charity@northeasterncircuit.co.uk

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The North Eastern Circuit’s charitable history dates back to December 1986 when Simon Jackson (before he took silk) introduced a fundraising raffle to the Circuit’s Christmas celebrations. The idea was, self-evidently, a good one and so the annual tradition was born.

Over the last thirty years since its inception, the Circuit has raised over £250,000 through its annual raffle and charity auction of lots, and more recently by holding its own separate charitable events.

Our fundraising activities are overseen by a Charity Committee, chaired by our patron Simon Jackson QC. The trustees are governed by a constitution that is available for inspection upon request.

All of our prizes and lots are generously donated by members of the Bar, the judiciary or businesses based in the North East or with some connection with our work. If you feel able to contribute a raffle prize or auction lot, please contact the NEC Charity Committee by email: charity@northeasterncircuit.co.uk.

Similarly, should there be any particular charities that members feel it would be appropriate to donate to, please contact the Committee using the same email. Emails setting out your suggested charity and the reasons why it should be considered for a donation are always welcome.

In 2019, over the course of three separate events, we raised a total amount of £17,484.00. 

Our recent events and the funds raised are detailed below:

EVENTS	DATE	FUNDS RAISED	TOTAL
Quiz Night 2023			£480.00
Christmas Mess 2022			£12,529.00
Christmas Mess 2021			£4,555.00
Christmas Mess 2020			£6,190.00
Christmas Mess 2019	December 2019	Raffle: £4,999.00 Auction: £7,370.00	£12,369.00
100 Years of Women in the Law	November 2019	Raffle: £1,790.00 Auction: £2,830.00	£4,620.00
Circuit quiz night	October 2019	Ticket sales: £495.00	£495.00
Christmas Mess 2018	December 2018	Raffle: £6,830.00 Auction: £5,360.00	£12,190.00
Christmas Mess 2017	December 2017	Raffle: £3,996.21 Auction: £7,295.00	£11,291.21
Christmas Mess 2016	December 2016	Raffle: £5,615.00 Auction: £6,678.79	£12,293.79
		Total:	£77,013.00

 

Raffle Lots and Auction Prizes

As a Committee we rely solely on the goodwill of others in supporting our work by providing raffle prizes and auction lots. Throughout the years people and businesses have been unwavering in their generosity and this has meant we are able to offer brilliant prizes and lots to our members. By way of example, over recent years these have included:

RAFFLE PRIZE / AUCTION LOT	FUNDS RAISED
A week in a luxury Tuscan villa for 10	£5,000.00
Commemorative Blue Robe Bag	£2,250.00
Wellbeing Weekend at Rothay Garden Hotel	£900.00
“Lambing Live”	£650.00
Home-cooked dinner and wine courtesy of Circuit members	£600.00
Tickets to Twickenham – Premiership Rugby Final	£220.00
A signed copy of The Secret Barrister and West End Tickets	£140.00

 

Those who attended at the Mess held in November 2019 to celebrate 100 years of women practising in the law will undoubtedly remember the competitive bidding that took place in order to secure the commemorative blue robes bag; a one of a kind item which had been produced solely for the North Eastern Circuit. We continue to be grateful to Stanley Lee who generously donated the blue bag and also to Lady Black of Derwent, DBE and Lady Justice Eleanor King, DBE who kindly agreed to their signatures being embroidered upon it in gold thread. We are sure this prize will be remembered as part of Circuit history and as a Committee we hope to emulate this success again at future events.

Recent Donations

The proceeds from some of our recent charitable events have been distributed amongst the following charities:

CHARITY	LOCATION	DONATION
The Wren Bakery	Leeds	£1,000.00
York Special Care Baby Unit	York	£250.00
Tutti Frutti	Yorkshire	£500.00
Jessop Fund	Sheffield	£250.00
Pitt Hopkins UK	National	£500.00
Safe Families for Children	Northumberland	£500.00
Coppafeel	North Yorkshire	£500.00
Leos Neonatal	Teesside	£250.00
Andy’s Man Club	Halifax	£500.00
Think Like a Pony	Leeds	£500.00
Families Forward	Yorkshire	£500.00
Irene Taylor Trust	Wakefield	£500.00
Hunslet Rugby Club	Leeds	£270.00
	Total donated:	£6,020.00

Coronavirus Global Pandemic

During the current global pandemic, the Charity Committee has continued in their aim of assisting those most in need. Our thinking and organising has became virtual and after careful consideration, the following charities have been chosen to benefit from donations:

CHARITY	LOCATION	DONATION
St George’s Crypt	Leeds	£750.00
WISHH (Allocated to the National Health Service staff)	Hull	£750.00
South Teesside National Health Service	Teesside	£750.00
Daft as a Brush	Newcastle	£750.00
Serving the Creation Foundation	Bradford	£750.00
The Island	York	£750.00
Feeding Britain	Bradford and Barnsley	£750.00
	Total donated:	£5,250.00