Lockdown Gazette issue 3

- MMXX -

No.3

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Issues 1 and 2 of The Lockdown Gazette were put together by the For-Solidarity network, with contributions from organisations associated with The NewBridge Project.

Issue 3 is student-led: the aim is to highlight the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on student volunteers and the charities, community organisations and creative initiatives hosting them for this part of their degree.

Everyone benefits from ‘campus-community engagement’ when charities and students tackle social justice together through a shared sense of purpose and voluntary association.

This is much harder to achieve in lockdown, when students are learning remotely, in isolation, and volunteer coordinators are working from home.

We had to look for novel ways to build physically distanced solidarity: this publication is one part of that project.

The funding we received from the Catherine Cookson Foundation posed a fresh dilemma. I am writing this piece from Generation X (after Boomer) while my students are Generation Z (early Zoomer): they had never heard of the best-selling South Shields author whose iconic status was once such that visitors to the area were welcomed to Catherine Cookson Country.

(South Tyneside council abandoned this branding in 2012.)

Introducing this famous author of 103+ novels to a grid of puzzled faces prompted a thought experiment:

Who is Catherine Cookson and how might she have observed the impact of coronavirus on Tyneside?

Born fatherless into poverty in 1906, Catherine (Katie) McMullen lived 22 years in the overcrowded ‘fifteen streets’ of Tyne Dock (South Shields).

By the time she left her childhood home for Kent, where she met and married schoolteacher Tom Cookson, she had survived the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, and the personal trauma of a childhood scarred by violence, bigotry and sexism.

Stark inequalities exposed by the Spanish flu, when Northern England suffered more than the South, are sadly repeated one hundred years on: at times the north east has been among the worst areas in England for coronavirus infection rates.

History is repeating too in rates of domestic abuse described as a ‘shadow pandemic’.

Catherine Cookson would have recognised the severe toll that coronavirus is taking on mental health, especially children and young people, and parents struggling to feed children on reduced income.

She took up writing in the 1950s largely as a source of therapy to escape years of severe depression rooted in childhood poverty and the grief of multiple miscarriages.

How much Catherine Cookson would recall the area of her birth in the crises we witness today should not be exaggerated: her books combined real and imagined geographies with social history and prejudices rooted in class conflict, including hope for a better life.

Much has changed. Yet, deep inequalities remain.

The hallmarks of a Catherine Cookson novel mirror her own extraordinary rags-to-riches life story.

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To find out more about the For-Solidarity network please contact: admin@thenewbridgeproject.com

When she returned to the north east in 1976, she could afford to buy a large property on Eslington Terrace in Jesmond.

She and Tom enjoyed 22 years of comfortable retirement - eight miles as the crow flies from her childhood home – so much further than this materially.

She died a Dame in 1998, leaving a fortune to north east charities – including generous bequests to Newcastle University.

To find out more about campus-community volunteering with Geography at Newcastle please contact helen.jarvis@newcastle.ac.uk

CONTENTS 2. INTRODUCTION

3. CONTENTS PAGE

4. EAST END WOMEN: THE CREATION OF A FOODBANK 5. STUDENT STORIES: VOLUNTEeRING IN A PANDEMIC

6. CONNECTING COMMUNITIES WITH THE BRITISH RED CROSS 7. WHY WE VOLUNTEER

8. ZERO WASTE CREATIVE PRACTICE

9. MERZ BARN AT THE HATTON GALLERY

10. SCRAP SOUP: RECIPES TO REDUCE WASTE!

11. GREEN PROJECT: REUSING AND RECYLING MATERIALS 12. CAMPAIGNING ON HATE CRIME 13. HOW YOU CAN HELP

14. INTRODUCTION TO VODA

15. HOW VODA RESPONDED TO THE PANDEMIC 16. TYNE AND WEAR CITIZENS: JUST CHANGE

17. FOOD POVERTY: ADVICE FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS 18. DESERT ISLAND DISCS: LOCKDOWN EDITION 19. MUSIC TO LIFT YOUR MOOD 20. GREEN, FAIR, HEALTHY

21. SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT 22. WHY VOLUNTEER?

23. TOP TIPS FOR GETTING INVOLVED

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Who are East End Women?

East End Women was set up by Building Futures East in 2016. The project offers support to women and children living in the East End of Newcastle and beyond, who may be experiencing multiple barriers and disadvantages. It provides a welcoming community for those who may be feeling lonely and a safe space for women who have suffered from events such as domestic violence.

Raechel

Volunteering, creative workshops and therapeutic sessions along with a range of other fun and educational activities are delivered within a friendly and inclusive environment. ‘Stitch Sisters’ is one example of this - teaching women new skills via online and face-to-face sewing classes!

Since pandemic struck a year ago East End Women built up an emergency foodbank – almost overnight! This has proved a great success, recruiting many volunteers from the local community to help out.

Since the launch of East End Women, the community has If you would like to volunteer or if you or grown into a sustainable project which continues to benefit anyone you know would benefit from many women and children residing in Newcastle. the services available at East End Women, get in touch via phone: The project thrives on support from enthusiastic volunteers. 0191 2632752 or email info@buildingfutureseast.org

Follow them on twitter and Instagram: @eastendwomen

Creation of a Foodbank

Caitlin

• East End Women adjusted to the onset of the UK’s first national lockdown by setting up a foodbank.

