Message from the Chairman (Excerpt from Annual Review 2007)

It has been another busy and successful year for the Tees Valley Community Foundation. We have distributed over £1.7 million in grants and helped 454 charitable groups, projects and individuals throughout the Tees Valley.

Your Community Foundation owns and manages endowed assets of over £8m and looks after the charitable interests of over 50 organisations and families in the Tees Valley. Much has been achieved in the 19 years since the Foundation was formed. In June 2007 the Foundation was awarded the prestigious CFN Quality Mark accreditation, which is one indication of the progress that has been made. Nevertheless, much still needs to be done to continue supporting local people and there is still a considerable potential for growth.

We have continued to support schools bidding for Specialist Status providing funding up to £30,000 to each of the 17 schools in the Tees Valley area.

The Foundation continues to manage large funds on behalf of Government and other Agencies. These include the Local Network Fund for Children and Young People distributing £708,246; the Change Up fund for improving the voluntary sector infrastructure distributing £338,778 and the Lottery Fair Share Programme for specific wards in Stockton, distributing £326,326.

Most of us lead very busy lives and it is easy to forget that our region suffers from some of the worst social deprivation in the UK. Many young people also need some help if they are to achieve their potential. Although the Government may wish to help it cannot be everywhere and we all have a responsibility to help in the society in which we live. If you support the work of the Foundation we will all be living in a better and happier society.

Finally I would like to thank all the Foundation’s supporters. We rely totally on volunteers who act as Trustees or sit on Grant Distribution committees and give their time and expertise freely. The success of the Foundation has been achieved as a result of their efforts and our dedicated staff. I would like to say a special thank you to Geoffrey Crute, a long serving Trustee who retired during the year.

I hope that our Annual Review encourages you to offer your help to the heart of the community. Click the link to view / download Annual Review 2007