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 £300,000 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 2023, over the course of three separate events, we raised a staggering total of £28,939.41.

Our recent events and the funds raised are detailed below:

EVENTS	DATE	FUNDS RAISED	TOTAL
Ukrainian Mess	14 March 2024	£3,220	£3,220
Christmas Mess 2024	15 December 2023	Raffle: £7,000 Auction: £12,875	£19,875.00
The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge	15 July 2023	£7,036	£7,036.00
Quiz Night 2023	23 March 2023	£400.00	£480.00
Christmas Mess 2022	December 2022		£12,529.00
Christmas Mess 2021	December 2021		£4,555.00
Christmas Mess 2020	December 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
Quiz Night 2019	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:	£107,144.00

 

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
Commemorative Green Robe Bag and Brooch donated by Baroness Hale	£6,500.00
A week in a luxury Tuscan villa for 10	£5,000.00
Commemorative Blue Robe Bag	£2,250.00
Wine tasting with Tim Hartley	£1,400.00
Baroness Barbie and Silky Ken	£1,200.00
In and Out of Porto	£1,000.00
The Secret Judge’s Hideaway	£1,000.00

 

Those who attended Christmas Mess 2023 and 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 to secure the two commemorative green and blue robes bags; each being one of its kind produced solely for the North Eastern Circuit. We are grateful to Baroness Hale, Lady Black of Derwent, DBE and Lady Justice Eleanor Kind, DBE who kindly agreed for their signatures to be embroidered on the bags. We also thank both Stanley Ley and Ede and Ravenscroft for their kind donations of the bags. We are sure that these prizes will be remembered as part of Circuit history.

Recent Donations

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

CHARITY	LOCATION	DONATION
MIND, in memory of James Gelsthorpe	National	£7,036.00
NEC Diversity Scholarship Fund	North Eastern Circuit	£1,750.00
Men’s Pie Club	North East	£1,500.00
West End Refugee	Tyneside	£1,500.00
Voluntary Action group	Sheffield	£1,500.00
The Mark Henley Charity For Social Justice		£1000.00
Wilberforce	York	£1,000.00
Heel and Toe	North East	£1,000.00
The Wren Bakery	Leeds	£1,000.00
Forget Me Not	West Yorkshire	£1,000.00
Margaret Carey Foundation Workshops	Yorkshire	£750.00
Catch	Leeds	£750.00
Yorkshire Cancer Research	Yorkshire	£750.00
Changing Lives	York	£500.00
Phoenix Women’s Aid	Doncaster	£500.00
Snappy	York	£500.00
St George’s Crypt	Leeds	£500.00
Inspired Neighbourhoods	Bradford	£500.00
Behind Closed Doors	Leeds	£500.00
Ashiana	Sheffield	£500.00
Unicef	Worldwide	£500.00
Kidz Klub Leeds	Leeds	£500.00
Tutti Frutti	Yorkshire	£500.00
Pitt Hopkins UK	National	£500.00
Safe Families for Children	Northumberland	£500.00
Coppafeel	North Yorkshire	£500.00
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
York Special Care Baby Unit	York	£250.00
Jessop Fund	Sheffield	£250.00
Leos Neonatal	Teesside	£250.00
	Total donated:	£30,056.00

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