Muckle LLP surpasses £700,000 in grants to support local charities

We're delighted to announce that our Muckle Fund at the Community Foundation has surpassed £700,000 in grants. Donations have helped charities across the North East and Cumbria for over two decades. 

The Muckle Fund, run in association with the Community Foundation, was set up in 2002 as a way for us to give back to people, communities and good causes across the North of England. Since then, we've awarded 737 grants totalling £713,679 to charities, community groups, and not-for-profit organisations across the North East and Cumbria.

We give 1% of our annual profits to the fund, which supports charities and organisations that help young people, tackle disadvantage, improve social mobility, and champion causes close to the hearts of our people.

In 2023 Muckle became the first law firm in the North East to be awarded a B Corporation® certificate, joining a global community of organisations using business as a force of good.

We've recently published its annual B Corp report, detailing the work it has carried out to promote social causes in the community over the last 12 months.

In 2024, we helped over 30 charities; we've featured four that we supported with larger grants.

Tees Valley

Over the last three years, Teesside-based Clean Slate Solutions has received £11,000 in much-needed funding from the firm at a time when demand for the charity's services is at an all-time high.

They work to support people with past convictions into employment – an innovative approach to reducing reoffending in the region. Statistics show that 77% of those Clean Slate placed into employment remain in their roles for more than three months, and 97% of those they support avoid re-entering the courtroom.

Richard Brice, Founder of Clean Slate Solutions, said: “Muckle has been such a significant partner on our journey whilst establishing our charity over the last few years. The impact of this provision has enabled us to support 45 men and women into secure employment via our network of socially invested employers.”

Cumbria

Cumbrian-based charity Carlisle Key has received a total of £9,500 in much-needed funding from us. The charity works to support young people in Carlisle with housing, household essentials, utilities, and food — basic needs made challenging by the cost-of-living crisis.

Steven Harkins, Homeless Prevention Manager at Carlisle Key, said: “When young people move into social housing, they move into an empty shell, adding more stress to someone who is already vulnerable. Muckle’s funding has been used to support them with furniture, as well as utilities to help them get on their feet; it goes a long way to keep the everyday manageable for these young people.”

Northumberland and Tyne and Wear

The Country Trust has received a total of £9,100 in grants to help fund trips for North East children from disadvantaged backgrounds to farms. The charity targets its support children, who, through circumstance, face greater barriers to accessing green space and healthy food and experience higher rates of obesity and physical and mental health issues.

Sue Thompson, Farm Discovery Coordinator at The Country Trust, said: “The Country Trust has developed a great relationship with Muckle; it’s not only the financial support that is so important, but the enthusiasm of the wider team, many of whom use their volunteering days to don a pair of wellies and come out on the farms to help the Country Trust visits, providing additional help for the hundreds of disadvantaged primary school children we work with. We are also indebted to the ambassadorship of so many at Muckle, who have introduced us to other valuable supporters and championed our cause with professional partners and clients alike.”

Two grants totalling £8,000 have been awarded to Bedlington-based all-girls’ classroom provision charity Choysez. The charity works with young women throughout Northumberland aged 9-16 years old with individually designed programmes to help gain nationally recognised qualifications and boost their self-esteem.

Chris Conroy, Centre Manager, Choysez said: “Choysez works with some of the most vulnerable young women in Northumberland. The care and support we can give relies upon regular donations such as the grant from Muckle.  A regular donation allows us to plan so much further ahead and ensures we get extra value from the donation and more support for those who need it. This allows us to stretch every pound from the donation and is very much appreciated.”

Deepening partnerships

Hugh Welch, our senior partner, said: “Since the fund was set up over 20 years ago, we have worked closely with numerous charities and organisations. They all provide vital and valuable services across the region, and we are proud to support their incredible work.

“We celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Community Fund two years ago. Since then, we have continued to reach new milestones, expanding our efforts and deepening our partnerships with charities and organisations that make a real difference. As a firm, we remain dedicated to supporting their missions and making a positive impact on the community around us.”

For more information about the work we do, download our B Corp report.