385
Customers supported through the Household Support Fund
Dunn Terrace
We opened new communal bin store areas in June 2025 at Dunn Terrace and Headlam Green
Introduction
Since our formation in 2017, Karbon has focused on delivering our three strategic aims - to provide as many good quality homes as we can, to deliver excellent service to our customers, and to shape strong, sustainable places for our communities.
Our footprint covers the North East of England and Yorkshire, with around 34,000 homes across diverse communities, all facing different opportunities and challenges.
Some customers just need an affordable home, or a way onto the property ladder. Others might need more – financial advice, community services, sheltered accommodation or training that can lead to a new job. Whatever people need to feel more secure, confident and happy with their lives, we work hard to provide it.
We believe that by focusing on our three strategic aims, combining a sound business head with a strong social heart and staying true to our values, we can build strong foundations for even more people.
Our main strategy is to...
Make Byker an estate of choice
Contribute to a thriving Byker
Ensure that the Byker Community Trust (BCT) community ethos is sustained
The Thriving Byker Strategy (TBS) provides a framework for strategic partnership working. Its objectives and priorities are based on what our customers asked for and how they will impact positively on customers in the Byker Estate.
During 2024/25 the TBS was refreshed in collaboration with the BCT Committee and our strategic partners to ensure the themes remain relevant and align with their strategic priorities for the Byker Estate.
To achieve the TBS priorities and increase community activities, we work in collaboration with key strategic partners, stakeholders and more than 30 community and voluntary organisations.
Our strategic partners are:
- Newcastle City Council (NCC)
- Local Ward Councillors
- Northumbria Police
- Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service
- Primary schools in Byker
- Byker Sands Family Centre
The TBS is widely influenced by the views of customers on the following key themes:
Pride and ownership in the area
Health, wellbeing and minfulness
Income maximisation
A cleaner and greener Byker
A safe place to live
Children and young people
Extending our reach
Community training and employment
Digital connectivity
All projects and initiatives delivered through the TBS are subject to review, to understand the potential value for money from the investment, and the positive impact on our customers in delivering the TBS.
This supplement highlights our progress during 2024/2025, delivering against our key themes and highlights some of the fantastic outcomes achieved.
In summary
Customer
898
Customers signed up to MyKarbon portal
Costs
£802k
Additional benefit income gained for customers
£4.5m
Spent on improvements to our homes and neighbourhood
£103k
Income secured from the NCC Household Support Fund
Homes
RE:GEN continues to install new bathrooms, kitchens and internal doors to homes across the estate as part of our Community Pledge.
667
New kitchens
925
New bathrooms with electric showers
1,037
Internal doors
80.37%
Customers are satisfied with the services they receive from Karbon
83.70%
Customers are satisfied that we make a positive contribution to their neighbourhood
85.16%
Customers are satisfied that their home is well maintained
99.54%
of our homes are occupied
7.82%
stock turnover for 2025/26
639
Customer visits were carried out throughout the year, which included a property inspection and supporting our customers with any tenancy enquiries or engagement opportunities.
Pride and ownership
Empowering and enabling customers and community groups to take responsibility for the estate and be proud of the area.
History in the Making street art project
History in the Making street art project
Using part of £14,560 in funding from Historic England, young people from youth charity and community partner Foundation Futures created a mural with street artist Mark Shields (Markone87) to be displayed on the gable end of the Northern Stage rehearsal studio.
We held a launch event for the artwork in July, where we heard from the young people about their work, what they learnt and how they feel about the estate. We also heard from Historic England Director xxxx about the project and how it meets their strategic ambitions. Contractor Bell Group carried out the installation free of charge.
Shutter art at Raby Cross
Karbon received planning permission to work with artists and the community to design street art for all the shutters on Raby Cross. We have approached Elements Street Art Festival to see if we can work together on a project that could become part of the Elements Street Art Festival in August 2026 to enhance the Raby Cross facade. Karbon will meet Elements in Q1 26/27 to discuss costs and a programme of works. Whatever is planned and progressed will have to be tested and approved by NCC as part of the conditions of the planning permission.
