InfoNOW News 17 June 2024
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Refugee Week
17 to 23 June is Refugee Week, an annual festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
Find out more about Refugee Week 2024
Newcastle is a city of sanctuary where people seeking sanctuary are welcomed and supported. Organisations and services can also become places of sanctuary where they provide a warm welcome and extra support Did you know Newcastle has a council of sanctuary, libraries of sanctuary, museums of sanctuary, jobcentres of sanctuary, schools of sanctuary and more!
Find out more about Newcastle City of Sanctuary
There’s lots going on for Refugee week, some of the highlights include:
18 June 2024
Refugee Week at St Marys: Our Home
19 June 2024
Home is a shared meal at Baltic
LIMBO – screening and Q&A at Tyneside cinema
20 June
Breakfasts with REP at Reed in Partnership
21 June 2024
Skimstone Arts & Newcastle University Refugee Week Exhibition
22 June
United for sanctuary football festival
23 June 2024
Home is friends – refugee week summer fete with Hostnation and the Comfrey project
You can find more Refugee Week Events on in Newcastle here
Read more on InformationNOW about Refugee & asylum support and services in Newcastle
Help to register to vote
Deadline to register to vote – 18 June at 11.59 pm. Deadline to apply for voter ID – 26 June at 5pm
The next UK general election is 4 July 2024. Make sure your voice and the voice of your community is heard this July. Check that you are registered to vote and have the correct Identification documents (ID) before the deadline, and encourage friends and family to do the same.
To check if you are registered to vote, or update your details:
- email Newcastle elections team
- call 0191 278 7878 and ask for Electoral Services
When contacting them you will need to provide your:
- name
- address
You can also register to vote online at GOV.UK here. Registering online takes around 5 minutes and you will need your National insurance number.
Tyne and Wear citizens are Voter Registration Champion through Citizens UK, and can help you to register to vote, get your free voter ID, and understand why voting is important.
Find out more about Voter registration champions here
Read more on InformationNOW about voting
Learning Disability Week events
Learning disability week – 17 to 23 June 2024
This week is also Learning Disability Week which looks at challenging the barriers people with a learning disability face and celebrating the things people with a learning disability bring to society. The theme for this year’s Learning Disability Week is “Do you see me?
20 June 2024, 2.30pm to 4pm
Creative performance workshop: How are you being seen? at One Strawberry Lane,
Take part in a lively workshop with performers and facilitators from The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Engage in group movement and dance to choreograph a short performance and participate in creative writing exercises to explore how you express yourself in your everyday life. Free, limited spaces
Book online or telephone 07889597754 / 07925167775
21 June from 1pm to 3pm.
Learning disability week celebration at Ouseburn farm
Ouseburn Farm is hosting a free event on in support of Learning Disability Week. Join to see what the team do over at Ouseburn Farm, make your own wood-fired pizza and go on a sensory trail where you can see the Ouseburn farm animals and enjoy the gardens.
Read more on InformationNOW about learning disability local support
Care Home Open week
24th to the 30th of June
Care home open week is where care homes to open their doors to the local community, share more about what they do, and help people understand their options when they choose to go into residential care.
You can find out whats Happening in your area and which care homes are taking part on the Championing Social Care website here
Read more on InformationNOW about Care Homes in Newcastle
Volunteer Centre Newcastle drop ins and networks
3 and 18 September 2024
Volunteer centre Newcastle have several September sessions planned for volunteers, businesses and volunteering co-ordinators. You can also find the latest volunteering opportunities on their website
Volunteer Passport Scheme Information session
an online information session on Tuesday 3 September to find out more about the benefits to your organisation of joining the Volunteer Passport Scheme Newcastle as a partner, allowing you access to fully recruited, trained and security-checked volunteers.
Tuesday 3 September
10am
Online via Zoom
Direct link to join
If you would like to register as a volunteer and access the volunteer passport scheme, you can register with Volunteer Centre Newcastle here
Volunteer Coordinators’/Managers’ Network meeting
the next Newcastle Volunteer Coordinators’/Managers’ Network meeting, will take place on Wednesday 18 September from 12pm to 3pm at One Strawberry Lane. The theme of this meeting will be Inclusion
Read more on InformationNOW about Volunteer Passport Scheme Newcastle
3 Opportunities at Connected Voice
There are 3 opportunities available at Connected Voice
Support and Development officer: A role about making a positive difference to VCSE organisations including by offering free training and support to Newcastle & Gateshead organisations.
