Past Projects

Jubilee Project Executive Summary

Operation Payback Fund

Northumbrian Water

Environmental Project – Curtin / PARP Nov ’22 to Nov ’23

Newcastle Building Society (2)

Green Activities Programme (2022-2023)

Together Fund/RISE (ICOS Sports- April 2023 – October 2023)

We would like to wholeheartedly thank the funders for their support, which has enabled us to provide vital work with the community.

Thanks to funding from the Together Fund and RISE, ICOS delivered 57 sessions, engaging a total of 139 BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) people from Sunderland and the surrounding area. Out of the 139 clients, 80 attended more than once, and a number have become regular attendees, increasing the likelihood that they will continue to be involved in sports, now the funded phase of the project has come to an end. We have also delivered about 150 hours of activity. The project has also involved a total of 9 volunteers, who have been involved in setting up the activities, advertising them, and in some cases- delivering them. Some have also helped with client registration and office tasks, as such monitoring and evaluation and data analysis. Fundamentally, the volunteers and the clients have been able to co-produce this work through deciding what activities they wanted to take part in. A total of 9 volunteers have been included in the delivery of the project. This number included 5 volunteers who had been involved with ICOS before, and 4 completely new volunteers.

Through the evaluation of the work we have delivered under the project, we know that:

-almost 80% of the clients have said that the project had improved their mental health

-almost 90% of the clients have said that the project had improved their physical health

-almost 90% of the clients have said they had befriended new people during the project

-over 90% of the clients have said that the project had made them more active

Social value:

Based on the 2022 HACT (https://hact.org.uk/) figures, the project has resulted in significant social value, including:

-At least £137,360 in benefits derived from being a member of a social group. This is based on the total adjusted value of someone being a member of a social group of £1717, times the 80 people who have attended the activities more than once.

-At least £291,040 in benefits derived from taking part in infrequent mild exercise. This is based on the total adjusted value of infrequent moderate exercise being valued at £3638, times the 80 people who have attended the activities more than once.

These give a combined estimated value of £428,400

The project has overwhelmingly targeted clients from disadvantaged groups, including Eastern Europeans, asylum seekers and refugees, who often feel isolated, have limited financial means and limited knowledge of what is available in the local area. Many of the clients have suffered trauma in the past (e.g., some of the activities have been targeted at women only, and some of the women within the ICOS women group have experienced domestic abuse in the past).

The project has been successful in delivering t its objectives and exceeded its targets due to dedication and passion within the team, the reach into the local community ICOS has, and being able to offer a variety of activities, so that it offered “something for everyone”.

Activities delivered under the project included:

-Weight lifting

-Kayaking

-Wall Climbing

-Skiing

-Fustsal

-Basketball

-Tubbing

-Watersports

-Beach ball

-Snowboard

-Ice skating

-Wall climbing

Feedback from the clients who have taken part in the activities:

Positive Feedback:

Brilliant Session, thank you!

Brilliant session, kids loved it, good to try.

Thank you very much.

I’m happy

So far so good I would say. Was great, thanks for everything.

Lots of fun, nice food and nice people

It was good

Very good experience

Great – Excellent Activity

Good – Excellent Activity

Excellent.

Very Good.

Very good.

Happy.

Excellent Program.

Happy.

Have fun socialising – would like more of these actually

Constructive Feedback:

Space for football (needed)

More space, better knowledge of what’s happening

More sitting spaces but great overall

Daycare for kids needed

Engagement Support

On average, clients scored the sessions at 8.9 out of 10 (on a rising Likert scale, where 10 meant “great” and 1- “poor”.

Issues encountered during the delivery of the project have included:

-Access to activities for asylum seekers, who cannot afford public transport and often live in locations far away from where the activities have been held. We have been able to partly resolve this issue by working with Mears, the asylum accommodation provider, to organise travel from the accommodation (e.g., using hired vans and taxis).

-Short length of the project- only about 6 months has meant that we have had to work at pace.

-Unreliable contractors and coaches have at times resulted in session cancellations and having to move sessions to another date and time.

-Similarly, weather conditions have sometimes affected the delivery of outdoor sports, even during the summer.

-Sustainability- it has been difficult to find alternative funding to continue the project. This is due to several issues, including eligibility for funding- many funders only want to fund new and not already existing activity, or only want to fund a particular type of sport, where this is not what the community wants. Some types of sports funding are also geared towards one particular client group, e.g., young people and children, rather than specifically targeting the wider community, or even the BME community.

