the Community Foundation because of the connections they have in the communities we want to work with. Having a fund at the Community Foundation means our Digital Inclusion Fund will really support people and make a difference”.

Dr David Dunn, Chief Executive, Dynamo

The Marian Winship Fund was established in March 2024 with a residuary legacy of £84,000 with the purpose of “improving the quality of life for people of all ages in the North East of England and specifically in the geographic region of South Tyneside”. The Fund has made its inaugural grants this year. Marian was a strong advocate for South Tyneside and its community, having been a primary school head teacher there, as well as a co-founder of the charity Action Station where she was a trustee and director for many years.

Donating Cryptocurrency to the Community Foundation

We now accept donations in Bitcoin, Ethereum and many other leading cryptocurrencies. Through our partner, The Giving Block, you can donate crypto securely and tax efficiently and we get the equivalent value in cash. Find out more: www.communityfoundation.org.uk/give-crypto

To find out more about your giving options with Community Foundation North East, call Lisa Cappleman on 0191 222 0945 or email lc@communityfoundation.org.uk

Our funds

These pages list our current funds by type and donor category.

Unrestricted funds

Through our unrestricted Strategic Fund, the Foundation responds to our area’s most pressing priorities through research, partnerships and initiatives. Donors can support this by making an unrestricted gift of any amount to the Fund, or by setting up an invested fund to resource our strategic work. Unrestricted invested funds can be started with £10,000. Annual unrestricted funds start at £5,000.

Unrestricted funds set up by individuals and families

Anonymous L Fund

Crosshatch Fund

Crozier Fund

Esmée Slattery Fund

Unrestricted funds set up by businesses

Tolent Fund

Ian and Jane Gregg Fund

Sutherland Fund

Templeton Fund

Tony Follows Legacy Fund

Tyne Tees Television Fund

Unrestricted funds set up by charities/trusts

Greggs Fund Sir James Knott Trust Fund

Collective giving funds

These funds bring together people with a shared interest who want to pool their donations to make a bigger difference to their chosen causes or communities. Collective giving invested funds start with £25,000 or annual funds with £10,000. If donors are involved in recommending grants personally or through a panel, collective giving funds start at £50,000 for endowment or £30,000 for an annual fund.

Collective Funds

Asian Fund

Community Accelerator Funds for Northumberland, Tyneside and Wearside

Dawn Brown Fund

Local Environmental Action Fund

North East Fund for the Arts (including Pen & Palette Club Fund)

Northern Angel Fund for Berwick

Northumberland High Sheriff Awards Fund

Playschemes Fund

The Giving Network Fund

The North East Roots Fund

Tyne and Wear High Sheriff Fund (including Community First)

Vital Funds for Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland (including Community First)

Women’s Fund (including Community First)

Young Musicians Fund

Operating funds

These funds support the costs of our charitable activities. Named operating endowment funds can be started with £10,000. One-off or annual gifts of any amount can be made at any time to support our work.

Operating Funds set up by individuals and families

Brian Lewis Fund

Ronald Edward William Murray Fund

Operating Funds set up by charities and trusts

Hadrian Trust Fund

Field-of-interest funds

These donors use funds to support a particular place or cause but without being hands on with their giving. We select groups that match their interests and whose work aligns with our impact areas. Field-of-interest endowment funds can be started with £25,000. Annual field-of-interest funds start at £10,000.

Funds set up by individuals and families

Anne and David Parker Fund

Brian and Margaret Thompson Fund

Burnell Community First Fund

Burnell Family Fund

Carrie Reay Grassroots Fund

Christopher Beadle Fund

Cynthia Hoare Fund

Daisy Marr Fund

Express Enterprise Fund

Fausta and Rosemary Community First Fund

FB & PFB Lough Fund

Funds set up by businesses

Akzo Nobel International

Paint Fund (includes Community First)

George and Peggy Fund

George Loggie Fund

Godfrey Mallett Fund NEW

Grigor McClelland Fund (including Community First)

