Pret Newcastle, Northumberland Street

ReCoCo is an independent peer-led mental health charity commissioned by the NHS and others to deliver groups, courses, activities, engagement work, training and research in and around mental health (interpreting mental health in a broad inclusive fashion, thus acknowledging crossovers with drug and alcohol issues, troubled family situations, poverty, learning disability and autism spectrum problems etc.). Everything we do is guided, steered and delivered by people with direct lived experience of distress and “complex needs”. That said, we are reluctant to talk in terms of complex needs, because when people relate their stories, they aren’t complex, but very understandable, with intersecting factors. The complexity arises with the traditional system’s response to people, and its tendency to deal with problems singly, and in a linear fashion. ReCoCo works in collaboration with mental health service providers and other organisations that share our aims, in an ‘open source’ and non-proprietary way, to provide a safe space where people can learn from each other and form connections and friendships which aid and sustain their recovery. Improving people’s human connectedness is at the heart of what we do, as those who’ve experienced mental distress typically experience multiple disadvantages and are marginalized by their problems, by people’s responses to those problems and by the material poverty that usually accompanies severe and enduring mental health problems. For the past few years we've been a warm hub in conjunction with both Newcastle and Gateshead Councils. The need for something to eat and somewhere to connect is all year round though. With small donations - both monetary (from a couple of generous donors) and some food surplus from a local bakery we've managed to extend the hub year round, becoming a community hub running our Tea and Toast session in the summer and serving homemade soup with bread in the winter. As the cost of living continues to rise and both wages and welfare stagnate we wish to continue this extension of service, utilising surplus food to reduce food waste and help our most students out with groceries and cheap and easy recipes for cooking at home. We have a strong and abiding passion for people-powered health, peer-support and examining power structures and imbalances in mental health and healthcare more broadly. We work together to dissolve traditional boundaries and transcend socially constructed barriers; professional vs layperson, statutory sector vs voluntary sector, primary vs secondary care, health vs social care, teacher vs learner to better utilise and mobilise finite resources for the good of the entire community.

We are sending out parcels to people in our local communities NE13. Also covering NE postcodes as well as Northumberland, Sunderland, North Tyneside. if a NEED (condition, illness or high risk) comes in such as an isolated young lady, pregnant with no means to access the stores or family we will support and help with emergency food parcel until she can get her benefits and delivery slot with supermarket, we will also welfare check every client who is isolated. we have a whole row of bungalows of isolated elderly who have not come out since told not to, and not be able to access family as a family are either no longer here or isolated themselves. Support and advice for families with an additional, complex and, or neurological need. encourage inclusion in external activities and confidence to express growth and co-production with all relevant services. reduce family and child poverty in the home and school. reduce and support individuals with mental health and pre-diagnosis in spectrum conditions. encourage volunteer and work opportunities. Mother and babies parcels for pregnant and new mums

The majority of people who live with us at Tyne have experienced complex issues in their lives and often come to us after being excluded from other housing options due to their lifestyle, offending history or difficulties in managing finances. Most residents have experienced periods of homelessness or unstable housing and struggle with multiple social and health issues relating to addiction and mental wellbeing. We have over 360 bed-spaces made up of shared houses, specialist supported provisions, smaller shared flats and self-contained flats. Our housing model is always designed to focus on the individual's own personal needs, meeting them where they are, building a trusting relationship and working together in partnership to get to a better place. Our work is far-reaching and varied, we stand by and support people who many agencies struggle to engage with, focusing on building their strengths to help them take ownership of the challenges ahead. The unique range of services we provide means we’re constantly learning and evolving, ensuring we’re engaging with models and theories that truly work. The impact report produced this year is helping us to do just that, alongside providing us with the tools we need to measure our success going forward. Byker Bridge House is our emergency accommodation provision in Newcastle. It’s staffed 24/7 by a team of specialist housing and support workers and offers 31 short-term bed spaces to adults facing homelessness across the city. People who come to Byker Bridge House tend to be at crisis point and are referred to us from services such as prison, probation or hospital via Newcastle City Council’s Housing Advice Centre. Residents are often experiencing complex issues relating to drug and alcohol abuse, mental health issues and anti-social behaviour. Byker Bridge House exists to provide people with safety and security with a roof over their heads and access to food and drink, warmth and rest.