Grantee portal 
A grant of £4,546 from the Ringtons Fund at Community Foundation North East has enabled Bright Futures, a South Shields-based charity supporting girls and young women, to deliver its Mothering and Managing Somehow (MAMS) programme.
The six-week programme was designed to support young mothers who face significant challenges, including financial instability, poor mental health, social isolation, domestic abuse, sexual violence, and barriers to education and employment. Through weekly sessions, the young mums received practical guidance on budgeting, managing a household, and responding to their children’s needs.
The sessions provided a safe and supportive environment where participants could share experiences, learn from one another, and develop meaningful social connections, leading to lasting friendships. What began as a series of weekly sessions developed into a supportive community, with relationships continuing beyond the life of the programme and helping to reduce feelings of isolation among the young mothers involved.
Su Legg, Senior Philanthropy Advisor at Community Foundation North East, said:
“At Community Foundation North East, we are proud to work alongside families and businesses whose generosity creates lasting opportunities for people across our region. As the Ringtons Fund celebrates 30 years of grant-making, it’s inspiring to see the difference that long-term philanthropy continues to make.
Bright Futures’ MAMS programme is a fantastic example of the impact local funding can have. By supporting young mothers at a critical stage in their lives, the programme has helped build confidence, strengthen support networks and create positive outcomes for both parents and their children. These are the kinds of investments that can change the trajectory of families for generations.”
The grant forms part of the Ringtons Fund’s 30th anniversary year. Established in 1995 and managed by Community Foundation North East, the fund reflects the values of the Smith family and Ringtons, the Newcastle-based tea company founded by Samuel Smith OBE, who began selling tea from a horse and cart in the city more than a century ago.
Today, Ringtons remains a fifth-generation family business with deep roots in the North East. Its familiar delivery vans continue to visit communities across the region, maintaining a tradition of local service while supporting charitable causes through the fund.
Colin Smith, Company Director at Ringtons, said:
“For 30 years, the Ringtons Fund has supported organisations making a positive difference in communities across the North East. As a family business, we’ve always believed in giving something back to the region that has supported us for generations.
We’re delighted that the fund has helped Bright Futures deliver this programme, supporting young mothers to build confidence, develop practical skills, and create lasting support networks for themselves and their families. As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, it’s wonderful to see the fund continuing to create opportunities and positive change for local people.”
Helen Dunmore, Managing Director at Bright Futures, added:
“With the generous support of the Ringtons Fund at the Community Foundation our Mothering and Managing Somehow (MAMS) Programme successfully equipped 24 young mothers with vital life skills, they have grown in confidence and built new support networks creating a real difference to theirs and their childrens lives.”
As the Ringtons Fund celebrates three decades of grant-making, stories like this demonstrate the enduring value of local philanthropy, connecting the generosity of North East families and businesses with organisations that are helping our communities flourish.