Member Article

New charity partner for intu Eldon Square

intu Eldon Square has chosen national award winning regional charity Streetwise as its new charity partner for the coming year.

Streetwise is renowned for offering young people, aged 11 to 25, an informal, safe, confidential, non-judgemental space in the city centre where they can access free information, advice, counselling, support, community activities and sexual health services.

The charity partnership with intu Eldon Square will involve the shopping centre working closely with Streetwise, organising exciting and fun events in centre with the aim of raising as much money as possible to support the range of services Streetwise provides - including free counselling, workshops and financial advice.

Staff at intu Eldon Square have a proven track record of undertaking feats of endurance and exciting challenges to raise funds for their charity of the year - from hikes up Ben Nevis and exhausting cycling challenges to tackling the Great North Run and last year raised an impressive £12,000 for Hadrian School.

As part of the fundraising initiative, the team at intu Eldon Square have already pencilled in a trek around Kielder Water next summer.

Over the course of the year Streetwise will have access to free promotional space in centre, where the charity can fundraise and increase awareness of the services offered.

Volunteers from the charity plan to add a little sparkle to their visits by offering glitter tattoos - a novel way of engaging young people and, with a suggested donation of £1, a great way to raise extra funds.

As well as the new charity partnership with intu Eldon Square, Streetwise has just been shortlisted in the national Young People Now Awards 2017 for the Therapy Bites programme which offers young people in the north east help to access mental health self-help apps and online support.

Mandy Coppin, chief executive of Streetwise, commented: “This is a wonderful opportunity to develop our partnership work with intu, we are really looking forward to getting involved in lots of exciting activities and events with a view to promoting support services for north east young people.”

Clare Cannon, community manager intu north east, said:

“We received a host of applications from charities across the region but for us what stood out was the incredible commitment that Streetwise has shown to improving the quality of life for young people in the north east - making a real difference to the local community.

“Over the past 25 years Streetwise has not only established a warm welcoming space which empowers young people to grow into strong, confident adults but youth workers now take Streetwise into the neighbourhood where young people live, on their streets and parks.

“With a footfall of 35 million per year and a bustling location at the heart of the city centre, intu Eldon Square is uniquely placed to increase awareness of Streetwise directly to the young people it serves.

“This partnership represents an investment in the future of the north east and everyone at intu Eldon Square is eagerly anticipating the chance to raise funds for such an important charity.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lyn Spencer .