In the news

At Building Self-Belief CIO, we believe showcasing the outstanding achievements of our young people is essential to inspiring and motivating the wider community.

Raising Aspirations for young people in County Durham

Newcastle Building Society is supporting a County Durham charity’s employability programme to help raise the aspirations of local school children. The charity recently received a £5,000 grant from the Newcastle Building Community Fund at the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. The grant is being used to support Building Self-Belief with the cost of delivering the programme, as well creating a film that looks at the impact the programme has had on the students.

Read More
Fill 1

Hopes for a new Ray Lonsdale steel sculpture in Consett

Ex-steelworker John Fox and charity, Building Self-Belief have begun their campaign to raise enough money to commission a sculpture to represent the history of Consett's steel industry, to be created by the acclaimed North East artist. Inspired by his statue of Tommy, at Seaham, John Fox hoped for a new steel sculpture in Consett, so he reached out to Consett councillors and groups to help kickstart a campaign.

To help fund raising the Consett steel sculpture by Mr Lonsdale visit the Crowd Fund website - here

Read more
Fill 1

Durham charity awarded grant for Tow Law youth project

Building Self-Belief CIO has been granted funding by the Energy Saving Trust Foundation’s Youth Climate Action Fund - part funded by Airbnb.

The award will allow Building Self Belief to deliver their ‘Tow Law Eco-Youth Ambassadors’ project in County Durham, alongside children from its community partners at Tow Law Millennium Primary School and Blessed John Ducket Catholic Primary School.

Read more
Fill 1

Consett charity Building Self Belief launch digital scheme

A County Durham charity is preparing to launch a new programme to help improve digital skills within the community.

In an increasingly digital world, it is getting harder to navigate technology and keep up to date with changes. Consett-based charity, Building-Self Belief are hoping to bridge the gap by launching digital skills sessions to help benefit the community in building confidence online.


Read more
Fill 1

Benfieldside Community Gardens officially opens in Consett

Local charity Building Self Belief has opened up Benfieldside Community Gardens with plans to refurbish the area into a sustainable and welcoming environment for the community.

Read more
Fill 1

Bike donated from Consett Charity part of community project

A County Durham charity has supplied its first road bike to a struggling man through one of its community projects. Building Self Belief supplied the road bike to Guy Launchbury through their Tow Law community projects.

Having moved to County Durham from London to have an improved quality of life for his children, Guy Launchbury has struggled to find work since moving to Tow Law two years ago, due to a lack of transport links.

Find out more
Fill 1

Masonic Charitable Foundation and Cranfield Trust Award

Local charity improving mental health of young people receives expert advice through Cranfield Trust and Durham Freemasons partnership. A Durham-based charity, which supports thousands of young people with their mental health and wellbeing, has benefitted from essential business strategy support through a unique partnership between Cranfield Trust and Durham Freemasons, helping the charity to be more sustainable in the future.
Find out more
Fill 1

Great North Run 2023

Our amazing chair Dr Hugo Minney Interview with BBC during the Livestream of the Great North Run 2023. Hugo completed the Great North Run bare feet, in an amazing 2 hours 11 minutes, raising money to support our youth programmes across the North East. 

Watch the interview here
Fill 1

Empowering Consett Youth: Celebrating Their Social Impact

In this issue of Consett Magazine, we’re highlighting the remarkable achievements and contributions made by our local community. Page 5 shines a spotlight on Building Self-Belief, a Consett-based charity highly commended in the North East Charity Awards for their Outstanding Contribution to Social Change. Their dedicated Consett Youth Panel has been actively involved in various community projects, from improving gardens to championing the Say No to Consett Incinerator campaign. These inspiring young leaders are shaping the future of Consett, and we’re proud to stand by them.

Find out more
Fill 1

Double joy as record £42,000 is awarded to youth groups

A range of youth projects and community groups are to receive a record-breaking £42,000 after a surprise twist at a prestigious awards ceremony. Organised by County Durham Community Foundation, this year’s High Sheriff Awards took place at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, with an array of organisations celebrated for the enormous difference they make in the community.  

Find out more
Fill 1

50 for Free feedback

Building Self-Belief is a charity based in the North East of England, focused on improving the wellbeing of young people in need and supporting them to build their self-belief. 

'It was a fabulous weekend – and we greatly appreciate the donation of such an amazing location from the Landmark Trust. It was useful to be able to get the young people our of their usual environment and show then what is possible with some imagination and a drive for success. We would also like to thank Karbon Homes for their ongoing support of the panel and for our future pop-up events in the town.'

Find out more
Fill 1

Derelict land turned into place for peace and quiet for Consett school's 1,400 pupils

Children from Consett Academy and a local charity got together to create a colourful garden for the school's 1,400 pupils to use in their break times. The garden, which is inside the school's grounds, was too contaminated by glass and rubble to be laid to lawn when the school was built in 2012, so was fenced off and out of bounds for the pupils. But thanks to Consett charity Building Self-Belief and a grant from the National Lottery, it has been transformed to a peaceful area, with planting and seating to allow the pupils to enjoy time out in their day.

Find out more
Fill 1

Collaboration in the Charity Sector

The Building Self-Belief Charitable Incorporated Organisation (BSBCIO) was founded in April 2018. Our core aim is to form stronger communities by building self-belief in vulnerable young people. So we run programmes that improve confidence, self-esteem and enhance the social skills of young people. We work with 10-12 young people at a time, identified by schools or other community referrals as not engaged, or that the existing services are failing them. We re-connect them with their community, through group programmes that inspire and give hope.

Find out more
Fill 1

Accountancy firm building career belief for school sixth-formers

The Newcastle office of a leading national accountancy firm has teamed up with a Consett based charity to help young people prepare for their future outside of school. 

Find out more
Fill 1

Champion kick boxer inspires youths with his story

A five-times martial arts world champion, actor, author and artist living in Los Angeles has “virtually” travelled back to his native North-East to inspire and enthuse young people on the first steps of their careers. 

Find out more
Fill 1

Project of remembrance for town’s fallen soldiers goes on display

Remembrance is a big part of British culture and many communities have a memorial to those lost in the Great War. And to help keep alive the memory of those who did not return, youngsters in one town took part in a project which resulted in a film and exhibition. Children at Tow Law Millennium Primary School worked with Consett charity Building Self-Belief CIO on a Great War Project funded by the National Heritage Lottery.

Fill 1

Charity to help youngsters build up their self-esteem

A charity has been launched to help young people get the best start in life by building self-esteem. The Consett-based group Building Self-Belief, has been set up to tackle the growing trend of mental health issues among school children and seeks to put in place strategies, support and advice to help them get the bet possible start as they embark on adult life.

Find out more
Fill 1

Building Self-Belief try to ensure that the external links provided are accurate and up to date, however we cannot take responsibility for information maintained by external providers.