Footballing fund-raisers have again clubbed together to support a North East good cause.
This year 16 teams, representing some of the region’s best-known businesses, competed in the fifth Concept Cup five-a-side competition to raise money for the region’s dedicated children’s charity – Children North East.
Cook & Turnbull – the painting and rendering systems business based in Ashington – provided the winning team. The company was taking part in the Concept Cup for the first time and in the final beat last year’s champions Northumbrian Water 7-4.
The event, which took place at Goals Gosforth, has generated thousands of pounds for local charities since its launch in 2014.
“We are delighted that this event has become a firm fixture for so many busy men and women who are prepared to give up their time to raise much-needed money,” said Concept’s North East sales manager Stewart Hunter of Concept, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xerox.
The mission of this year’s beneficiary, Children North East, is to ensure that every child in our region grows up health and happy. The charity, which has 60 staff and more than 200 volunteers, helped almost 3,600 children and young people last year and 819 families.
It will receive a donation of nearly £3000 from the Concept Cup’s entry fees, raffles, auctions and collections.
Chief executive of Children North East, Jeremy Cripps, said: “We’re really grateful to Concept for choosing Children North East as the beneficiary of their five-a-side tournament this year. This money will be life changing for children and young people in our region who are suffering because of abuse or the misery of family breakup; or who are distressed by bullying, isolation or mental illness.”
In previous years Concept has chosen to support The Calvert Trust, Little Steps for Lily, Hadrian School and the North East Autism Society.
“It’s always a difficult choice because there are so many good causes who we would love to help,” said Stewart. “But when we met Children North-East we were so impressed by the work they do and also shocked at the level of demand for their services in 2018.”
As well as Cook & Turnbull, Northumbrian Water and footballers from Concept and Children North East, the other teams taking part came from Mincoffs, NCFE, Unite, Hadrian School, Forfusion, Allay, the Commissioners Quay Inn, Virgin Money, CGL, Coast Consult, Precept and Utilitywise.
Concept Cup organiser Lisa Derrick said: “I’m sure we didn’t think when we first had the idea that this event would go from strength to strength. Everybody who works for Concept in Newcastle has a strong connection with the North East and we are all determined to do what we can to help people less fortunate than ourselves.
“We are so grateful to everybody who made this year’s Concept Cup such a success: both the teams who took part as well the many businesses who made donations.”
For more details about the work of Children North East, visit its website www.children-ne.org.uk/.