During his year as the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, Councillor Stephen Richardson is working to raise awareness and much needed funds for his chosen charities.

The chosen charities for the year are local charities Butterwick Hospice & The Moses Project.

For over 40 years, Butterwick Hospice has supported local people and communities across our regions of Teesside and County Durham. We provide holistic care for children and adults experiencing a life-limiting illness, as well as support for their families and loved ones. In the words of our founder, Mary Butterwick OBE, “This place is all about love. Without the love of the community, it can’t exist.

The Moses Project is a registered charity which provides guidance, mentoring and support to men aged 25 and above who are grappling with substance misuse issues, often coupled with experiences of homelessness. Each year, we welcome approximately 250 men; a dynamic mix of new faces, long-term beneficiaries, and those who return to lend a hand as volunteers.

Our approach is grounded in compassionate, non-judgemental care, balanced with firm yet fair boundaries. We prioritise the basics first: providing a hot meal, clean clothes, and finding them a safe place to sleep. Once these immediate needs are met, we start the long-term journey to rehabilitation, working tirelessly to help them regain control of their lives.

Through one-to-one mentoring, we guide the men into rehabilitation and accompany them during their transition back into the community. This comprehensive approach has profound results: freedom from addiction, escape from poverty, enhanced self-esteem, independence, lives transformed and reclaimed.

Moreover, it fosters reconnection with families; men reunited with their children, partners, wider family and friends. This stability contributes to reducing reoffending rates, thereby creating safer communities. At The Moses Project, we believe in the power of change and the potential within each individual to achieve it.