Heather's blog
News and and updates from the Coalition's Heather Armstrong...
25 January 2010
Three reasons to join us at our AGM on 16 February
Here's three reasons why you should get along to our Annual General Meeting at 2.00pm on Tuesday 16th February at The Lancastrian Suite, Dunston, Gateshead.
Firstly, you'll get to find out more about the Coalition - what we've been up to recently and what our plans are for 2010.
Secondly, you'll have the opportunity to meet some of our members, partners and staff. There's nothing wrong with a bit of networking, is there?
And finally. We'll be serving afternoon tea!
Anyone is welcome at our AGM, but if you would like to attend you will need to book your place by Monday 8th February.
For more information please contact Nicola Dixon at the Northumbria Coalition Against Crime on 01661 868 424, or use the contact form on this website.
18 January 2010
Schoolkids learn of dangers of throwing things at buses
The Northumbria Coalition Against Crime has launched a new project to help tackle the problem of missiles being thrown at buses in the Newcastle area.
Over half (55%) of criminal or anti-social incidents linked to bus journeys in Newcastle involve objects being thrown at vehicles. Missiles thrown include bricks, stones, blocks of ice, planks of wood and metal bars. There have even been cases of buses being shot at using air guns. Windows are often smashed - which can be a terrifying experience for anyone travelling on a bus.
Thankfully, injuries are rare, but passengers and drivers have occasionally been struck on the head by objects that have smashed through bus windows.
During January, February and March 2010, the Coalition will be working with north east public transport organisation Nexus to raise awareness of the problem among schoolchildren in the Newcastle area.
Younger children in particular can be unaware of the dangers of throwing missiles at buses. The sessions in twenty schools throughout Newcastle are being targeted at Year 6 children - aged between 10 and 11 years.
The project is being run as a pilot. If successful, it may be rolled out to other areas of the north east.
Anyone interested in finding more about this project should contact me (Heather Armstrong) here at the Coalition. Please use the contact form on this website, or call 01661 868424.
18 November 2009
Thanks for a great week and a brilliant night
A BIG MASSIVE THANKS to everyone who mucked in and helped out with our Fundraising Week and Race night. You were fantastic!
Thanks to your efforts we raised over £3,000 for the Coalition - money that will help us in our work with young people in the North East.
Thanks also to everyone who made a donation and who came along to our Race Night at West Denton Fire Station last Friday. Your contribution is really appreciated and will help make a big difference to many young lives.
Special thanks to Katy, one of our volunteers, who was there for every day of the Fundraising Week at the MetroCentre.
Special thanks also to Shilpa, another of our volunteers, who put in a huge effort organising the Race Night. Everyone had a great time. We're hoping to post a few photos to our Facebook site soon. Nothing too embarrassing I hope!
And the good news is we're planning to hold both events again next year, so if you couldn't make it this time around, we'll hopefully see you there in 2010.
If anyone has any great fundraising ideas for next year, or can offer support of any kind, please get in touch.
1 November 2009
It's good to volunteer
Could you give up one hour of your time per week to support a young person at risk of offending?
We're always on the look out for volunteers for our award winning mentoring project. This month we're offering training to volunteers, but you'll need to get in touch soon to take part. If you can't make it this month, get in touch anyway. There'll be more training opportunities coming up soon.
So why volunteer? Well here's three good reasons for a start:
• It makes you feel good
• It looks good on your CV
• And it gives you a whole new set of skills you'll find useful for life
Help us steer young people away from crime. You don't need any qualifications. You don't need all the answers. All you really need to do is listen.
For more information contact us now.
20 October 2009
Race Night - 13 November 2009
Join us for a brilliant night of fun and entertainment at our Race Night on 13 November 2009 at West Denton Fire Station, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Here's what's in store:
• Races/Betting
• Music
• Food/Drinks (cheap as chips!)
• Raffle, with great prizes to be won!
Tickets cost just £5, with proceeds going to support our Youth Projects.
For more information and to buy tickets, please get in touch.
Everyone at the Coalition would love to see you there.
1 April 2009
Is knife crime a problem here?
Knife crime has grabbed the attention of the national media recently. But figures show that the North East doesn’t have anything like the knife-carrying rates of other parts of the country.
What concerns us is that this media coverage could increase levels of fear among young people in our region and actually lead to more knives being carried.
As a result, we’ve launched our 'It’s a Sharp Life' project. Over the next few months we're running sessions in schools and youth clubs across Tyne & Wear and Northumberland to dispel some of the myths surrounding knife crime.
Those taking part will contribute towards a booklet on the issue which we'll be publishing later in the year.
Watch this space!
Download a copy (pdf) of the Spring 2009 issue of 'Coalition News' here.
