The Meadow Well Teenage | Community Links & Aspirations Programme
Funded by the National Lottery Awards for All Community Fund, we successfully delivered a twelve-week early intervention programme for ten Year 9 girls, selected by the Head of Year, at Norham High School. Our Wellbeing Programme has helped the girls learn how to build better friendships, have a better understanding of how others are feeling and become integral members of the local Meadow Well Community.
To help engage students in their local community, Sarah McDonald, from Meadow Well Connected, delivered a talk on how our young people can reconnect with their community and the volunteering opportunities available outside of school. Our young people now have the opportunity to support these initiatives as future volunteers themselves.
In order to develop their aspirations and cultural experiences, we took the group on a residential visit to London. Many of the young people had never been on a train, never been to London, and never been to the theatre before, so they found the whole trip a revelation. London allowed the young people to develop more confidence in social situations, and many of them pushed themselves out of their comfort zone.
Building Self-Belief CIO delivered a twelve-week programme for ten Year 9 girls, selected by the Head of Year, at Norham High School. Our Wellbeing Programme has helped the girls learn how to build better friendships, have a better understanding of how others are feeling and become integral members of the local Meadow Well Community.
“My favourite part was making new friends and extending my friendship circle with people I am not usually with.”
- Group Participant
Youth Social Action / October 5th, 2022
Celebrating Black History
Celebrate, Educate, Inspire – Our Trustee Gary Jones has been invited to a special reception at Parliament on the 26th October 2022 to celebrate Black History Month.
Youth Social Action / January 8th, 2025
Know Your Neighbourhood Project / January 8th, 2025
Benfieldside Community Garden / January 8th, 2025
NE Charity Awards 2025, Maya Patterson
One of our fabulous volunteers, Maya Patterson achieved the Highly Commended Award at the NE Charity Awards in September 2025, for her voluntary work with Building Self-Belief CIO. She was recognised as a Young Charity Champion of the year for her major contribution to Building Self-Belief, in particular for her support with the youth clubs and at Benfieldside Community Garden. Well done Maya, this is very well deserved!
Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / March 9th, 2023
Teenage Emotional Wellbeing and Environmental Engagement
Our project used environmental, and creative arts related activities, to support the young people’s emotional wellbeing and self-confidence. The programme’s activities developed their arts-based skills and also included visits to Haystax Inclusive Farm Experience in County Durham, where they participated in a range of environmental based activities.