Blog | Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency

No Two Days the Same: Connecting South Tees for Positive Change

23 September 2025 - 4:12pm

One of the things I love most about my role is the variety – no two days are ever the same. At the heart of my work is making sure we truly understand what local communities need, and then supporting the voluntary and community sector (VCS) to provide safe, relevant, and effective services.

Men: it is okay to talk...

3 August 2023 - 3:29pm

From time to time in this job, I encounter people whose lives have been turned upside down by unfathomable circumstances. I spoke with Suzanne Julian at the Headlight Project last week and it just reminded me of how important it is to pause and think about how we are feeling – men in particular are much less likely to speak about things that are troubling them.

Founded in memory of Russ Devereux, the Headlight Project aims to reduce the number of deaths by suicide in the Tees Valley area through therapy of those bereaved by suicide and preventative education and training.

Shining a light on Teesside Ability Support Centre

13 June 2023 - 11:35am

I had a great conversation with Amanda Bolderson from the Teesside Ability Support Centre (TASC) last week. TASC provides a brilliant service for its members but I don't think it gets a lot of recognition, so I asked Amanda for some information to share - and here it is:

Making Caring Visible, Valued and Supported across the South Tees

23 June 2022 - 3:45pm

Last week, Carers Week, was up there with being one of my favourite weeks as the Project Lead for We Care You Care. It was fantastic to get out in the local community and meet some really interesting people both carers and professionals. Despite working closely with professionals from a range of local organisations over the last two and a half years, this was the first opportunity I have had to meet many of them in person, after forging our working relationship online because of the pandemic.

Minority communities, people with learning disabilities and Annual Health Checks – a role for the VCS?

16 March 2022 - 1:32pm

The uptake of Annual Health Checks (AHCs) by people with learning disabilities is low in all parts of the Country. It appears to me the NHS needs all the help it can get to ensure numbers increase in general and, in particular, for those from minority groups. However, in a meeting we were invited to of health practitioners in the Midlands area there appeared to be the same old, same old in terms of who is being involved, what is being funded and lack of understanding about the VCS.