Tyne & Wear
Tyne and Wear Citizens
Who are we?
We are Tyne & Wear Citizens, a Citizens UK Chapter.
Hundreds of people form our alliance from churches, mosques, schools, charities, trade union branches and a university. Together, we organise to tackle injustices in our local communities and bring about change.
What are we fighting for?
The priority issues voted on by members in our community include:
- Racial Justice in Education
- Tackling the Cost of Living Crisis
- A more Just Housing system for the region
Tyne & Wear Manifesto 2024
In the North East, the 35 members of Tyne & Wear Citizens undertook 1000s conversations to find out what's putting pressure on our communities, and how we can organise together to find solutions to some of the injustices being faced. We've created a manifesto of changes we're asking the new North East Mayor and Combined Authority to work with us on: from making the North East a Living Wage region, supporting mental health in schools to tackling racial inequality in education.
Founding Partners
- Newcastle Quakers
- Newcastle University - Institute for Social Renewal & HASS Humanities and Social Sciences Department
- CofE Diocese of Newcastle
- RC Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
- CofE Diocese of Durham
Strategic Partners
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle
- Newcastle University
Education
- Newcastle University
- NEAT Academy Trust
- Newcastle University Student’s Union
- Durham University Student’s Union
- St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School
- St Thomas More Catholic High School
- The Sixth Form at Southmoor
- University of Sunderland Student's Union
Faith
- All Saint’s Church Gosforth
- Communities Together Durham
- Northumbria Area Quakers
- Newcastle Central Mosque
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle
- St John the Baptist Church
- St James' United Reform Church
- The Parish of Saint Cuthbert and Saint Joseph, North Shields
- The Parish of the Durham Martyrs
Community
- Bright Futures
- Citizens Advice Newcastle
- Connected Voice
- Healthworks
- International Community Organisation of Sunderland
- New Horizon
- Ndi Igbo North East England (NINEE)
- North East Wellbeing
- Rape Crisis Tyneside & Northumberland
- Recovery College Collective (ReCoCo)
- Space4
- Suffrage Sisters Alliance
- Sunderland Bangladesh International Centre
- Tyneside Welcomes
- Wearside Women in Need
- West End Woman & Girls Centre
Trade Union
Sara Bryson (Lead Organiser)
sara.bryson@citizensuk.org
Claire Rodgerson (Senior Organiser)
claire.rodgerson@citizensuk.org
Wendy McConnell (Parent Action and Community Organiser)
wendy.mcconnell@citizensuk.org
Since our founding in 2015, we have:
- More than quadrupled the number of real Living Wage accredited employers in the North East – including Newcastle University, the University of Sunderland, North of Tyne Combined Authority and Sunderland City Council.
- Launched two Living Wage Cities - Sunderland and Newcastle.
- Run a national campaign – Just Change – so that young people on Free School Meals get the same treatment as their peers.
- Run a rapid response national campaign - so that young people on Free School Meals got access to food during school 'closures' in 2020.
- Held a Citizens Mental Health Commission - hearing over 300 testimonies leading to institutional changes to improve mental health and well-being in the region and to establishing the national School-Based Counselling Campaign.
- Reclaimed the Metro and won a Hate Crime Charter for public transport.
And more! Get in touch to find out.
Keep in touch
NEWS, STORIES AND UPDATES
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It's good to talk: how Tyne and Wear Citizens won change on mental healthThis mental health awareness week we're celebrating community leaders across Tyne and Wear who came together and made change on mental health. Within one year of forming an alliance, they created a 'Commission' working group and won campaigns across the region. Reverend Simon Mason breaks down how this was possible through the power of listening and testimony.
Read more -
Santa visits Sunderland: How workers won the real Living WageFirst, the University of Sunderland agree to pay all its staff a real Living Wage. Then it joined the campaign to launch Sunderland Living Wage City. And it was all thanks to a group of students, staff and Tyne and Wear Citizens leaders who spread the Christmas cheer by taking action for change.
Read more -
