Building Self-Belief deliver programmes, projects, and training; all with the aim to build stronger communities by building self-belief. We have significantly improved the mental health, self-esteem and life chances of thousands of vulnerable young people across the North East. We run a newly launched community centre and a Kew Gardens award winning community garden.
Who do we help?
Building Self-Belief's core aim is to build stronger communities by building self-belief. We run a series of programmes for children in areas that are socio-economically ‘deprived’ according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) measures.
We deliver group workshops around wellbeing, building aspiration, future planning, teambuilding and cultural activities to support vulnerable young people in building better local communities.
As we have evolved, we also have to fabulous community spaces. Benfeldside Community Garden for our eco projects, toddler group, and gardening clubs, plus a fabulous space for Forest School. We also have a new community building at Steel Street, in the heart of Consett, where we deliver numerous community sessions.
Our Programmes
Research into young people's mental health has concluded that they are most vulnerable when having to cope with change. Therefore, we have created our programmes to support young people when they are most in need of emotional support.
Building Self-Belief Main Programmes:
- Wellbeing Programme
- Heritage Programme
- Employability Programme
- Environmental Programme
Our Projects
Working in collaboration with others is something that we think is extremely important. We conduct a range of projects, some have been transforming spaces, others have been heritage projects. Connecting young people and connecting communities is an essential way to build self-belief.
Our Research
We have a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to working with young people and establishing how to get the very best out of them. Nevertheless, we feel it is important that we are always learning. Conducting our own primary research is an important element of what we do. Over the years we have collaborated with professionals and interns from Newcastle University to coordinate what has the potential to be very informative research. We also work closely with the Centre for Social Justice and regularly attend consultations about pverty in the north east, and how to alleviate it.
Who we Sponsor
We are absolutely delighted to be sponsoring Consett Anarchy fooball team. They approached us when they were short of funds to buy a kit and coats, so we stepped up as this is a great way to give something back in support of the local community. Our volunteer, Eddie Thomas, is also a Consett AFC first team player, so he came along to present the shirts and deliver a training session to the team. If you would like support from us for any projects in the community, please get in touch!
Forest School
As a team we are working with Benfieldside Primary School to deliver Forest School sessions. Part of our work this summer, will to work with our gardening club, to create a stronger Forest school ethos as a section our Benfieldside Community Garden. By September 2026, we will ready to launch our very own Forest School sessions for all ages! Watch this space!
Success stories
Wellbeing / Employability / July 17th, 2025
Wellbeing / Employability / July 17th, 2025
The Moorside 'Bridging the Gap' Youth Employability & Aspirations Programme
The ‘Moorside Bridging the Gap Youth Employability & Aspirations Programme’ was designed to raise the career-based aspirations of young people from Moorside in Consett. This programme was kindly supported by Point North and completed with Year 5 and 6 from Moorside Primary Academy.
Heritage / June 2nd, 2026
Gateshead schoolchildren honour victims of historic Stargate Pit Disaster
Crookhill Primary School have been working with Building Self Belief on a year 5 and 6 project about the pit disaster as well as learning about life in the Stargate and Crookhill area 200 years ago and about the changes that have taken place in the area since then.
Employability / July 1st, 2024
Consett "Bridging the Gap Youth Employability Programme."
The Consett "Bridging the Gap Youth Employability Programme" was kindly supported by Newcastle Building Society via the Tyne and Wear Community Foundation, and The Albert Hunt Trust. As part of this the students consulted the young people of the Consett Area as part of the preparation of the Consett Area Neighbourhood Plan..