Positive change supported through staff donations

A town centre foodbank, a community grocery store, and a charity supporting parents of children with autism, are the latest recipients of support from Teesside University’s Be the Change workplace giving scheme.

Staff across Teesside University donate the spare pennies from their monthly salaries to Be the Change, to help provide grants to local organisations which are nominated by contributors.

Donations of £500 have been made to the most recent recipients - Middlesbrough Foodbank, Darlington Baptist Church Community Grocery, and Autism Parents Together.

Tracey Godfrey-Harrison, project manager at Middlesbrough Foodbank, said: “I’ve been involved in the foodbank in Middlesbrough for around four years and we’ve seen a steady increase each year in the amount of people accessing help.

“We really welcome this donation, which will go straight back into our running costs. We have an amazing volunteer team, and the support we receive too from the general public is really generous.”

The community grocery store in Darlington is run in partnership by Christian charity The Message Trust and Darlington Baptist Church.

The store, which opens weekdays, sells surplus foods and items from retailers at a lower cost. It is aimed at individuals and families across Darlington who are on a tight budget by helping to provide affordable food options.

Neil Brumby, who manages the store, said: “Our aim is to help and support people in need and shopping on a budget, while also helping to reduce food waste.

Nicola McBean, of Autism Parents Together, said: “The charity provides education, information and opportunities designed to support and enable autistic children and young people to maximise their potential. We also providing support groups, forums, advice, advocacy and general support for autistic children and their families.”

Rachel Jones, Teesside University’s Deputy Head of Events, who nominated Autism Parents Together, said: “As a parent of a child with autism, I’ve seen how much this charity does for families like mine – putting on events where my son can truly be himself and we can enjoy things we wouldn’t usually have access to. Nominating them felt like a small way to say thank you for all the support they give.”

Be the Change has already been able to make a positive impact on a wide range of organisations since its launch in 2023, helping a range of charities and groups which deliver positive social impact in our local communities.

Previous rounds of donations have helped local organisations which continue to address raising aspirations, build community cohesion, promote digital inclusion, and inspire their local communities.

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