• Since April, staff and over 80 volunteers have worked together to ensure the maintenance of the foodbank and adapted to everchanging circumstances.

• The foodbank was never intended to be a long-term project but, for now, it is keeping local families (450 people per week) afloat with vital food supplies.

• One service user said they would have “struggled without the support” and encouraged others not to “feel embarrassed or ashamed to go to a foodbank”.

• Given all the uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, the service provided by the foodbank “has been crucial” in securing essentials (including period products) for the community that East End Women supports.

• As the foodbank has gained momentum, it has become increasingly integrated within East End Women’s wider support network. One resident stressed an important signposting role whereby they had been introduced to the foodbank through another East End Women programme.

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Volunteering remotely in a pandemic: student stories

• Some students had already volunteered for East End Women previously but found the experience so inspiring that they chose to step forward again. Other new members had a collective goal in helping the local community and championing women’s equality.

Jazmine

•

During the Christmas campaign, we each reached out to local businesses in the area, to both help build ties between different organisations and gain donations. Raechel and Caitlyn were particularly successful in getting donations from Waitrose and found that the experience of helping to provide food and gifts for vulnerable families ‘deeply rewarding and showed the real-world implications of the work’.

• Caitlyn also found that working on the Christmas campaign helped her ‘develop a real sense of social responsibility and inspired her to want to volunteer more in Newcastle’.

•

Ciara and Caitlyn also created a Strava page to track members mileage and fundraise for the Walker emergency food campaign. This resulted in over 2000 miles being collated in December and over 30 people joining and competing within the group.

•

For Ciara, the experience of fundraising, designing, and engaging with the community via the Strava page greatly benefitted her confidence and inspired her to continue to forge positive relationships with the wider community.

•

In the new year, we put an increased emphasis on improving the engagement and frequency of posts online, which has been especially important to ensure local women knew that services and help were still available in the pandemic.

• Students interested in volunteering and getting involved in East End Women’s projects can contact Clare Vaughan via the Building Future East Website. Services essential to the foodbank include providing vital food, hygiene, infant and feminine products to the charity and setting up donation points. You could, for example, set up a donation bin in your halls or collect donations between your flatmates and friends and then contact East End Women to gift these items. Hygiene and feminine products, specifically, can be donated via the drop off point in Superdrug on Northumberland Street. Additionally, you can donate your time rather than goods by volunteering to pack and distribute food parcels or by sharing the link and donating to the Walker emergency food campaign on JustGiving.

Role of the Foodbank over Christmas In the build up to Christmas there was a push

for donations so that East End Women were able to offer Christmas hampers to support families in the North East. The aim was to boost morale at a challenging time of the year.

Ciara

Fundraising efforts included donations from local organisations and volunteers clocking up hundreds of miles running, walking and cycling for a Strava challenge to raise awareness and sponsorship. Other organisations also supported this initiative, with the Newcastle United Foundation donating 50 Christmas hampers, demonstrating the ability of the local community to come together in times of need.

From Foodbank to Pantry?

With increasing hope of lockdown restrictions lifting, East End Women know that many in their community will experience severe hardship long after the vaccine roll-out.

Clare Vaughan, local programmes officer at Building Futures East, said: “We suspect there will be more redundancies and job losses as a result of lockdown and the pandemic and there’s people who have been living on furlough for extended amounts of time, which is adding the pressure on people.”

This means the dedicated work of volunteers at East End Women’s foodbank will not end after lockdown but continue to provide families with support.

The foodbank is developing into a pantry model which is a highly subsidized supermarket.

Deliveries will continue for those with longterm health and mobility issues.

This will be accompanied with wrap-around support for wellbeing, employability, and health – such as Stitch Sisters and domestic abuse recovery.

Lili

The foodbank continued to provide support for those in need throughout the holiday period when schools were closed.

One parent said “the foodbank has helped me and my children get by in these tough times…I have two children at home instead of school; I needed help to feed them when they weren’t getting their school meals”

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CONNECTING COMMUNITIES The British Red Cross Connecting Communities scheme provides 12 weeks of support for people in Newcastle who are experiencing social isolation or loneliness.

Prior to the pandemic, we would go and meet the person and have a chat about their interests. We would then attend groups or activities with the person for a few weeks whilst they built up their confidence with the aim being that by the end of the 12 weeks, they might feel confident enough to attend alone.

Due to COVID-19, most of our support is now provided over the phone and people can sign up to receive a weekly phone call from one of our volunteers to help reduce isolation. In addition, we have been sending out monthly newsletters to people which contain some activities, wellbeing ideas and suggestions for gentle exercises.

WHAT other services DO WE PROVIDE? Coronavirus support line

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Call us 10.00 – 18.00 every day to request practical support such as food, shopping and prescription collections or to receive emotional support.

Gateshead Q ueen Elizabe th Hospital Ass isted Discha rge We help assis t people hom e from hospita l, whether the y were inpatients or attended A& E . We can provide s upport for up to 72 hours, to help settle them b a ck in and ensure th eir safety.

