Blog | Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

25 April 2025 - 5:41pm

“Have you read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance?” was last night’s surprise after-dinner question.

I read Robert Pirsig’s book maybe 35 years ago, but I didn’t have any knowledge about the book’s subtle philosophical basis or understand its purpose. Thinking about the book now, I wanted to share six ideas that seem to translate directly into my work.

Why a Voice of Disabled People?

28 March 2025 - 5:13pm

On Wednesday 26 March, disabled people up and down the country protested on the streets about the changes to welfare benefits being proposed by the Government, including Darlington and Newcastle.

Strategic Use of AI: Empowering VCSEs to Drive Change

25 March 2025 - 3:19pm

I recently joined an online session hosted by NAVCA on the Strategic Use of AI for Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations, delivered by Dandelion Applied AI. The session offered valuable insights into how AI can transform our sector, even as we remain mindful of its challenges and risks.

Update on Community Mental Health Transformation in Middlesbrough

8 February 2024 - 2:53pm

By Emma Howitt, Chief Executive Officer at Teesside Mind

A group of 9 local VCOs are continuing to work with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Mental Health Trust (TEWV) to improve the quality and availability of mental health support in our communities. This is part of a national NHS transformation programme.

We're 18 months into the programme and 9 months into delivery. On a day-to-day basis, making changes to the way organisations work together can feel quite slow; but when we look back over the 18 months, we know it's progressing really successfully.

Universal Credit – support for Managed Migration in Teesside

8 February 2024 - 2:32pm

From Ticket Office Closures to Changes to Welfare

From a summer last year of challenging (successfully) the planned train ticket office closures, Disabled People Against Cuts North East (DPAC NE) is now helping to support people who are entitled to ‘legacy benefits’ navigate onto Universal Credit (UC).