Meet Diane – the one who hates having her photo taken.

Meet the team that helps businesses and individuals join to make Teesside a better place in which to live, work and do business.
Diane is the manager at The Teesside Charity and has worked for the charity for over eight years. Diane is responsible for the day-to-day running of the charity, including looking after our donors, supporting Mandy at events, helping Jenny with the caravans and shortlisting the applications for funding, and working with Sheila to customise our reporting and database information. No day is ever the same. Diane loves connecting people and working collaboratively with other charities.

What does the charity mean to you?

I wish we didn’t have to exist, but I settle myself in the knowledge that we do what we can for those that are most in need, be that shopping vouchers, caravan breaks, fuel vouchers or funded trips. We support charities that help those on the edge of society, whether that be those suffering from addiction, those suffering from mental health or those with a disability.

What’s your most memorable moment at the charity?

I have two moments that stand out as the most memorable for me. The first one would have to be buying bunk beds for a family in Thornaby. We received a request from Kinship (formerly Grandparents Plus) to help a family in Thornaby by providing them with bunk beds. We had received the request late in the day and it had played on my mind all night, I couldn’t sleep. I rang Andy Preston first thing the next morning to ask if we could help the family and of course, he said yes. It was probably the start of our Hardship Fund.
My joint memorable moment was the idea of having a caravan, possibly the most positive thing we’ve done. I’ll never forget the first family I helped by providing them with a break away at the caravan. When I was arranging the trip for the lady, she was very quiet and sounded very down on the phone, but when she rang me from the bus on her way home, it sounded like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. I had said to her you sound different, and she replied, you can’t imagine what a difference that trip has made.

What’s your favourite Teesside Charity event and why?

The Great North Run, I’ve never done it (and I’m not likely to!) but I just love the day. I have helped in the charity village at every one of the events since 2004 (representing three different charities) except for the one held in 2020 because of the pandemic.

Who is your hero?

Oh my! I can’t just pick one with all those selfless people out there. If I had to pick one though I guess I would say Mary Butterwick, she was amazing and the reason I worked tirelessly at the Butterwick Hospice, that charity stole my heart.