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How YOU can get involved There are numerous opportunities to volunteer with the British Red Cross!

Community Reserve Volunteers: ~ This role aims to provide help for your community following a local emergency, and has become even more vital during the COVID-19 pandemic. ~ Anyone aged 18 and over can register to become a community reserve volunteer. There are no specialist skills required and fast training can be provided at the scene of the response. ~ To become a community reserve volunteer, you can register at: https://reserves.redcross.org.uk Other volunteering opportunities with the Red Cross in your local area can be found at: https://www.redcross.org.uk/getinvolved/volunteer or Google search ‘British Red Cross volunteer’

Contact: Covid-19 support line: 0808 196 3651 Connecting Communities: 0191 273 7961 connectnewcastle@redcross.org.uk

WHY WE VOLUNTEER "Volunteering, I think, is a two-way street. We’ve been able to help other people get through this tricky time, and also had a personal opportunity for self-growth, learning and reflection."

Hannah Wilcock

"Knowing that our contributions are helping those in the community who are struggling during this difficult time is so gratifying" Beth Heighway "Volunteering during the pandemic, even virtually, has been so rewarding, because we have been able to interact with and give a sense of hope to individuals in the community who are struggling during such an isolating and scary time."

Hannah Danks

Lauryn, Hannah W, Hannah D, Beth and Amy

Our group of Newcastle University students who have been working with the Red Cross.

what service users have to say "Thank you so much for the lovely visit and gifts on Christmas day. It really made the day for me, and made me feel valued and remembered."

"Altogether these wonderful things made it the best Christmas that I have had in years."

"What a delightful surprise it was to receive your letter."

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The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted every aspect of our daily lives, limiting where we can go, who we can see and what we can do. While we are preoccupied with immediate health and job concerns, it is easy to forget the environmental crises threatening our planet including the huge increase in plastic waste and single use products. Coronavirus has sparked a rush for plastic; the demand for PPE and takeaway food containers are just two areas in which this demand has increased, since a lot of this plastic cannot be recycled, the amount of waste has risen rapidly.

Policies created before the onset of the pandemic such as the UK’s ban on plastic straws have been pedalled back or delayed. The slowdown in global demand for crude oil has cut the price for ‘virgin plastic’ which threatens the viability of recycled plastic.

“Since 1950, the world has created 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste, 91% of which has never been recycled” Source: Reuters

At this point you are probably thinking ‘what has this got to do with art?’ Well, to you I say, look to the Hatton Gallery and Kurt Schwitters, an artist whose art is rooted in resourcefulness. In WW2, when he was interned on the Isle of Man, Schwitters mixed sardine oil with brick dust to create paint and made statues from porridge, waste material formed the basis of his work.

“I could see no reason why used tram tickets, bits of driftwood, buttons and old junk from attics and rubbish heaps should not serve well as materials for paintings” “It is possible to cry out using bits of old rubbish, and that’s what I did, gluing and nailing them together” The lessons Schwitters conveys through his art of resourcefulness and recycling are as relevant now as then, given the climate crisis we face. So, when the inevitable lockdown boredom does hit, why not pass the time with one of our zero-waste activities. Let Schwitters inspire you to think about and make green art …

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The Hatton Gallery is very pleased to be working in partnership with students from the BA Geography course. This partnership has been running for several years now and we hope it will continue into the future .We see it as a great opportunity to engage in a crossdisciplinary approach, which always brings about a fresh outlook.

This year we have been working together on a Zero Waste project in a pandemic. One of the first exponents of repurposed and recycled collage work was the internationally acclaimed German artist Kurt Schwitters .We are very proud that the only remaining large threedimensional work by Schwitters , a wall from his ‘Merz Barn’ is housed in the Hatton Gallery.

Linking in with this famous artwork, members of the group have developed ideas of collage making, re-cycling materials, the re-use and non-wastage of food amongst other things.

It has been really difficult for the group to make ways in these pandemic times but they have done a marvelous job of pulling together entertaining and educational resources.

Here’s hoping that in the near future you will all be able to come and enjoy the art galleries and museums in this area including the Hatton Gallery which is on campus.

Merz Barn Wall by Kurt Schwitters. Originally created in a barn in Elterwater, Cumbria, housed in the Hatton gallery since 1965

WHAT YOU NEED: o o o o

Scrap material (leaflets, magazines, card etc.)

Glue Scissors Paper INSTRUCTIONS: o

o

o

Look through your scrap material to find interesting shapes, textures and colours to cut out When you have gathered enough bits, lay these out on your page to try and make an interesting pattern (TOP TIP: try to avoid too many straight lines, aim to have plenty of diagonals and curves) Once you’ve decided on a layout you like stick these pieces down and voila ‘zero waste art’

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BBQ BANANA PEEL INGREDIENTS: o o o o o o o o

SIMPLE SCRAP SOUP INGREDIENTS: o o o o o o o o o o o

INSTRUCTIONS:

3 tablespoons of oil Approximately 600g of scraps (carrot peelings, radish, fennel, celery, potato peelings, ends of red cabbage, tops of cucumbers and leftover lettuce).

