This is where you’ll find all of the latest news from VODA.
Rights. Justice. Action: IWD 2026 North East
This International Women’s Day, there’s so much happening right on our doorstep. The UN theme for IWD 2026 is “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.” — and the north east’s incredible women’s sector is answering that call with events happening across the region throughout March. 7 March A is for Amy — Film Premiere 7:30pm–8:45pm, Red Hills Durham A brand-new stage-to-film production on the eve of IWD, timed
Crawford Park Crowned Bowls Club of the Year 2025
There was national recognition for North Tyneside this weekend as Crawford Park Lawn Bowls Club in Monkseaton, Whitley Bay was named Club of the Year 2025 at the Bowls England National Awards, held in Leicester. Chosen from more than 2,400 clubs across England, the award celebrates a club that is not only thriving on the green, but making a real difference in its community. A proud moment for the North
Governance Blog: Updated Guidance on Reporting Serious Incidents
The Charity Commission has updated its guidance on reporting serious incidents to reflect changes under the Charities Act 2022. This updated advice is essential reading for trustees and charity leaders to ensure compliance and maintain transparency. The duty to report The Charity Commission requires charities to report serious incidents promptly, fully and honestly. If such an incident occurs, your charity must disclose what happened and explain how it is being
Article: Practical AI and Ethics – Lessons from Our February Workshop
Artificial Intelligence is changing how charities and community organisations work. Our Practical AI Implementation and Ethics workshop on 11 February 2026, led by Kate Watson of AskMrsWatson.com, helped local charities and community groups understand how to use it safely, responsibly and with confidence. The session mixed live demonstrations of tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot with open discussions about ethics, privacy, and digital wellbeing. Participants saw how these tools can help reduce
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.
Blog: Stronger Together – The Voluntary Sector’s Role in Health and Wellbeing
The voluntary and community sector is at the heart of healthier, more connected communities. In this new blog, Birju Bartoli, Chief Executive of Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust, shares how local charities and groups are helping tackle inequalities, inspire young people, and support local jobs. These partnerships show the power of working together to create lasting change. Stronger Together: The value of the voluntary sector to the health and wellbeing of
Mental Health Alliance Networking Event Highlights Collaborative Working
The North Tyneside Mental Health Alliance welcomed more than 50 attendees to its annual Networking Event, held in November at The Exchange in North Shields. Despite snowy weather conditions, the event brought together Alliance members, partners and stakeholders for a positive and engaging day focused on collaboration, learning and shared progress. Strengthening Connections Across the Alliance The event included a lively speed networking session, giving attendees the opportunity to connect
Did you miss our Countdown to Kindness?
Did you miss our Countdown to Kindness? There’s still time to get involved. Article by VODA volunteer, Ellie Avery Why not make volunteering your New Year’s resolution for 2026? Each day between Christmas and New Year, we shared a range of volunteering opportunities as part of our Countdown to Kindness on the North Tyneside Volunteer Centre Facebook page – highlighting roles to suit different interests, skills and availability. Below is
Small Charities Under Pressure: What the Third Sector Trends Report Tells Us, and How Training Helps
The latest research from the Third Sector Trends report show a clear challenge for the voluntary and community sector. Small charities are seeing the biggest drops in trustee and volunteer numbers. Organisations working with very limited budgets now face real risks to governance, service delivery and long-term stability. While larger charities may be seeing some recovery, many grassroots groups continue to struggle to recruit and retain the people they rely on.
Driving Gnome for Christmas – A Sector Connector and NT LIFE Collaboration
Sector Connector has coordinated a creative festive volunteering project that brought three organisations together in support of NT LIFE, North Tyneside’s Recovery College. Volunteers from BT, EE and North Tyneside Council took part in micro-volunteering days designed to offer both practical help and positive wellbeing activities. Across three sessions, 17 staff from BT and EE and two members of staff from the council produced 58 handmade Driving Gnomes for Christmas.
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
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