Hillside Fund

Ivy and Gilbert Purvis Fund

JesDesStaff Fund

Josephs Family Fund

June King Fund

Kellett Fund

Lady Betty and Sir Lawrence Martin Fund

Canford Audio Fund

John Laing Fund

JPMorgan Fund

Funds set up by charities and trusts

Abbot Memorial Fund

Ashington Community Development Trust Fund

Chapman Fund

Community Investment Fund

Donor-advised funds

Coquet Fund

Dickon Trust Fund

John Bell Fund

Joseph Brough Charitable Trust Fund

Langley Family Fund

Linden Family Funds (including Community First)

Marian Winship Fund

Nash Fund

Pamela Denham Grassroots Fund

Prime Fund

Riverbank Fund

Rod and Rosemary Taylor Family Fund

Sandra King Rainy Day Fund

Spriggs Family Fund (including Community First)

North East Brewers Fund

Northumberland Group Fund

Lady Noble Memorial Fund

Newcastle Dispensary Relief in Sickness Fund

North Tyneside Fund

The Edwin John Easydorchik Travelling Scholarship Fund

The HunterPemberton Community First Fund

The Lawrence Campbell Community First Fund

The Muriel Campbell Fund

The P Z Fund

The Temple Fund

Tyne & Wear Grassroots Fund

Winter Family Fund

Rolls-Royce Fund

Vaux Fund

Roland Cookson Community Fund

Rose Joicey Fund

RW Mann Fund

These donors are actively involved with their funds by choosing groups to support based on our research and the requests we receive. They can also nominate charities and set up a fund advisory panel. Donor-advised invested funds can be started with £50,000. Annual donor-advised funds start at £30,000.

Funds set up by individuals and families

Abigail and Stephen Crampton Fund

Adderstone Fund

Adrian and Ingrid Gifford Fund

AJM Fund

Alan Morse Grassroots Fund

Alison and Michael Gallico Fund NEW

Andrew and Charlotte Dixon Fund

Anonymous R Fund

Appletree Fund

Barnes Fund

Barry and Faga Speker Fund

Bellingham Fund

Blackett Family Community First Fund

Brian Roycroft Fund including the Tessa Hide Fund

Carolyn and Tony Brookes Fund

Carroll Savage Fund

Caru Fund

Chrysalis Fund

Curtin PARP Fund

Daphne and Martin Cookson Fund

David and Gitta Faulkner Fund

Dream Jar Fund

Duncan and Sarah Davidson Fund

Elgon Fund

Emma Newton Fund

Evangelical Fund

Fogo Fund (including Community First)

Geoffrey and Ann Purves Fund

Groves Family Fund

Guy Readman Endowment

Fund

Henderson Family Fund

Heyman Travelling Scholarships Fund

Hoult Family Funds

(including Community First)

I’Anson Family Fund

If Only… Fund

Jackie Haq Fund

John and Barbara Sadler and Jeanette Henderson Fund

John D Endowment Fund

Johnnie and Tricia Smith and Family Fund

Kerry Funds (including Community First)

Leech Challenge Fund

Lendrum Family Community First Fund

Margaret and Dorothy Gordon Memorial Fund

Mark and Ian Wilson Family Fund

Matthew Ridley Fund

Maudslay Family Fund

McIntosh Fund

Funds set up by businesses

Amec Legacy and Futures Fund

Bellway Fund

EDF RE Blyth Offshore Demonstrator Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

EDF RE Green Rigg Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

EDF RE Barmoor Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

Michael and Christine Heppell Fund

Milburn Briel Fund

Nancy Barbour Award Fund

NEF Grassroots Fund

North East Endowment for Musical Traditions Fund

Out and About Fund

Pamela and Dorothy Denham Fund (including Community First)

Patch Fund

Percy Family Fund

Platten Family Fund (including Community First)

Proudfoot Family Fund

Readman Family Grassroots (including Community First)

Readman Foundation Fund

Reeds Funds (including Community First)

Riddell Family Community First Fund

Fergusons of Blyth Fund

Muckle Fund

Nadara Sisters and North Steads Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

Naylors Gavin Black Fund

Newcastle Building Society Community Fund

Northern Gas Networks Community Partnering Fund

Funds set up by charities and trusts

Barley Hill Fund

Berwick Academy

Endowment Fund

Bill and May Hodgson Fund

Capt. C.D. Leyland Fund

Charles Robert Bell Fund

CrecheMobile Fund

David Dockray’s West End Young People’s Fund (including Community First)

