Serving the community in the Elswick, Westgate and Wingrove wards of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Our History
Centre West has a long history of helping local people make a difference to life in the West End of Newcastle. Our charitable company picked up the baton from Newcastle New Deal for Communities as a successful ten-year regeneration programme came to an end in 2010.
Just like Centre West, New Deal was led by local residents, making a difference by tackling six main themes:
Homes & Environment
- Over 2000 homes improved
- Nunsmoor & Elswick Parks upgraded
- Artistic makeover for Stanhope Street
- Over 46 hectares of open space improved
- Multi-lingual housing advice service set up
- Neighbourhood improvements chosen by residents
- £32 million transformation of Riverside Dene (Cruddas Park)
Jobs and Business
- Over 1300 residents helped into jobs
- Over 300 businesses supported through first year of trading
- ‘Go West’ shop offering free jobs help
- Shop for Jobs scheme helped over 150 residents into retail work
- Thousands of residents benefited from training
- Four social enterprises set up
- Fewer households living on low incomes
Crime and Community Safety
- Crime rate almost halved during the ten-year programme
- ‘New Deal’ Police Team established
- Burglary – and fear of burglary – reduced
- Youth disorder reduced
- Arson rate cut in half
- Free security upgrades for 1000 homes
- Improved CCTV and crime-busting technology
Education
- Increased pupil achievement at Key Stage 2, 3 and 4
- Doubled the number of people with NVQs, almost doubled the number with AS-level qualifications and increased ‘A’ level equivalent qualifications by 30%
- New £1.5 million Nunsmoor Centre
- New facilities and classroom assistants at primary schools
- Breakfast clubs, parent link workers and inclusion project to help pupils achieve in school
- Planet Plus project to help kids get their education back on track
- New First Step women’s centre
Health
- £1 million makeover for Elswick Pool
- Community Kitchen to promote healthier cooking
- Focus on different community needs – such as cardiac health in Asian communities
- Pensioners’ incomes boosted by a combined £500,000
- Free carbon monoxide detectors to thousands of homes
- Support for anyone facing domestic violence
Our Community
- More than £280,000 raised by community groups with our support
- Over 60 local groups supported
- Over 100 initiatives to support community groups
- Over 90 community consultations
- Over 25 new community organisations set up
- Award-winning publications to spread the word about changes
Centre West has taken a new approach since the ten-year programme ended in 2010 – writing a new chapter with fewer resources, but plenty of energy and determination. You can find out more about our work online, send us a message, call us on 0191 242 4894, or email us.