Find out more and apply here Closes Monday 24 June at 12pm
Digital Inclusion, Health and Care Project Manager for Newcastle. A role in the Health Equity team focused on delivering digital inclusion to underrepresented people with no tech or low tech ability across communities in Newcastle.
Find out more and apply here Closes Monday 1 July at 12pm.
Gateshead Volunteering Development Coordinator: A role to help oversee volunteering activities across the borough of Gateshead, support people through volunteering while also developing your own professional expertise
Find out more and apply here Closes Wednesday 3 July at 12pm
Read more on InformationNOW about support to prepare for work or a job
Bangladeshi womens art residency opportunity
Newcastle Arts Development Team in partnership with Gopshop Bangladeshi Women’s Group, would like to commission a female artist to capture the lived experiences, personal stories, and cultural expressions of the Bangladeshi women attending weekly sessions.
The arts development team are keen to work alongside an artist with lived experience of Bangladeshi culture and who is confident that they will be able to support the women to tell their untold histories in a creative and supportive way.
Expressions of interest are welcome. Newcastle Arts Development Team will offer ongoing support throughout the residency to the lead artist and partners. This is a paid artist residency with a budget for resources
There will be a Artist drop-in for those interested at Newcastle Bangladeshi Association: 11am to 1pm on the 18 June 2024. Expressions of Interest close midday 1 July 2024 and shortlisting will happen on 9 July 2024.
If you need any further information contact Arts Development Officer
[email protected]
Read more on InformationNOW about Arts Development Team at Newcastle City Council
Drug alert from Newcastle Public Health Team
Newcastle practitioner briefing 4 July, 10am
Newcastle City Council Public Health are aware that there have been a number of suspected drug related deaths and non-fatal overdose reported over the past few weeks in Newcastle.
There are various, and sometimes different, substances reported in these cases such as synthetic benzodiazepines, synthetic opioids, synthetic cannabinoids
- If someone you know experiences any unusual side effects, they should go to their local walk in centre, GP or A&E. Always phone 999 in an emergency or overdose.
- If you have any information around the changing supply and use of drugs, please report to Northumbria Police via the ‘Report’ page of their website Report | Northumbria Police, or by calling 101
- Newcastle Treatment and Recovery service (NTAR) provide harm reduction advice, specialist drug treatment and recovery support
- PROPS can help you with family and carer support If you are supporting someone with drug or alcohol use.
- More information about drugs and alcohol and their effects can be accessed through Honest information about drugs | FRANK (talktofrank.com).
A Local Drug Information System (LDIS) is in place across the Northumbria Police Force area to ensure responses to risks and threats of changing drug supply. There is a Newcastle practitioner briefing planned on 4 July at 10am. If you would like to attend please contact [email protected].
Read more on InformationNOW about drugs and alcohol support
Fight food waste event
8:30am to 10am 19thJune 2024, Ouseburn Farm
Tired of seeing food go to waste? Join this session to discover easy ways to cut your food waste, food costs and volumes in your organisation, service or projects
The event will hear from Jess at Project BIND (Businesses for Innovative and New Directions) who support Magic Hat cafe, Eat Smart for primary schools, and Foodicate the food waste signposting website. There will also be the chance to ask questions and hear what other organisations are doing.
Book a free space on Eventbrite here
This event is part of The Green Street Pioneers initiative has been supported by the Newcastle East High Streets Programme, funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the North of Tyne Combined Authority as the lead authority.
Read more on InformationNOW about affordable food in newcastle
Bright Ideas in Health Awards 2024 open
The Bright Idea Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and teams working within the NHS. This includes Small and medium-sized business enterprises SMEs, NHS organisations and academic institutions.
