The BELS & TL has been in existence since 1985. We provide baby equipment (cots, buggies, highchairs and others) to families living in North Tyneside who are on benefits or low income. Safety equipment e.g. safety gates and fireguards are sold at subsidised cost.

The Project also has a Toy Library available to all children in NT from birth to 15 years of age. The Project Support Workers, with assistance from Volunteers, facilitate Toddler Groups and Stay & Play sessions for older children at various venues across the borough.

BELS and Toy Library engaged Junction Point to conduct a series of workshops with their Trustees; new and existing. Together we explored the strategic direction of the organisation as well as the roles and responsibilities of the board in achieving their ambitions. This work resulted in the formation of Trustee sub groups to help share responsibilities across the whole board. This work was funded as part of our delivery partnership with Reviving the Heart of the West End.

“Kate and the workshops she delivered to our Management Committee were a real catalyst to moving the BELS & TL forward. The subgroup formed to look at the issues raised around rebalancing tasks across the Management Committee has produced Lead Role Descriptions and some of the Lead Roles are being taken up by current Management Committee members. Where we feel we lack the requisite skills and knowledge, we now have Role Descriptions to advertise for new Volunteers. Thank you so much Kate at Junction Point.”

CAROL DENNISON
TRUSTEE AND TREASURER