Sector Connector VCS

In October 2018, Turn Coach delivered a free workshop for senior managers in North Tyneside voluntary organisations to help them understand different management styles and motivators for staff. The workshop was well received, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so we contacted the charities two months later to find out if it had changed how they worked with staff… “This workshop was amazing! It has shaped the way I manage my staff and my 50+ volunteers. – I have a much better understanding of how to get the best from them, whether it’s a short, to-the-point email or a lengthy chatty phone call – my confidence has grown massively now that I can use my knowledge in this way." “I have been able to apply the learning to interactions with colleagues and also with the community. The insight the training afforded into personality types has been such valuable knowledge and has helped me to ease professional tensions within my team and also across the community I work with."

Carney Consultancy Ltd, which provides professional health and safety training and consultancy services, has offered a free place for North Tyneside voluntary organisations on each of their Mental Health First Aid training courses running across the year. This is particularly useful to a number of voluntary organisations in terms of supporting their employees and also in responding to the increased number of beneficiaries with complex issues that are accessing their services.

Whitley Bay Community Allotment and Gardens is looking to attract a different, younger demographic of volunteers by developing a Community Orchard. The group, which has been going for around 12 years, hopes that the orchard will be a focus for local family events like Apple Days, Blossom Days and the ancient ritual of Wassailing, as well as fruit growing courses. As part of Sector Connector, Tyne Met College offered the support of HND Graphic Design students to help the group develop their branding and marketing. The students worked alongside allotment volunteers to develop a logo and posters, as well as selection of fine artwork and ideas to choose from. The group is happy that the work chosen will represent the orchard and help them move forward: “As a small community project there would have been no chance that we could have accessed such a high standard of tailor-made artwork. It will give the orchard a much more attractive and professional brand”. The students enjoyed doing something quite diverse from their normal work and it gave them practical experience with a real client. Their designs are now being taken forward ready for the promotional campaign. The orchard captured their imagination and they have become official Friends of the Orchard with the potential for a long term relationship producing future marketing and publicity for the orchard. For the college, it has helped to build further links with the local community.

Staff from EE turned out in force to help make a difference for socially isolated residents at Christmas. A team from EE volunteered to help out at Balliol Youth and Community Centre’s Christmas lunch. The centre only envisioned them helping out with the set up, serving and cleaning, but the volunteers were also able to provide a piano player and other entertainment - which was very well received. The centre was amazed at how hard working the EE volunteers were and how prepared they were to make the day perfect. The lunch is traditionally very stressful for staff and the volunteers’ help totally removed the stress that centre staff usually associate with the meal. Balliol Youth and Community Centre hopes that this will be the start of a longer-term relationship with EE and its staff.