The Percy Hedley Foundation marked its 73rd anniversary on 16 February, celebrating more than seven decades of life-changing support across the North East.
Founded in 1953, the Foundation first opened as a special school for 12 children with cerebral palsy. A year later, it was officially opened by the Duchess of Kent, where the population had grown to 32 students.
Over the years, the organisation has continued to evolve, expanding its services to include adult day provision, residential homes, a further education college, and independent supported living services, ensuring individuals with disabilities are supported at every stage of life.
In 2025 alone, Percy Hedley delivered more than one million hours of specialist care, education, therapy and support to 550 individuals across the region. The year also saw the expansion of the Horizons adult day service into a second location in North Shields, the Foundation’s first new building acquisition in five years.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters at the 2025 annual charity ball in November, £120,000 was raised to fund the development of a new accessible sensory play area at Northern Counties School, reinforcing the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to enhancing and improving its services.
John Preston, Chief Executive said:
“We are proud to celebrate another year of empowering children, young people, and adults with disabilities to live fulfilling lives and achieve the futures they choose.
“Over the past 73 years, we have grown into a trusted cornerstone of the North East, delivering high-quality services and always placing the people we support at the very heart of everything we do.
“As we look ahead, we remain committed to expanding and enhancing our services, ensuring that even more individuals with disabilities across our region can access the support they need to thrive.”
A link to the Foundation’s heritage video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/O-HYWkXSY9k?si=9bBY3E8ndgYDBiWK
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