The juice of 1 lemon 1 tsp of garlic 1 tsp of ginger 1 tsp of turmeric (optional) 1 tsp of chilli flakes (optional) 1 tsp salt 1 tsp marmite or a vegetable stock cube 2 litres of water 3 bars of Weetabix (to thicken)

INSTRUCTIONS: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)

Add the oil to a deep pan on medium heat.

Add the leftover scraps and cook them until they are golden.

Add the lemon juice, spices and marmite and cook for a few minutes.

Add the water and bring to the boil.

Cover with lid and lower heat and leave to cook through for an hour.

Take off the heat, add the Weetabix and stir through.

Use a stick blender for a smooth finish or leave for a chunky soup.

In 2019 Newcastle University declared a climate emergency with the aim of achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions across campus by 2040

5 ways you can reduce your carbon footprint whilst at university and across the toon: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Walk and cycle instead of using a vehicle Reduce water usage, take shorter showers Reduce food waste, plan meals efficiently Switch off lights and electronics when not in use Do full loads of laundry and let clothes air dry

Sustainability wordsearch: ZERO WASTE ENERGY REUSE PRESERVATION REDUCE CONSUMPTION ECONOMIC RECYCLE DEVELOPMENT GLOBAL

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4 tbsp oil 2 medium onions, sliced 1 crushed garlic clove 6 ripe banana peels, shredded ½ tsp oil 2 tbsp BBQ sauce 2 tbsp brown sauce 1 tbsp ketchup

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7)

Heat oil on a medium-high heat in a non-stick pan.

Add onions and cook until brown and sweet.

Add garlic.

Shred banana peel. For this, take the bottom and top off, lay the peel flat on a surface and use a fork to shred the peel into strips.

Add banana peel to the onion and cook it down for about 5 minutes.

And add salt, ketchup, brown sauce and BBQ sauce.

Cook for a further couple of minutes.

The Green Project, which ran in early 2020 was designed by four geography students from Newcastle University and explored making artwork by reusing and recycling materials. The project was inspired by the work of artist Kurt Schwitters who is famous for reusing and incorporating objects and materials found in the ‘everyday’ to create abstract artwork.

Part of the project was working with the artist Ross H. Frew who demonstrated a technique to create sustainable fabric by fusing together discarded plastic bags. Although the project took place in the Hatton Gallery, here are some easy instructions how to produce your very own sustainable fabric at home.

WHAT YOU NEED: o o o o o o

Plastic bags, a mix of colours is good! (Check the bags have the HDPE recycling triangle, this means they are safe to use Scissors Iron Towel Baking paper (most people will have some at home, if not supermarkets should sell it for less than £2) Extra: sewing materials if you want to accessorize or turn your material into new objects

Some examples of what you can make with this technique!

1)

Start by preparing your materials, Cut the plastic bags into shapes that you want to bond together. Maybe try squares and larger shapes whilst practicing and becoming familiar with how the material reacts to the heat.

2)

Set up your ironing board and lay the towel on top as an extra layer of insulation.

3)

Turn on the iron. Make sure your steam setting is switched to ‘OFF’ and the heat is set to ‘medium’. (Too hot an iron will shrink and melt the bags before you can make them into anything)

4)

Roll out the baking parchment along the length of your ironing board. This layer is important so that the plastic bags don’t stick and fuse to the surface you are ironing on to - or to the iron.

5)

Lay and layer up your plastic shapes out on top of the baking parchment. You can fuse together several layers, one at a time.

The more layers you add, the stronger and more brittle the result will be.

6)

Roll another layer of baking parchment on top of the plastic bags, where you are going to apply the heat, so that the plastic is sandwiched between two layers of baking parchment

7)

Gently apply the hot iron to the baking parchment over the areas you want to fuse together. Keep checking and adjusting the temperature if you do not see results. If the iron is too hot you will see the plastic shrink straight away.

8)

Keep adding layers and shapes of plastic bags. The bigger you make your sheet of ‘fabric’, the more you can do with the finished product.

9)

Time to get creative! Using multiple pieces of this new fabric you could using sewing materials such as needles as thread to work into and combine the sheets of fabric. During the Green project people combined different things to make some really cool items including Hats, bags, wallets and pictures.

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CAMPAIGNING HATE CRIME: Hate crimes are acts of violence or hostility directed at people because of who they are.

“The term 'hate crime' can be used to describe a range of criminal behaviour where the perpetrator is motivated by hostility or demonstrates hostility towards the victim's disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender identity.”

(Crown Prosecution Service, 2017)

MISOGYNY: Women are disproportionately targeted in acts of hostility, yet gender and misogyny have not been recognised as motivating factors in the definition of hate crime used by the police.

Misogyny is violence, abuse and misconduct targeted towards and perpetrated against women and those perceived to be women.

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• • • • • • • • •

What is the Law commission?

• Since 2018 member organisations of Tyne and Wear Citizens (notably Newcastle Central Mosque) and student activist groups have been campaigning for the recognition of intersections between misogyny, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate.

