2 May 2025 InfoNOW News

2 May 2025 InfoNOW News

NEWS

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New Community Wellbeing Pathfinders service

Healthworks have launched their new Community Wellbeing Pathfinder Service. It provides one-to-one support tailored to your needs.  Whether you’re looking to live a healthier lifestyle or seeking guidance with everyday challenges, if you are 18+ and live in Newcastle, they can help you with:

  • achieving a healthier lifestyle
  • managing symptoms and physical health through self-care
  • finding jobs and volunteering opportunities
  • improving housing and financial wellbeing
  • building social connections and reducing isolation
  • supporting your mental health and emotional wellbeing
  • personal signposting
  • advice and information
  • referrals and tailored support plans

Services are available face-to-face, over the phone, or via video.

You can read more about the Community Wellbeing Pathfinder Service on Healthworks website here

Small Sparks Plus

The Small Sparks Plus Grants Scheme aims to help charities, community organisations and community interest companies who work with local communities to improve their health and wellbeing. The organisations that are funded will be working at a local level to improve health or wellbeing in Newcastle; projects will be community led and will build on local communities’ strengths, facilities or resources.   

The fund from Newcastle City Council will award grants of between £500 and £3,000, which can be used towards the capital costs and revenue costs of projects that improve health and wellbeing.  One-off events, as well as longer projects that take place for up to a year will be considered.  The fund will be administered by Connected Voice.

Charities, constituted community organisations, or community interest companies limited by guarantee can apply to this fund.   

You can read more about Small Sparks Plus on Connected Voice

Read more on InformationNOW about Getting involved in your community

Neighbourhood Network Events May & June 2025

The Neighbourhood Community Wellbeing team are excited to tell you about their latest networking events across Newcastle.

The networks allow voluntary and community sector organisations, local businesses, and statutory bodies to work together, share insights, and share best practices to support our diverse communities.

The events will be focusing on Self-Organised and caring Communities. They are free, but places are limited. To confirm your attendance, please register using the links below:

You are welcome to bring a support worker or personal assistant to help with your access needs—please indicate an additional person on the form.

If you have any access requirements, please get in touch, and we’ll do our best to accommodate. Access Guides will be sent out ahead of the events.

Read more on InformationNOW about Newcastle Neighbourhoods

Digital skills sessions at Elders Council

The Elders Council are hosting digital skills sessions with AbilityNet, for their members (Its free to join for people aged 50 and over). The sessions will be held in the Elders Council Offices and will run on:

8, 15 May 2025 from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Bring your own devices and learn key digital skills.

You can apply to become a member on Elders Council’s website here

Read more on InformationNOW about Getting online and using digital equipment

Be Water Aware

Be Water Aware campaign runs from 28 April to 4 May 2025. The campaign is part of the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy, to reduce accidental drownings by half between 2016 and 2026.

Key safety messages include:
  • Respect the water, its stronger than you think. Even calm-looking rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs can have strong currents, cold temperatures, and hidden dangers.
  • Understand the dangers of cold water. Cold water shock can affect your ability to swim. Enter water slowly to acclimatise rather than jumping in.
  • Know how to react in an emergency. Call 999 for help if someone is in trouble in the water. Tell them to float on their back. Throw them something that floats.
  • Float to live! If youre struggling in water relax and move your hands to help stay afloat. Tilt your head back with ears submerged
  • Alcohol and water dont mix. Many drownings involve alcohol and/or drugs. Choosing to enter water or walking a route next to water can lead to accidental drowning

As part of this campaign a fire and rescue safety demonstration was recently held on Newcastle Quayside, you can watch a video about this on Newcastle City Council’s Facebook videos here.  To help keep people safe, Newcastle City Council has installed life-saving throw-bags along the Quayside — giving the public a way to help if someone is in danger.

Read more on InformationNOW about staying safe

Drawn Together exhibition launch

19 May 2025, 11:30am to 1:30pm, Bewick Hall, Level 2, Newcastle City Library, NE1 8AX

Drawn Together is a new arts project ran by Dementia Friendly Newcastle co-created with people living with dementia and their families.

Join the launch of this new exhibition at the start of Dementia Action week 2025. The exhibition will show how creativity can flourish for everyone in our city. Connect with local organisations, access valuable information, and enjoy the creative works.

