social connection
Positive local stories, useful developments and people making a difference in social connection.
Age UK Teesside lines up three September social sessions for older people in Middlesbrough
Community socials, a wellbeing drop-in and a sing-along are all on the September calendar through Age UK Teesside’s Phoenix Project and WISE programme.
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Darlington’s railway coffee morning is still making room for conversation ten years on
Hopetown’s free monthly group for men with railway connections continues this autumn after marking its tenth anniversary earlier this year.
There is more good happening on Teesside than you think. And noticing it matters.
Bad news is very good at getting our attention. But research suggests the stories and information we repeatedly consume can affect how we feel, and Teesside has far more good happening than the headlines sometimes suggest.
Linthorpe buddy benches create a simple place to connect
Rainbow-painted buddy benches near Roman Road and Cambridge Road are giving Linthorpe residents a visible, low-pressure invitation to stop and talk.
A Tuesday Tradition: How Billingham Community Choir Brings People Together
On a Tuesday evening in Billingham, something quietly lovely happens. As the day loosens its grip and coats are hung by the door, voices begin to gather. Not perfect voices. Real ones. Curious ones. The kind that carry the day with them and then gently set it down. This is Billingham Community Choir, and it […]
We Do: How Dan and Charlie Turned Lived Experience into a Community of Hope
We Do was founded by Dan and Charlie with a simple aim: to help people when life becomes challenging. At its core, the We Do project is built on a belief that feels both simple and quietly powerful: when life becomes overwhelming, support should be human, accessible, and free from judgement. Recovery, in this…
£20,000 Boost for Yatton House as Great Ayton Community Hub Expands Its Reach
A familiar building in the heart of Great Ayton is quietly proving just how powerful community spaces can be. The Yatton House Society has been awarded a £20,000 grant, providing a significant boost to its work supporting local residents and keeping an essential community hub alive and active. For a village where…
CommunityCommunity Celebrates at Middleton Hall Village Show: Live Music, Medieval Battles, and Family Fun
It was a day full of fun and games, arts and crafts, giant onions, owls, music and medieval battles at the Middleton Hall Retirement Village Show. Friends, families and visitors from the local area joined residents from the village’s care services and independently owned retirement properties at the event on Saturday 14 September. The day […]
Middlesbrough Mela: Transforming a Festival into a Platform for Healing and Unity
The Middlesbrough Mela, long celebrated as a vibrant showcase of arts, culture, and heritage, has undergone a profound transformation. What began as a cultural festival has now emerged as a crucial platform for healing, reconciliation, and community building. This evolution is the result of dedicated efforts by the…
CharityJoin Teesside Mind’s Big Pub Quiz: A Fun Way to Support Mental Health
Pubs across Teesside are invited to take part in a fantastic opportunity to support mental health in their community by hosting Teesside Mind’s Big Pub Quiz. This event is not only a great way to bring people together for a night of fun and trivia, but it also plays a vital role in raising awareness […]
Reflections on Visibility: A Personal Journey Through Marginalisation and Advocacy
What do the words “being visible” mean to you? Please feel free to take a moment to consider this as I imagine there may be a range of answers that would all be correct, given the subjective nature of the question. When the question is put to marginalised communities within the wider demographic, we may […]