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The Ironmongers’ Company wishes to support projects that provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people to fulfil their potential.

Grants are only given to registered charities. Projects must meet all of the following criteria:

• ​For children and young people under the age of 25 who are disadvantaged

• Consist of educational activities that develop learning, motivation and skills​

• Have clear aims and objectives to be met within a planned timescale​

• Are within the UK

The Company is looking for projects that deliver clearly defined educational benefits to a specific group of children or young people. Items of equipment will be considered only where a full explanation is given of how they will support this activity.

Projects could, for example, support special educational needs, or foster social, emotional or life skills. Preference will be given to projects piloting new approaches where the outcomes will be disseminated to a wider audience.

​Grants

• ​Grants range from a few hundred pounds up to around £10,000. The average grant awarded is £4,000. ​

• Grants must be spent within twelve months from the date of the award.​

• Recipients are expected to submit a written evaluation report within three months from completion of the project.​

• The Company’s support should make a recognisable difference, therefore preference will be given to requests where the grant would cover a significant element of the cost and to those from smaller charities. ​

Exclusions

• ​Large projects towards which a contribution from the Company would have limited impact​

• General appeals or circulars​

• Replacement of statutory funding​

• General running costs (a reasonable proportion of overheads will be accepted as part of project costs)​

• Medical treatment, healthcare, counselling and therapy​

• Course fees for professionals​

• Research projects​

• Bursaries​

• Schools, unless a registered charity for children/young people with disabilities​

• Fundraising events and sponsorship​

• Projects that begin before the date of the relevant Committee meeting (see below)​

• Building work​

• Holidays

​Deadline: The next closing date for applications is the 15th December 2023

Read more and apply here

We had a lot of high-quality nominations for this year’s awards, which were presented at our AGM 2022, and the judging panel have had a difficult time identifying the award winners. Thank you to the judging panel for the valuable insight and experience that they contributed.

Trustee of the Year: Anna McConville from Pathways4All

Anna is on the Board of Pathways 4 All as a parent representative and goes above and beyond in volunteering at the Centre in addition to her trustee role, offering advice and support where needed. Anna is a real voice for families on the Board and provides vital support to the staff team. The judges were impressed by how devoted and generous with her time Anna is, and the way she uses her lived experience as a parent of a child with Autism and ADHD to help steer the charity and to support parents visiting Pathways4All.

Volunteer of the Year: Ray Taylor from New York Community Football Club

Ray coaches 5 football teams in New York and never turns away any child. He makes sure that the children have fun but learn important life lessons at the same time. In addition to his coaching and the confidence and pride that he instils in the children, he fundraises and goes out of his way to help people in the local community. The judges were impressed by the difference that Ray has made to the lives of so many children and families and the range of things that he turns his hand to in order to improve the local play facilities.

Young Volunteer of the Year: Bailey Wilson from Live Well With Cancer

When Bailey was 6 years old, his dad had to undergo surgery and Bailey was given a surgery bear to look after, with the same surgical wound and stitches as his dad. Since then, Bailey has raised money to provide support bears to children of parents who have cancer, so that no child has to go through a loved one’s treatment without support. The judges were impressed by the dedication that 7-year-old Bailey has shown in raising funds and so far, he has donated 84 free surgery bears to comfort children who need them. #BaileysBears

Voluntary or Community Organisation of the Year: Mindstars (NE) CIC

Mindstars was established by two mothers with a passion to change how children’s mental health and wellbeing is addressed. Their Hub is now a thriving part of the community and is helping to build the confidence and self-belief of children who struggle socially and emotionally, as well as families in need. The judges were impressed not only by the mental health and wellbeing support that Mindstars offers to children, young people and their families and the glowing feedback from those that they have supported, but also by the partnership working with statutory services and other voluntary organisations.

Young Volunteer of the Year Special Commendations

The judges also wish to commend Adam Jobey from Little 1 Stop Shop and Nathan Amos from New York Community Football Club for the commitment that they have shown in supporting the community and we will be awarding them a certificate in recognition of their achievements.

Covid Stories World Café in November 2o21 gave residents of North Tyneside the opportunity to share their personal stories of living through a pandemic. Helix Arts led participants in series of conversations and creative workshops to capture these experiences. Challenges were explored, the turbulence and heartache resounded. Incredible acts of kindness and community spirit were shared.

Facilitated by a team of artists, the resulting creations would go on to be exhibited across the borough as a lasting reminder of our collective experiences. You can view the final creations below, as well as images from the day.

Further information can be found on Helix Arts website – Covid Stories- Online Exhibition – Helix Arts/

Dawn Jobey set up North Shields based charity Little1Stop to support young parents who are struggling to provide the essentials for their babies. Dawn volunteers six days a week to keep the charity going.

We were delighted to award Dawn with the VODA VCSE Volunteer of the Year Award 2021 for the amazing support she provides to the local community!

Chloe Shiels and David DJ Miller were awarded joint winners of the Young Volunteer of the Year for their dedication and support to local charity Out of Sight.

Despite their own personal challenges, both young people are wonderful role models and provide vital support, helping with pandemic shopping, car boots, raffles and any other task they are presented with.

Unfortunately due to educational commitments, DJ (pictured with Chloe in the first picture) was unable to collect his award, so Chloe stepped up and collected it for him. Congratulations Chloe & DJ.

Lisa Taylor is a Trustee of Out of Sight Charity in North Tyneside and the winner of VODA’s Trustee of the Year 2021 Award.

Lisa has been involved with Out of Sight for approaching 8 years after they offered her support, friendship and signposted her to getting the right adaptations for her home for her young child who was left severely disabled after contracting meningitis.

Despite, all of her commitments to her family, Lisa felt the charity had thrown her a “life-line” so she wanted to give back to them. She started attending meetings, and offering support and is now the Secretary.

Lisa helps out in the community hub every week, supports fundraising by managing the charity’s online selling pages, has raised large sums of money running the Great North Run, uses her management skills from previous employment to support the charity however she can. Congratulations Lisa.