Here at Stockton Riverside College we are no stranger to doing our bit for a good cause.

And this week we have seen two colleagues recognised for their dedication and generosity to the region.

Leading from the front is Chair of the Governing Board, Mark White, who has been named Champion Ambassador at The Gazette's Community Champion Awards.

While NETA Training gas instructor, Rob Hardy, took his place at the glittering award ceremony, named Champion Fundraiser finalist for his dedicated charity work.



Mark White

Nominating Mark for the award college Principal, Phil Cook, said: "At Stockton Riverside College we are proud to have Mark as our Chair. His unwavering energy and determination to drive Teesside and all of its communities forward is nothing short of inspirational."

Mark has been helping to change people’s lives in Teesside through education for four decades.

He gives his time, experience and expertise to help make the college the best it can be for all of its students, staff, stakeholders, employers, and the communities that it serves. But his commitment to the area doesn’t stop there.

Alongside his role as Chair of the Board of Stockton Riverside College he is also Visiting Fellow of Teesside University, co-chair of Abingdon Primary School & Children’s Centre in Middlesbrough, Chair of Middlesbrough Co-operative Learning Trust, Chair of Longfield Academy Trust and Wyvern Academy in Darlington.

Outside of education Mark is also an elected public Governor of the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, he is Patron of the Teesside-based Investing in People and Cultures organisation, a trustee of the HALO Project, and the list goes on.

Also an amazing community ambassador on the national stage, his recent national commitments include: being immediate past chair of the Association of Colleges (AoC) Governors Council, chair of AoC Sport, Trustee of AoC Charitable Trust, chair of AoC North-east regional committee, trustee of the Education and Training Foundation (ETF), chair of the ETF Finance and Resources Committee, trustee of the National Governance Association and Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts

Having retired last year after forty years at Teesside University where he held the senior post as Head of the Vice Chancellor’s Office and Secretary of the Board of Governors, Mark is a familiar face to many across Teesside.

He was awarded the OBE in 2016 for his services to education and is also a Deputy Lieutenant.

Phil said: "His dedication, hard work, and enthusiasm for the region is nothing short of astonishing.

"Whether he is at Westminster, Wembley, speaking at national conferences, or catching up with old friends, the one thing that can always be guaranteed is that Mark will promote the area – the very definition of a true ambassador."

Rob Hardy

When it comes to motivating others to do their bit for a good cause there's few quite like Rob Hardy.

The NETA gas instructor dedicates much of his own time raising funds for charities.

As vice chairman of The Ellen Timney Foundation, a North-east charity supporting sick and under privileged children in the region, every year Rob helps to raise thousands of pounds for the charity.

Whether it be funding essential medical equipment or something as simple as giving chocolate treats to children at Easter - who otherwise wouldn’t receive any - there is no denying that he and his fellow volunteers are making a real difference to children’s lives.

Nominating Rob for the Community Champion Award on behalf of his NETA Training colleagues, commercial training manager Graham Middleditch said: "His role in all of this is not only one of organising, fundraising and promoting, he is also hands-on when it comes to any event, always leading by example. He works tirelessly always trying to think of new ways to raise money for such a worthy cause.

"Whether it be organising (and playing) in charity golf matches, helping with the charity’s annual ball or collecting and delivering gifts, Rob is always first to give as much of his time and effort as he possibly can to the cause he is so passionate about."

Rob regularly enlists the help of his colleagues at NETA Training, Stockton, where collecting Easter eggs and Christmas gifts to be delivered to under privileged children in Teesside has become an annual event.

 

Last year The Ellen Timney Foundation delivered gifts and essentials such as pyjamas, pants etc, to more than 500 children across the North-east at Christmas. For volunteers, including Rob, that meant putting together all the lists, additional shopping, collecting of donations and all the deliveries.

Speaking on behalf of the Ellen Timney Foundation, Jane Morgan, the charity’s chair and trustee said: “Without Rob’s support I would not be able to continue with the Ellen Timney Foundation. He works tirelessly, often behind the scenes, and I know he is always there when I need him. He really is an inspiration and truly deserving of this award.”