Nevertheless, we are currently awaiting the outcome of several funding applications. We are also working with an external consultant to make our projects more commissionable and apply to other funders, such as the NHS or Public Health.

Wise Steps BBO Project (Phase 2, 2019-2023)

Well Included (Community Led Local Development – ESF, Sunderland City Council, 2021 – 2022)

Seeing Blue Project- Funded by SeaScapes Community Grants Scheme

East Area Rangers (April 2022 – March 2023)

The project included regular environmental activities (such as litter picks, and maintaining greenery) and educational workshops held across the East of Sunderland. ICOS was the lead provider for St Michael’s ward and works with volunteers, and partner organisations (such as Friends of the Backhouse and Barley Mow Park), to organise activities in Backhouse Park and several other areas.

Apart from regular litter picks, we have also been able to organise educational workshops involving children and families, such as bird watching, bug surveys and make practical improvements, such as making and installing bird or bat houses. We ran an average of 2 activities per week.

The project delivered/achieved:

224 adult volunteers and 235 children took part in weekly clean-ups.
We organised 49 litter picking sessions and 73 seasonal activities to maintain the park and St Michael’s Ward.
It helped to make a difference by creating awareness and reducing the environmental impact of human activities.
Clean up efforts helped remove debris and prevent damage to the natural habitats and wildlife in the Park.
Maintaining invasive species helped to restore natural habitats.
5415 kg of litter, refuse and green waste was removed from the Backhouse Park and St. Michael’s Ward

Our work has been focused on supporting the local community to take care of their local assets, while raising awareness of environmental issues. This work has also provided important health and wellbeing benefits, especially during the pandemic: https://icos.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/East-Rangers-Case-Study-Susan.pdf . The time of the pandemic affected vulnerable groups, such as refugees, who are often traumatised by being uprooted from their previous lives even more, deepening the feeling of loneliness and isolation. Finding a sense of belonging can be difficult for them, especially in a completely new place and culture. Spending time in nature was essential to the wellbeing of many. Backhouse Park became a welcoming space for daily exercise, which in the long term had a positive impact on mental health and this pattern continues to this day.

The project has successfully engaged volunteers and local community in various activities in Backhouse Park and provided them with access to a range of environmental workshops and events. One of the project’s key strengths is its commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion by welcoming volunteers from different backgrounds, including refugees and asylum seekers.

Volunteers have played a critical role in the project’s success by participating in clean-up and litter-picking activities and supporting the delivery of environmental workshops and events. This engagement has provided a platform for community involvement and social cohesion, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to work towards a common goal.

The involvement of refugees and asylum seekers has been particularly beneficial, providing opportunities for social integration and cross-cultural understanding. The project has created a safe and welcoming space for these individuals to engage in meaningful work and connect with the wider community, including an opportunity to improve their English language skills.

Through regular clean-ups and litter picks activities, the project has not only helped to improve the local environment but also promoted environmental awareness among the volunteers and the wider community. When the environment is clean and safe, people are more likely to engage in their local community and take pride in their surroundings.

Progress into STEM

Willan Project (Dec 2021 – Dec 2022)

Bellway project

EUSS (EU Settlement Scheme) Support Project (10/09/2021 – 01/09/2022)

Back in Control Project – Phase 1 (2019-2022)

Newcastle Building Society

ICOS Women 2021 – 2022 (Funded by the Postcode Neighbourhood Trust)

Due to the funding we have received from Postcode Neighbourhood Trust we have been able to work with 112 women through the ICOS women project. Our Project has focused on delivering an Eastern European women’s group to improve women’s confidence and wellbeing, skills and isolation, 66 women attended women’s group workshops and activities which included sports sessions (Yoga and Zumba) arts and crafts sessions (brusho workshops, collage making, printmaking and felting), celebration events (International Women’s day, Halloween), citizen science activities (beach clean ups with data recording, identification of marine species) we also have organised various trips including a science trip to The Dove Marine Laboratory and a wellbeing trip to High Force which has also been attended by Ukrainian refugees who had also benefited from women’s group activities as well as one-to-one support. Due to the high need for this project we had to secure additional funding to start delivering Eastern European women’s group activities in Newcastle and surrounding areas.

