Children North East
Encyclopedia
Children North East is a registered charity based in Newcastle upon Tyne
, England
. The focus of the charity is to provide help and funding, through community based projects, to families, children and young people in the region who are experiencing a range of problems and difficulties in their lives. In 2011, the organisation will be 120 years old which makes it the oldest independent children's charity in the North East of England.
and John L Lunn, a wealthy shipping merchant, in the north east city of Newcastle upon Tyne. Watson was involved in organising the missionaries in the impoverished areas of the city and was approached by Lunn in June 1891, with an offer to fund a trip to the coast for some of the street children who would benefit from time away from their dismal existence.
Letter from Lunn to Watson on June 15, 1891:
‘Dear Mr Watson, If there is anyone in your district convalescent or feeble to whom a fortnights stay at the seaside would be of benefit, I shall be glad to pay for their lodgings, and, if necessary, their board as well. Are there any street lads in your mission to whom a day at the seaside would be a treat? If so we might arrange a trip. Yours Sincerely, John T. Lunn’
As a result of the letter, one hundred and twenty children were gathered together by Watson and taken to the coast at Monkseaton
on 11 July 1891, a trip which was financed in full by Lunn. The trip was so successful that Watson decided to write a letter for publication in the Newcastle Chronicle, appealing to the general public to send funding for further trips to the seaside to help more needy children. The following year, 600 children were sent on trips to the seaside with money donated by the public. In 1893, the association was established and was named as ‘The Newcastle Poor Children’s Seaside Trips Association.’ The committee elected the founders, Lunn and Watson as Chairman and Hon Secretary respectively. Each summer between May and September, groups of children selected from the districts of Newcastle and Gateshead, continued to visit the coast.
Over time, extended trips to the surrounding countryside towns such as Wark
, Bellingham
, Rothbury
and Hexham
were arranged to meet the needs of weaker children who needed the clean air and extended rest from the city. Accommodation in the country was provided by generous locals.
In 1894, night shelters were built for boys and girls living on the streets, providing a bed for the night as well as a meal. The 'Street Vendors Club' was established on Percy Street, close to the head office which at the time was located where the Eldon Square Shopping Centre stands today. The purpose of the club was to provide children with the means to earn a living other than by selling things in the street. Within the first week the club had 300 members.
In 1907, following extensive appeals to the public for funding, the ‘Stannington Sanatorium
’ was opened as a treatment centre for sick children suffering with tuberculosis
. The organisation grew from strength to strength by building up their charitable profile and taking on extra help and volunteers to hold fundraising events and manage projects, in order to distribute funds to the region’s most needy children. In November 1988, the organisation registered their new name, ‘Children North East’, which better reflected the changing society and the variation of projects which catered for the needs of needy and vulnerable children in a range of circumstances across the region.
The head office of the organisation is now located Denhill Park in Newcastle upon Tyne and currently employs 79 full and part-time staff as well as 120 volunteers. A number of fundraising events, a range of projects and the charities website are managed and organised from the head office.
. ‘The Sandcastle Ball’ is a fundraising event held on a Summers evening at one of the region’s hotels and ‘The Annual Golf Tournament’ in which teams pay to enter, raising funds, and compete to win. The charity also has a team of participants in the Great North Run
each year. A 'Think Pink' themed ball is held annually in the region by the architectural and interior desigh firm '_space', which is in support of Children North East.
page and Twitter
feed.
and Her Grace Elizabeth, Duchess of Northumberland
are patrons of the charity. The actors, Tim Healy and his wife Denise Welch
, who are both originally from the region, are often in attendance at events and supporters of the organisation. In April 2010, Denise and Tim appeared on the ITV gameshow All Star Mr. and Mrs.
and came runners - up. They donated their £5000 prize to Children North East.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The focus of the charity is to provide help and funding, through community based projects, to families, children and young people in the region who are experiencing a range of problems and difficulties in their lives. In 2011, the organisation will be 120 years old which makes it the oldest independent children's charity in the North East of England.
History
The organisation was founded in 1891 by John H Watson, a local philanthropistPhilanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and John L Lunn, a wealthy shipping merchant, in the north east city of Newcastle upon Tyne. Watson was involved in organising the missionaries in the impoverished areas of the city and was approached by Lunn in June 1891, with an offer to fund a trip to the coast for some of the street children who would benefit from time away from their dismal existence.
Letter from Lunn to Watson on June 15, 1891:
‘Dear Mr Watson, If there is anyone in your district convalescent or feeble to whom a fortnights stay at the seaside would be of benefit, I shall be glad to pay for their lodgings, and, if necessary, their board as well. Are there any street lads in your mission to whom a day at the seaside would be a treat? If so we might arrange a trip. Yours Sincerely, John T. Lunn’
As a result of the letter, one hundred and twenty children were gathered together by Watson and taken to the coast at Monkseaton
Monkseaton
Monkseaton is a village near Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, in the northeast of England. It is in the north-east of the borough, less than a kilometre from the North Sea coast and around 5 km north of the River Tyne at North Shields...
on 11 July 1891, a trip which was financed in full by Lunn. The trip was so successful that Watson decided to write a letter for publication in the Newcastle Chronicle, appealing to the general public to send funding for further trips to the seaside to help more needy children. The following year, 600 children were sent on trips to the seaside with money donated by the public. In 1893, the association was established and was named as ‘The Newcastle Poor Children’s Seaside Trips Association.’ The committee elected the founders, Lunn and Watson as Chairman and Hon Secretary respectively. Each summer between May and September, groups of children selected from the districts of Newcastle and Gateshead, continued to visit the coast.
