About | The Hubb Foundation

In Brief

We are The Hubb Foundation: A independent and socially-inclusive charity dedicated to supporting families and communities in creating happy, healthy school holidays.

Through a number of different projects, we work with a broad range of businesses and organisations across Stoke-on-Trent to give disadvantaged children and their families the opportunity to access much-needed free provision.

Funding Bodies

Previous & Current Funding Bodies

What we do

What We Do

The Hubb Foundation is an independent charity based in Stoke-on-Trent, whose principal aim is to commission and coordinate holiday provision for vulnerable children. However, our experience and expertise ranges from direct work in community settings through our successful slow-cooker project, to mobilising projects funded by the Opportunity Area to expedite the smooth transition for children between different educational stages.

A key aspect of the Hubb Foundation’s mission statement is ‘developing physical, mental and emotional wellbeing while positively affecting social change’. In practice, the holistic approach described for confronting real and longstanding issues for disadvantaged children ensures that each child can tackle their academic-based term-time with the support mechanism of a fulfilling and supportive school holiday period.

By providing free meals and enriching activities to every participant at our holiday provision since 2018, we have ensured that thousands of children are given the foundations to fulfil their potential in their schooling experience which, in turn, equips them for a more positive future.

Our Trustees

Gareth Higgins MBE

Gareth is the chair of The Hubb Foundation. After a short career serving as a Royal Navy Weapons Engineer, Gareth joined KMF initially in the sales and customer service team before learning all aspects of the business under his father's watchful eye. In 2009, Gareth became Managing Director, and he has led the company through a period of considerable expansion.

Carol Shanahan OBE

Carol founded the Hubb Foundation in 2018, which continues to expand to help more and more families and extend the range of support it offers to young people. She is heavily involved in the local community, for instance acting as co-chair of the 'Opportunity Area' board, and has been awarded two honory doctorates, from Keele University & Staffordshire University.

Martin Tideswell

Martin Tideswell was the Editor-in-Chief of The Sentinel, Post & Times series, Staffordshire Newsletter and StokeonTrentLive. Martin worked in journalism for 30 years. In 2019 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Staffordshire University for championing local communities and for being a thought leader in the media industry.

Kate Beardmore

Kate Beardmore became a trustee for the Hubb Foundation when the charity was formed. Kate's background is at the 'People & Client Success Director' at Synectics Solutions, along with being the Vice-Chair of 'Port Vale Football Club'. In addition, Kate is currently the 'Vice-Chair' of the 'Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce' and works closely with members of the business community in the city to ensure theirs, and the city's success.

‘’My Child had lots of fun and came out with a huge smile, excited to tell me everything she had done,.’’

Parent Testimony (2022)

Our Mission

"To make sustainable improvements to the aspirations, achievements, and life skills of young people and families - making a real impact upon their lives irrespective of circumstance.

We aim to support our community by developing physical, mental and emotional wellbeing while positively affecting social change and creating happy memories."

Meet the Team