• One high profile campaign to Reclaim the Metro saw Muslim women speak out against abuse they faced on public transport. Leaders won a new Hate Crime Charter from transport companies, demonstrating the success of broadbased community organising.

• Student activist groups (in Nottingham, Manchester, and Newcastle) have helped to reshape the legal landscape relating to #Misogyny is Hate, meeting with the Law Commission in 2019 to share their experiences of misogyny.

PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS- WHAT ARE THESE?

• The Law Commission is a statutory independent body with the aim to ensure that the law is as fair as possible. It conducts research and consultations on key issues of public concern to make recommendations for consideration by Parliament.

Age Disability Gender reassignment Marriage and civil partnership Pregnancy and maternity Race Religion or belief Sex Sexual orientation

• As a strategic partner with Tyne & Wear Citizens’ Safer Cities Action Team, Newcastle University hosted one of the Law Commission consultations held throughout 2019. Campaigners shared stories of everyday harassment and violence.

Their testimonies directly impacted the Commission’s recommendation in 2020 to recognise misogyny hate crime legislation.

• (Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2020)

ON HATE CRIME TESTIMONIES FROM ‘IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE IT HAPPENS, IT JUST HAPPENS’ (VIDEO PRODUCED BY NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS)

On 17 March 2021 the government announced that police forces in England are advised to collect data on all crimes that appear to be motivated by hostility towards women – a key step towards making misogyny a hate crime.

This information will feed into the ongoing work of the Law Commission to address the intersections of misogyny and multiple protected characteristics (as listed below).

After the killing of Sarah Everard, who disappeared while walking home in south London, we must not stop campaigning to ensure that everyone feels safe to walk in public spaces free from fear of violence and abuse.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Step 1 understanding misogyny and hate crime Step 2 Actively engage with your local government to see what's already being done Step 3 Get involved with social activist groups and encourage others to get involved

QUIZ

1. A hate crime is…

2. What are the 3 different ways the UK law deals with hate crime?

3. What is misogyny?

4. Which of these are protected characteristics?

Race

Sexual orientation

Disability

All of the above

5. What is the Law Commission?

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VODA: Developing the Voluntary and Community Sector VODA is a charity in North Tyneside which provides support, advice and training to local volunteers and community organisations. It helps to develop the voluntary and community sector by providing diverse services and representing the views of the sector to government and policy makers on a local and national level. Their belief is that volunteers and community organisations change lives for the better.

Newcastle University geography students (Zoe, Beth, Catherine, Francesca and Harry) explain how they found creative ways to help people in the local area – working with VODA through lockdown.

Assembling isolation hampers and digital guides Our first group project working with VODA came just at the country went into another lockdown. It involved us assembling isolation hampers for children of different ages who were shielding at home.

We gave a lot of thought to what children might enjoy at a tough time in their life. We sourced items like skipping ropes, bath bombs and sweets from local suppliers, ensuring the best value within a tight budget. VODA ordered the products, and we spent an afternoon packing the hampers at a safe distance.

We know from lovely feedback that these isolation hampers were a great success.

We loved being able to put a smile on children’s faces.

How VODA responded to the Pandemic

For another project we produced digital guides for older people, or people who struggle with using the internet. In pairs we created three guides: how to do an online groceries shop, a Zoom and WhatsApp guide and a guide on how to book a GP appointment online. We made the guides simple but engaging so they were accessible for all.

Robin Fry, CEO, explains how they gained a new army of volunteers since the onset of the pandemic. “Volunteers came from all walks of life - from vicars to estate agents - stepping up to provide vital support with shopping, prescription collections and emergency food parcel deliveries”. To safely recruit and induct these new volunteers, VODA quickly developed new online training animations that were adopted by 31 different charities across the country.

Volunteers not only provide a lifeline for hundreds of vulnerable people but also benefit themselves from this experience. Leigh, an enthusiastic volunteer said: “The feeling of a community working together for the benefit of others has been really special. The organisation and the people running the project have been so friendly, helpful, and efficient. Overall, the project has brought so many people together for the needs of others – a great positive to come out of this crisis.”

Our NT Life Recovery College also reached out to residents who were vulnerable due to their mental ill-health, distributing 200 ‘Little Boxes of Hope’, each containing a series of exercises, contacts, poems, and small gifts. One recipient said: “I was having a really bad day today. In fact, I was close to ending everything. I can’t describe how much it means to me. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To know someone thinks enough to put something like that together and deliver it is the most amazing thing I have ever had.”

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Why we chose to do Community Volunteering in Geography at Newcastle University “I was curious to learn more about the voluntary sector and the impact that volunteering can have on the local community. By volunteering with VODA through my Newcastle University course, I feel I have stepped out of the student bubble (even if mostly digitally!) - more involved in Tyneside local communities”.

We took inspiration from VODAs core values, ‘to be empowering and supporting the community to become self-sufficient’: our motivations were to help vulnerable people use digital connection to feel more independent, safe, and less socially isolated.