We worked with 112 women during the project delivery, 66 attended women’s group activities and 18 took part in volunteering, some volunteers also took part in training (e.g. Domestic Abuse, Life Saving Skills). One volunteer started delivering group activities for mum’s and children (50 children benefited) and we delivered 27 sessions in total. 28 received one-to-one support (including 9 survivors of domestic abuse) 54% of women received help with accessing welfare benefits and 32% with housing. We have managed to collect exit data from 64% of women who received one-to-one advice and using the Warwick Edinburgh mental wellbeing scale scoring 61% stated their wellbeing had improved (this includes isolation), 45% stated that their confidence has improved, 39% stated improved skills and 39% stated their financial situation has improved. Additionally, out of these women 9 received a benefit award, 6 felt safe from abuse, 5 reported an improved housing situation and 4 accessed new housing.

We supported 28 women with one-to-one advice and guidance of which 50% have been unemployed and 25% have been economically inactive (those with disabilities and single mothers). 32% of women needed support with domestic abuse, this help included safety planning, reporting incidents to the authorities, support with communication with social services, local authority, financial advice and finding safe accommodation and refuge referrals, 6 women stated they feel safe from abuse. 54% of women received support with access to welfare benefits including applications for Personal Independence Payment, Universal Credit, Child Benefit, council tax support and pension credit, 9 women reported they have received a benefit award. 32% of women had housing issues this included being threatened with homelessness or poor living conditions (support with contacting with housing providers, complaints, housing applications with housing associations and local authority, 5 reported an improved housing situation and 4 women have accessed new housing. 18% needed support with financial advice, this included setting up repayment plans (e.g. with energy companies, council tax or overpayment of benefits), 7 women indicated that their financial situation has improved. Other support included employability (e.g. help with job applications, CV’s), access to services (e.g. support with finding solicitors), translation and interpreting including in person, over the phone, correspondence and support with communication (e.g. DWP, HMRC, local authority, local MP), access to healthcare and energy advice. Additionally, 56% also have been referred to other appropriate service for further support including to refuges or specialised domestic abuse services (Harbour or Wearside women in Need, Fining Legal Options for Women Survivors (FLOWS), Citizen Advice Bureau or Age UK. 50% of women also accessed emergency support including food vouchers or have been referred to foodbanks or Love Amelia (who provides clothing, nappies and toiletries for mothers and children).

The project has encouraged community development, we had 18 volunteers who had supported the project in various ways including volunteering at events, workshops and group activities, support with office tasks and administration and one volunteer had started delivering mum’s and children’s activities and has also made a link with a local food store who had donated refreshments for these sessions. In total 50 children have attended mum’s and children’s activities (this included mum’s with children who had survived domestic abuse) this has allowed for the women to create a support network and a safe environment.
Through the project we have engaged with various local organisations including MBC Arts Wellbeing, Engaging Environments Project (Newcastle University), Sangini (arts organisation for BME women), North East Ambulance Service, Seascapes and Wearside Women in Need. This allowed us to build new partnerships and create new opportunities (including volunteering) for our beneficiaries on the project. Furthermore, we have delivered a research project with University of Sunderland exploring the experiences of discrimination of Eastern European women in Tyne and Wear, women who have benefitted from ICOS Women project have also been involved in our research project.
‘I’ve been asked to return to my home country’ An exploration of discrimination experienced by Eastern European women in Tyne and Wear Report: Part 1. Survey Findings July 2021 (https://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/13971/)
An exploration of discrimination experienced by Eastern European women in Tyne and Wear: Project report, Part 2 (https://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/14580/)

Case Study:

ML, who is originally a woman from Poland, had accessed the project as she needed one-to-one support with low income, access to welfare benefits and support with interpreting and communication due to having problems with the language barrier and low confidence. The client received support with applying for Universal Credit and Council Tax Support which have been successful and also has been referred to the Citizen Advice Bureau for support with debts. ML also started regularly attending women’s group activities to improve her wellbeing, confidence and meet other women, she had enjoyed the group so much she wanted to volunteer for the project. ML started supporting ICOS with organising events and activities, took part in various workshops and training including a lifesaving skills training with North East Ambulance Service. ML started conversations with the women who attended the group who had expressed that there isn’t many activates for Eastern European mum’s with children and that women find it difficult to meet other mothers due to language barrier and isolation, ML came up with the idea to deliver a mum’s club once a month (with focus on single mothers and survivors of abuse), she has managed to speak to a ethnic food shop who had agreed to sponsor the mum’s club activities by providing refreshments for activities. ML had organised various events including coffee meetings (with arts and crafts activities for children) and picnics. There was a great response from the women regarding these activities and they expressed interest in more activities with children. ML has expressed that this project has created many opportunities for her and that her confidence and skills (including English language and organisation) improved massively. She has met a lot of new people who really value her within the community and she also gained a lot of inspiration from others. ML would like to continue delivering these activities as there is a great need for it in the local community.

