thumbnail saying we are looking for volunteers

Could Your Company Spend a Day at MAIN?

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Could Your Company Spend a Day at MAIN?

🌱 Calling all parents, carers, friends and supporters of MAIN… we have a little favour to ask!

What if your workplace gave you a volunteering day… and you brought your whole team to MAIN? 💙

We’re putting a challenge out there to all our wonderful MAIN families, friends and supporters.

If you work for a company that offers volunteering days, community days or team volunteering, why not ask your boss or HR team:

“Could we spend a day volunteering at MAIN?”

You never know… they might just say yes!

So, what would we actually do?

Well, that’s the fun part.

You don’t need to be a gardener, painter, DIY expert or professional organiser. You just need to turn up with enthusiasm, sensible shoes and a willingness to get stuck in! 😂

There are always jobs at MAIN that need a few extra pairs of hands.

🌱 Fancy getting your hands dirty?
Come and help us in our allotment or community garden. There are plants to plant, things to tidy and plenty of opportunities to discover whether you actually have green fingers!

🎨 More of a creative type?
We always have painting, decorating and creative jobs that could use some extra help.

🧹 Love a good sort-out?
You could help us clean, organise, declutter and generally make things look fabulous.

📦 Got a talent for finding treasure?
We have donations, fundraising bits and tombola prizes that need sorting and organising. You might even discover something you didn’t know existed!

🔨 A bit handy?
There are always those little jobs that we never quite get around to. A team of willing volunteers can make a huge difference.

🌿 Outdoor person?
Help us get our outdoor spaces looking their best and ready for everyone who uses them.

🎉 Love events?
You could help us prepare for fundraising events, set things up, decorate, organise and generally help make the magic happen.

💙 Or just come and see where you’re needed most.

Sometimes the most valuable thing you can give a small charity isn’t money.

It’s time.

One day. A whole team. A BIG difference.

For a small charity like MAIN, having a team of people come in for a day can make an enormous difference.

Jobs that might take us weeks to get through can suddenly be done in a day.

A tired garden can be transformed.

A room can get a fresh coat of paint.

A mountain of donations can become beautifully organised.

And, perhaps most importantly, we get to meet some lovely new people who become part of the MAIN family for the day. 💙

And let’s be honest… we’ll probably put you to work! 😂

But we promise there’ll be plenty of laughs along the way.

Could you be our next MAIN volunteer team?

So, if you’re reading this and thinking:

“I reckon my workplace would do this…”

Don’t keep it to yourself!

👉 Send this blog to your boss.
👉 Pop it into your work WhatsApp group.
👉 Tag your HR team.
👉 Mention it at your next team meeting.

And ask them:

“Could we volunteer a day at MAIN this year?”

We’d absolutely LOVE to hear from you.

Whether you’re a team of 3, 10, 20 or more, we’d love to talk to you about how you could spend a day helping MAIN.

You bring the people. We’ll find the jobs! 😄

📩 Interested in bringing your team to MAIN?
Email us at info@iammain.org.uk

💙 Together, we’re raising smiles.

Alima supporting at the beach

Spotlight at MAIN – Alima

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Celebrating Outstanding Support in Our Community

At MAIN, it is always wonderful to see the impact of our work recognised by the public. Moments like these remind us how important positive support, encouragement, and connection truly are.

We would like to give a special shoutout to Alima, one of our dedicated PA 1:1 support workers, who recently took Lucy on a trip to the beach. What might seem like a simple day out became a powerful example of trust, encouragement, and confidence-building.

