Warm Welcome Venues Open Across North Tyneside
North Tyneside Council’s Warm Welcome scheme is now live, providing residents with free, comfortable spaces to relax, connect with others and access support throughout the colder months. The programme forms part of the Council’s Household Support Fund and offers warm, safe locations where people can enjoy hot drinks, activities and company without any need for referral or assessment. A full list of venues and opening times is available on the
Safeguarding Adults Week 2025: Building Safer Organisations Across North Tyneside
Safeguarding Adults Week runs from Monday 17 to Friday 21 November 2025, and this year’s theme – prevention – is particularly relevant for the North Tyneside VCSE. Why Safeguarding Matters in the Charity Sector Every organisation that delivers charitable activities has a duty to safeguard volunteers, staff members, participants and donors. This isn’t just about compliance – it’s about creating organisations where everyone feels safe and protected. The Charity Commission has made clear that safeguarding is important for
VODA’s Telephone Number Has Changed
From 17 November 2025, VODA’s telephone number has changed. You can now contact us on 0191 323 2040.
Third Sector Trends 2025: Challenges and Positives
The first report of Third Sector Trends 2025, facilitated and co-funded by Community Foundation North East, shows important shifts in how voluntary and community organisations work together and with the public sector. Key concerns include a drop in formal partnership working (now at 27.6%) and a reduced sense of being informed or involved by the public sector. The research also shows a fall in interest in public sector contracts, particularly
VODA AGM & Awards 2025: Celebrating our Local VCSE Champions
VODA’s Annual General Meeting and Awards took place on Tuesday 11 November 2025, bringing together volunteers, community groups, partners and supporters for a morning of reflection, recognition and connection. Hosted at the Spirit of North Tyneside, the event offered a chance to look back on another year of impact and to celebrate the dedication of North Tyneside’s voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. Highlights From the Day The morning
The Benefits of Volunteering as a Befriender
Befriending Week (1–7 November) celebrates the positive impact that befriending has on individuals and communities across the UK. What is befriending? Befriending Networks, the largest network of befriending organisations in the world, defines befriending as “a relationship supported by an organisation to enable meaningful connections.” While schemes vary, they all share a common aim — to build nurturing, enriching and trusting relationships within clear boundaries, supporting positive outcomes for everyone involved. Why volunteer as a
Celebrating Trustees Week 2025
In our latest Governance Blog, we are flying the flag for trustees this Trustees’ Week 2025. Trustees’ Week is an annual celebration of the work of trustees across the UK and each year the theme is to celebrate, support and inspire. Without trustees volunteering their time and expertise, most voluntary organisations simply couldn’t operate. They provide the strategic leadership, governance oversight and commitment that keeps charities focused on their mission
North Tyneside Volunteering Update
Explore the variety of volunteering opportunities in North Tyneside. Whether you want to enhance your skills, make a community impact, or connect with like-minded individuals, there is something for everyone.
You can search for all available volunteering opportunities on our online database, or take a look at our round-up below.
Good Neighbours Gardening – Season Complete!