The exhibition will run from 19 May until 12 June 2025.

You can find out more about dementia friendly arts sessions in Newcastle on InformationNOW

Healthwatch Newcastle Community drop ins

Healthwatch Newcastle hold regular drop in sessions in local communities across Newcastle. At the drop ins they share information about health and social care and give you the chance to share your experiences.

The latest confirmed sessions are:

  • 6 May, 11:00am-12:00pm. Galafield Family Hub,: Newbiggin Ln, Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 1LZ.
  • 7 May, 9:30am-10:30am. Cornerstone Benwell, 62-64 Armstrong Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne And Wear, NE4 7TU)
  • 12 May, 11:00am-12:00pm. Galafield Family Hub, Newbiggin Ln, Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 1LZ.
  • 14 May, 10:00am-11:00am. Pottery Bank Community Centre, Yelverton Crescent, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE6 3SW).
  • 14 May, 10:30am-11:30pm. Newburn Library, (High Street Newburn, Walbottle, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne And Wear, NE15 8LN).

Read more on InformationNOW about Having your say about health and care services

SPOTLIGHT ON

Women on Wheels

Recyke y’bike‘s Women on Wheels sessions provide basic bike maintenance and workshops on maintaining and repairing your own bike. Qualified female mechanics can guide you through this at a friendly session.

Women on Wheels takes place at Recyke Y’Bikes location in Byker on the last Tuesday of the month.

Read more on InformationNOW about Women on Wheels 

Pop up library at Walker Parish Church

Walker Parish Church and centre and Newcastle Libraries are working together to bring a pop up library to Walker Parish church this summer.

At the pop up library you can find:

  • library services including new memberships, borrowing books, enquiries and online services.
  • crafts and regular activities, story time sessions and Lego.
  • universal credit support from a dedicated officer
  • reading for wellbeing group sessions

Pop up library sessions are running from 10am to 2pm on:

  • 15 May 2025
  • 29 May 2025
  • 12 June 2025
  • 26 June 2025
  • 10 July 2025
  • 24 July 2025

Read more on InformationNOW about Newcastle Libraries

In The Round Podcast

This months In The Round podcast with presenters Kate, Anne, Violet and Richard includes:

Kate speaks about her experience of attending Springbank Pavilion taster sessions

Andy and Alan talk about how the creation of a new organisation, Vision Impact, has helped with their mental health journey

Kate talks to her son about the Carabao cup

Richard talks to Search about their recent GSK impact award, volunteers and their memory sessions

Finally, Richard White from InformationNOW joins us with his regular update of what’s going on in Newcastle and nearby

You can listen to ‘In The Round’ on The LLARC (Later Life Audio Radio Cooperative) Mixcloud or by visiting our InformationNOW News Tab and clicking listen.

Read more on InformationNOW about Later Life Audio and Radio Cooperative (LLARC)

OPPORTUNITIES

Care Academy course opportunity

Enrol on this 7 day course to help you find out if care work is for you and start your new career in care. Health and social care academy in Newcastle provides a detailed insight into life working in adult social care as a care worker, so that you can find out if it is the career for you.

The next course starts on 13 May 2025 at Heaton Centre, every Tuesday 9.30am – 3.30pm until 1 July 2025.

On completion of the course, you will get a guaranteed interview with a care provider. Over 70% of Care Academy learners have been offered roles in care.

The course includes:

  • Roles and responsibilities of a care worker
  • Values of Adult Social Care
  • Ways to communicate with your client.
  • Skills and attitudes for care work
  • Job application support and interview skills
  • Free Chromebook
  • Guaranteed interview with a care provider
  • Free travel pass
  • Food £5 voucher
  • Free Chromebook

You can enrol online www.newcastlecitylearning.ac.uk, over the phone on 0191 2782818 or 0191 2773520 or in person at Westgate College or Heaton Centre. For further information email: [email protected]

Read more on InformationNOW about an introduction to Adult Social Care

Housing Assessment and Advice Manager opportunity

Deadline 8 May 2025

This post provides an opportunity to play a key role in Newcastle City Council’s work to end homelessness by managing the council’s statutory homelessness advice and assessment services.
If you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact James Steward, Programme Lead: Active Inclusion:  [email protected]

Volunteer for The Late Shows

The Late Shows are looking for enthusiastic volunteers aged 18+ to help as event stewards for the Late Shows 2025 to signpost people around the venues.

