From peer support groups for people suffering with arthritis to cycling support for children and families, voluntary sector organisations are beginning an important programme of work to help tackle health inequalities across North Tyneside.
A new Health Inequalities Grant Programme, developed by members of the Better Together group, has awarded grants of between £10,000 and £30,000 to fourteen Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations. Funding has been provided by NHS North East and North Cumbria (formerly North Tyneside CCG) and North Tyneside Council, with the grant programme being administered by VODA.
All funded activities focus on delivering outcomes relating to the key themes of the recently published Equally Well strategy for North Tyneside – ‘Equal life chances for all’, ‘Thriving places and communities’ and ‘Maintaining independence’.
The grants programme aims to be more than just an offer of funding. In order to build an evidence base of what works and to help identify scalable solutions, all successful applicants will attend six-monthly learning and development sessions delivered in partnership with Goodlabs – a local management consultancy that helps charitable organisations to enhance their social impact.
Case Studies
Ofgem Energy Redress Scheme
Applications are now open for the first funding round in phase three of the Energy Redress Scheme, with £30 million available to support energy-related projects across England, Scotland and Wales. Community energy groups – including co-operatives, community benefit societies, community interest companies and registered charities – can apply for grants to support households most at […]
Working Together: The Impact of Corporate Volunteering in North Tyneside
Corporate volunteering can make a huge difference to charities and community organisations. With limited time and resources, many groups rely on volunteer support, and a team of corporate volunteers can often achieve in one day what might otherwise take weeks or months. These partnerships allow charities to focus more of their time and energy on […]
Using Your Voice: Si’s Story and Why Trustees Matter
Volunteers’ Week is a time to recognise the many different ways people give their time and experience to support their communities. While many volunteering roles are visible day to day, others take place behind the scenes, helping shape organisations and ensure they can continue their work. Trustees are a vital part of this. They are […]
One Decision. A Lifetime of Experiences. Ray’s Volunteering Story
Most people who volunteer at an event expect to help out, meet people and be part of something for a short time. That’s exactly what Ray thought, too. What he didn’t expect was that one decision would take him across the world, introduce him to lifelong friends and lead to national recognition. A journey that […]
Starting Young: Building Confidence Through Volunteering
Volunteering is often seen as something people do later in life, when they have more time or experience. But across North Tyneside, young people are already making a real difference in ways that are shaped around their needs, interests and experiences. For many young people, the barriers to volunteering can be significant. Confidence, lack of […]
Young Women in Mind 2026–2028
Young Women in Mind 2026-2028 is a collaborative funding programme set up by the Pilgrim Trust, the Prudence Trust and the Julia Rausing Trust to support charities to strengthen and scale effective, age-appropriate, and gender-informed mental health support for girls and young women aged 14–25 in the UK. Together, they will invest £5 million over […]
Racial Diversity UK Fund
The Nuffield Foundation’s Racial Diversity UK Fund supports research that improves understanding of racial inequality and helps shape policy and practice across the UK. The fund offers grants to charities, researchers, academics and other organisations working to explore issues of racial diversity, discrimination and inclusion. It focuses on research that strengthens evidence, informs public debate […]
Good Financial Health Starts With Good Financial Habits
In this issue of the Governance Blog, we are highlighting a recent Charity Commission blog, Good financial health starts with good financial habits, which explores how charities can strengthen their financial resilience. The blog reflects the ongoing pressures facing the sector, including a challenging funding landscape, reduced donations, and rising operating costs. In this environment, strong […]
Places of Worship Renewal Fund
The Places of Worship Renewal Fund supports essential repairs and improvements to listed places of worship across England. Delivered by Historic England, the fund forms part of the Government’s wider Arts Everywhere investment in arts and culture. The fund focuses on helping buildings remain safe, open and in active use, with priority given to areas […]
The Heritage Revival Fund
The Heritage Revival Fund supports communities across England to rescue and repurpose neglected historic buildings, with a particular focus on town centre locations. Backed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Historic England, the fund forms part of a wider national investment in arts and culture. It aims to bring disused and underused […]
Work funded
- Tyneside and Northumberland MIND – support people with mental health problems to improve their physical and mental health and to manage their conditions through exercise.
- Whitley Bay Islamic Cultural Centre – creation of a new community gym.
- Linskill Trust – deliver community nutritionist led cooking sessions for parents and carers.
- North East Autism Society – support children and their families to address the health and care inequalities faced by autistic people.
- LD North East – support people with learning disabilities to access health services and overcome barriers to taking part in physical activities
- Versus Arthritis – set up a local volunteer-led support group for people with arthritis
- Quadrant Leisure CIC – offers opportunities, support, and advice to individuals to improve their lifestyles and to make informed choices about their health.
- Shiremoor Adventure Playground – support local children and their families to cycle to the adventure playground using the wagon-way. Will also offer cycling proficiency and maintenance sessions, bikes and equipment will be provided and at the end of the programme families will be able to access free, or low cost children’s bikes.
- Deaf Awareness NE – offer accessible health and fitness sessions to deaf and hard of hearing people.
- Smile Through Sport – provide disability specific sessions solely for autistic young people and work with recently disabled adults to fill a gap that has been created by the pandemic.
- MHA Communities North Tyneside – support older people who are referred from the local enablement service who are lonely and isolated. Volunteers will build a positive relationship with the older people, helping them access their community.
- Out of Sight – offer a range of social activities to reduce social isolation amongst the older people it supports, alongside healthy lifestyle support.
- Age UK North Tyneside – support hard to reach older people and those older people whose health is poor, or complex. It will work with four community venues to deliver singing, dancing, technology and cooking activities, setting up 12 new weekly groups.
- Support and Grow North East – set up 15 Cuppa Clubs across North Tyneside, where people experiencing loneliness, isolation and / or have mental health issues can access support.
- Peer Talk – develop more peer support groups for people with mental health problems.