Over time, extended trips to the surrounding countryside towns such as Wark
Wark
Wark, a Scots noun for a building, from the noun wark [wark, wA:rk] . The verb form is wirk [wIrk, wVrk]. The past tense is wrocht [wroxt].Wark may refer to:-Places:...
, Bellingham
Bellingham
- Places :Australia:* Bellingham, Tasmania, coastal hamlet in Northern TasmaniaEngland:* Bellingham, London, neighbourhood and electoral ward in the London Borough of Lewisham* Bellingham, Northumberland, villageUnited States:* Bellingham, Washington...
, Rothbury
Rothbury
Rothbury is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England. It is located on the River Coquet, northwest of Morpeth and north-northwest of Newcastle upon Tyne...
and Hexham
Hexham
Hexham is a market town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, located south of the River Tyne, and was the administrative centre for the Tynedale district from 1974 to 2009. The three major towns in Tynedale were Hexham, Prudhoe and Haltwhistle, although in terms of population, Prudhoe was...
were arranged to meet the needs of weaker children who needed the clean air and extended rest from the city. Accommodation in the country was provided by generous locals.
In 1894, night shelters were built for boys and girls living on the streets, providing a bed for the night as well as a meal. The 'Street Vendors Club' was established on Percy Street, close to the head office which at the time was located where the Eldon Square Shopping Centre stands today. The purpose of the club was to provide children with the means to earn a living other than by selling things in the street. Within the first week the club had 300 members.
In 1907, following extensive appeals to the public for funding, the ‘Stannington Sanatorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
’ was opened as a treatment centre for sick children suffering with tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. The organisation grew from strength to strength by building up their charitable profile and taking on extra help and volunteers to hold fundraising events and manage projects, in order to distribute funds to the region’s most needy children. In November 1988, the organisation registered their new name, ‘Children North East’, which better reflected the changing society and the variation of projects which catered for the needs of needy and vulnerable children in a range of circumstances across the region.
The organisation
The aims of today’s organisation are very similar to when it was first established in 1891. However, trips to the seaside are no longer part of the charity's agenda and more focus is given to improving the lives of the region's children in the long term. The objectives of the community based projects focus on improving local children’s life experience, their relationships with others and building their self esteem. The improvement of the moral as well as the physical welfare of the region's children is the priority. Whilst poverty is still an issue, the charity aims to address the needs of local children on a far wider basis, within education and their home life for example.The head office of the organisation is now located Denhill Park in Newcastle upon Tyne and currently employs 79 full and part-time staff as well as 120 volunteers. A number of fundraising events, a range of projects and the charities website are managed and organised from the head office.
Fundraising events
Fundraising events are organised each year to raise money to support the work of the charity. Annual events include ‘The Sandcastle Challenge’ which is held in July and unites school children from the area at the beach at South ShieldsSouth Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
. ‘The Sandcastle Ball’ is a fundraising event held on a Summers evening at one of the region’s hotels and ‘The Annual Golf Tournament’ in which teams pay to enter, raising funds, and compete to win. The charity also has a team of participants in the Great North Run
Great North Run
The Bupa Great North Run is the world's largest half marathon, taking place annually each September. Participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields in England. The run was devised by former Olympic 10,000 m bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster.The first Great...
each year. A 'Think Pink' themed ball is held annually in the region by the architectural and interior desigh firm '_space', which is in support of Children North East.
Projects
The projects are wide and varied, but fit into 4 main streams; Support for Families, Support for Young People, Support for Communities and Fatherwork. The organisation’s website, www.children-ne.org.uk, provides a detailed description of the projects taking place in the community. These include the WEYES project (The West End Youth Enquiry Service), Families Plus and Fathers Plus which are among a number of other ongoing projects. Announcements about projects upcoming events are also regularly updated on the charity's facebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page and Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
feed.
Patrons
HRH The Duke of YorkPrince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO , is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
and Her Grace Elizabeth, Duchess of Northumberland
Hugh Percy, 10th Duke of Northumberland
Hugh Algernon Percy, 10th Duke of Northumberland KG, GCVO, KStJ, PC, TD, FRS was the son of Alan Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland and Lady Helen Gordon-Lennox.-Career:...
are patrons of the charity. The actors, Tim Healy and his wife Denise Welch
Denise Welch
Jacqueline Denise Healy is an English actress, dancer and television presenter.-Early life:Denise Welch was born in Ebchester, County Durham, to father Vin and mother Ann and has a younger sister Debbie...
, who are both originally from the region, are often in attendance at events and supporters of the organisation. In April 2010, Denise and Tim appeared on the ITV gameshow All Star Mr. and Mrs.
Mr. and Mrs.
Mr. & Mrs. is a television show that originated in Canada in 1963, debuting in Britain shortly afterwards. The Canadian version was produced at CFTO-TV in Toronto and ran on the CTV network for 780 episodes, and was hosted by Roy Ward Dickson, who was also the show's creator...
and came runners - up. They donated their £5000 prize to Children North East.
External links
- http://www.weyes.org.uk/
- http://www.fathersplus.org/
- http://www.waring-netts.co.uk/aboutspace.html