You would be a vital part of this event, providing a warm welcome to visitors, handing out programmes and Late Shows badges and to help signpost visitors to other venues that are taking part.

Volunteering includes:

  • Being stationed at venues in Ouseburn (Friday night) or Gateshead/ Newcastle (Saturday night)
  • Meeting and greeting visitors.
  • Providing excellent customer service to The Late Shows visitors.
  • Handing out programmes and Late Shows badges to visitors
  • Fielding questions from members of the public and knowing where to signpost them to.
  • Giving directions to venues and bus stops (you will be provided with a volunteer lanyard listing all the information you will need).
  • Chatting with visitors about other venues on the route that they may enjoy or, even provide the information they need to plan their routes.
  • Ensuring the Late Shows event remains vital and exciting for the public.
  • Briefing sessions that will be held so that volunteers can collect their lanyards and learn in more detail what’s involved.

If you would like to be involved you can sign up on betterimpact.com here:

Read more on InformationNOW about volunteering

Newcastle and Gateshead Digital Inclusion Network lunch and learn

3 June 2025, 12pm to 1pm, Online (via Teams)

The Digital Inclusion Network ran by Connected Voice is a Newcastle and Gateshead network aimed at sharing opportunities, information, good practice, and tools to improve digital inclusion for all. There will be one virtual ‘lunch and learn’ session on the first Tuesday of each month

Join this ‘lunch and learn’ session to hear from Good Things Foundation, a leading digital inclusion charity. In this session, we will discuss the scale and impact of digital exclusion, and cover an overview of the free support and services available to organisations to support digitally excluded people in their communities.

This includes access to free data that they can gift to people they support via the National Databank, refurbished devices via the Device Bank, and digital skills modules available through Learn My Way. We will also have plenty of time for questions.

The next Digital Inclusion Network Lunch and Learn on 6 May 2025 will discuss The Great North Care Record (GNCR) led by by Bethany Taylor, Training and Benefits Lead for the GNCR

Read more about Good Things Foundation on InformationNOW

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue open days

Have you ever wondered what it is like to go behind the scenes of your local community fire station?
Join free open days at local fire stations taking place across the region – a fun family day out, especially for any aspiring firefighters.
Each event will run between 12pm and 3pm  (last entry at 2:30pm). There will also be an inclusive quiet hour between 11am and 12pm to support people who need quiet events.
10 May 2025 at Tynemouth Community Fire Station
7 June 2025 at Gosforth Community Fire Station
12 July 2025 at Hebburn Tri Station
If you are interested in attending or know someone who might be make a note of the dates in your diary.
If you have any queries or want to know more you can get in touch with Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS)
Read more on informationNOW about Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS)

Happy at work

8 and 15 May 2025, One Strawberry Lane,  NE1 4BX

Friends Action North East (FANE) are running free employment workshops for people with autism and learning difficulties.

If you’re in paid work or volunteering these workshops are designed to provide you with information to help you feel confident, comfortable and happy at work.

The workshops will cover:

  • what makes a happy workshop
  • how to feel happy at work
  • professional boundaries
  • reasonable adjustments
  • how to ask for help at work

The sessions are held at One Strawberry Lane on:

8 May 2025 10am to 1pm

15 May 2025 10am to 1pm

Read more on InformationNOW about Learning disability local support services

Get started with North East Ambulance Service

Do you have excellent communication, listening and computer skills? Then becoming a 111/999 call handler might be for you!

The Kings Trust are offering a two week programme offering an insight into the role of a 111/ 999 call handler. This programme will start with a taster day on 21st May 2025.

On the programme you’ll get:

  • interview tips and support preparing for job specific questions
  • Application support and assessment preparation for the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS)
  • Question and answer sessions with NEAS
  • Full time roles available with shift patterns including weekends and evenings.

To apply for this programme you must:

  • be based in Newcastle or surrounding areas
  • have the right to work in the UK. This role does not offer visa sponsorship
  • have 3 GCSE’s at grade 4 / C or equivalent including English.
  • have good communication skills and ability to stay calm under pressure

You can find out more and apply for the programme on The Kings Trust website here or Email [email protected] 

They also offer a range of other programmes to develop personal and employability skills which you can find out more about on The Kings Trust website here

To refer a young person to one of our programmes please email [email protected]

Read more on InformationNOW about Emergency Services

CONSULTATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT

Parent survey: Childcare

Parents in Newcastle have you recently searched for early years childcare in Newcastle?

