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Grace House North East
Supporting disabled children and their families
Founded: 2003
Charity Details
Full Name: Grace House North East
Field: Community Services
Founded: 2003
Headquarters: Grace House, Sunderland, SR5 2DE
Charity No.: 1100682
History and Activities
It is impossible to talk about Grace House North East without mentioning its inspirational founder who sadly passed in December 2015, Kathy Secker. Her death came as a shock to everyone who knew and worked with her. As a television and radio broadcaster with Tyne Tees and the BBC, Kathy was known throughout the region, a status which she used as a platform to raise funds for good causes. Kathy spent 16 years planning a space that would provide support for children with life-limiting conditions in Sunderland as well as for their parents and carers.
Founded in 2003, Grace House has continued to grow and stay true to the vision and values established by Kathy. The charity provides respite service for families with disabled children including therapeutic music and arts activities, adapted sports coaching, gardening and an outdoor play area. They also offer additional support services such as counselling, support groups, training and offers short breaks for up to 8 children in a state-of-the-art residential setting. The 6 members of staff are supported by a team of over 60 volunteers who contributed 2,044 hours of volunteering in 2017.
The charity is largely supported by philanthropy, with 83% of their income being derived from donations, grants and corporate sponsorship. The largest individual grants they received in 2017 were from the Big Lottery Fund (£20,325) and the Northstar Foundation (£20,490) although they also reported receiving £153,715 in donations as a result of their fundraising.
Vital Statistics (year to 31/03/2017)
| Total Income (TI):
| £319,100
|
| Philanthropic Income (PI):
| £265,924
|
| PI as % of TI:
| 83%
|
| Employees:
| 6
|
| Volunteers:
| 60
|
| Charitable Spending:
| £363,597
|
| Investments at Year End:
| £0
|
Website
http://www.gracehouse.co.uk/
References
Charity Commission. (2017). Grace House Financial Statements 2017, Available here (Accessed: 01/08/2018).
The Chronicle (2018) Staff at respite centre founded by Kathy Secker speak of their loss a year on from her death. Available here (Accessed: 19/10/2018).
Grace House (2016) Tribute to Kathy Secker, founder of Grace House North East. Available here (Accessed: 19/10/2018).