Local women lead £1 million innovative project to tackle gendered and child poverty in Middlesbrough

In Middlesbrough’s Newport ward, a £1 million, three-year programme led by local women is making a difference in the fight against gendered and child poverty.

This innovative collaboration between national charities, along with local organisations and community leaders, is showcasing how community-designed grant programmes can bring real, lasting change to one of the UK's most deprived areas. 

The programme’s success was celebrated at a special event on 2 October, where community leaders, local politicians, and representatives from Turn2us, Buttle UK, and the Smallwood Trust - the three charities funding the project - came together.

The event was an inspiring moment, highlighting how this programme is already starting to reshape how we tackle poverty. As part of the day, four reports were shared, filled with valuable insights and recommendations from the first year of the programme, helping to guide the work moving forward  

Local women take charge of grant design  

In Newport, where 68% 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. 

Attendees heard first-hand the life-changing impact of the grants. 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." 

Stories like Nisha’s illustrate how community-led decision-making empowers families to meet their needs in meaningful, personal ways. 

Real-life impact   

The programme’s evaluation revealed that 92% of recipients reported improved well-being, with 56% seeing greater happiness in their children as a direct result of the support. These figures underscore how community-driven solutions are making a real difference in tackling gendered and child poverty. 

Quotes from key speakers   

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." 

Immediate support with long-term impact   

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." 

Praise from local leaders   

Councillor Philippa Storey, Deputy Mayor of Middlesbrough and a panellist, 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". 

During the event, Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough, 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." 

Building long-term resilience: A model for tackling child poverty   

During the event, Amanda Bailey, Director of the North-East Child Poverty Commission and a panel member, 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." 

A collaborative solution for addressing poverty   

This initiative lays the foundation for a model that can be adopted across the country to address both gendered and child poverty. By focusing on long-term systemic change, empowering local women, and working in partnership with community organisations, the Middlesbrough Collaboration demonstrates how grassroots efforts can create sustainable, widespread impact. 

About the charities involved   

Middlesbrough Collaboration   

Buttle UK, The Smallwood Trust, and Turn2us are national charities.  In 2022, the three organisations came together in a three-year, £1 million collaborative programme committed to grant-making and systems change in Middlesbrough.   

Buttle UK provides financial support to children and young people in crisis, offering tailored grants to improve their well-being and future prospects.   

Smallwood Trust enables women to become financially resilient, supporting those who have faced hardship to gain independence and improve their quality of life.   

Turn2us helps people facing financial insecurity gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants, and support services. It provides a Benefits Calculator, Grants Search tool, and information to help people understand their entitlements and find ways to increase their income. Turn2us also works to challenge the stigma around poverty and campaigns for systemic change to address financial insecurity.  

The Turn2us Benefits Calculator empowered Middlesbrough residents to maximise their household budgets by ensuring they claim all the financial support they're entitled to. This free, user-friendly tool has been instrumental in helping families navigate the complex benefits system, potentially unlocking thousands of pounds in additional income to combat the rising cost of living. 

Local partners   

Ubuntu Multicultural Centre is a grassroots organisation born out of the collective efforts of Middlesbrough’s community members.   

Creative Minds Middlesbrough is a women-only organisation founded by asylum-seeking women, supporting those from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds.