Celebrating the positive impact of our donor community

This Giving Tuesday (3 December), Teesside University is commemorating special giving milestones and launching a new initiative which makes it easier than ever to become a donor.

The Cecil M Yuill Foundation is celebrating its 30-year giving anniversary, having supported Teesside University since 1994.

The registered charity was set up to support future generations of building and civil engineering students and has generously awarded over 120 cash prizes totalling more than £150,000.

Anna Yuill and Emma Holmes, trustees of the foundation and grandchildren of Cecil M Yuill, said: “The Cecil M Yuill Foundation is honoured to be celebrating a 30-year relationship with Teesside University.

“We have continued to build on this relationship and champion the students at the University, with several awards set up to inspire and encourage personal development. We are pleased to be able to help offer some assistance in making their journey into the engineering and construction world an easier one.

"Our grandfather began his career as a chimney sweep, working his way up to establish himself as one of the most prominent and successful housebuilders in the North East. It is extremely important to us, as his granddaughters, to carry on his legacy.”

Previous Cecil M Yuill prize winner Paula McMahon, who graduated in 1996 with a BEng Civil Engineering degree, said: “This recognition has stuck with me for a long time and has spurred me on to help more female students. I have continued to maintain links with Teesside University. In fact, in 2023 I was delighted to be awarded Honorary Professor status.”

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of The Toby Tilly Memorial Prize, generously donated by Stockton-based law firm The Endeavour Partnership since 2004.

The Toby Tilly Memorial Prize, named in honour of a late founding partner, is awarded for excellence in company law, providing talented graduating students with a cash prize to acknowledge their academic achievements.

Partner of The Endeavour Partnership Theresa Carling, who graduated from Teesside University in 1999 from LLB Law, said: “We think it’s really important to give back in some way to recognise the unique and extremely talented university students that come through Teesside.

“We’ve found a number of our staff have been fantastic graduates of Teesside over the years, and we are delighted to be involved with the University. We’ve come in to do talks for students, we’ve helped in the Student Law Clinic, and we have a really close relationship with the team.”

Lucinda Wilton-Woodhouse, who completed the LLB Law course in 2018 and won the accolade, now works as part of the in-house legal team at Weetabix. She said: “I was honoured to be awarded the prize when I graduated in 2018, and it definitely gave me a confidence boost as I started to look for a graduate job. It is a great way to recognise the hard work that students put into their studies and to celebrate success.”

Aminah Hussain is the most recent winner of The Toby Tilly Memorial Prize, adding: “I feel so incredibly honoured and can’t wait to use this to move forward in my career. I want to become a barrister.”

Rachael Barker, Assistant Director (Alumni and Fundraising) at Teesside University, said: “We are proud to celebrate these landmark giving anniversaries alongside our generous donor community.

“Their continued advocacy breaks down financial barriers and empowers our students to fulfil their potential at university and beyond.

“We would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincere thanks to all those who give back to Teesside University, from those who sponsor scholarships and prizes to everybody who volunteers their time by delivering sessions and offering work experience opportunities.”

The University has recently launched a new online giving platform, which makes it easier than ever to become a donor.

Rachael added: “Whether you’re interested in setting up a monthly donation, providing a one-off gift or supporting a scholarship, every contribution counts towards the economic, social and cultural success of our students, partners and communities.”

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