Sector Connector Businesses & Offers

We are delighted that the following businesses are now a part of the Sector Connector project. Below is an outline of their offers. If you would like to know more, please contact ian.dodds@voda.org.uk

• Accenture– Teams of volunteers to help with a range of community projects which use both the work skills and the leisure skills of employees.  Free IT workshops for charities as part of Tech4Good.
• Admin Unbound –  Offers freelance operations and administrative support to small charities and social enterprises, including setting up and improving systems and processes, grant tracking, minute-taking and trustee liaison, impact and evaluation, and presentations and training materials. Some pro bono work.
• Amy Purdie – Brand marketing company offering free telephone consultations for voluntary organisations who are considering branding/re-branding
• Ann Makes it Happen – free business planning advice and support on how to grow your organisation.
• Ask Mrs Watson – Support with technology, IT applications and data protection, Pro bono advice on GDPR and Date Protection Special rates for charities.
• Assura – support for health and wellbeing projects in North Tyneside
• Barnardo’s Youth Village – Potential for construction and decorating apprentices to help out with community projects
• Blake Hopkinson Architecture – Free consultation/advice about potential building work and costs, and how these might be turned into plans. Any additional pro bono work subject is to discussion but could include outline drawings.
• Bowes Gardner Associates– A limited number of free informal advice sessions (up to 2 hours) on property valuation, condition of buildings, potential alterations to buildings, dampness etc.  Lengthier consultation at a cost
• BT – Teams of volunteers to help with community events and micro-volunteering opportunities.
• The Business Factory– Support on business planning; marketing and developing revenue generating ideas.
• Capita– A limited number of free advice sessions on digital skills, finance, marketing, communications, sales and business planning.
• Carney Consultancy Ltd– Open courses in First Aid and Emergency First Aid at Work Some   free places for voluntary organisations.
• Carrie Brookes, Communications Consultant– A limited number of free half-day one-to-one consultancy sessions on website design; communications strategies; e-mail marketing; blogging and social media.
• Cheviot Insured – help and advice for charities that are looking for a range of insurance cover.
• Curry’s/PC World – support for voluntary organisations looking to purchase office and IT equipment, including potential discounts
• Davison Solutions – some pro bono donations of painting and decorating products
• EDable Architecture -Two hours free of charge to discuss proposals and how these might be turned into plans. Drawing up plans, overseeing build etc. is chargeable.
• EE – Teams of volunteers to help with community events and micro-volunteering opportunities.
• Engie– A limited number of free advice and guidance sessions on IT issues, finance, payroll & pensions advice, risk assessments, review of policies, health & safety etc.
• Ethical Human Resources Limited– A limited number of free one-off HR-related advice sessions to small VCS organisations, and a discounted annual HR package.
• Fiona Surrey Marketing Ltd – Small ad hoc graphic design tasks
• For You Photography – some pro bono photographic support to provide images for websites, social media etc.
• GM Packaging Ltd – Discounts for charities on a wide variety of food packaging on a case-by-case basis, depending on the type of packaging, amount ordered and over what period the packaging is required. Delivery charges are usually waived for charities.