Following the visit, we received some truly heartwarming feedback on our social media from a member of the public who witnessed the interaction:

Amanda Coupar
“This is so lovely! I seen you both down the sea front on this day and the smile on Lucy’s face spoke volumes! Watching her think twice about stepping onto the rocks on the beach off the steps to taking a huge leap with support and encouragement which put a huge smile on our faces too! We watched how Lucy took everything in on her beach stroll and watching her step on those rocks coming back off the beach with exactly the same support and encouragement and Lucy not stopping to question if she could do it again showed her confidence in the lady she was with as she took both hands to guide her back over them. Sorry I don’t know who it was who was with Lucy but absolute credit to you in your job with the support and guidance we watched you give to Lucy on this trip out! Credit where it is due! X”

This beautiful comment perfectly captures what we strive for at MAIN—support that empowers, builds confidence, and creates meaningful moments.

Thanks to Alima’s patience and encouragement, Lucy was able to overcome hesitation, try something new, and grow in confidence—all while enjoying her day by the sea.

Because every moment of support can create a lasting impact.

Carers Week Logo

Carers Week 2026: Celebrating the People Who Care Every Day

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Carers Week 2026: Celebrating the People Who Care Every Day

From 8th–14th June 2026, we proudly recognise Carers Week—a time to shine a light on the incredible dedication, compassion, and resilience of carers everywhere.

At our charity, this week is especially meaningful. Every day, we work alongside carers who support children and individuals who are autistic, neurodivergent, awaiting diagnosis, or living with learning disabilities and complex needs. Their role is vital—and we believe it deserves to be seen, valued, and supported.

Our Vision

Our mission is to develop new ways of supporting and encouraging those we work with, while building a world where:

  • Everyone is empowered to reach their full potential
  • Individual uniqueness is recognised and celebrated
  •  Inclusion exists in every part of society

Carers are a huge part of making this vision a reality.

Supporting Carers in Real Life—Not Just in Words

We understand that being a carer can be rewarding, but also demanding, emotional, and at times overwhelming. Advice like “take time for yourself” can feel unrealistic when your time is already stretched thin.

That’s why, this Carers Week, we are highlighting something simple but powerful:

Small Moments Matter

In our website resource centre, we’ve created 5 top tips designed specifically for carers, all focused on taking just 5–10 minutes out of your day.

These are practical, achievable ideas that help you:

  • Reset your mind
  • Find small pockets of calm
  • Recharge without pressure

Because self-care shouldn’t feel like another task—it should feel possible.

Visit our resource centre to explore these tips and find what works for you.

Caring for Our Team, Too

Carers don’t only exist at home—many of them are also part of our workforce. Our staff work tirelessly, often going above and beyond to support others.

This Carers Week, we’re also celebrating the importance of connection, communication, and joy within our teams.

The Golden Duck Challenge

To bring some lightness to busy days, we’ve introduced a simple but fun initiative in our neutral zones:
A quick game of rock, paper, scissors.

The prize? The much-loved Golden Duck

It may be small, but it creates:

  • Moments of laughter
  • Opportunities to connect
  • A chance to pause and reset

Because even a brief moment of joy can make a big difference—especially in roles that give so much to others.

Our Values in Action

Everything we do during Carers Week—and beyond—is guided by our core values:

  • Making a lasting and positive impact
  • Being inclusive, valuing every voice
  • Recognising and celebrating uniqueness
  • Working collaboratively
  • Being honest, authentic, and accountable

These values help us support not just the individuals we care for, but the carers who stand alongside them.

Thank You to All Carers

This week, and every week, we want to say:

Thank you

Thank you for your patience, your strength, your compassion, and your commitment. The difference you make every day cannot be overstated.

Hallway Rock paper scissors

Hallway Rock paper scissors

Rock Paper scissors before afterschool club

Rock Paper scissors before afterschool club

Rock paper scissors Pathway centre

Rock paper scissors Pathway centre

This Carers Week, we encourage everyone to pause—even for a few minutes—and reflect on the importance of care, connection, and community.

Celebrating Linda Dickinson’s Incredible 25 Years of Dedication to MAIN

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Celebrating Linda Dickinson’s Incredible 25 Years of Dedication to MAIN

Everyone at MAIN would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our much-valued Trustee, Linda Dickinson, as she retires after an incredible 25 years of dedication and support.

