Project aimed at tackling gendered and child poverty in Middlesbrough
A three-year programme is costing £1 million
We are hearing about a £1 million project aimed at tackling gendered and child poverty in Middlesbrough.
A three-year programme will see people in the most deprived areas, like Newport ward, be given £2,000 grants. It is being led by local women who are wanting to make a difference. This collaboration between national charities, along with local organisations and community leaders, is showcasing how community-designed grant programmes can bring real, lasting change.
Turn2us, Buttle UK, and the Smallwood Trust are the three charities funding the project.
Research shows around 40 percent of children growing up in Middlesbrough are living below the poverty line.
Amanda Bailey, Director of the North-East Child Poverty Commission shared her thoughts on the broader impact of the initiative: "The Middlesbrough collaboration demonstrates a powerful approach to tackling child poverty at its roots. Supporting women benefits entire families, and this initiative serves as a blueprint for other areas in the North East looking to make a lasting impact on children’s outcomes and the development of local communities."
The grant
In Newport, where 68 percent of children live in poverty, local women participated in co-designing the grant programme. This collaborative approach ensured that voices of those directly affected by financial hardship guided the decision-making process, helping determine the criteria for grant recipients.
As a result of this co-produced process, 50 women, mostly from African, Indian, and South Asian backgrounds, were identified by community partners to receive £2,000 each. These grants offered not just financial relief but a critical step toward stability for their families.
Nisha Tharma, a recipient from Creative Minds Middlesbrough, shared how her grant transformed her family’s home life: "The first thing I did when I got the grant was buy a sofa. My children were overjoyed! They jumped on it and said it felt like Disneyland. It was the first time I felt like I could give them a real home."
The grants have provided critical support for essential needs—such as clothing, household items, and school supplies—while also offering families relief from debt. More than that, they have allowed families to enjoy simple, meaningful experiences that strengthen their bonds.
Irene Kabuye, Founder of Ubuntu Multicultural Centre, shared a powerful example: "Imagine, after three years, a mum in Middlesbrough can finally cook homemade meals for her kids because she got a grant to buy a cooker. This programme is more than financial aid; it’s about restoring dignity and enabling mothers to care for their families in ways they haven’t been able to before."
The impact
The programme’s evaluation revealed that 92 percent of recipients reported improved well-being, with 56 percent seeing greater happiness in their children as a direct result of the support
Polly Trenow, Co-Head of Local Programmes at Turn2us, highlighted the shift in power to local communities: "Our Middlesbrough Collaboration brings together expertise from Turn2us, Buttle UK, and the Smallwood Trust to tackle gendered poverty. By working directly with local organisations and placing women and children at the centre of our plans, we’re making meaningful, lasting change. This isn’t just about grants; it’s about systemic change, giving women the tools to build a more secure future."
Councillor Philippa Storey, Deputy Mayor of Middlesbrough, praised the programme’s success and its alignment with the council’s strategy: “This collaboration has made a huge positive difference to women and their children in Middlesbrough. It has helped ease financial pressures and given families the support they need to take more control of their futures.
"The ethos of this project and the positive change it is bringing fits alongside Middlesbrough Council’s strategy to lift people and especially children, out of poverty by building stronger community networks and creating better opportunities and pathways for the future. What has been achieved in Middlesbrough could be a model for other parts of the North East, helping even more families find their feet and thrive".
Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, praised the programme’s community-driven approach, stating: "Child poverty in Middlesbrough is one of the highest in the country, and it imposes misery on families every single day. We must be bold and ensure that reducing and eradicating poverty is at the top of the agenda.
"Initiatives like the Middlesbrough Collaboration are proof that, when local people are empowered to make decisions for themselves, real change happens. This programme not only supports families in the short term but also lays the groundwork for long-term, systemic change."