“Thank you on behalf of Olivia for the hamper/bag that she received last week. It definitely put a smile in her face, the gifts inside were a lovely thought.” (Mum of Olivia)

I was drawn to volunteer with VODA

“Thank you so much for sending the wonderful isolation hamper to Izzy. We are writing to say how much it cheered us all up. It was an extremely kind and thoughtful gesture and shone a little ray of sunshine! It has been an extremely difficult year for everyone but especially for all the young people, it was especially nice that the idea had come from young people to young people.” (Mum of Izzy)

For example, the Community Health Champions project delivers important health messages quickly to members of the community who might otherwise be excluded.

“Just wanted to pass on our thanks for the Isolation Hamper. It was a lovely surprise and made my son very happy.”(Happy Parent) “Thank you very very very much for my isolation hamper present. I’ve done 4 of the puzzle things, eaten a bit of my sweets and done skipping too.” (Happy Child)

Beth

“One of my favourite activities was to put together the isolation hampers. The positive feedback we received was heart-warming and helped to show how the work we have done has had a real impact on people’s lives”.

Har r y

because of their goals centred around the pandemic, aiming to help vulnerable people in the local community through the largest health crisis we have ever faced.

VODA has worked on promoting the app LIVI, which gives people the opportunity to speak to their GP through a video call format.

As part of our volunteering, we were able to help produce easy to read guides for older people, displaying the vital messaging that, despite tough lockdown restrictions, the NHS is always open for any non-COVID related concerns.

Francesca

“Community Volunteering in Geography has been a great way to feel more connected to my peers and local community in what has been a challenging year for all of us”.

ine r e h t a C

“Working on projects as a group with VODA that have helped reduce loneliness and digital barriers in North Tyneside during the Covid-19 pandemic has been a rewarding experience and one of the highlights of my final year at Newcastle University”.

“I was looking for ways to learn about the non-profit sector – other than from a textbook - so I am so pleased to have been able to volunteer in the community as part of my geography degree this year.

The pandemic has shown us how important it is to pull together – for the mutual benefit of all – and volunteering has given me a tremendous sense of fulfilment.

There is an aspect of self-care in this too. I have been able to form new connections with fellow students at a time when social interaction has been so limited..”

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Just Change – Tyne and Wear Citizens Who are Tyne and Wear Citizens?

Tyne and Wear Citizens are a North East based community organising association. As a chapter of Citizens UK, they aim to collectively tackle issues around poverty, safer cities and mental health in order to promote social justice.

What is the ‘Just Change’ campaign?

The ‘Just Change’ campaign was launched in 2019 with the objective of tackling child hunger and inequality within the school environment. The project creates Free School Meals that ensure all children fair treatment – the same as their peers. Tyne and Wear Citizens believe it is not right that children who are eligible for Free School Meals are feeling stigmatised, disadvantaged and left to go hungry - because they cannot access the money they qualify for.

“The North East has the most frequently used food banks”

”The North East has ... some of the worstlevels of child poverty in the UK.” “65 million a year in unused allowances is being retained by school meals providers.”

Successes:

• This action group has already negotiated four schools to operate a Fair Change System.

• Park View School, where the campaign started, now use unused dinner money to support pupils on Free School Meals with extra tuition and discounts on school trips and uniforms.

• By allowing children to receive their unused money, Carmel College has returned around £17,000 to their children through an updated IT system which allows the unutilised money to remain as credit

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Why highlight this campaign now?

• We have seen during the current pandemic how much children and parents need fair and flexible access to nutritious food (meals in schools or food parcels; national vouchers; local vouchers; cash payments etc).

• “32% of households with children have lost income since late March” due to redundancies and furlough schemes.

• Some food parcels given to children on Free School Meals during the pandemic are inadequate.

Marcus Rashford, an advocate for fairer Free School Meals and their continuous provision during the school holidays, says the call to “#endchildfoodpoverty is not about children going hungry during the school holidays, it is about children going hungry full stop”

Free School Meals are provided for children in need until the end of their schooling. However, food poverty does not end there…

Advice for university students: Limit waste – meal plan Cook in bulk – freeze for a later date

Affordable meal examples at: Tin Can Cook Book – 75 Simple Store-cupboard Recipes…

Buy own bands Use supermarket loyalty cards and check if shops offer student discount

Food Banks:

• COVID-19 has increased student’s dependency on food banks • If you are struggling with food insecurity, Trussell Trust food banks in the North East include Gateshead, Newcastle Westend, Walker and District and Durham.

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Desert Island Discs: Lockdown Edition I’m sure everybody wants to run away to a tropical island to spend lockdown- at least I know I do!

That got me thinking...What music has carried you through lockdown?

Acquiesce – Oasis This B-side from the legendary 90s British band begins with younger brother Liam Gallagher seemingly voicing our collective frustrations and desires in life. However, it is the chorus break in which older brother Noel passionately asserts that “we need each other, we believe in one another” which really shines as the impact of the track.

Throughout lockdown and during our lives it is important to hold on to those around us and reconnect with each other. This track will hopefully provide a reminder that we are all in this together, regardless of the small differences.

After the Storm – Kali Uchis - We cannot forget that we can also be our own heroes during the hardest periods in our lives. This smooth R&B track acts as a reminder that it is sometimes the person in the mirror who can provide the bright moments to escape from such difficulties as lockdown. These dark times during the pandemic may seem endlessly bleak but just remember “don’t quit… the sun’ll come out” because there are better times on the other side.

