Funding Update: Investing in the Region’s Future

11th September 2025

From classrooms to the countryside, we are investing in the region’s future with a series of new grants approved at the June 2025 Trustee meeting.

From boosting STEM education to backing innovative environmental projects, these initiatives showcase our dedication to inspiring creativity, fostering STEM skills and promoting sustainability across the North East.

Anne Reece, Chair of the Reece Foundation said:

“We’re thrilled to announce the recipients of the latest round of funding from the Reece Foundation. Our grants provide funding to ensure that local organisations can continue delivering essential services and creating lasting impact. We look forward to seeing the impact these grants will have over the coming months and years.”

The successful organisations:

  • The Brilliant Club – funding for STEM Scholars through which PhD students from Newcastle University, Northumbria University and Durham University engage with north east pupils ages 8 – 18 to assist in research and give them practical experience of studying STEM subjects at a higher education level.
  • Locomotion – funding to expand school engagements and teaching provisions to visiting children, whilst increasing the STEM focus of these programs.
  • Tanfield Railway – funding to hire an employee to train volunteers enabling the expansion of operations and school outreach.
  • Kielder Observatory – continued funding for Space Clubs which engage young people across the North East, using astronomy as a gateway into STEM learning.
  • VEX Robotics Education Competition Foundation – continued funding to engage more pupils in the region leading to a growing regional presence at the VEX UK National Championships in 2026.
  • Dynamo Inclusion Fund – donation to Dynamo Inclusion Fund, which supports initiatives in the North East aimed at enabling individuals to gain confidence in digital technology and create pathways into employment.
  • TerraLigo – funding for the SustainabiliTEA KS3 STEM project reaching up to 125 pupils aged 11-14 in 5 schools over 6 weeks where students will investigate sustainable tea production in order to teach soil science, biochar applications and carbon storage which are not covered in the national curriculum.
  • Oswin Projects – funding for Changing the Cycle project at HMP Northumberland, for a second apprenticeship for an inmate and to continue the training workshops for other inmates and ex-inmates.
  • RTC North – continued funding for STEMFest 2025 to be held in October with hand-on interactive activities designed to enthuse, inspire and engage young minds in years 5-8.
  • GenEarth – continued funding for Young Green Briton Challenge which supports students aged 11-16 to learn and apply design, innovation, business and other transferable skills.
  • Wild Intrigue – funding for Wild Ouseburn to expand the ecological surveys and analysis of the results, delivery of Ouseburn Wild Talks and carry out urban rewilding and habitat creation.
  • Natural World Fund – funding to employ a person for a day a week to do the groundwork (includes surveys and engaging key stakeholders) for the future submission of a full-scale Landscape Recovery proposal for Warksburn.
  • MyBigCareer – funding towards BigCareer’s expansion in the North East to provide more children with career support and advice.

Funding for the following project has also been approved subject to remaining funds for each project being raised by the applicant.

  • MSSC Tyne Tees Branch – funding approved for Marine Engineering project towards the redevelopment of the engineering teaching facilities for Sea Cadets.

Apply for Funding

We’re always keen to hear from organisations working to create opportunities, inspire STEM learning and protect the environment.

To apply for funding simply click here.

Back to News