A charity ball has raised a record £89,000 to help families facing hardship across the Tees Valley.
The Teesside Charity raised the money at its annual ball in Hardwick Hall’s grand marquee, with the proceeds supporting its Hardship Fund for another year.
Harriet Spalding, chair of trustees at The Teesside Charity, 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.
Harriet Spalding, chair of trustees of Teesside Charity and trustee Alisdair Beveridge (Image: w)
"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."
The charity helps people in financial difficulty with shopping and fuel vouchers, beds, electrical appliances, carpets and school uniforms.
In the past 12 months, it has given shopping vouchers to 2,845 people and fuel vouchers to 284.
It also provided 56 beds, 28 washing machines, 31 cookers, 17 fridge freezers, and fitted carpets in 20 homes.
The ball highlighted growing demand for the Hardship Fund with a film introduced by charity founder Andy Preston, showing the reality of hardship across the region.
Guests were urged to donate throughout the evening through an envelope draw and live and silent auctions.
Entertainment included music from Storm, Shane’s Singo Music Bingo, games and a silent disco.
Headline sponsor HeadKandy Hair, co-sponsor Ward Hadaway and supporters including PX Group, Screentech, Muckle, RACZ Group, Active Financial Planners, Waltons Business Advisers and Cornerstone Business Solutions helped make the event a success.
Ms Spalding said: "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."
The Teesside Charity supports people and good causes across Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton, Hartlepool, and Darlington.
Its work includes the Hardship Fund, grants, the Golden Giveaway, holidays for families facing financial hardship and the Christmas Toy Appeal.
The initiatives ensure money raised in the region goes directly to local people.
Over the past year, the charity has supported 40,644 people.
Since launching, it has donated more than £5 million to good causes across the region.
Ms Spalding added: "We are incredibly fortunate to have businesses and individuals across our region who continue to get behind The Teesside Charity.
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"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."
To find out more about The Teesside Charity or support its work, visit www.teessidecharity.org.uk.