Canned Heat – Jamiroquai - This irresistibly funky track will bring anyone and everyone to their feet to dance all their cares and troubles away. During lockdown we have been cooped up indoors, yet this should not mean we cannot still have fun.

Regardless of what our troubles are, there is only one universal cure – getting to our feet and dancing!

Have Some Love – Childish Gambino - Empowerment during a time when many of us feel powerless and stuck in a rut does not come easy. Yet, this track reminds us that we can all share feelings of community and sympathy with each other, especially in the present. If everyone can stay together and remember this, very little can stop us from pulling through to happier days.

Here Comes the Sun – Nina Simone - A touching and delicate rendition of the Beatles’ celebrated track provides the backdrop for a message which assuredly we all need at some point in our lives. Everyone in life can experience dark times for a multitude of reasons and it is important to remember that there is nothing wrong with that. Although you may not feel like smiling, during a time such as this, a happier future is as certain as the sunrise in the morning.

- Kameron T YNES ID (0191) E MIND 47 7454 5

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Kameron and Henry have been volunteering with Tyne and Wear Citizens on a campaign to improve access to, and experience of, mental health services in Tyne and Wear. Instead of dwelling on the details, we have compiled our Lockdown Desert Island Discs- music that has kept us relatively sane during these unprecedented times. If you are struggling, that’s okay. Support is there for you. Please reach out and TALK to someone.

If you were stuck on a desert island during lockdown (it may feel as though we are right now!), what 5 songs would you take with you and why?

I would begin with the song “How to Disappear Completely” by Radiohead, off the album Kid A, released in 2000. The song describes the consequence of life becoming too much in the context of intense touring pressures and a rock-star lifestyle, but Thom Yorke’s lyrics also resonate with what we are experiencing now. “I’m not here, this isn’t happening”, suggests a poor way of coping with stressful times. Yet it reminds us that hiding away and not acknowledging mental health problems only worsens their effects.

Accepting that we have solutions to issues that we encounter in lockdown is empowering.

- Eleasha

The third song I have chosen is the energetic “Give Yourself A Try” by the band 1975, off the record “A brief enquiry into online relationships”. This song never fails to put a smile on my face. It reminds us that mistakes are natural and should be learnt from, not a source of shame to dwell on too long. The lyrics describe a man coming to the end of his youth, looking back, and offering advice to younger people looking up to him. He talks about collecting mistakes that together form a bigger picture from which you grow and mature. The idea is that you keep experimenting in life until you land on what makes you happy or complete. This links to the tough journey we’ve all had to face during lockdown.

My second song choice is “Samaritans” by the punk band Idles. It is off the album “Joy as an Act of Resistance”. In contrast to the first song, this one The fourth song is “Hometown” by the French electronic artist French 79. directly addresses and discusses another issue which has flown under the This song is best enjoyed alongside the accompanying music video. This will radar during lockdown. “This is why, you’ll never see your father cry” is a unlock the memories and emotions that promote happiness in a time of line which highlights a tough time for some fathers currently, given the way stress or boredom, much like many have done over lockdown. Contacting austerity and unemployment reinforces feelings of economic redundancy family and friends, reminiscing, and looking forward to a fuller future is and worthlessness. We must challenge these stereotypes. It is mentally an important and effective method of coping with lockdown. This song is a tough to lose your work-based identity. The song provides an important wonderful reminder of this. reminder to always talk about issues, no matter where you feel you fit in society.

The final song I have chosen is “A Hero’s Death” by the Irish band Fountaines D.C. This song is a wonderful burst of a positive message, based around the phrase “Life ain’t always empty”. It reminds us to find meaning in everything so that we can maintain a positive mindset. The use of repetition reminds us of slogans and continues to test the mantra. This song is a great reminder to always look forward and keep your head high, particularly in times as dark as lockdown.

- Henry

YOUR MIN D MAT TERS

WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS

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The Green Fair Healthy group are an action team working with Tyne and Wear Citizens.We aim to address the global threat of climate change by working to create local action on three key themes: improved access to green space, clean air, and better public transport.

Aims: ● Working on increasing affordability of public transport ● Creating and improving green spaces - making them accessible to all. Making parks safer and replacing damaged play equipment. ● Improving air quality and promoting clean air initiatives We want to act locally whilst thinking globally, prioritising our communities now and into the future.

SUSTAINABILITY ON CAMPUS Despite lockdowns and limited use of the campus, the university has still been implementing actions to improve its sustainability.

GEOGRAPHY SOCIETY ● ●

Key example of sustainable approaches within societies Elected an Environment and Sustainability ‘Student Voice’ Representative and identified several priorities: ○ Encourage sustainability at home ○ Improve sustainability on campus ○ Emphasise environmental sustainability within taught modules ○ Pledge to make student society events ‘green’

NCL Sustainable campus ● ●

● ●

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A sustainability team has been organising events throughout lockdown with the university, societies at NUSU and guest speakers ‘Shaping Futures’- NUSU Climate Change Campaign, ran 1-7th March, inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Future Under Climate Crisis campaign last year.

