£3m family legacy to boost access to opportunity for young people in Northumberland and Tyneside

Steve and his brother Peter built ‘Convey Bros’ from humble beginnings into a successful window cleaning business, which still thrives today.

Christine died in December 2023 and, sadly, she had already endured not only the loss of her husband, Steve, but also their two sons Adam and Lee. Before they died, the Convey family lived in Darras Hall, Ponteland.

Following Christine’s death, the three executors of the family estate decided that the assets should be used to help others in the community have the chance to pursue a life of opportunity.

Richard Roberts, the family’s solicitor and one of the executors to the Convey estate, said: “There can be no better memorial to Steve and Christine than the creation of the Convey Fund at Community Foundation North East.

“Every year, the foundation, advised by Steve and Christine’s executors Peter Drummond, Ken Wood and I, will distribute grants to organisations supporting intervention work for children, young people and young adults. The purpose is to broaden their horizons, provide new opportunities and inspire them onto positive pathways.”

The donation from the estate has established the Steve and Christine Convey Fund at Community Foundation North East. The fund will provide support to community organisations in perpetuity with guidance from the executors of the estate.

There will be support for young people in the Ponteland area to reflect where the Conveys lived, but also the broader Newcastle area and south east Northumberland.

In its first round of grants, the fund has provided almost £150,000 to five organisations including The Oswin Project, Blyth Tall Ship and the North East Young Dads and Lads Project.

Rob Williamson, CEO of Community Foundation North East said: “As an endowment fund at the Community Foundation, it will help people access the opportunities they need right now and for generations to come.

“What Steve and Christine achieved in their lifetime was inspirational and we know many more people in our area can realise that kind of entrepreneurial success given the opportunity – this fund is for them and the organisations offering the right support.”