What We Do

The Community Health Project engages with local families, children and young people, involving them in activities, groups and projects designed to encourage them to adopt healthy lifestyles. It offers fun, practical sessions around food preparation, diet, regular exercise, personal hygiene, keeping safe & healthy. It also tackles issues around drugs/alcohol misuse, relationships, homework, bullying and using the internet. 

We run a wide range of activities for older people, to reduce isolation, increase self-esteem, encourage involvement, improve mental and physical health. We use a community development approach, engagement through outreach projects, working with partner organisations, developing groups, involving local people in identifying needs and setting priorities.

Skilled Up offers individual help with producing CV’s, IT skills, basic literacy and numeracy, help with job-search, applications and preparation for interviews. Service users are supported into voluntary work and training opportunities, where appropriate. They benefit from improved levels of self-confidence and self-esteem as well as gaining work experience in a supported environment and developing new skills.

Newlands Furniture Service is based in Rockwell Lane Depot and York House Shop outlet with an outreach service in Windhill. It provides used, good quality, low-cost furniture, white goods, kitchen equipment, utensils, clothes and soft furnishings. It is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10.00am- 4.00pm.

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The BD10 Good Neighbours Project engages and supports isolated, vulnerable & older people whose health and wellbeing is ‘at risk’. The initiative involves:- Regular contact through telephone calls, home visits and post hospital visits, where appropriate.

Hot meals/fresh produce delivery service; odd jobs; transport for health related appointments and community events/activities.

Winter support service (in snow/icy weather) – daily phone calls; emergency food packs; snow clearing gritting paths; contact with emergency services.

Support and training for volunteer befrienders and the involvement of families, friends and neighbours, where appropriate.

It links into existing local community activities to improve their quality of life e.g. Walking Groups, Friendship Group, Social Events, Tai Chi, weekly Coffee Mornings, Bingo Groups, Afternoon Tea Dances, Lunch Clubs and Outings to the Seaside & places of interest.

The project is coordinated from the Rockwell Centre, utilising its community services and facilities including Transport Service, Roots & Fruits, Thorpe Edge Advice Service and all other agencies operating in the area. This helps to provide a targeted, holistic service, tailored to meet the needs of each service user.

The annual Thorpe Edge Community Festival brings together people from across the area to celebrate community and meet up with old friends. It takes place in the Thorpe Edge Community Garden and features local performers, community stalls, displays and fun sports events. Over the past two years we have had a beach party theme with a ‘real beach’ and sand-play for the children along with traditional fairground stalls.

We produce and distribute 2000 copies of the Community Newsletter to every household in the neighbourhood every quarter. It gives a snapshot of local activities, events and groups.

We initiate and support a wide range of Self-Help Community Groups including Rockwell Coffee Morning, Rockwell Friendship, Eccleshill Walkers, Rockwell Me-time, Little Chefs, Lunch Clubs, Junior Leaders, Soft Furnishing.

We work in partnership with other organisations including Eccleshill Community Health Workers and GP’s, Ravenscliffe Community Development Project, Eccleshill Mechanics, Gateway and Incommunities. Together we were able to set up projects such as the Let’s Sing Community Choir, Social prescribing and the Thorpe Edge Community Forum.

Newlands Community Transport offers low-cost, flexible, minibus transport for Community Groups, Nurseries, Schools, Local Authorities, Seaside Trips, Market Towns, Garden Centres and a wide range of events and activities. All our drivers and passenger assistants are MIDAS trained and experienced to work with all ages and abilities. The service is tailored to the needs of each group and organised trip, giving friendly, professional support to all service users.

They can be contacted on