Annual Report 2023-24

In review of the last year, Liz Prudhoe, Director says:

“As we look back on April 2023 to March 2024, it is reassuring to recognise we are continuing to deliver on our aims, sustainably building on our work and adding new services. This year we welcomed North Shields Primary Care Network Social Prescribing Service to our social prescribing offer.

We continued to develop Northumberland Learning Disability Network working with partner organisations and groups who provide services for people with learning disabilities. We continued to work with our partners across the North East on the ‘Good Life Collaborative’, a partnership for organisations working for people who are learning disabled to develop new services.

It feels a good while since the COVID-19 pandemic, although we recognise that COVID is still very much active. It is pleasing to witness our offices being a hub of activity again with lots of people returning to face to face meetings, although it is fair to say that work patterns have changed and there is greater flexibility for staff.

Café @ Burn Lane has welcomed customers old and new; it has however, felt the impact of the cost of living crisis due to the rising cost of food. Nevertheless, we have worked hard to keep prices in the cafe as low as possible.

We feel we have lots to look forward to in 2024/2025 and plan to continue what we are doing and keep developing services as we go. I wish to record my thanks to all of our board members for their continued support and guidance, and to our staff who are committed to their roles and work hard throughout the year.”

Read more in our Annual Report 2023-24 or download a pdf version.