Our Good Neighbours project has completed another successful garden tidy-up season, running from 1 April to 30 September. This year, 11 gardens across North Tyneside received a full service, helping residents enjoy safe, tidy, and welcoming outdoor spaces. A special thank you goes to all our volunteers, including the Explorer Scouts, who contributed over 32 hours of their time. Their commitment has supported neighbours who needed a helping hand and
Why September is the Sweet Spot for Charity Christmas Campaigns
It might feel early to be thinking about Christmas, but for charities and community groups, this is exactly the right time to start preparing. The festive season is consistently the UK’s busiest period for charitable giving, with research showing that almost a third of all annual donations are made in December (Charities Aid Foundation, 2024). That means now is the moment to get organised, so your campaign is ready to
North Shields community projects awarded small grants to celebrate town’s 800th anniversary
Twelve community projects have received a total of over £11,500 in small grants to celebrate the 800th anniversary of North Shields in creative, inclusive and inspiring ways. They are part of the North Shields 800 celebrations, bringing people together through heritage, arts, and community events to honour the town’s past, present and future. The grants are managed by North Tyneside Voluntary Organisations Development Agency (VODA), with nine projects funded by community
Celebrate North Tyneside’s VCSE Sector – VCSE Awards 2025 Nominations Now Open
Nominations are now open for the 2025 VCSE Awards, celebrating the outstanding contribution of North Tyneside’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector. These Awards shine a spotlight on the people and organisations who go above and beyond to support residents, strengthen communities and make a real difference across the borough. Award Categories Organisation of the Year – recognising a local group making a lasting impact. Volunteer of the Year
North Tyneside community groups dig in to help Dudley gardening projects thrive
First published by North Tyneside Council on 28 August 2025 Two community gardening projects have grown into a blooming success at the John Willie Sams Centre in Dudley. Dudley Youth Group’s gardening project and John Willie Sams men’s group have taken over raised beds in the grounds of the community centre. Their hard work has transformed the beds from an overgrown state into a thriving garden of fruit, vegetables and
Connect with Your Community: Volunteer Fair
Volunteering offers more than just a chance to help others—it’s an opportunity to grow. On Saturday 13 September, 11am–4pm, the Connect with Your Community Volunteer Fair at the Beacon Centre, North Shields, will connect you with local charities and community groups. From gaining new skills and confidence to building friendships and networks, volunteering has real benefits for anyone who wants to contribute to their community. Flexible roles mean there’s something
New Fundraising Code: What You Need to Know Before November
In this edition of the Governance Blog, we’re reminding VCSE organisations that the new Code of Fundraising Practice will come into effect on 1 November 2025. The Fundraising Regulator has published a revised version of the Code, designed to be clearer, more concise, and easier to navigate. It reflects a more modern and adaptable approach to fundraising standards and is significantly shorter than the previous version. You can read the new Code here: Code of Fundraising Practice
Celebrating the Unsung Heroes Behind Local Charities
As we head into summer, we wanted to spread a short, good news story in this issue of our governance blog! The Interim Chair of the Charity Commission, Mark Simms OBE, has recently released a statement on the Charity Commission Blog to say a big “Thank You” to all the trustees and other volunteers across England and Wales. In his article, which you can read in full here, Mark points
EE and BT Support Local Charities Through Community Challenge 2025
We’re delighted to announce that EE and BT have chosen two outstanding local charities to support as part of their 2025 Community Challenge initiative. This year’s programme will see significant investment of time and resources, with thousands of volunteer hours pledged by employees to help transform community spaces and services. This exciting initiative has been developed through our Sector Connector project, which brings together the voluntary, community and social enterprise
Free High Speed Training for Volunteers & Trustees
Thanks to funding from UKSPF and the North East Combined Authority, VODA is pleased to offer free online training courses for volunteers and trustees through High Speed Training. High Speed Training is an online platform that provides fully accredited training courses. These courses can be accessed via your computer, laptop, or smartphone and completed within 2-3 hours. To be eligible to access the free training, you must be: A volunteer
Refugee Week and Beyond: Ways to Support People Seeking Sanctuary
“We can begin the process of making community wherever we are. We can begin by sharing a smile, a warm greeting, a bit of conversation; by doing a kind deed or by acknowledging kindness offered to us.” – bell hooks Refugee Week (16–22 June) is the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. This year’s theme is Community as
Trustee Recruitment: Updated Advice from the Charity Commission
The Charity Commission has refreshed its trustee recruitment guidance (CC30) to help charities connect with a wider range of candidates and remove common barriers to becoming a trustee. This update follows research by the regulator and think tank Pro Bono Economics, which revealed that only 6% of trustees applied for their role via an advert. In contrast, over half of charities relied on personal contacts to recruit new trustees, potentially