We were recently featured on BBC Look North for the work we're doing for our 'Bringing Back the Stocking' campaign. Check out the video below:

​As the Chief Executive Officer, I am immensely proud of all the residents that have engaged in the Nurture Nourish Thrive service. Each individual journey is a pleasure to be part of, in witnessing people recovery from isolation brought on by the pandemic.  

We have been overwhelmed by the response to the service and the needs it is meeting for people and the team's ability to assist people meet those needs. 

Well done to all, and if you would like to know more on how the team can support your wellbeing and learning, please get in touch.

Wayne Dobson - CEO, Cedarwood Trust

Jamie Driscoll is the Mayor of the North of Tyne Combined Authority who have funded the 'Nurture, Nourish, Thrive' scheme at Cedarwood Trust.

Learn how to make your own home-made Playdough. It's simple, easy and cheap to make. Great fun for all.

Everyone knows I love playdough. Making and playing with it. It has so many benefits in several ways from fine motor skills to language expressions and emotional development. For many it can be seen as messy and expensive especially if bought from a toy shop or supermarket. It need not be though! All it takes is a few simple ingredients. 10 mins and voilà. Super cheap, super easy fun.

Play with it on a table, a waterproof mat or even on a clean hard floor. There is no need for shape cutters, rollers gadgets etc, just a touch of imagination and enthusiasm to get the fun started.

Here are just a few areas of development that can be encouraged with a lump of playdough:
 
Creativity:
From quiet play to dramatic acting PLAYDOUGH can be anything! It’s a fantastic outlet for whatever the imagination desires. 

Fine motor skills:
Squishing, rolling, prodding all help to strengthen hands and their ability to manipulate everyday items such as scissors, laces, pencils…

Socioemotional development:
During play imagination is ignited offering endless opportunities for children to experience both independent and co-operative play. Both help to teach life skills, exploration of abilities, emotions, learn how to cooperate, develop self-control and build friendships.

Speech and Language:
Chat, discuss, describe, animate through play. It all helps to develop expanding vocabulary. There are so many ways to develop verbal, listening communication and comprehension ability through playdough. 

Sensory, Tactile:
Playdough can act like a stress reliever, a bit like a stress ball. Rolling, squeezing, stretching manipulating the dough can help to ease away frustrations. Though its tactile consistency it's all about hands on exploring. Textures can be added in various ways to adapt the feel and nature of the dough. Try it yourself.

This week's story time book is 'Shark in the Park' by Nick Sharratt, read by Kathryn.

Newcastle United Foundation delivers Team in partnership with The Prince’s Trust.

If you join Team, you’re in for a treat!

• Meet new people
  
• Gain qualifications
  
• Improve your teamwork and communications skills
  
• Build your confidence

If you’re aged 16-25 and want to develop through a programme that won’t affect your benefits, then this is for you!

Working with up to 14 other young people over 12 weeks, you’ll kick-start with a residential trip to get to know everyone a bit better.

Later down the line, you’ll also make a difference in your community by taking on your own project. From regenerating a garden to creating a short film to inspire people to make a change, you’ll do everything from planning, fundraising and rolling up your sleeves to get the job done.

In addition to this, we’ll help you with your CV and interview skills to help you get ahead. Gaining a nationally-recognised qualification along the way, you can put your new talents to the test in a two-week work experience placement.

It sounds like a long time, but it flies by. You won’t believe it’s you sharing your journey at the final presentation. Everything is geared towards giving you the best chance to move into work, education or training.

The Team programme runs at various stages throughout the year so please get in touch to find out when our next start date is!

For more details on how you can get involved please contact Lee Smith
07583070081 or email lee.smith@nufc.co.uk

We'd like to gather opinions from the community on how best to utilise the rear yard at the back of the Cedarwood Centre. We have quite a large area of space that could be used really well, and we'd like to know the thoughts from the community on what would be best.

Please tick 3 options from the list below that you think would be the best use of space. If you have your own ideas, please do let us know.

This week's story time book is 'The Hungry Caterpillar' by Eric Carle, read by Kathryn.

We're providing kits of self-build bird boxes kindly donated to the Cedarwood Trust and using reclaimed materials to offer community residents the opportunity to build their own bird box. This is a how-to guide on how to assemble your bird box at home.

​If you'd like to get involved, please contact us.

This week's story time book is 'While We Can't Hug' by ​Eoin Mclaughlin, read by Kathryn.

2020 has been a unique year. With the impact of COVID-19, many members of the community have endured hardship financially and mentally.

Through the incredible work from our staff and volunteers, we have supported families in North Tyneside through these unprecedented times. We've provided meals to those who couldn't get out. Help and advice to those who didn't know where to turn, and offered opportunities to get people back on their feed.

As the pandemic lingers on, Christmas is uncertain. The Christmas season should be something to look forward to, especially for children. We'd like to make that a reality.

We want to give each child in North Tyneside a traditional Christmas stocking filled with Christmas love, seasonal fruit, small gifts and treats to bring the joy to households that have been devastated by the pandemic and watched the world change around them.

We need your help to make this happen.

Please consider donating to our cause at cedarwoodtrust.com/donate and help fund our 'Bringing Back the Stocking' campaign for Christmas.