The Awards are organised by Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria (HI NENC) and the categories for nomination are:
- Innovative MedTech Award, sponsored by The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI)
- Outstanding Industry Collaboration
- Innovation in Clinical Education, NHSE Education North East and North Cumbria
- Demonstrating an Impact upon Patient Safety
- Innovation Champion Award
- Digital Innovation in Health and Social Care
- Towards Net Zero Award
- Innovation and Improvement in Reducing Healthcare Inequalities Award
- Innovative Women’s Health Award, sponsored by NENC ICB
The closing date for entries is Wednesday 31st July 2024 Read more on their website
Read more on InformationNOW about Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria (HI NENC)
Employability courses at Action Foundation
18 June 2024, 1pm to 4pm, CastleGate, Melbourne Street, NE1 2JQ
Are you or do you know an Asylum Seeker or Refugee with residency of over 6 months from Newcastle, Northumberland, or North Tyneside? Do you or they want to boost your skills? Are you or they thinking about further training, volunteering, education or exploring the job market?
Action Foundation are running
- Employability classes with one-to-one guidance and advice
- Support to access courses that will prepare people for the world of work,
Visit them on 18 June to find out more and register for their employability courses. For more details visit their website here
Read more on InformationNOW about employability support
VCSE Funding Fair
19 June 10:30am, Northumbria University Students Union
Connected Voice are holding a voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) Funding Fair in June. This is their biggest event of the year and is a great opportunity for VCSE organisations to meet different funders face to face to start building relationships and asking any questions.
Find out more on their website
The following funders are confirmed so far:
· National Lottery Community Fund
· Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland
· Newcastle Building Society Fund
· The Ballinger Charitable Trust
· Newcastle City Council Ward Grants
Read more on Newcastle.gov about The Newcastle compact: How VCSE sector and the council work together
YHN admin jobs and new start programme
The Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) Employability Team are holding information sessions on upcoming Your Homes Your Jobs Office Admin, and New Start programmes.
18 June at Kenton library, hillsview avenue, NE3 3JQ
19 June at West End library, Condercum road, NE4 9JH
21 June at East End library, shields road, byker, NE6 1DL
Your Homes Your Jobs is a 2.5 week course held at YHN House in South Gosforth, which will include an interview for a 9 month contract in an administration role with Newcastle City Council. This programme is open to current YHN tenants only.
New Start is an employability programme offering 5-month contracts in a range of job roles with a variety of local employers. This programme is open to social housing tenants (YHN or other).
You can book onto the sessions by providing their full name, address, phone number and email to [email protected] or by texting 07814 753 088. If you have any questions please feel free to contact them.
Read more on InformationNOW about Your Homes Newcastle
Steam to Green opens
Opens 20 July 2024
The Steam to Green exhibition at Discovery museum will showcase green technologies from North East businesses alongside science and engineering objects from the museums’ historic collections. The exhibition is created in partnership with Newcastle University and Lumo and will feature both a family and adult event programme.
Tiny Sparks sessions are for young children, aged 3-5, to explore science, history and museum collections each week through play, craft, activity, song and story.
Sessions on 5, 12, 19 & 26 June, 3 & 10 July
Spark Club is an exciting way to engage young people aged 8-12) in stimulating days of experiments, making and exploring.
Sessions on 22 & 29 July, 5, 12 & 19 August
Read more on InformationNOW about museums and attractions in Newcastle
Your Voice, Your Health: Building Better Services Together
29 July 10am to 3pm, Newcastle Civic centre, NE1 8QH
Skills for people are working with Collaborative Newcastle to find out what is important to people with a learning disability.
Your Voice, Your Health aims to find out what health issues are important to people, the challenges people face and work together to come up with solutions to help people live longer and healthier lives
This event is for people with a learning disability, people who work in health and social care and parents/carers to gather and share information which will feed into a city-wide strategy for Newcastle.
Book a space on InformationNOW for Your Voice, Your Health: Building Better Services Together Event
Our Future Health clinic opening
Our Future Health, the UK’s largest ever health research programme, will be opening a new North East clinic in Eldon Square shopping centre next month.
The Our Future Health programme aims to help people live healthier lives for longer through the discovery and testing of more effective approaches to prevention, earlier detection and treatment of diseases.
