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GeNErosity Festival 2018

Newcastle University and the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland were lead partners for the North East Festival of Philanthropy and Giving. The festival took place in November 2018.

 

The GeNErosity Festival celebrated 900 years of philanthropy in the North East of England. 50 different events took place, from Berwick to Teesside 

The festival featured lectures, debates, and performances. They explored the history, impact, and future of giving in the region. It brought together community leaders, philanthropists, and the public to reflect on the transformative power of philanthropy.

Festival highlights

Festival launch

7 November 2018 - Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

At the launch event, Prof Charles Harvey shared the story of North East philanthropy and we premiered our specially commissioned film 'What does philanthropy mean to us?'

The November Club, in collaboration with young people from the region, presented their playful and inspiring take on philanthropy.

We also introduced the thirty #poweredbyphilanthropy groups who led fantastic activities across the North East throughout the festival.

Charles Harvey speaking on stage at the Generosity Festival launch event held at the Discovery Museum. The audience is seated at round tables under an ornate arched ceiling with large hanging lights.

Transformational Philanthropy in Action

14 November 2018 - Herschel Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Chaired by philanthropy expert Professor Mairi Maclean of Bath University, this symposium brought together four of Britain's most dynamic and committed practitioners of transformational philanthropy as panellists:

  • Bill Holroyd CBE, founder and chair of OnSide Youth Zones
  • Sir Paul Marshall, chair of ARK Schools
  • Fran Perrin, founder and director of the Indigo Trust and chair of 360Giving
  • Sir Peter Vardy, chair of The Vardy Foundation and Safe Families for Children

Each panellist set out their future vision for philanthropy, highlighting the lessons they had learned during their entrepreneurial careers and philanthropic journeys, particularly in terms of how we might improve the impact and effectiveness of private contributions for the public good.

Chaired by philanthropy expert Professor Mairi Maclean of Bath University, there was ample time for participation and discussion as panellists took questions from the audience.

A panel discussion featuring Bill Holroyd, Sir Paul Marshall, Fran Perrin, Sir Peter Vardy, and chaired by Professor Mairi Maclean. The panellists are seated behind a table with microphones, with audience members visible in the foreground.
A view of the iconic arches at Newcastle University, with people walking through the entrance. The historic red-brick building is surrounded by green trees, and the sky is clear.

Philanthropy and the Making of Newcastle University

20 November 2018 - Armstrong Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

The story of how philanthropy helped elevate Newcastle University from a college of Durham University to an independent, world-leading institution, admired today for its excellence in teaching and research, had never been fully told.

In this lecture, Professor Helen Berry, Head of the School of History, Classics and Archaeology at the University, filled many of the gaps in our understanding, dispelling old myths and celebrating the individuals whose energy, generosity, and foresight truly contributed to the institution's success.