FARNE Fund

Frederick Milburn Fund

G S May Family Fund

Joyce Trust Fund

Riding Grange Grassroots Fund

Robinson Fund

Ron and Louise Bowey Funds (including Community First)

Sara Alexandra Bernstone Fund

Shipley Family Fund

Shobha and Triloki Srivastava Grassroots (including Community First)

Sir Tom Cowie Fund

Smail Family Fund

Sowler Family UK Charitable Fund

Speke Family Fund

Star Fund

Stephen Byers Fund

Steve and Christine Convey Fund NEW

Storey Family Grassroots Fund

Sue Wilson Fund

Suz Grassroots Fund

Northern Powergrid Fund

Northumbrian Water Fund

Opencast Charitable Fund

P&G Fund

Pattinson Estate Agents Fund

Port of Tyne Community Action Fund

PricewaterhouseCoopers Fund

Ted Weekes Fund

Tess Fund

The Edwin Easydorchik

Travelling Scholarship Fund

The Hokey Cokey (that’s what it’s all about) Funds (including Community First)

The Louise Dalton Fund

The Lucy Winskell Fund

The Pea Green Boat

Community First Fund

Thornton Family Grassroots Fund

Three Valleys Fund

Treeline Fund

Vicky F Grassroots Fund

Watkin Family Fund

Weightman Fund

Welch Family Fund

Wide Open Road Fund

William Leech Charity Fund

Willis Charitable Fund

Ringtons Fund (including Community First)

RWE Renewables Kiln Pit

Hill Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

Squires Foundation Fund

Virgin Money Endowment Fund

Ward Hadaway Fund

Latterford Fund

Northumberland Village

Homes Trust Fund

Robert Wood Trust Fund

Sunderland Industrial and Reformatory School Fund

The 1989 Willan Charitable Trust Fund

The George Cringle Scholarship Fund

The Pargiter Trust Fund

Wellesley Trust Fund (including Community First)

Designated funds

These donors select one or more charities a year to support from their funds. We make sure the organisations benefiting stay on track. Designated invested funds can be started with £25,000. Annual designated funds start at £20,000.

Funds set up by individuals and families

C H Wood Fund

David Goldman Awards Fund

Frank Acfield Fund

Funds set up by businesses

Bonas Machine Company Fund

Jane Robertson Alnwick Fund

Jeremy Beecham Schools Fund

Funds set up by charities and trusts

Allison Greenlees

Continuation Fund

Agency invested funds

Bird Fund

Carr-Ellison Charitable Trust

Joy Higginson Fund for Children North East

Moor Fund

St Cuthbert’s Fund

Stuart Ayre Fund

Taylor Fund

Roland Cookson Fund

These charities have funds at the Foundation which provide continuing income for their work. Agency invested funds can be started with £100,000.

Chronicle Sunshine Fund

Enid Blyton Fund for Seven Stories

Northumberland Wildlife Trust Fund

Prudhoe League of Friends Fund

Foundation projects and partnerships

Tiny Lives Fund

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music Fund

These are the Foundation’s own knowledge and leadership projects, and the programmes we run in partnership with other funders regionally and nationally.

Community Chest Fund – in partnership with Gateshead Council

Newcastle Culture Investment Fund - in partnership with Newcastle Council

NHS North East and North Cumbria Northern Cancer Alliance and Waiting Well Funds – in partnership with Cumbria Community Foundation and Point North

North East Social Investment Fund – in partnership with Better Society Capital, Esmée Fairbairn, Joseph Rowntree and Northstar Foundations

Participatory Grantmaking Fund – Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic

We also provide expertise and advice to the Bernicia Foundation and Ridley Family Charity.