They aim to recruit up to 5 million adults who truly reflect the UK population. Recruitment launched last autumn and they have over 1 million volunteers signed up so far. They are now rolling out their appointment venues more widely and are keen to make sure the people of Newcastle are represented in the programme.
Volunteers will give their consent to join the research programme and provide secure access to their health records, complete a questionnaire and book an appointment to have a blood sample taken, plus some physical measurements. They will also be offered information about their own health, including their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
You can find out more information about the Our Future Health programme here.
You can also keep up-to-date with news on the programme by signing up to their regular newsletter here.
Read more on InformationNOW about Get involved in health research
AKT research on youth homelessness
AKT (The Albert Kennedy Trust), the LGBTQ+ youth homeless charity are working with a research team that wants to better understand the impact of current housing crisis in the UK on young people, with a focus on experiences of homelessness LGBTQ+ people aged between 16-25.
You can read more about the study, surveys and the project on AKT’s website here
There are two surveys
- One for young people aged 16 to 25 years old. This is open to young people with experience of youth housing or homelessness whether they identify as LGBTQ+ or not
- One aimed at staff working in housing or homelessness services or supporting young people experiencing homelessness or housing issues. This is open to thos services whether they tailor services to LGBTQ+ youth or not
(both should take about 15 mins to complete)
The research will be used to influence the government and other decision-makers with the aim to improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ people aged between 16-25. The project is funded by akt and is carried out by the University of Kent, University of Bristol, and University of Southampton.
For any questions about the research you can contact the project lead Dr Carin Tunåker, [email protected].
Read more on InformationNOW about housing issues and homelessness
End of Life Care: How Well do Services Measure up?
The report, ‘End of Life Care: how well do services measure up?’ from the National Pensioners Convention Health & Social Care Working Party, looks at reform of end of life care services to make services available to everyone who needs them, and to improve the quality of many such services and address the equality issues.
The report calls for a full Government-led review of End of Life Care provision including the part played by generalist services at the front line and into commissioning services across all Four Nations of the United Kingdom.
You can read and download the full report here
Read more on InformationNOW about palliative and hospice care
YHN tenants satisfaction report
Tenant satisfaction measures are a set of measures that aim to improve the lives of social housing tenants. They are used to assess how well social housing landlords are doing at providing good quality homes and services.
Over 4,500 tenants responded to the YHN survey which took place from 1 December 2023 – 28 January 2024
You can read more about the report here
Read more on InformationNOW about landlord or housing issues
Cant pass it on training
Terrence Higgins Trust provide self-directed learning resources for all Adult Social Care professionals as well as anyone working with people growing older with HIV.
The training aims to:
- increase awareness and understanding of HIV
- how it is passed on and the Can’t Pass It On/Undetectable = Untransmittable message
- reduce HIV stigma;
- promote testing,
- encourage treatment and staying in care.
You can access the full range of training on their website here
Read more on InformationNOW about sexual health
Hate Relationships: A Toolkit for Change
28 June 2024, 10am to 2pm, One Strawberry Lane, , NE1 4BX.
Hate Relationships: A Toolkit for Change is an information session and launch of a new toolkit to support professionals in criminal justice, housing, social care and health to better identify and support victims of hate crime when it takes the form of a ‘hate relationship’.
The event will be opened by Susan Dungworth, the new Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, and will also feature the following research partners:
- Professor Catherine Donovan from Durham University
- Professor Stephen Macdonald from Durham University
- Doctor John Clayton from Northumbria University
Join this session to learn more about what hate crime and hate relationships are, and the impact that this has on victims and communities. The Hate relationships toolkit (designed to support in recognising and tackling hate crime) will also be shared with attendees.
Please RSVP at [email protected]
Read more on InformationNOW about Hate crimes and hate relationships
Introduction to Community Interpreting Course
Roots for Change are offering introduction to Community Interpreting Courses and there are limited spaces available.
The course is starting on Tuesday 2 July. If you are interested and have questions, please contact [email protected]
Please note if spaces aren’t available you can join a waiting list or contact for future dates
Read more on InformationNOW about interpreting and translating
Visit our Events & Activities section to see what’s happening near you this week on our calendar. Or search by location or postcode.