Operation Payback Funded by the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)

Through the Operation Payback Fund Project, we support Eastern Europeans affected by hate crime, domestic violence and other crimes.

ICOS supported 34 beneficiaries (we had originally stated on our funding application that our target will be 30). This figure included 20 adults and 14 children, out of these adults 16 have been female and 4 have been male of which 10 have been victims of domestic abuse, 6 have been victims of antisocial behaviour, 3 of hate crime and 1 assault and 1 fraud. Additionally, 25% of beneficiaries have indicated they have been economically inactive (of which 15% had a disability) and 20% have been unemployed (who have been referred to our employability projects after they have been exited from Operation Payback Fund Project).

The families that we have supported needed a lot of long-term support with safety planning, communication between authorities, housing, and social services to make sure they would be in a safe environment and away from the perpetrators.

Through this project we have provided significant support to women who have been single mothers with children who needed support with various issues including financial support, mental wellbeing (for them and their children), isolation and housing needs. We have supported a lot more households who have struggled with domestic abuse than we have anticipated, and this could be due to several reasons including more victims coming forward as ICOS is becoming more specialised in supporting victims and delivering by and for women’s projects and/ or the number of domestic abuse cases have risen due to COVID19 pandemic.

During the project we have referred 35% of beneficiaries to other, more specialised services such as Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors (FLOWS) and North East Law Centre, Family Triage, legal advice services, Domestic Abuse Services such as Wearside Women in Need, Women’s Aid, Shelter, Foodbanks and Love Amelia (providing clothing and toiletries for babies and children). We also supported 4 women with preparing documents for legal aid application and support with interpreting during solicitor appointments face to face as well as over the phone.

Additionally, 4 households have accessed new and safe housing and 4 also had a positive benefit outcome recorded on their exit forms.

Together for Our Planet

The Together for our Planet, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, aimed to inspire local people to take care of the environment/take practical action and create momentum for change in the community. It focused on a particular geographical area- St Michael’s ward, Sunderland and Backhouse Park (Ryhope Rd, Sunderland SR2 2EF) within that ward, engaging minority ethnic people, including refugees, asylum seekers and Eastern Europeans. While it built on the success of the East Area Rangers project (https://icos.org.uk/past-projects/), it focused on environmental education, behavioural change and environmental change rather than litter-picking.

The project focused focus on two main areas:

Creative activities, focusing on families- including local environmental surveys (e.g. on birds, butterflies, bugs), identifying different species, making bird houses and feeders from recycled materials and upcycling- e.g. making items such as homemade poop dispensers, as well as restoring the Sensory Garden at Barley Mow Park (adjacent to Backhouse Park) with the local community.
Green employability- supporting clients to access accredited and unaccredited environmental training (delivered by an external partner organisation), including on invasive species, land management, invasive species: control and eradication, use of equipment (such as strimmers), risk assessment and health and safety.

Throughout the year, 130 adult volunteers and 190 children took part in weekly clean-ups. We organised 39 litter picking session and 89 seasonal activities to maintain the park. It made a difference by creating awareness and reducing the environmental impact of human activities. Clean up efforts included removing debris and preventing damage to the natural habitats and wildlife in the Park. Eradicating invasive species has helped to restore natural habitats. 2915 kg of litter, refuse and green waste has been removed from the Backhouse Park and St. Michael’s Ward. Volunteers delivered 1944 volunteering hours.

We delivered a number of workshops and awareness sessions: 5 Bird watching walks for the public, 4 Bird watching walks for scout groups and 1 Evening Bat walk. Participants learned about the importance of protecting the environment, and the benefits of conversation. Workshops also helped participants to develop a deeper understanding of the wildlife behaviours and habitats. All the workshops, especially those dedicated to children had a goal to inspire participants to take an active role in protecting the environment. This included volunteering and participating in local clean-ups efforts, and making changes in their daily lives to reduce their environmental impact.