Whether you’ve found a place or are still looking, Children and Families Newcastle would love to hear from you!
Take a few minutes to complete their short survey on childcare and help improve childcare services for local families.

You can complete the parents early year childcare survey online here: https://forms.office.com/e/sZkiHVDvXq

Read more on InformationNOW about Children and Families Newcastle Early Help at Newcastle City Council

Post-16 SEND Transport Policy 2026/27 – public consultation

Deadline 25 May 2025

Newcastle City Council want to know your views about the revised Post-16 SEND Transport policy. The policy sets out how they are going to support young people over the age of 16 who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and who may need help to get to school or college.

Please read the draft policy and letter to stakeholders documents before giving your feedback:

To share your views:

There will also be drop in events at:

  • 1 May, 5-6pm, Gosforth Library, Regent Farm Road, Gosforth
  • 6 May, 1-2pm, Galafield Centre, Newbiggin Lane, Newbiggin Hall
  • 12 May, 10-11am, Carnegie Building, Atkinson Road, Benwell
  • 23 May, 10-11am, Byker Sands Family Centre, 19 Raby Cross, Byker

Read more on InformationNOW about Moving from Childrens to Adults Social Care

RNIB volunteer survey

RNIB’s want to hear about the experiences of blind and partially sighted people in volunteering The survey is being launched to understand your motivations to volunteer, what stops you from volunteering, and what might encourage you to get involved with a volunteer role in the future.

Its available to complete from 12 May to 30 June 2025.  It takes around 15 minutes to complete

The survey is for anyone who has been diagnosed with an eye condition, living in the UK, aged 16 and over.  RNIB are keen to get people involved who have been registered as severely sight impaired or sight impaired, and from people who have an eye condition but aren’t registered.

You can complete the survey on surveymonkey here

Read more on InformationNOW about Sight Loss and Visual Impairments

Volunteering Matters Eldon Square drop in

2 June, 10am to 4pm, Community Quarter, Eldon Square, Percy Street, Newcastle, NE1 7JB

Come and meet the Volunteering Matters team in Eldon Square’s Community Quarter to discuss all things volunteering, including Volunteer Centre Newcastle, Home from Hospital, the Good Neighbour Scheme and the Volunteer Passport Scheme.

This is a great opportunity to find out about the various volunteering options available across the city. If you are an organisation interested in finding out about volunteering support services, then just come along – there’s no need to book.

Read more on InformationNOW about Good Neighbours Project – Volunteering Matters

RESEARCH AND RESOURCES

Help shape practical tools to support older people in your community

Deadline 13 May 11:45pm

Centre for Ageing Better, ARUP, and Housing LIN are working together to develop practical tools and resources to help councils take an age-friendly approach to planning, policy, and service delivery.

They are looking for people working in local authroties and councils to share their experiences and feedback in a survey to do this. They are asking local authroity professionals supporting older people to:
  • Complete a short online survey
  • Join an online 1.5 hour focus group (May – June)
  • Participate in a 1.5 hour co-design workshop to shape the new tools (June – July)

The survey should take 5 to 15 minutes to complete. You can complete the survey on surveymonkey here

Read more on InformationNOW about Age Friendly Newcastle

Poverty proofing programme

Poverty Proofing© is a free Children North East programme that is used to educate and help health care professionals to spot and reduce the impact of poverty.
The online learning programme includes:
  • Poverty Awareness Training
  • 6 themed Poverty Proofing toolkit e-modules
  • Toolkit workshops
  • Poverty Proofing Starter Workshops

The program is fully funded until 30 June 2025 so professionals should register to use it as soon as possible

The Poverty Proofing© programme is available on Boost.org.uk here

Read more on informationNOW about Support for people with low incomes

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Upcoming events & activities

Visit our Events & Activities section to see what’s happening near you this week on our calendar. Or search by location or postcode.

Jesmond Community Festival

Since 2005 Jesmond Community Festival has been an annual showcase for the wide range of community activities taking place in Jesmond. The festival runs throughout May and there is a wide range of different events from music, food, art, crafts, languages, walks, sports and more!