This involved a mixture of talks, cook- and bake-a-longs, and an arts and craft session.

Focus on three of the SDGs: Goal 4: Quality Education; Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; Goal 13: Climate Action

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Sustainable transport

Sustainable transport: Escooters: ● ● ● ●

https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/citylife-news/transport/e-scooter-trial-launches-newcast le 250 escooters available around Newcastle Neuron mobility operates 12 month trial- backed by the government as part of a national look at whether e-scooters should be legalised for use in the UK GPS-enabled, Neuron and Newcastle City council will use geofencing technology to control where they are ridden and parked and how fast they can travel in certain areas by creating slow-zones, no-ride zones and no-parking zones.

Advantages: ● ● ●

Sustainable transport Free/reduced cost transport for the NHS- Supporting key workers Socially distanced travel option and scooters sanitised on regular basis

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Dangerous- people must be educated on ride safety and rules of the road to be able to use and ride escooters properly Expensive- £10 an hour, pricey for longer journeys etc.

Disadvantages: ●

Bicycles: ● ●

https://www.thecyclehub.org/ The Cycle Hub- encourages cycle transport by offering bike services to repair bicycles and offering bookable bikes people can ride around Newcastle

Advantages: ● ● ● ●

Encourages people to exercise and have a healthy lifestyle Sustainable transport around city Accessible- different sizes of bikes and adapted bikes to suit those who have restricted mobility and accessibility issues Cheaper than electric scooters- £25 a day whilst escooters £10 an hour

Disadvantages: ●

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Limited availability- only from one area in Newcastle (The Cycle Hub), have limited amount of bikes and have to book online in advance, not everyone (particularly older people)has access to the internet/website to book a bicycle Although it is cheaper than some rentals, some people will be priced out and unable to ride bikes around Newcastle

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Student Volunteering!

Why is student volunteering important?

Student volunteering provides the opportunity to be directly involved with social issues in local communities e.g. poverty, mental health and hate crimes, leaving a lasting positive impact. Being an active member of society helps to provide a greater respect for the local area and leads to students being more active citizens. It enables students to grow in self-esteem: it helps them to develop personal and graduate skills such as, leadership, communication, problem-solving and the power of collaborating with other people who share the same passions.

“Citizens UK has massively helped my personal development providing excellent leadership and communication skills. Being given the chance to have a hands-on approach on a variety of campaigns havs been both inspiring and rewarding. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed helping make a positive impact on individuals and their communities across the North East. During my second year at university I managed to secure a Community Events and Fundraising Internship with an international development organisation, that I completed during COVID-19. I received really positive feedback from companies about how unique my Citizens experience has been and how impressed they were with the campaigns I worked on. Student volunteering has helped motivate me to become involved with Public Health services once I graduate.” - Ellie

What skills can you gain from volunteering in the third sector?

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Leadership Communication Empathy

- Resilience - Organisation - Adaptability

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter “I have worked with two partners over the past two years– Byker Community Luther King Jr Centre and East End Women. This has given meMartin the opportunity to work with a variety of different people and be involved in many different campaigns.

I even got the chance to be part of breaking a World Record – something I never thought I would be able to do whilst at university! It has been incredibly rewarding to be a part of organisations that are making a positive impact on local communities in Newcastle. It has also aided my own personal growth; enabling me to learn skills whilst working alongside people who share the same passions.

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Student volunteering has opened my eyes to the many directions that my degree can lead. This has motivated me to pursue further studies in social work, with the aim to continue working closely with local communities in my future career.”

- Grace

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Communication Empathy

- Organisation - Adaptability

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter Martin Luther King Jr

“Volunteering has opened up lots of new and interesting opportunities that initially I hadn’t even considered. The most rewarding part has been working with different partners including the Hatton Gallery and also Youth Focus North East. It has allowed me to meet loads of new people from different walks of life and I feel like what I have done is making an impact.” - Sal

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with Citizens due to the responsibility we are given to make a real change in Newcastle communities. A particular highlight was being able to individually conduct desk-based research around the schools-based counselling campaign and speak to Bristol Grammar School to gain further knowledge”. - Niamh

Top Tips 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Be open-minded and maintain communication with people around you.

Give 100% and throw yourself into every opportunity even if it’s out your comfort zone!

Set goals and focus on the steps needed to achieve your desired outcome.

People-power: foster a ‘do it together approach’ in order to create collective responsibility, togetherness and help empower others.

Enjoy the process and celebrate your achievements remember every win, big or small, will leave a lasting, positive impact on your local community!

“I’ve enjoyed connecting with the local community which I hadn’t done previously in other years at University. It’s given me the opportunity to work with different people who share similar passions.” Sam

Newcastle University Students Union has a department dedicated to ALL students thinking to volunteer, gain new experiences, and put something back into the community. A newsletter, training events, opportunities to get involved and even a grants fund to set up a new project are all available at

www.nusu.co.uk/volunteering

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The additional bits of artwork and overall editing of this publication were by Mike who shares drawings as @mrmrduckett on Instagram, and who works to support student volunteer projects at Newcastle University Students Union www.nusu.co.uk/volunteering/

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