East Rangers (2021 – 2022)

Lloyds Foundation COVID-19 project (2020-2021)

Bernicia Project (August 2020- November 2021)

Through this project, we provided intensive, end-to-end support to apply to access work, education and training, with the aim of improving the employability of migrants living in the local area. Support was provided in person and it will be flexible (e.g. in terms of times when the support is provided) to ensure barriers to participation are removed, the project focuses on recent migrants and those BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) people who had limited access to information, language skills or support networks, especially refugees who have recently been granted refugee status and Eastern Europeans. We will support clients into work, education and training through:

-Advice/job-search assistance: One-to-one support with job searching, CV-writing, job applications, and interview preparation, depending on the client’s needs.

-Work experience: access to volunteering opportunities in a range of areas (e.g. administration, event-organising), both external and internal.

-Holistic support- e.g. some of the clients might be interested in self-employment or starting their own business rather than employment.

We supported 36 clients from a range of countries, including asylum seekers (who were supported into training and volunteering, not work, due to the fact that they could not legally progress into work).

This funding enabled us to support clients who were ineligible for other types of support- e.g. clients who had recently been on an EU-funded project who could not get support from another EU-funded project, or clients who had no access to public funding. The inclusive nature of the funding ICOS to support those who are not normally able to access mainstream employability programmes due to being in work (e.g. people who were on furlough, or those on a “zero-hours” contract.

We have achieved the following outcomes:

We have supported 16 clients to access accredited training, including food hygiene certificates, safeguarding, risk assessment for events or forklift driving. Most clients achieved level 1 qualifications, but some were able to achieve level 2 training. Additionally, 14 clients have also been able to improve their English language skills and 3 became volunteers, one progressed to study at the University. 6 people progressed into paid employment (as stated above, some were not legally able to progress, and some were seeking progression into a different job, e.g. when they were on a 0 – hours’ contract.

Additionally:

-51% of the clients reported better wellbeing than before the project

-40% of clients reported greater confidence

-46% of clients reported a better financial or material situation

We have received very positive feedback from our clients, who were especially thankful for support they have received to stay connected (e.g. mobile top ups) during the pandemic, as well as access to free courses and training.

Some off the project clients were also interviewed as part of our annual client survey (more information available here: https://icos.org.uk/our-impact/ )

We have also been able to run dedicated online English language support sessions (in response to the COVID19 pandemic) for the local migrants at times when colleges and other mainstream providers were unable to deliver in – person support. These classes not only supported our clients to improve their English language skills, but also help them to meet and reduce their social isolation.

Barrow Cadbury Project (2020-2021)

‘New migrants’ in the North East Workforce (2013-2016)

Police and Crime Commissioner- COVID19 (2020-2021)

In May 2020, ICOS was granted financial support to help victims of crime from Eastern Europe and other minority ethnic backgrounds during the time of the pandemic. This emergency response project focused on providing extra support to those affected by domestic violence, modern slavery, and hate crime. Additionally, we also provided support to victims of antisocial behaviour. Our target for this project was to support 35 individuals. Overall, we supported 38 individuals, of which:

15 received support with antisocial behaviour,
12 had been victims of hate crime,
11 domestic abuse and
9 of modern slavery.

The project achieved the following:

32% of our beneficiaries reported an improved financial situation at the end of the project
26% of our clients had received help with benefits, this included applications for Universal Credit, council tax support, benefits check and child benefit.
5 beneficiaries received emergency support including food vouchers, utility top-ups or/and mobile phone top-ups,
We have referred 4 clients into Hardship Fund from Red Cross due to having no income (e.g. not eligible for benefits due to current immigration status or moving into temporary accommodation, not having benefits or employment).
We have also referred our clients onto other appropriate services including Wearside Women in Need, Foodbanks, solicitors, local housing associations (such as Gentoo or Bernicia), FLOWS and Children’s society for EU Settlement scheme applications.
61% had reported improved well-being which is a success. (we had used The Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale to measure this.
19 clients reported that they now feel more confident to report crimes to the police.

Often, victims struggled with communicating with services such as the police, housing providers and legal support services. ICOS helped them to connect with the relevant services, actively advocated on their behalf, as well as support them in a holistic way, e.g. through helping them to access counselling or benefits. The funding has also helped ICOS to provide remote support. ICOS would like to thank Northumbria PCC for funding our project and enabling us to make a real difference in people’s lives.

