Tag Archive for: Community

A Huge Well Done to Nicola, Billy and Chloe! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🎉

/in , /by

A Huge Well Done to Nicola, Billy and Chloe! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🎉

A huge congratulations to Nicola, Billy and Chloe on completing the Middlesbrough 10K! What an achievement! 👏

We’re especially proud of our amazing staff member Nicola, who took on the challenge to help raise awareness and funds for MAIN. Her commitment, determination and support mean so much to us, and we’re incredibly grateful that she chose to represent MAIN through the event. 💙

We’d also like to say a massive well done to Billy and Chloe for completing the 10K. We hope you’re all feeling very proud of yourselves!

And, of course, a huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Middlesbrough 10K, especially those who ran to raise money and awareness for charities and causes close to their hearts. Your support, fundraising and dedication make such a difference, and we really appreciate everything you do. 💙

From all of us at MAIN — well done, Nicola, Billy and Chloe! 🏅🎉

#Middlesbrough10K #MAIN #CharityFundraising #WellDone #TeamMAIN #CommunitySupport

#togetherraisingsmiles

What an Amazing FUNraiser! 🎉

/in , /by

What an Amazing FUNraiser! 🎉

What a fantastic day we had at The Jovial Monk for our recent FUNraiser in support of MAIN!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of everyone who came along, supported us, donated, volunteered and got involved, we are delighted to announce that we raised an amazing £791.26 for MAIN! ❤️

The event was a brilliant example of what can happen when our local community comes together. There was a fantastic turnout, a wonderful atmosphere and so much support for the work we do with children, young people and families.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success:

🍕 aMAYzing Pizza – thank you for helping keep everyone well fed!

🏍️ Road Kraken MCC – thank you for your fantastic support and for helping create such a great atmosphere.

🧤 North Ormesby History Group – a very special thank you for coming along in advance and litter picking the area. Your support and care for the local community made a real difference.

And, of course, thank you to every single person who attended. Whether you donated, bought something, enjoyed the food, joined in the fun, or simply came along to show your support, you helped us raise vital funds for MAIN.

We are incredibly grateful to The Jovial Monk for hosting us and to everyone who played a part in making the event such a success.

Most importantly, the £791.26 raised will help MAIN continue supporting children, young people and families across our community.

This is what community is all about – people coming together, having fun and making a difference. 💙

Thank you all for your amazing support!

#MAIN #FUNdraiser #Community #Middlesbrough #NorthOrmesby #ThankYou #CommunitySupport #Fundraising

#togetherraisingsmiles

 

Jovial Monk Fundraiser Event for MAIN 30th August 2026

/in , /by

The Jovial Monk Fundraiser for MAIN – Saturday 30th August

We’re delighted to announce that The Jovial Monk will be hosting a fundraising day in support of MAIN on Saturday 30th August, starting from 11:00am.

Join us for a fantastic community event packed with entertainment, family fun, and plenty of opportunities to support a great cause. Every pound raised will help MAIN continue providing vital support to autistic children, young people, adults, and their families across our community.

The day will feature a sponsored motorbike ride led by Road Krakens MCC, along with a wide range of activities for everyone to enjoy, including:

  • Food stalls
  • Games for all ages
  • Live music
  • Family-friendly activities
  • And plenty more surprises throughout the day!

Whether you’re coming along for the bikes, the entertainment, or simply to show your support, there’s something for everyone. Bring your family and friends and help us make it a day to remember while raising vital funds for MAIN.

Date: Saturday 30th August
Time: From 11:00am onwards
Venue: The Jovial Monk

We can’t wait to see you there and thank you for supporting MAIN! 💙

Blessed and Thankful to KSB Greenhouse UK

/in , /by

🌱 A Huge Thank You to KSB Greenhouse UK for Their Incredible Support

We are absolutely delighted to share our sincere thanks to KSB Greenhouse UK for their kindness, generosity, and support towards MAIN.

Thanks to their incredible help, we now have a newly installed 3m x 4m Signa Lux polytunnel, which would normally cost upwards of £1,500 installed. Through their generosity, we have been able to access this at less than half the usual cost, and we are truly grateful for this outstanding support.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to the amazing installation team, who did a fantastic job. The polytunnel is secure, high-quality, and already looking like it will make a real and lasting difference to our charity. Your professionalism and care throughout the installation process have been greatly appreciated.

This new space opens up so many exciting opportunities for us at MAIN. We are now able to take another step forward in our vision of “soil to plate” learning, where our young people, aged 5 years and upwards, can actively engage with growing, harvesting, and cooking their own produce.

From tomatoes and herbs to runner beans climbing our wigwam supports, this hands-on approach will encourage learning in unique and meaningful ways. It will help the people we support to build confidence, develop life skills, and connect with nature in a therapeutic and inclusive environment.

At MAIN, we proudly support autistic and neurodiverse individuals, as well as people living with mental health challenges, disabilities, and complex needs. Opportunities like this help us to continue creating accessible, engaging experiences that make a real difference in people’s lives.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to Emma and Gary, whose encouragement and connection helped make this possible. Your kindness and community spirit are deeply appreciated, great friends doing great things locally.

From all of us at MAIN, thank you to everyone involved for helping us grow, both literally and figuratively. 💚

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

/in /by

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.

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

/in /by

“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

 

 

we are hiring pa and outreach workers

Join MAIN be part of something AMAZING

/in /by

Join MAIN: Make a Real Difference Every Day

Are you looking for a role where your work truly matters? At MAIN, we’re always looking for passionate, dedicated people to join our growing team, whether that’s in a paid position or as a valued member of our volunteer bureau.

MAIN supports children and young people from the age of 5 through to adulthood, delivering services at our Middlesbrough centre and out in the community. We work closely with families and carers to achieve the best possible outcomes, focusing on building life skills, confidence, and independence, while always keeping happiness at the heart of everything we do.

Our work spans a wide range of support, including autism, neurodiversity, learning disabilities, and complex needs. We offer short breaks, alternative education provision, adult day services, transition support into adulthood, and even online chat groups, creating a safe, supportive environment for everyone we work with.

There are many ways to get involved. You might work directly with children and young people, helping them grow and thrive. Or you could support behind the scenes in areas like administration, finance, marketing, or social media, each role playing a vital part in making our services possible.

By joining MAIN, you’re not just taking on a role, you’re becoming part of a community that is committed, compassionate, and driven to make a difference every single day.

If you want to be part of something meaningful, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply, please visit our website at www.iammain.org.uk or email info@iammain.org.uk to request an application form.

#togetherraisingsmiles

 

 

Exciting Updates at MAIN

/in , /by

Exciting Updates at MAIN

There’s lots happening at MAIN as we continue to develop and improve our space for the autistic, neurodivergent and learning disabled community.

We are excited to share that our sunken trampoline has been delivered and will be installed on 22nd April, creating a safe and sensory-friendly space for movement, regulation, and fun.

Alongside this, our boiler replacements are underway, helping us improve comfort, reliability, and energy efficiency across the building.

Our community garden and allotment area is also taking shape, becoming a calm and welcoming outdoor space where people can connect with nature, learn new skills, and take part in meaningful activities.

We are incredibly proud of the progress being made and grateful for all the support we continue to receive. Every improvement helps us create a more inclusive, accessible, and engaging environment for everyone at MAIN.

#togetherraisingsmiles

 

 

Resilience Fund at its BEST

/in /by

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

/in /by
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