Hardship Fund

Supporting Families the Tees Valley region

At The Teesside Charity, we’re committed to helping families who are experiencing financial hardship. We understand that sometimes even the basics—like food, heating, school uniforms, or essential household items—can be out of reach.

That’s why we offer a range of practical support, from e-shopping and fuel vouchers to beds, white goods, carpets, and school uniforms. These services are designed to ease immediate pressures and help families regain a sense of stability and dignity.

All support is provided through referrals from schools or recognised charitable organisations, ensuring we reach those most in need. Families must live within the five unitary council areas of Redcar & Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton on Tees and Darlington to be eligible.

Together, we’re working to make sure no family in the Tees Valley has to face hardship alone.

How we can help:

e-shopping Vouchers

We know that many families are struggling with the rising cost of living and may be finding it difficult to make ends meet. Our e-shopping voucher scheme is here to offer practical support to families facing genuine financial hardship.

These vouchers can be used to purchase essential groceries and household items, helping to ease the pressure during challenging times.

Referrals must be made through schools, charitable organisations. If you are a family in need, we encourage you to speak with your school or local support service, who can make a referral on your behalf.  If you’re a school or organisation looking to refer someone for an e-shopping voucher – Download e-voucher referral form

Together, we’re working to make sure no family feels they have to face hardship alone.

Fuel Vouchers

We understand the pressure that rising energy costs place on individuals and families already facing financial hardship. For those experiencing fuel poverty, our fuel voucher scheme offers immediate support to help with essential energy needs.

We can provide fuel vouchers for:

• Households using pre-payment meters
• Individuals with an Energy Payment Card
• Those who pay for their gas or electricity by direct debit, where we may contribute directly to their energy account

This support is designed to ensure people aren’t left without heating, hot water, or the means to cook a meal—especially during the colder months.

Referrals must be made via schools, charitable organisations. If you are in need, please speak with your school or a local charitable organisation who can refer you for help.  If you’re a school or organisation looking to refer someone for a fuel voucher, – Download fuel voucher referral form

Together, we’re helping to ensure that no household is left in the cold.

Child Bed Poverty – closed for the month of April

We believe every child deserves a safe and comfortable place to sleep. No child should be without a bed, mattress, or bedding—or have to share a bed with multiple siblings. Our Bed Support Fund provides essential beds for children across the Tees Valley, supporting their health, development, and overall wellbeing.

We work with a local company that liaises directly with families to deliver the beds as quickly as possible. A bedding voucher is also included with this application, allowing the family to purchase the bedding they need

Referrals must be made by schools or, charitable organisations If you are a parent or carer in need of support, please speak to your child’s school or a local organisation who can make a referral on your behalf.  If you’re a school or organisation looking to refer someone for a bed voucher – Download bed support referral form

Please note that for all families residing in Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton on tees or certain areas of Redcar & Cleveland, the requests can be be made via schools directly to Zarach – Homepage – Zarach

Together, we’re ensuring every child has a comfortable bed to rest, grow, and thrive

White Goods Vouchers – closed for the month of April

We understand that when a vital household appliance breaks down—like a cooker, fridge, or washing machine—it can cause real disruption for families already under financial pressure.

Through our White Goods Support Fund, we can help by providing a replacement appliance for those most in need. We work with trusted local companies who:

• Deliver the appliance directly to the family
• Install it safely and professionally
• Remove the broken item

Referrals must be made by schools, charitable organisations, or recognised support services. If you are in need of support, please contact your child’s school or a local support organisation who can apply on your behalf.  If you’re a school or organisation looking to refer someone for a white goods voucher – Download white goods referral form. We aim to respond quickly to ensure families can get back on their feet with minimal disruption.

Together, we’re helping families keep their homes running smoothly when appliances break down.

Secondary School Uniform Vouchers – closed for the month of April

We understand that school uniforms can be expensive and a concern for many families. To help ease this financial burden, we offer support to cover the cost of secondary school uniforms for children from families facing hardship and support towards non-branded primary school uniform too.

We are working closely with uniform providers across the Tees Valley’s secondary schools to provide vouchers that assist underprivileged families in purchasing the uniforms their children need.

Referrals must be made through schools or charitable organisations. If you need support, please contact your child’s school or a local support organisation who can refer you.  If you’re a school or organisation looking to refer someone for a school uniform support voucher – Download school uniform support referral form

Together, we’re making sure every child can be at school with the uniform they need to feel confident

Carpet Poverty – closed for the month of April

We understand that moving into a new home or living in a house with damaged or no carpet can be stressful—especially when funds are tight. Having suitable flooring is important for comfort, safety, and creating a warm, welcoming environment for families.

Through our Carpet Support Fund, we work with trusted local carpet companies to help families overcome this challenge by providing assistance with carpet installation or replacement.

Referrals must be made via schools, charitable organisations, or recognised support services. If you need support, please speak to your child’s school or a local organisation who can refer you.  If you’re a school or organisation looking to refer someone for a carpet support voucher – Download carpet support referral form

Together, we’re helping families create warm, safe homes where everyone can feel comfortable.

Important Information

To confirm your eligibility for support, please refer to our Teesside Charity – Grant Making Policy.

For any questions or funding inquiries, please contact us at: rachel.p@teessidecharity.org.uk

• Who can refer: We accept referrals only from schools or charitable organisations. This policy helps us prioritise support for families with school-aged children. Referrals from individuals are not accepted. All applicants must reside within the unitary councils of Redcar & Cleveland, Stockton On Tees, Darlington, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough areas.
• Referrer Contact Details: A valid contact number and email address for the referrer are required. All vouchers and orders will be sent directly to the referrer, who will then coordinate with the family.
• Data Handling: For bed and white goods requests, the referrer will securely share the family’s details directly with the supplier. All application forms are stored safely in our secure IT database.
• School Notification: If the referral is made by a charity, we may inform the child’s school as part of our support process.
• Incomplete Applications: Please ensure all sections of the application form are fully completed. Incomplete forms will be returned, which may delay the provision of support.