As a community, one of our greatest strengths at the Do Business Network is our ability to rally behind one another and support projects that make a real difference in the North East. Today, we want to highlight the vital work being done by one of our own members, Carol Smith.
Many of you know Carol through her business, Simply Support Mentoring. Alongside her mentoring work, Carol dedicates her expertise to the trustees of local youth charity Blue Spirit, driving their funding bids and raising awareness for their mission.
Blue Spirit acts as a vital hub, connecting community groups with sailing organisations to get young people aged 14 to 25 out onto the water. These activities in "blue spaces" provide an essential boost to youth mental health, helping young people experiencing disadvantage or emotional challenges leave day-to-day stresses behind, build resilience, and grow in confidence.
The Challenge: Moving Beyond Competitive Grants
For the past three years, Blue Spirit has relied entirely on traditional grant funding to deliver these life-changing experiences. However, as anyone in the third sector knows, the grant landscape has become incredibly competitive and difficult to rely on for long-term planning.
To ensure they can keep organising these trips with confidence, Carol and the trustees are looking to shift towards a more sustainable model. They are seeking local businesses to join them as corporate sponsors on a regular monthly or quarterly basis, providing a reliable foundation so they can focus on what matters most: the young people.
A Growing Need in Our Region
The demand for Blue Spirit’s services is growing rapidly, which is why securing predictable business backing is so crucial right now:
In 2025: The charity successfully delivered activity days and sailing trips to 100 young people.
In 2026: They are expanding their reach to support 200 young people.
How Your Business Can Get Involved
Carol believes this partnership is an excellent fit for North East businesses—especially those that employ young people and see firsthand the mental health challenges the younger generation faces today.
By becoming a corporate sponsor, your business will receive:
Tangible Local Impact: Direct involvement in improving youth mental health right here in our region.
Staff Engagement: Unique opportunities for your own workforce to attend activity days and sailing trips alongside the young people—a brilliant way to boost staff morale and team bonding.
Recognition: Blue Spirit will proudly promote your company as an official sponsor across their website and social media channels.
Let’s Start a Conversation
If your business is in a position to support a fantastic local cause, or if you would like to find out more about how a corporate partnership works, please reach out to Carol.
You can contact her directly at contact@bluespirit.uk to arrange a meeting and discuss how you can work together.
