We have continued our commitment to fostering positive change in local communities, with substantial donations to various charities and causes throughout the past year totalling over £1 million.
Among the beneficiaries in 2023 was The Chronicle Sunshine Fund. For the 5th consecutive year, we were the main sponsor of the Sunshine Fund Great North Run team, helping to raise over £20,000 for children aged 0-19 living with disabilities, additional needs, chronic and terminal illness.
Other beneficiaries included First Stop in Darlington, which focuses on empowering individuals of all ages by equipping them with the skills necessary for employment. The contribution aims to bolster First Stop’s efforts in creating opportunities for local residents.
Sunderland’s Foundation of Light and the Newcastle United Foundation also received continued support from us alongside our charity partner, the Harrison Foundation. These partnerships, initiated in 2017, have helped hundreds of young people aged 13-17, enabling them to attain the qualifications and confidence essential for successful employment.
We also extended our support to St Oswald’s Hospice, which cares for people with incurable conditions across the North East. The donation funded several pieces of crucial equipment, enhancing the hospice’s ability to provide quality care to its patients.
£220,000 was directed towards Mowden Hall in Northumberland, contributing to the creation of ‘The Harrison Theatre.’ This transformative project aims to provide students and the local community with a versatile space for artistic expression and skills development. The funds will be utilised for installing flexible seating, new lighting, and a complete facelift for the theatre, creating an inspiring and multi-purpose venue that instils pride and confidence in its users.
The donations were made to further social mobility, a cause that both ourselves and the Harrison Foundation are deeply committed to.
As well as cash donations, we have put other resources into boosting financial literacy around the country to bridge the gap for the younger generation. The firm’s ‘On the Money campaign’ has so far seen 115 of its financial advisers volunteer to teach personal finance to 30,000 school children this academic year, something that has been welcomed by headteachers across the country.
CEO Daniel Harrison, who is also trustee of the Harrison Foundation, said: “The £1 million in donations from True Potential and the Harrison Foundation in 2023 reflects our commitment to supporting organisations and initiatives that uplift and empower communities in our local communities. We are proud to stand alongside our partners, working together to increase social mobility and create new opportunities for those in need.”
Siobhan Sargeant, Charity Director at the Chronicle Sunshine Fund, added: “For The Chronicle Sunshine Fund, the support of an organisation like True Potential who share our ethos of opportunities for all for a more equal society, means we can continue to support North East families. That could be by providing equipment to ensure children are safe, secure and have the opportunity to meet their own individual potential regardless of disability or through enrichment events and family support services so that we can support parents and carers when they need us the most.”
