Our Latest Insights
Here you can read the latest on news, events, stories, and blog posts.
Aspirations and Future Planning / January 15th, 2025
Supporting our Young People into University - Our Guide
One key talking point when visiting Newcastle University on our recent trips, was discussing the range of routes and support available to students from varying backgrounds, to ensure that they can still access the opportunities that more privileged students can access. This ranges from reduced grade offers, to financial support whilst at university, to a support network of similar students before they begin university; we have collated this helpful guide of some of these access schemes available in the North East.
Know Your Neighbourhood Project / Benfieldside Community Garden / January 13th, 2025
RHS School Gardening Awards Levels 1 & 2
We are proud to share that we have achieved both Level 1 and Level 2 of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening Awards for our work renovating Benfieldside Community Garden! We have received a variety of seeds to plant in the garden, a growing calendar and certificates. Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers who help to make this happen! Next step- Level 3!
Youth Social Action / Know Your Neighbourhood Project / Benfieldside Community Garden / January 8th, 2025
NE Charity Awards 2025, Maya Patterson
One of our fabulous volunteers, Maya Patterson achieved the Highly Commended Award at the NE Charity Awards in September 2025, for her voluntary work with Building Self-Belief CIO. She was recognised as a Young Charity Champion of the year for her major contribution to Building Self-Belief, in particular for her support with the youth clubs and at Benfieldside Community Garden. Well done Maya, this is very well deserved!
Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / Aspirations and Future Planning / January 8th, 2025
The Teenage Girls Mental Wellbeing and Aspirations Programme with Wellfield School
Recently, we completed this programme with a group of year 9 girls from Wellfield School. Some topics that we covered across the sessions included unhelpful thinking, friendships, self-esteem and body image. To culminate the end of the programme, we took the students on a trip to visit Newcastle University, an escape room and a restaurant.
Aspirations and Future Planning / January 6th, 2025
Business Roundtable Event - Time to put the North East on the Business Map
As a long-standing member of Do Business Network (DBN), I was delighted to be asked to attend the business roundtable discussion with Liz Twist MP for Blaydon and Consett, and Gareth Thomas MP, Minister in the Department for Business and Trade on Monday 9th December at Derwentside College.
Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / December 18th, 2024
The Meadow Well Teenage Wellbeing Programme With Norham High School
The Meadow Well Teenage Wellbeing Programme, in partnership with Norham High School, aimed to enhance the mental health, self-esteem, and aspirations of teenagers living on the Meadow Well Estate in North Shields. The programme focused on improving community engagement and exploring long-term potential, with an emphasis on employability skills and higher education, particularly in arts and creative industries.
Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / Youth Social Action / Aspirations and Future Planning / December 10th, 2024
The Importance of Vocational Visits to Aid Employability in Young People
At Building Self-Belief, one of the many programmes is the ‘Bridging the Gap’ Youth Employability Programme. Recently, this programme was conducted with year 10 boys from Boldon School. The first few workshops centred around improving wellbeing, and then the boys prepared for their vocational visit by working on goal setting, CV making and considering what makes a good employee.
Youth Social Action / December 9th, 2024
Tow Law Eco-Ambassadors Film
We have had a wonderful year with the Tow Law Eco-Ambassadors during our Environmental Project with The Energy Saving Trust and Airbnb who are kindly supporting us with the programme. Here is our Christmas Tow Law Eco Ambassadors film, which showcases all the amazing work they have completed so far.
Youth Social Action / Aspirations and Future Planning / Know Your Neighbourhood Project / December 6th, 2024
From Consett to Chan Yu
The premise of Know our Neighbourhood is to get people volunteering, not just to provide the activities themselves. We were delighted when Joe Farnsworth signed up a s a volunteer, Joe had recently graduated with a Cyber Security degree from the University of Newcastle and was looking for opportunities to extend his skills.
Youth Social Action / Know Your Neighbourhood Project / Benfieldside Community Garden / November 25th, 2024
Benfieldside Community Garden's First Birthday
What a year we have had! We have transformed a derelict space into a fabulous community asset. Plus there's even more to come. Take a look at our fabulous booklet to get a full appreciation of all of the work we have done!
Consett Heritage Project / November 20th, 2024
My Own Private Hell
My Own Private Hell was created by Tyler, Phillip, Indi-Skye, Erin, Mason, and Adam from Moorside Primary School. The poem explores the awe and danger of working in the steelworks, capturing both the wonders and the harsh realities of the job.
Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / Aspirations and Future Planning / Know Your Neighbourhood Project / November 11th, 2024
Aimee's Exciting Start to a New Academic Year
After a busy start to the new academic year, our Newcastle University Intern, Aimee Wager, shares some of the incredible work that the charity has been getting involved in over the past seven weeks. She reflects on all of the wonderful opportunities she has been given since beginning her placement in September.
Benfieldside Community Garden / October 21st, 2024
Duncan Barnett - Volunteer Podcast
Take a listen and discover the origins of our very own community garden. As a district councillor representing Benfieldside in the 1990s, listen to Duncan Barnett's description of the establishment of a community garden in Benfieldside, the very garden that we now call Benfieldside Community Garden.
Aspirations and Future Planning / Know Your Neighbourhood Project / October 17th, 2024
'Inclusion - How to Include without Excluding' A talk for the Digital Leaders online Conference
A talk by Christine Thomas with thoughts about how to empower individuals, particularly those with SEND, and within the context of her experiences as a teacher and manager of English in secondary schools.
Consett Heritage Project / October 14th, 2024
Duncan Barnett - Consett Heritage Podcast
Duncan Barnett's ancestors came to Consett in the 1700s to work at the very earliest incarnation of the iron works, and his family worked in 'the Works' for generations. His job was in the plate mill. After the closure, he went on to get his degree, masters and PGCE and worked in the community with young people to support crime prevention in the young, and as a district councillor for Benfieldside. As well as this, he played in bands and worked in security for bands in the area. Listen to what he has to say about his eventful life in Consett and beyond.
Exercise, Health and Nutrition / September 10th, 2024
Congratulations Hugo - GNR 2024!
Once again our fabulous Chair, Dr Hugo Minney has completed the Great North Run on our behalf. The Great North Run is a spectacular event for the whole region and it is so brilliant to see so many people running on behalf of so many charities.