The Mayor’s Opportunity Fund NEW – in partnership with NECA and Point North

The NECA NE Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Fund NEW – in partnership with NECA and Point North

The South Tyneside Know Your Neighbourhood Fund – in partnership with DCMS and UKCF

Third Sector Trends Study

Our people

Honorary President:

His Grace the Duke of Northumberland

Honorary Vice-Presidents:

Anna, Lady Blackett

Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley

Geoff Hodgson OBE

Dr Caroline Pryer LL

Dr Hari Shukla CBE DCL DL

Dr Shobha Srivastava MBE

Hugh Welch

Sue Winfield CVO OBE CStJ

Lucy Winskell OBE LL

Mike Worthington OBE

Patrons:

Dame Margaret Barbour DBE DL

Ron and Louise Bowey

Professor Nicola Curtin

Tony and Anne Platten

Lyn Shears OBE

Sir Nigel Sherlock KCVO OBE

Corporate Patrons:

Newcastle Building Society

P&G

Ringtons

Our trustees

Phil Moorhouse Chair: Non-executive director and business investor

Dawn Creighton Head of Customer Strategy and Experience, Northumbrian Water

Pam Smith

Chief Executive, Newcastle City Council

Jill Baker Deputy Chair: Director of Communities, Lloyds Bank Foundation

Sarah Glendinning Director of Business Partnerships, Northumbria University

Fiona Standfield Chief Operating Officer, Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle

Treasurer: Retired company director and accountant

Client Relationship Director, Ward Hadaway

Dr Laura Warwick Senior Service Designer, NHS Business Services Authority

Legacy Patrons:

Steve and Christine Convey

Douglas Kellett

Frank and Pat Lough

Ronald William Edward Murray

Guy Readman OBE

Trevor Shears OBE

Below: A cookery session at the Comfrey Project

Lieutenant of

Chief Executive, New Writing North

Digital Inclusion Health and Social Care Project Manager, Connected Voice

We are grateful for the support of our volunteer ambassadors and panel members. We encourage individuals, voluntary organisations, public bodies and businesses to become involved in our network as members.

Our staff

Senior executives

Rob Williamson OBE DL Chief Executive

Adam Lopardo

Chief Funding and Partnerships Officer

John Hollingsworth MBA

Chief Philanthropy and Development Officer

Sonia Waugh FCCA

Chief Finance and Operating Officer

Philanthropy and development

Lisa Cappleman

Head of Giving and Philanthropy

Elaine Holdsworth

Senior Philanthropy Advisor

Su Legg

Senior Philanthropy Advisor

Ross Wilson

Senior Philanthropy Advisor

Michelle Hardie

Philanthropy and Development Advisor

Kevin Maloney

Philanthropy and Development Advisor

Meg Hardiman

Development and Marketing Officer

Funding and partnerships

Nils Stronach

Head of Grant Practice and Programmes

Pete Barrett

Senior Programme Advisor

Jo Cundall

Senior Programme Advisor (Culture)

Hannah Mackay-Christie

Senior Policy and Public Affairs Advisor

Ged Robinson

Grant Programme Advisor

Colette Harrison

Sector Support Manager

Beverley Timlin Funding Officer

Operational support

Mike Whitfield

Head of Operations

Dawn Porter

Executive Support Manager

Ali Walker Projects and Resources Manager

Sarah Phillipson Finance Officer

Adam Smith ICT and Facilities Officer

Leanne Wilson

Grant Support Officer

Jacqueline Turner

Office Co-ordinator

Advisors

Auditors: Azets Audit Services

Bankers: Barclays Bank plc

Investment Managers: Cazenove Capital, CCLA Investment Management Limited, Rathbone Investment Management Limited.

Solicitors: Muckle LLP

Financial information and grants statistics in the Yearbook relate to the financial year 2024-25. All other information has been updated to the time of going to press in October 2025.

Our grants data is available on our website www.communityfoundation.org.uk/about-us/our-data and on 360Giving grantnav.threesixtygiving.org

Design and artwork: Lisa Kirkbride

Photography: The Special Lioness, Jessica Wade-Slee, Northumberland County of Sanctuary, Chopwell Community Association, Children North East, Newcastle Building Society, Richard Roberts, Soroptimist International Tynemouth Whitley Bay and District, Gilbert Johnston, New Writing North, Natural Ability, Comfrey Project

Cover image: A young person engaged in an inclusive and accessible performing arts show in Sunderland run by The Special Lioness.

Community Foundation North East Philanthropy House, Woodbine Road Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1DD Tel: 0191 222 0945

Email: general@communityfoundation.org.uk www.communityfoundation.org.uk

CommunityFoundationNorthEast

Registered Charity No. 700510

Limited Company No. 2273708

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