Linda has been part of MAIN since the very beginning, playing an instrumental role in helping shape the organisation into the specialist charity it is today. Through her unwavering commitment, compassion, and belief in our mission, Linda has helped MAIN grow to support autistic, neurodiverse, learning disabled, and complex needs children, young people, and adults through our short breaks provision and wider services.

Over the past 25 years, countless families have benefited from Linda’s care, encouragement, and advocacy. Her wisdom and understanding have had a lasting impact not only on the individuals and families we support, but also on staff, volunteers, and fellow trustees across the organisation.

Linda has always brought kindness, warmth, humour, and positivity into every room she enters. Her ability to support others with genuine compassion while championing the values of MAIN has made her an irreplaceable part of our journey.

Trustees are often the quiet strength behind charities, and Linda has been exactly that for MAIN, offering guidance, reassurance, and unwavering belief from our inception through to where we are today.

As Linda begins her retirement, we want to say how truly well deserved it is. After 25 years of support and helping countless families, her legacy within MAIN and the wider community will continue for many years to come.

Thank you, Linda 💙

With love and appreciation from everyone at MAIN.

Lucy PA photo

MAIN’s PA Service Meet Lucy

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Hello, I am Lucy. I am 22 years old and I attend MAIN twice a week.

I love doing crafts at MAIN and enjoy going to the shops. I also like going bowling and playing crazy golf.

I spend time with Carrie, Aparna and Alima, who support me.

I feel very happy and jolly at MAIN!

Love heart art work

MAIN Open Day Drop in Sessions Spring/Autumn

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You’re Invited! MAIN Open Day –Come and Visit Us!

Join us for a calm, friendly drop‑in where you can:
✔ Explore our site
✔ Meet our staff team
✔ Learn more about our services and support
✔ Ask questions in a relaxed environment

📅 Date: Wednesday 24th June 

🕐 Time: 12:00 – 1:30pm

📅 Date: Wednesday 9th September 

🕐 Time: 10:00am-11:30am

📅 Date: Wednesday 11th November

🕐 Time: 2:00pm-3:30pm

📍 Location:

MAIN – The Finlay Cooper Centre
Elizabeth Terrace, North Ormesby
TS3 6EN

📞 Contact: 01642 608012

Everyone is welcome – we look forward to meeting you!

St Mary’s Cathedral, St Clare’s and St Francis supporting MAIN

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“Honoured to Be Chosen as a Charity of the Year 💙”

We’re incredibly grateful to share some wonderful news with our community 💙

MAIN has been chosen as one of the charities of the year by the Justice & Peace Group across the three parishes of St Mary’s Cathedral, St Clare’s Brookfield, and St Francis, Acklam.

After attending the recent meeting, we were truly touched by the warmth, kindness, and genuine care shown by everyone we met. It’s clear that these parish communities are built on compassion and a real desire to make a difference, and we feel so honoured to be part of that.

Thanks to the generosity of parishioners across all three churches, regular collections will be kindly donated to support our work over the next 12 months. This support will make a meaningful difference to the children, young people, and families we work with every day.

We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the Justice & Peace Group, and everyone across the three parishes for choosing MAIN and believing in what we do. Your support truly means the world to us.

We’re really looking forward to building this relationship over the coming year and hopefully welcoming you to visit us soon.

#togetherraisingsmiles

 

 

Resilience Fund at its BEST

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This month marks an exciting and meaningful milestone for MAIN as we take a significant step forward in improving our facilities and reducing our environmental impact. We are proud to share that new solar panels and energy-efficient boilers are currently being installed across our site, an investment that will benefit both our community and the planet for years to come.

This progress has been made possible through the Resilience Fund, and we are incredibly grateful for the generous support we have received. A very big thank you goes to SIB and Groundworks for believing in our vision and helping make these vital upgrades a reality.

