08/26/2026
Absolutely incredible. £1 million raised is amazing. Thinking of the families, friends and colleagues of the two officers. ❤️🙏
A phenomenal ÂŁ1 million has been raised in memory of PC Tom Clough and PC Matt Blades in an official Federation Fundraiser for the officer's families.
The GoFundMe page - launched by Cleveland Police Federation after the tragic sudden deaths of our colleagues in the early hours of Saturday morning – has reached the landmark figure in just three days.
Money raised from this official fundraiser - backed by the force and with the knowledge of the officer's families - will be split between Matt and Tom's loved ones in the coming weeks as they seek to navigate their devastating loss.
Lauren Somerville, Chair of Cleveland Police Federation, said she was “overwhelmed by the reaction from the public” to the Fundraiser and the “outpouring of support to the families of Matt and Tom means so much.”
She added: “I would like to say a massive thank you to all those who have very kindly donated to the memorial fund for our brave colleagues PC Tom Clough and PC Matt Blades.
“It is extraordinary how the public have shown their support in such numbers and it’s been so comforting to see the donations, to see the comments, to see the support that we’ve had.
“There are people reaching out messaging us in solidarity and with messages of condolence following this terrible, terrible tragedy. We have been inundated.
“And I would say, please, please, please keep that support going because the family need that support. My colleagues need that support and that support is so important to honour Matt and Tom’s memory.”
PC Clough, 38, and PC Blades, 37, died when a Volkswagen Passat collided with their marked armed response car on the A66 near Middlesbrough in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Matt was married with two sons. Tom leaves behind a partner.
Cleveland Police Federation launched the GoFundMe Page at 5pm on Sunday after receiving a number of requests over how to donate or support the officer’s families. The public have inundated the page with donations and messages of condolence.
Lauren added: “Matt and Tom were both dedicated and committed Cleveland Police Officers, who left their families and went to work to serve their community and protect the public.
“The fact they did not return home to their families is both unfathomable and unthinkable. We will do everything we can to honour them.
“Their families are at the core of all of this and we will do everything, anything, they need in these moments and anything they need in the days, weeks and years that follow.
“And to all of our members that are affected by this, I want them all to know that I’m here, I’m listening, I will get all of our members exactly what they are needing in this tragedy.
“This is going to affect generations of our officers, this is going to leave a scar on Cleveland Police and all of us need to work together to get through this.”
Lauren concluded: “Reaching £1million in donations is a phenomenal show of support from the public and police family towards our colleagues and hopefully their families’ future lives can be made just that little bit easier because of this incredible generosity.”
The page can be accessed here https://www.gofundme.com/f/pc-matthew-blades-and-pc-thomas-clough