CENSUS 2021

Steps into STEM event (March 2021)

East Rangers (2019 – 2021)

COVID19 Project- Community Foundation (Sept – Dec 2020)

Police and Crime Commissioner’s for Northumbria Victims fund (2019-2020)

Eastern European Women’s Group: Willan Fund/ Community Foundation Tyne and Wear Northumberland. Project value: £10,000, August 2019 – October 2020

From our registration forms for the project we have found out that out of 79 beneficiaries 34% were experiencing problems with health and wellbeing; 30% needed help with meeting new people, 29% were experiencing problems with communication, 28% lacked access to information and 18% had reported financial problems. Out of the 36 women who have received one-to-one support we have supported 20% with access to welfare benefits including Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Maternity Allowance and New style ESA. 18% have received help with translation and interpreting (over the phone and in person). 10% had received help with employment including support with writing a CV, job searching and writing applications and 8% got help with access to healthcare (including contacting GP services, hospitals, setting up appointments and accessing free prescriptions). 6% got help with housing and another 6% received support with financial advice including a referral to CAB and setting up payment plans. Other help included contacting services such as Sunderland city council, social services, setting up a bank account, online banking, support with discrimination at work and access to training or education.

We have created an evaluation at the end of the project, we have asked questions relating to confidence, new skills gained during the activities, meeting new people and if they would be interested in continuing attending women’s group activities and if yes, which ones?

From 15 returned evaluations, 80% of women have reported having their confidence improved. 80% have also reported having improved skills (empathy, meditation, CV writing, English language, communication, positive attitude, knowledge, well-being and volunteering) due to attending women’s group activities. 93% of those who completed an evaluation reported meeting new people during the project and 100% would like to continue attending women’s group activities. 93% of women expressed that they would like to take part in trips and cultural events. 80% expressed interest in wellbeing sessions e.g. mindfulness, 67% would like to take part in arts and crafts, 60% in training opportunities and 53% in sports activities. We have also created a Facebook group called ‘ICOS Women’ where women can share information and find out information about any upcoming women’s group events. The group now has 124 female members.

ESF Community Grants (rounds 1, 2 and 4, 2016-2019)

Big Lottery Fund Tyne and Wear BBO (2016 – 2019)

Police and Crime Commissioners for Northumbria Victims fund. (2018-2019)

Community Connectors 2018 – 2019 – Millfield, Sunderland

Cleaner Communities 2018 – 2019: Millfield and St Michael’s

Reclaim your Backlanes 2018 – 2019: Millfield and St Michael’s

Healthy Steps and Health 24/7 (October 2017 – April 2019, commissioned by Sunderland City Council and co-funded by Procter and Gamble). Contract value: £70,000 (£18,000 to ICOS)

Eastern European Support Project (EESP) (2018- 2019)

The Police Commissioner Fund Tyne and Wear Northumberland (2016-2017)

The Children’s Foundation Newcastle upon Tyne Small Grants (2017)

Northern Powergrid Community Energy Seed Fund- Millfield and Pallion Engagement (2017 – 2018). The grant was channelled by Tyne and Wear Community Foundation

Meet Your Neighbour festival (Big Lottery – Celebrate!) Grant 2016 – 2017

The Meet Your Neighbour Festival was a cultural It was a project that enabled local communities to celebrate what contributions migrants from different countries of Eastern Europe have made to the local area while presenting the cultures of the countries they were born in.

While the festival took place over the week of the 22^nd to 27^th May 2017, we run preparatory workshops and regular Steering Group Meetings between October 2016 and May 2017.

Project benefits/ Outcomes

This project’s aim was to bring people from diverse cultures/backgrounds to celebrate their differences, to improve social cohesion and reduce tension, including social isolation.

At the planning stage, ICOS estimated that 12 volunteers and 500 recipients would benefit.

We have exceeded the above targets with over 1500 individuals visiting the museum exhibition alone and 26 volunteers taking part in the project.

The project timeline

October -November 2016 – forming of the steering group; engagement with local groups, voluntary sector, public agencies, and partner organisations
December 2016 – March 2017 – recruiting volunteers; engagement with community artists and project beneficiaries; development of sessions, including creative writing, painting, photography
March-May 2017 – Final developments; sessions completion; festival publicity ready and distributed
May 2017 – Festival taking place
June 2017 – Post Festival feedback, learning and evaluation activities]

The fine art exhibition took place at the Independent (27-28 Holmeside, Sunderland), with official opening night on the 22^nd May 2017, unveiled by Sunderland City of Culture Bid director Rebecca Ball. An approximate number of 60 guests attended on the night. The exhibition was available to public view until Friday, 26^th May 2017, with a steady number of about 20 visitors per each day.

