Insights

Our Latest Insights

Here you can read the latest on news, events, stories, and blog posts.

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. As part of the initiative, sixteen young participants created a debt management booklet for their peers, addressing a significant knowledge gap. Additionally, they participated in a residential visit to London, where they presented a petition for better community opportunities and youth engagement on Election Day 2024.

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.

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.

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / May 27th, 2024

Be Bold, Be Brave, Be Beautiful BUT Stay Safe Online!

The unique selling point of all of our programmes, but in particular our Wellbeing Programme, is that we include a creative element that is directed by the young people in the group that we are working with.

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / December 4th, 2023

Huge Thank You to Sunderland Counselling Service for Building Self Belief’s Award

I was delighted to be a guest at Sunderland Counselling Services AGM on 30th November 2023 and help them celebrate their 40th anniversary. As CEO of Building Self-Belief, it was a great opportunity to see the timeline of how SCS has developed and evolved over the past 40 years.

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / Wellbeing and the Arts / June 8th, 2023

Shoddy Theatre and the Importance of the Arts

What a delight it was to have the opportunity to organise a whole series of drama activities for some of our schools. As part of their national tour, the Shoddy Theatre Company arranged to deliver a series of workshops to engage children and young people in the arts.

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / Youth Social Action / March 21st, 2023

Exciting Times for Our Youth Panel!

It has been a busy time for our Youth Panel and some of our Volunteers. We were extremely lucky that the Landmark Trust once again selected us to stay for free for a weekend at Morpeth Castle

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / March 9th, 2023

Teenage Emotional Wellbeing and Environmental Engagement

Our project used environmental, and creative arts related activities, to support the young people’s emotional wellbeing and self-confidence. The programme’s activities developed their arts-based skills and also included visits to Haystax Inclusive Farm Experience in County Durham, where they participated in a range of environmental based activities.

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / Youth Social Action / Wellbeing and the Arts / July 15th, 2022

North Shields Fish Quay Community Heritage Project | Christ Church C of E Primary School

During the summer term of 2022, we were thrilled to deliver our Heritage Programme to the children of Christ Church C of E Primary School. During this programme, the children researched the way that North Shields Fish Quay, and the local fishing industry, has shaped the lives of local people over hundreds of years.

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / August 22nd, 2022

The Meadow Well Teenage | Community Links & Aspirations Programme

Building Self-Belief CIO delivered a twelve-week programme for ten Year 9 girls, selected by the Head of Year, at Norham High School. Our Wellbeing Programme has helped the girls learn how to build better friendships, have a better understanding of how others are feeling and become integral members of the local Meadow Well Community.

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / Youth Social Action / Aspirations and Future Planning / March 16th, 2022

Empowering Consett’s Youth

Building Self-Belief’s mission as a charity it to empower young people and give them the strategies and the self-belief to take ownership of their lives. Our mission is to “Build Stronger Communities through Building Self-Belief’ and we feel that a strong Youth Panel is the perfect way to give young people a voice and ensure that they have a say in their own community.

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / Relationships and Sex Education / January 11th, 2022

Dealing With Anxiety

At aged 11, my son suffered a breakdown of mental health, and was off school for pretty much 4 years. He has never spoken about what he has been through these last few years openly, but yesterday wrote a blog and presented me with his account, and wanted it shared. This is his story.

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / Youth Social Action / Aspirations and Future Planning / March 25th, 2020

Is EdTech the Way Forward?

With the prospect of social isolation, the traditional methods of teaching are no longer applicable. A new way of long distance learning needs to be swiftly incorporated to ensure all students get the very best support at this crucial time. The most obvious solution is educational technology – EdTech.

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / Aspirations and Future Planning / September 3rd, 2019

Starting School

As we approach the ‘big day’ for the students who are either starting school or who are moving up to ‘big school’, I thought I would share my own experience of the preparation for my own first day at school.

The Activity Den - Transformation

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / May 18th, 2019

The Activity Den Transformation

This is an extended version of our film outlining the transformation of The Den activity centre in Tanfield Lea. Over a three month period we held weekly sessions and made plans, for transforming this amazing space.

Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / Youth Social Action / Aspirations and Future Planning / December 16th, 2018

Building Self-Belief in Teenage Boys' Programme

We had a brilliant experience working with these young people. We worked with them by building up their confidence by encouraging them to talk. We took them to the theatre, a restaurant and to the high ropes. They all learnt a great deal about each other and themselves.