At the Applebridge Family, we’re committed to giving back to the communities that have shaped who we are. That’s why we’re delighted to announce that The Teesside Family has been named our Charity of the Year for 2025.

The decision marks the beginning of a year-long partnership, during which Applebridge Family will provide £15,000 to help The Teesside Family continue its vital work across the region.

The Teesside Family is a volunteer-led, registered charity that delivers practical and emotional support to individuals and families facing illness, financial hardship, or personal crisis. Whether it’s offering short respite breaks or supporting community and grassroots sports groups that lack funding, their work makes a meaningful difference to local lives.

Our nomination for The Teesside Family came through The CAUSE Foundation, our 2024 Charity of the Year, who recognised the incredible impact the organisation has had in Teesside.

Gemma Peacock, Applebridge’s Charity of the Year Coordinator, shared:

“The Teesside Family stood out because of the direct, hands-on support they provide to people in difficult circumstances. The charity’s reach is wide, yet the support it gives feels incredibly personal. We’re pleased to be supporting an organisation rooted in the same communities where many of our colleagues and clients live and work.”

The £15,000 donation will be used to expand access to support services, enable more families to enjoy respite breaks, and provide funding for community-led wellbeing and sporting initiatives.

Tony Wedlake, Founder and Trustee of The Teesside Family Foundation, said:

“We are delighted that such an amazing company like Applebridge has chosen to support the continued work that the Foundation does within the community.”

Applebridge’s Charity of the Year initiative has previously supported several regional causes, including The CAUSE Foundation (2024), Victoria’s Wish (2023), The Ellen Timney Foundation (2022), and Remembering Rebecca (2021) — each selected for their dedication to supporting vulnerable individuals and promoting community wellbeing.

We’re incredibly proud to support The Teesside Family and look forward to a year of fundraising, volunteering, and making a positive impact together.

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We are proud to announce our recent investment in the Red Sky Foundation by installing defibrillators across our offices in Middlesbrough and Wakefield. As a group comprising ZTL Contracting, AD Plant Hire, Applebridge Construction, Applebridge Utilities, Applebridge Building Services, and Retaining UK, we are committed to making a positive impact on our communities.

This decision was motivated by a personal experience that hit close to home for our Managing Director, Chris Brown. When his friend Oliver Williams suffered a cardiac arrest while out jogging, Chris realized the critical importance of having defibrillators readily available. Despite Oliver’s peak fitness, his life was saved thanks to the quick response of off-duty police officers who provided medical assistance until paramedics arrived with a defibrillator.

The Red Sky Foundation, a registered charity, has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about the necessity of defibrillators. We are delighted to support their cause by installing defibrillators at our offices in Middlesbrough, Wakefield, and Imperial Park.

Founded by Sergio and Emma Petrucci, the Red Sky Foundation obtained full charitable status in 2020 as a way to express gratitude to the heart unit at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. The foundation has since raised over £950,000 to provide state-of-the-art machinery for treating heart conditions in babies, children, and adults across the North East and the wider UK. Sergio and Emma, recently honored with MBEs, continue their efforts to raise awareness and save lives.

Defibrillators are crucial life-saving devices that can treat cardiac arrest effectively. Every minute that passes without urgent CPR and defibrillation decreases the chances of survival by 7-10%. That is why having defibrillators available in public places, such as schools, workplaces, and gyms, is paramount. The Red Sky Foundation offers free training on their website (redskyfoundation.com) for anyone interested in learning how to use a defibrillator in just 15 minutes.

As part of the Applebridge Family, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on our communities and prioritizing the well-being of those around us. Our investment in defibrillators is just one way we contribute to the greater good.

Together, we can create safer environments and save lives. Stay tuned for more updates on our initiatives and contributions as we continue to work towards building a better future.

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