History

In 1915 a building in Ainthorpe opened as a Children’s Home in memory of Robert Collinson Davison who had had a long association with assisting disabled children and had always dreamed of providing a holiday home.  It was called Davison House.

From 1915 to 1984 the home provided fresh air and good food to children who were sick or disabled. There are many Middlesbrough people who remember spending time at the home when they were children.

However, after 1984 the home stopped being used for this purpose,   and in 2000 the building was bought privately from the Trustees by Colin and Heather Mather.

The money was held by Middlesbrough Council while discussions took place with the Charity Commission about how it should be used.

Eventually it was agreed that “The Davison Trust for Children” would be created.

The original Trustees included the parent of a child with a disability, paediatrician Peter Morrell and Andy McDonald who is now a Middlesbrough MP.  The Charity invested the money from the sale of the house and uses the interest to provide small grants to children and young people living in Middlesbrough who are sick, or who are recovering from an illness or who have a disability.

Sometimes the Charity raises funds or receives small grants or gifts of money gifts which also helps.

Mr and Mrs Mather have met many of the children who used to visit the home and they wrote a book about the history of the home including photographs and anecdotes.  300 copies of the book were printed and the Mathers very kindly donated the proceeds from the sale of the book to the Davison Trust.