University of Sunderland academic John Paul Green didn’t see himself as a runner – but next month he will take part in the Great North Run for a charity close to his heart following the loss of his beloved teenage stepson.

Matthew Ragsdale was just 14-years-old when he died.

Born with an undiagnosed medical condition similar to cerebral palsy, Matthew was unable to communicate verbally and had severely limited mobility, leaving him unable to walk or control his movements.

John Paul, Faculty Academic Support Lead at the University of Sunderland, will take part in September’s Great North Run to raise money for Grace House, a charity he knows Matthew would have benefited from had he survived.

John Paul, who has worked at the University in a variety of roles for 28 years, said: “To be honest, I never thought I was built for running – too many bad memories of being a regular attendee at the back of cross-country runs in school.”

Next month’s challenge is even more impressive considering it was just five months ago that John Paul laced up a pair of running shoes for the first time.

He said: “My daughter completed the Great North Run in 2024 and she’s a big inspiration; she ran for Grace House then.”

The family knows that Matthew, who died in 2009, would have been able to access the incredible support services Grace House offers had he lived a few more years, once he had left school.

John Paul said: “He had the most remarkable smile and a wicked sense of fun. His laughter was infectious, and he brought so much joy and happiness to all those who met him.

“He was even a regular visitor to the University of Sunderland while his mum Kay studied for her media degree.

“Sadly, in 2006 an incident left him with a serious brain injury, just four months before his brother and sister were born, from which he never fully recovered, and his life-limiting conditions meant he passed away far too soon.

“We were all fortunate that Matthew got to know Lucy and Daniel before he passed away two years after their birth and while it was short, the time they spent with Matthew, and the memories of him, had a profound and positive effect on them, as well as all who knew him.”

Grace House plays a critical role in helping support disabled children, young people and their families by helping them to manage challenges and enjoy the benefits of playing a full part in society.

The family have supported Grace House for years through challenges like walking between Roker and St Mary’s Lighthouses, even with Lucy on crutches, and multiple Great North Runs. This year, it’s John Paul’s turn.

You can support John Paul’s fundraising here: https://ghne.enthuse.com/pf/john-paul-green

🧡 Exciting Opportunity Alert! 🧡

Grace House is looking for a part-time team member to join us in delivering engaging after-school clubs and day-time activities. If you or someone you know is passionate about making a difference in children’s lives, reach out to Lee at [email protected] or give us a call on 0191 435 2085 for more information. Let’s create memorable experiences together!

You hopefully saw our recent post about the appointment of Lee Crosby who has recently joined Grace House as the Chief Executive Officer. Lee has joined us after five years at the Foundation of Light, where he enjoyed his role as Head of the Informal Community Education and the Health and Wellbeing teams.

As part of the interview process for Grace House, Lee impressed many stakeholders with his presentation on Growth and Sustainability. He demonstrated a great knowledge of the sector and has some fantastic ideas for the future of Grace House and ways to help grow and develop the services that are available. Now that he has had some time to settle into the role, some of the areas he is most excited about looking at are developing what services Grace House offers the community, including maximising the potential of the Grace House facility and what we can do to support young people in educational settings.

After his first month in the role, Lee has been getting know to the staff and the organisation. He has said “the team and the children / young people and families using the services of Grace House have been most welcoming and made me feel at home from day one. Its been lovely dropping into sessions and seeing first-hand the impact and importance of the work we do”. Lee is settling in nicely and is looking forward to meeting more of the children, young people and families that use the services at Grace House, as well as the funders, partnerships and businesses that we work with.

The rest of the Grace House team have done a brilliant job of continuing to offer services to disabled children, young people and their families in Sunderland and around the region. We offer a holistic service to make sure that services support the siblings, parents and carers, as well as the disabled children we work with, and are working hard to make sure that we continue to grow our provision. We know that Lee will be a key part of this going forward.

To find out more about the about activities coming up, visit our booking page https://gracehouse.co.uk/book-activities/. If you want to find out more about us an organisation then check out our about us section. https://gracehouse.co.uk/who-we-are/ Or you can find out more about what we offer here https://gracehouse.co.uk/what-we-offer/

We are sure you will see Lee around Grace House and other events so make sure to come and say hello. No doubt you will love his enthusiasm and plans as much as we do!

Children with disabilities and their families will receive help and support thanks to Durham Freemasons

29/4/2025

Hundreds of local children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and their families from across the North-East will receive help and support thanks to a grant from Durham Freemasons.

The £59,000 grant will support Grace House in Sunderland in providing work experience opportunities and structured youth group sessions for the children and young people, as well as supporting a work experience and youth group coordinator who will support and assist the children/young people and their families. The programme will focus on young people with disabilities, offering a wide range of work experience opportunities and youth group activities in a safe environment, that improve and impact their emotional and social wellbeing whilst providing support on issues that negatively impact young people with disabilities.
Many families find there is little statutory support for their disabled child or young person (0 to 25) and experience inequalities like dealing with isolation, insufficient access to information and a lack of workplace opportunities. The families come from Sunderland and surrounding areas, which the Office for National Statistics highlights as having high levels of deprivation and rising disability rates, according to Census data. Sunderland also has a high number (2,463) of children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), with 883 aged 11-15 and 569 aged 16-19. In addition, Sunderland has higher rates of those with an ASD diagnosis compared to the national average.
Statistics also show that those with a disability are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes and have shorter life expectancies than the general population. The funding from Durham Freemasons will also make a significant difference in the lives of children and their families by providing specialised assistance through a dedicated Family Support Coordinator. The Family Support Coordinator will also work closely with our families to address other issues that impact them and their young people including social exclusion, lack of access to essential services relating to education and employment, as well as financial and emotional strain, thus providing tailored support for each child and family, helping them to have access to appropriate services to meet their needs.

The grant from Durham Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.
Grace House, Chief Executive Officer, Lee Crosby, said:
“We’re very grateful to Durham Freemasons for their generous grant. The funding will greatly enhance our ability to deliver inclusive youth activities and to appoint a dedicated Family Support Worker. This support represents a vital investment in the well-being of young people and families, particularly those living with disabilities. It will enable us to provide tailored support, promote inclusion, and strengthen connections within our community.”
Clinton Leeks from Durham Freemasons said:
“I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help Grace House with their hugely important programme helping children with special educational needs and disabilities. This wonderful charity makes a huge difference to the families who sacrifice so much to help children with disabilities.”

Durham Freemasons Robin Middleton, Bobby Hann, and David Shouksmith, led by Clinton Leeks, spent the day pulling weeds with Lee Crosby of Grace House supervising.