• Greggs – Teams of volunteers to help with community events and micro-volunteering opportunities.
• GRI UK – Pro bono support, either as group sessions or one-to-one support to help beneficiaries of local charities who might need employment advice and guidance.
• Hadrian Safety Management– Health and safety audits of premises and advice at discounted rates for charities, as well as health and safety training (manual handling, first aid.
• Hart and Hall Ltd – Tile offcuts that can be used by arts groups, community gardens etc. for mosaics. Small tiling jobs at competitive prices.
• Hay & Kilner – some pro bono legal work, especially regarding contracts and leases
• Hempsons– A limited number of free advice sessions on charity law.
• Highlights Public Relations– Reduced cost PR work on behalf of charities and training in using radio to raise the profile of your organisation.
• Infinite Architecture – Two hours to discuss proposals and how these might be turned into plans without charge. Drawing up plans, overseeing build etc. is chargeable.
• Insure the Box – Teams of volunteers to help with community events and micro-volunteering opportunities.
• IPL Global – support for environmental projects with compost bins, water butts etc.
• IPS Adhesives – Teams of volunteers to help with community events and micro-volunteering opportunities.
• Jackdaw Web Design– Free consultations to voluntary organisations considering getting their own website.
• John Cook – Free advice and support on business planning. Assistance with Health & Safety policies and documentation.
• JT Dove – Donations of small items of DIY equipment.
• Kelly Flood Creative – Small ad hoc graphic design tasks.
• Lyreco – Discounted stationery and office supplies for charities who are associate members of NEPO
• Marfam Clothing – discounts for charities on clothing (and first aid supplies)
• Marfam Training – 10% discount for charities on Health & Safety courses. Some free courses (Coronavirus Level 2; Family First Aid; First Aid for Knife Attacks).  Discounts on computer equipment, peripherals and software.
• Margaret Wightman Associates – help voluntary organisations with business planning, financial planning and review of services. Some pro bono work
• Morgan Sindall – Teams of volunteers to help with construction work and micro-volunteering opportunities. Some pro bono mental health training (MHFA accredited)
• More Cobalt – links to a range of businesses on Cobalt Business Park to help with donation drives, volunteering, promotion of services etc.
• Morrisons – Donations of small items for raffle prizes; gardening supplies (seeds, compost etc.) for community growing projects. Staff volunteers to help at community events
• Muckle LLP Solicitors– Offers some pro bono work for charities and community organisations who cannot afford to pay for specialist legal advice, particularly where the pro bono support would help an exciting or worthwhile project towards self-sufficiency.
• NE & C Windows and Doors Ltd – support for voluntary and community organisations that are looking to replace windows and doors.
• Newcastle Building Society– A limited number of one-off support sessions re customer services; IT; marketing; business change etc., as well as team volunteering and free community rooms.
• North East Fire Ltd – Provision of new fire extinguishers and servicing of existing fire extinguishers. Special rate for charities.

• North Tyneside Council – links to contractors and suppliers who are looking to provide added social value by supporting community projects
• Placechangers – some pro bono marketing support for specific charity initiatives
• PMP Nameplates – Name Plates, Badges, Labels, Tags, Packaging etc. on a range of materials from vinyl and acrylic metals. Some pro bono work. Offcuts of plastic and sticky-backed plastic.
• Procter & Gamble– Staff support to provide advice on business planning, sustainability and succession planning, marketing advice etc.
• Rothwell Group – some construction support for charities, particularly regarding boilers and electrical services.
• Sail Creative – support for voluntary sector organisations in design thinking and marketing. Some pro bono work.
• SOS Industrial Ltd – occasional donations and collections for charities.
• Soundtec Systems– Free advice for organisations looking to improve security systems. Discounts for VCS organisations and some free work for small jobs.
• Spanish City – Rooms available for hire for Away Days, meetings, events etc. at special rates for charities and Charity Dinner Package available.
• Tecuna – Provision of Managed IT Support, Cloud Migration, Cloud Management, Cyber Security Services, plus a range of phone systems utilising VoIP and broadband packages, Discounted rates for charities.
• Tesco – occasional help from the Maintenance Team with small building projects; donations of small items for raffle prizes.
• The Pulse Rooms – Discounted rate for branding/rebranding work or developing a growth strategy. Some pro-bono work for small pieces of work. Provision of free advice/guidance to charities who are thinking about rebranding.
• Third Sector Protect – Third Sector Protect can offer a limited number of free one-to-one support sessions on a range of issues, including insurance digital skills, marketing and risk assessment, as well as brokering insurance cover.
• Trust Red Workplace Solutions– Stationery, office furniture, cleaning supplies, promotional products. Competitive prices for charities and audits offered to identify how savings can be made on like-for-like stationery supplies.
• Technology Services Group – some digital support for charities, advice on GDPR and cybersecurity. Training support is also available
• Turn Coach– A limited number of life coaching and confidence coaching for staff and beneficiaries.
• Tynemouth Decorators – Donations of paint for charity projects.
• Virgin Money – Teams of volunteers to help with community events and micro-volunteering opportunities.
• Vision Accountants – Chartered accountants offering accounting support including set up and accounts, tax planning and advice, payroll and bookkeeping.  Some pro bono advice and guidance.
• Ward Hadaway – legal support and guidance, some pro bono work
• We Are Geek – support for voluntary and community organisations re IT, computer repairs, pc health checks, software installation etc.
• Womble Bond Dickinson – Pro bono work for charities and community organisations across a range of legal advice, including contracts. Meeting room available free of charge for voluntary organisations in Newcastle city centre.
• Your Business Pilot – Advice/guidance on business planning, business coaching, away day facilitation etc.
• Your Print Department– Free advice and a wrap-around service for voluntary organisations to ensure that printed media best delivers the aims of the organisations.