Through this funding, MAIN has been fortunate to secure 40% of the total project costs as a grant, along with access to a 10-year repayment plan at a fixed interest rate of 8.5%. This opportunity allows us to move forward sustainably without compromising the quality of support we provide to the individuals and families who rely on our services.

For those who may not know us, MAIN supports children and young people from the age of 5 through to adulthood who are autistic, neurodiverse, have learning disabilities, and/or complex needs. Every improvement we make to our facilities directly enhances the environment we offer—creating safer, more comfortable, and more inclusive spaces where individuals can thrive.

By investing in renewable energy and more efficient systems, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also ensuring that more of our resources can be directed toward what truly matters: supporting our community.

We are incredibly proud of this step forward and deeply thankful to everyone who has made it possible. To learn more about our work and the impact we strive to make every day, please visit www.iammain.org.uk.

Together, we are building a brighter, more sustainable future.

#togetherraisingsmiles

 

Teesside Family Foundation Short List – Please Vote for MAIN

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Help Us Bring £25,000 to MAIN – Your Vote Can Change Lives

We’re incredibly proud to share that MAIN has been shortlisted for the £25,000 “Together for Teesside” giveaway, run by the Teesside Family Foundation 💙

This amazing initiative supports local charities making a real difference across Teesside, and now, thanks to you, we’re in with a chance of securing vital funding.

But we need your help.

💙 Why This Matters

At MAIN, we support neurodiverse children, young people, and their families across Teesside. Every day, we see the difference the right environment and support can make.

Right now, we’re working to create more safe spaces in our purpose built building alongside developing our Alternate Education offer, as we know first hand how difficult some of our children find a school environment whether that is a SEND provision or mainstream.

🏆 About the £25,000 Giveaway

The “Together for Teesside” campaign is all about celebrating and supporting local causes. After public nominations, shortlisted organisations (like us!) rely on community votes to move forward.

The top charities will go on to a live final, and every finalist receives a share of the £25,000 fund.

So every single vote really does count.

🙌 How You Can Help

It’s simple—and it takes less than a minute:

👉 Vote for MAIN
(9) Facebook

(If the link doesn’t open directly, head to our social pages where you’ll find the voting link pinned!)

💬 Every Vote = Real Impact

By voting for MAIN, you’re helping us:

  • Create safe spaces for vulnerable children
  • Support families across Teesside
  • Continue delivering vital services to those who need them most

This is more than just a competition—it’s an opportunity to bring meaningful change to our community.

💙 Let’s Do This Together

If you’ve ever supported MAIN, worked with us, or believe in what we do, please take a moment to vote—and share this with your friends, family, and colleagues.

Together, we can make this happen.

#TogetherForTeesside #VoteMAIN #CommunitySupport #MakingADifference

ATF Supplies Logo

A Heartfelt Thank You to ATF Supplies

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A Heartfelt Thank You to ATF Supplies

At MAIN, we are privileged to work with incredible partners who go above and beyond to support our community. Over the past year, ATF Supplies, John, Marc, Emily, and the entire team, have shown exceptional care, compassion, and generosity, and we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks.

From the very beginning, ATF Supplies demonstrated a clear understanding of the needs of our autistic, neurodiverse, and learning disability community. Their practical support has been invaluable. They supplied the ironmongery free of charge, assisted with our fob entry system, and even allowed flexibility in repayment. This generosity eased financial pressures at a critical time and ensured that our services continued uninterrupted.

Beyond the practical support, it has been their kindness, care, and ongoing willingness to help that has touched us all. The commitment of John, Marc, Emily, and the team made this project possible, and their contribution has had a lasting, meaningful impact on the people we support.

Thanks to ATF Supplies, we are one step closer to our vision of greater independence and opportunity for all. We are proud to have worked alongside them and deeply grateful for everything they have done for MAIN and our community.

From Heather, our trustees, staff, and the people we support—thank you. Your generosity and commitment mean the world to us.