Member Article

Celebrating Ted Weekes’ legacy 15 years on

The Ted Weekes Fund at the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland has reached a 15-year milestone and awarded over £100,000 to organisations working with young people in Seaton Sluice and New Hartley.

The Fund was established with a legacy gift from Dr Ted Weekes, a local councillor and former chair of the Northumberland County Council Education Committee. Dr Weekes’ legacy was to create a Fund at the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. The Fund opens each year and awards grants to voluntary organisations which provide opportunities for young people in Seaton Sluice and New Hartley.

David Montgomery, Chair of the Ted Weekes Fund Panel said:

“I knew Ted very well, and he was an astonishing man who cared passionately about young people and wanted to help them to have a good start in life. His legacy is a brilliant example of how you can do good long after your gone, and the Fund at the Community Foundation has reached a fantastic milestone of giving away £100,000 in 15 years to support causes in a relatively small part of Northumberland. The impact this has had is huge and is exactly what Ted will have wanted.”

During its latest funding round, the Ted Weekes Fund made eleven awards totalling £12,629. The Fund was established in April 2001 following the death of Dr Ted Weekes. To celebrate the milestone, friends of Ted Weekes and panel members of the Fund, David Montgomery and Councillor Susan Dungworth, visited Seaton Sluice Community Association. Seaton Sluice Community Association received an award of £1,500 to support arts activities for young people.

Councillor Susan Dungworth, County Councillor for the Hartley Ward and a member of the Ted Weekes Panel added:

“Seaton Sluice Community Association is a community hub where young people can meet in a safe and secure environment to develop confidence, to build skills, to find fun and friendship, learning to be part of a community and in turn learning how to play a part in the community. We’re delighted to support the organisation with a gift for arts activities and this is something that Ted would have been very encouraged to see.”

Su Legg, Senior Philanthropy Advisor at the Community Foundation explains:

“A legacy is a great way for somebody to make a lasting difference long after you are gone. Ted was very passionate about young people and his Fund is making a huge difference in a small concentrated area. Alternatively you can leave a legacy of any size to one of our themed Funds such as LEAF, our environmental Fund, the North East Fund for the Arts, or one of our place-building Give2 Funds.

“Ted was a hugely inspirational character and is continuing to inspire generations of young people. This is a very powerful thing and I’m delighted to celebrate 15 years of funding and over £100,000 of grants with the Ted Weekes Fund at the Community Foundation.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Adam Lopardo .