Here are some of the highlights of the 2025 festival

Wey Aye lego man exhibition and celebration party

Wey Aye Lego man is an exhibition of LEGO portrait photography by local neurodivergent photographers supported by Ngage at New Beginnings NE Ltd.

To kick off the week long exhibition (2 May to 9 May 2025) there will be a free opening party where you can meet the artists, explore the exhibition and enjoy a fun evening.

Read more on InformationNOW about this event

VE Day

There are several VE day events happening across Newcastle to celebrate victory in Europe (VE) day as we celebrate its 80th anniversary.

Newcastle City Council will be holding a VE day commemorative event at 9pm on 8 May 2025 at Ceremonial Way, Newcastle Civic Centre, NE1 8QH. The event will include  Musical tributes, speeches and tributes, playing of the National Anthem and lighting of the flambeau beacons.

Lifelong friends and military Matt Hall and Mike Brooke have arranged a special VE day event taking place at Old Eldon Square for the public and other veterans. The commemorative ceremony will start at 10:15am and include speeches, tributes, wreath-laying , and musical performances by pipers from the Newcastle City Pipe Band. A historical tribute, by the Royal Pageant Master will be read during the service. Following the ceremony, veterans will be invited to enjoy a traditional serving of fish and chips in Old Eldon Square from a pop-up fish and chip van. An meeting up at The strawberry pub after the event is optional.

A special Remember and reflect exhibition will be on display at The Arches, Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne.  It will be on display from 2 May to 12 May 2025. It will feature memories and photos of local people who served or lived through the World War 2 along with wartime recipes, games, stories and photos from the Imperial War Museum.

Healthworks will be holding a special VE Day garden party  on 8 May 2025, 1pm to 3pm at The Lemington Centre with afternoon tea in the garden

Silverline Memories are holding a ticketed Indoor VE day street party on 8 May 2025, 12pm to 3pm at The Jubilee pub, Gosforth,  NE3 3PN with live entertainment and a buffet.

Read more on Newcastle.gov.uk about VE day

Read more about Support for veterans, their families and carers

Craft and Chat – Lemington Methodist Church

3 May 2025, 10am to 12pm, Lemington Methodist Church, NE15 8EA

A monthly Saturday social get-together for warm and friendly chat while completing any craft that you wish to bring along with you! Small and friendly group – anyone is welcome to join.

Read more about this event on InformationNOW

Search Men’s creative writing group

2, 16, 30 May 2025, 10am to 12pm, John Marley Centre, NE15 6TT

Search Newcastle are launching a new Mens creative writing group from 2 May 2025. Come along to meet and chat with other men and try some creative writing with a local author

Read more on informationNOW about this event

NEW AND UPDATED ON INFONOW

Metrocentre Community Hub

New organisation

The Metrocentre Community and Social Hub is the base for the  Newcastle United Foundation Careers Hub and a space available to hire for local organisations, businesses and charities

Read more about Metrocentre Community Hub on InformationNOW

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust Voluntary Services

New organisation

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust Voluntary Services recruit and manage volunteers to work within health services in the region.

Read more about CNTW NHS Foundation Trust Voluntary Services on InformationNOW

Community Foundation North East

Updated organisation

Community Foundation North East – previously known as Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland provide grants to local community organisations and charities.

They have also recently launched their 2025 strategy outlining how they will support local North East charities and community organisations and their priority impact areas including:

  • tackling poverty
  • widening access to opportunity
  • improving health and community safety
  • strengthening culture and community life
  • sustaining our environment

You can read their one page strategy summary at this link here

You can read their 2025 strategy in full at this link here

Read more on InformationNOW about Community foundation North East

The Bottle Swap

New organisation

The Bottle Swap are a sustainable refill delivery service for the North East. You can order refills and eco-friendly cleaning, hair and beauty and household products online.

Read more about the Bottle Swap on Information Now

Fire Safety

Updated article

Many house fires and relaed deaths and injuries can be prevented by following simple fire safety steps. This article gives simpole advice about fire safety in your home.

Read more on informationNOW about fire safety

Keeping cool in warm weather

Updated article

For children, older people, or people with chronic health conditions, warm weather can be dangerous. This article gives useful tips on keeping cool in warm weather.

Read more on InformationNOW about Keeping cool in warm weather

Last updated: May 6, 2025