£89,000 raised in our Annual Ball 2026

We celebrated our Annual Ball this year at Hardwick Hall’s Grand Marquee on Friday 2nd October 2026. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we raised an incredible £89,000 for our Hardship Fund, providing vital funding to help local families across the Tees Valley.

Hundreds of supporters from across the region came together for our biggest event of the year. Whilst we raise and distribute funds throughout the year to support local people, charities and community organisations, this year’s ball placed a particular focus on our Hardship Fund and the growing demand for practical support from families across the Tees Valley.

Our founder, Andy Preston, set the scene for the evening through a film highlighting the reality of hardship across the region and the practical help the charity provides when people need it most.

Chair of trustees Harriet Spalding also used her foreword in the evening’s programme to share the scale of the charity’s work and the impact made in the past 12 months.

Last year, we distributed £80,000 through our Hardship Fund. The record £89,000 raised at the ball will enable us to fund the scheme for another year, helping even more families.

Through the Hardship Fund, we provide practical support to families experiencing financial difficulty, including shopping and fuel vouchers, beds, electrical appliances, carpets and school uniforms.

Over the past 12 months alone, 2,845 people received shopping vouchers and 284 were supported with fuel vouchers. We also distributed 56 beds, 28 washing machines, 31 cookers and 17 fridge freezers, whilst 20 homes were fitted with carpets.

This support forms part of our wider work across the region, which saw 40,644 local people supported over the past year.

Chair of trustees Harriet Spalding 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.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have businesses and individuals across our region who continue to get behind The Teesside Charity. I would like to thank everyone who attended, donated, bid in our auctions or supported the evening in any way. Every penny will be used to help people here in the Tees Valley.”

Guests were encouraged to give generously throughout the evening, with fundraising including an envelope draw, live and silent auctions and other activities.

Our event also featured live music from Storm, Shane’s Singo Music Bingo, games and a silent disco, and guests watched a specially created film demonstrating the difference the charity’s support can make to local people.

Our ball was supported by headline sponsor HeadKandy Hair and co-sponsor Ward Hadaway. Further sponsorship came from PX Group, Screentech, Muckle, RACZ Group, Active Financial Planners, Waltons Business Advisers, and Cornerstone Business Solutions.

Harriet added: “Our sponsors play a huge part in making the ball possible and we are enormously grateful for their continued support.

“The same goes for the many businesses and individuals who donated prizes and experiences for our auctions and fundraising activities. The success of the evening is the result of so many people coming together with a shared desire to make a difference locally.”

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended, donated, bid in our auctions or supported the evening in any way. The incredible £89,000 raised will make a real difference to local people, helping us continue to provide vital practical support to families across the Tees Valley.