The Percy Hedley Foundation is a North East icon. It supports and educates over 600 individuals through its two schools, college, adult day service and four specialist residential care homes which support people with physical and learning disabilities.
As well as being one of the region’s largest disability charities it employs over 1000 full time and part time staff, making it an important economic player.
Leading the Foundation’s new commercial approach is Andrew McGreevy, Director of Business Development.
Hi Andrew. Tell us about your role at the Percy Hedley Foundation.
I oversee the fundraising & engagement and marketing & communications teams, as well as spearheading the new business development function.
Why did you want to join the Foundation?
After holding several commercial roles with national providers in the private health and social care industries I wanted to work for an organisation that was truly at the heart of the community, that reinvests directly back into the North East. The Foundation couldn’t have been a more perfect fit.
How have you found things at the Foundation?
I joined the Foundation in October 2023, just as we were celebrating our 70th anniversary. It’s obvious to me that the Foundation has a big heart and that our colleagues do an amazing job for the people we support. We’re all custodians of the Foundation, which gives me a great sense of pride and responsibility and drives me forward in my role to ensure the Foundation is fit for the next 70 years.
Revenue is the lifeblood of the Foundation. How will you maintain and grow that income?
Our revenue comes mainly via local authority contracts for our education and residential services.
I’ve developed an ambitious growth plan for the Foundation that concentrates on developing new residential services across the region where the gap in provision of residential spaces for adults with learning disabilities that require specialist or complex care is growing.
We’re working with partners to secure independent supported living services too as a step-down option for those able to move into less restrictive environments.
The Foundation also has an active fundraising and engagement team who are developing the supporter base upon which our events and other initiatives are launched. We’re working particularly closely with businesses on CSR initiatives which is something that I find particularly exciting as an area of growth.
Tell us more about your corporate approach.
The Foundation is approached frequently by businesses wanting to be involved in the various projects we run; we’re extremely fortunate in that respect.
Often we see donations from CSR pots for new equipment, which is great, but we have so much more to offer businesses. Which is why I’ve developed a new approach for those that want to build a more meaningful partnership.
This new approach means that we can return a tailored package of rights back to a business. These rights can be flexible enough to each organisation’s budget and specific outcome requirements.
We need your support to help us on our mission to support more people with disabilities live their best lives across the North East.
We have a variety of ways in which everyone can get involved like buying tickets for our annual ball or taking part in the Great North Run or a Foundation golf day. Nominate Percy Hedley as your charity of the year or get involved in a business partnership.
We encourage you all to come and have a look at the amazing work we do every day and be inspired.
Andrew and his team are determined to make the Percy Hedley Foundation bigger and better than ever.
For more information about the Foundation or if you’d like to find out more about fundraising or become a corporate partner, go onto their website www.percyhedley.org.uk