You can also listen to our monthly events updates on the LLARC Podcast ‘In the Round’ by clicking listen on our news section
BUILDING: An exhibition under construction
22 June to 27 July 2024, 11am to 3pm, Farrell centre
Architect Lee Ivett will work with local group North East Young Dads and Lads to design and build a mobile bike repair workshop that can be used in the community. You can come along to watch and possibly join in!
This series of events is part of The Farrell centre’s BUILDING: An exhibition under construction. Making will be treated as a performance, focusing on the process rather than the end result. A programme of workshops and activities will look to include as many people as possible in making the exhibition
There will be other ongoing events such as:
- Sunderland College Level 3 students and apprentices will present an installation demonstrating their carpentry, plumbing and electrical skills.
- The work of the exhibition’s graphic designers, Foundation Press, and 3D designers/makers, And+ Studios, will also be showcased through live working in the spaces and workshops during the exhibition.
Read more on InformationNOW about Live Build at the Farrell centre
The big bike revival
18 June to 9 July 2024, 10am to 1:30pm
Encouraging adults to cycle through fixing bikes, teaching skills and leading bike rides. Limited spaces are available to local women aged 18+.
Delivered by Building Futures East and East End Women with the cycle hub at their Newcastle quayside space.
Read more on InformationNOW about The big bike revival
Summer Fun Day 2024 at Scotswood Garden
Scotswood gardens summer fun day is a free event for all the family, there’s lots of activities and things to do such as:
- Dragonfly trail around the garden
- Circus performance by Norda
- Tombola
Booking essential to attend
Book a space and read more on InformationNOW
St Johns Party in Park
St Johns at Kingston Park are holding a party in the park for the local community to be held in the field next to Kingston park community centre.
Come along for face painting, crafts, stalls with local community groups and charities, food stalls, fun fair rides,
Read more on InformationNOW about St Johns Party in Park
LGBT Northern social groups
From 21 June 2024
LGBT Northern social have new dates for their lunchtime socials, evening socials and their book club:
Friday 21 June 2024 Evening coffee social at One Strawberry Lane
Monday 24 June 2024 LGBT+ Northern lunchtime social at One Strawberry Lane
Read more on InformationNOW about LGBTQIA+ groups in Newcastle
Search Newcastle’s Pop-in Centre in Benwell
New organisation
Call into Search Newcastle’s Pop-in Centre in Benwell for information and advice. You don’t need an appointment to call in for information and advice at their Pop-in Centre in Benwell. Open Monday and Wednesday mornings.
Advice workers can help you with any query you may have. This includes:
- filling in forms
- benefit checks
- heating and housing problems
- debt
Search Newcastle help people over 50 years old and carers in the West of Newcastle. They run a range of activities and drop in sessions at community hubs in Newcastle
Reed in Partnership
Reed in Partnership support people with skills, training, wellbeing, job searches, advisors and financial support.
Reed in Partnership deliver these programmes in Newcastle and the North East:
- The Restart Scheme, helps long term unemployed people back into work
- The Refugee Employability Programme which supports refugees into employment
- Work Routes which supports unemployed people who haven’t been actively been seeking work.
Read more on InformationNOW about Reed in Partnership
Newcastle Bangladeshi association
The Newcastle Bangladeshi Association (NBA) is a charitable organisation and community hub that supports the Newcastle Bangladeshi and local community in Elswick.
Read more on InformationNOW about Newcastle Bangladeshi association
Get involved in health research
updated article
Health research improves the health and social care provided by the NHS and others. Getting involved with research can help to improve diagnosis, prevention and quality of life, and may help find new cures and better treatments for future generations.
Read more on InformationNOW about Get involved in health research
Advocacy support to get your voice heard
updated article
Advocacy is free, independent support to help you to get your voice heard. Advocacy services pair you up with an independent advocate who is on your side if you need support. They can:
- help you to find information
- talk things through with you to find out what you want
- support you to get your views across at appointments and meetings
- help you to understand your rights
Read more on InformationNOW about Advocacy support to get your voice heard
Last updated: June 17, 2024