The Mayor of Sunderland opened the Family Festival Day which took place in Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens on the 27th May 2017. A number of visitors attended this event on the day and confirmed by a cultural officer of the Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens was 1,169.

Following the Family Day, the live music event was held at the Independent at the evening of the 27^th May 2017. Approximately 80 visitors and guests attended this event.

Engagement numbers in communities in preparation toward the festival were as follows:

Jubilate Community Choir
St. Anthony’s Girls’ Catholic Academy (senior Choir)
Hudson Road Primary School (Nursery and Year 5)
Pottery workshops at National Glass Centre (15 participants)
Other community engagements, including local artists and musicians; Flower Club; Polish Food Shop; University of Sunderland; Student Union; Polish Saturday School; Slovak Embassy London; general public (exact numbers unknown)

Festival Sponsors: Big Lottery Fund; Sunderland City Council; The Embassy of Slovak Republic; Sunderland City of Culture Bid 2021; Bishopwearmouth Co-Operative; Independent; Polish Saturday School; University of Sunderland; Blue Wings Records; local artists: Zagdan Art, A.G. Art, Klaudia Malolepsza, Aneta Halubiec

Meet Your Neighbour Festival resources you can watch/see:

You can watch the films via the link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF95lmgBGIuBqdZvwh3-hDg

Northern Powergrid Community Energy Small Grant (2016)

Sunderland City Council, a grant for European Day of Languages (24/09/2016)

Linden Fund at Tyne and Wear Community Foundation (2015-2016)

Mental health awareness work on behalf of Sunderland City Council (East Area Committee), April and May 2015

Northern Powergrid Community Energy (Community Foundation) Small Grants (2015)

Community Grants, County Durham and Darlington Community Foundation (2014-2015). Contract value: £10,614

Sport Volunteering and skills- we engaged over 50 young BME people in volunteering and building skills through sports. (August 2012 – August 2013)

Coalfields Regeneration Trust – Small Grants, 1 year (2012-2013)

We organised a series of sports activities to commemorate the London 2012 Olympics (June – July 2012)

Memories Café

Free smoking cessation drop-in (2011 to 2016)

Since June 2010, we have been delivering Information, Advice, Guidance and Advocacy

This is an ongoing project which ICOS has tried hard to succeed in in all areas. Often, we are able to provide the best results and outcomes for our clients, most of which are part of the BME network or are from challenging backgrounds. This project includes:

Helping recent arrivals in the UK with a range of issues in written, spoken, and online matters (school admission forms, housing forms) and correspondence
Supporting clients access welfare benefits, such as Jobseeker’s Allowance, Working Tax Credit, and Social Security Tribunal cases
Appointments in banks, and the opening of new bank accounts
Basic online and computer literacy support, as well as creating emails and online forms
Liaising with respective MP’s with regards to issues that cannot be communicated due to language barriers
Communicating with HMRC in regards to client’s issues
Finding and helping to apply for grants and government/local council schemes
Providing One Planet Living advice, such as in workshops and one-to-one meetings with the general public and the BME community
Helping clients change their energy suppliers and providing energy advice
Helping provide advice and guidance to those in the BME network who have suffered from racial abuse of any sort
Guiding the minority and ethnic community with their lives in the UK, be it with job applications or finding classes and/or accreditations for them to succeed with living in the North East

We have worked with over 2000 individuals and handled more than 5000 cases, many fairly simple matters, but some regarding serious, complex, and formal guidance. ICOS has many success stories, such as in a case where we helped a client win over £4500 in overdue Tax Credit. The client spoke limited English and was on a very low income.

Through our work, we have established links with partner agencies, such as advice providers, Jobcentre Plus, HMRC, and employment agencies. We are an active member of the Economic Inclusion Subgroup of the Regional Migration Forum, hosted by the Association of North Eastern Councils (ANEC). The inclusion part of our work has been the core of what we stand and work for. We have never had direct funding to support this service; however, we have had funding for ICOS’s core costs on the basis that we provided such services. The funders included Sir James Knott Trust and Sherburn Hospital, as well as Trusthouse and Woodward Charitable Trust.

International Community Organisation of Sunderland

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Past Projects

Past Projects