Byker Food Market
We hosted our first ever street food market in October half term. Community partners including Byker Mutual Aid, Byker Pantry and Byker Sands Family Centre also ran various activities for attendees such as crafts, chess and free candy floss. Other activities included face painting and a Halloween costume competition.
248 transactions were made and an estimated 500 visitors attended.
Byker underpass
NCC invited residents at Tom Collins House to explore what they believe should be done with the Byker underpass links to Shields Road to make it safer and to workshop design ideas for artwork. Eleven customers attended and painting to the underpass started in March 26.
Kiel University visit
We hosted a visit for students from Kiel University in Germany. They were visiting Newcastle on a planned field trip and were very interested in BCT after researching the estate.
Twenty-six students attended, and Assistant Director of Byker Community Trust Michelle Bell delivered a presentation and gave a tour. It was very well received.
Summer on the Square (Newcastle High Streets Project)
Summer on the Square
Vibrant new series of creative happenings, community moments and joyful get-togethers took place in the heart of Byker. From live music and immersive art to independent film and playful markets, the free events were held during July and August at Hadrian Square. We promoted these events via social media and displayed posters.
Winter on the Square (Newcastle High Streets Project)
Winter on the Square
This was the second in a series of community moments, held during December at Hadrian Square, Byker. We promoted the event via social media.
BCT Committee away day
BCT Committee held an away day where members reviewed and reflected on how the BCT Committee has operated and discussed how opportunities for customer voice could be increased and how their feedback could influence the work of the Committee.
Primary school recycling workshops
Primary school recycling workshops
We worked with NCC to deliver workshops at both Byker Primary and St Lawrence schools promoting recycling and fly tipping awareness.
The children from both schools took part in designing posters that will be displayed on bins around the estate. Byker Primary children took part in litter picking around the school and NCC provided a stall outside the school at the end of the day with information and free recycling bags for parents.
Planned investment works
RE:GEN continue to install new bathroom, kitchen and internal doors to homes across the estate on our behalf.
Customers benefitted from:
- 925 new bathrooms
- 667 new Kitchens
- 1,037 new internal doors
Customer satisfaction – 90.10%
Customer satisfaction – 90.10%
(Satisfaction target level is set at 90%)
We continue to reach out and work with customers who have refused the improvement work to establish reasons and help with any specific needs. We also look at homes where work has previously been carried out, either through our repairs or empty homes teams or where customers have carried out their own improvements (omits). We are reviewing our processes internally to reduce customer refusals and working to better identify barriers well in advance of creating a programme of work.
Ayton Street
Planning permission has been submitted to improve the waste management of the area along with fencing replacement.
Fencing works started in Ayton Rise neighbourhood in January 2026.
Janice lands her ‘forever home’ on affordable housing development in Byker
Janice lands her ‘forever home’
Determined to stay living in the area she’s called home for 17 years, local resident Janice is delighted to have moved into her ‘forever home’ bungalow in our new affordable housing development.
Janice had lived in an upstairs flat just a six-minute walk from the development, but as her mobility became increasingly limited due to multiple knee surgeries, she was struggling to manage the stairs and found herself feeling trapped.
“I loved the flat at the beginning, but as the years went on and after the third knee operation, I really couldn’t manage the stairs. This left me feeling trapped at home, and I was struggling more and more with my anxiety.”
The development, which is off Bolam Street, includes a mix of 12 one and two-bed level-access bungalows, eight two-bedroom houses and four two-bedroom Tyneside flats.
“I would regularly walk past the new homes being built and just presumed they were private for sale homes. So, when I saw them advertised on Newcastle Homes for social rent, I couldn’t believe it and rushed to put a bid in.
“Bungalows are hard to get anyway, but pretty much impossible to find in this area. I have lived in this community for 17 years and I have a strong support network of friends and family here, who I rely on for help, so it was really important to me to stay living here. To see these being built on my doorstep was ideal.”
The site is the first of four in and around the Byker estate that we hope to develop for affordable housing.
Janice’s bungalow and the 23 other new homes are the first new affordable homes to have been built on the estate for 43 years.
“When I got the call from the housing officer at Karbon to say I had got one of the bungalows, I couldn’t believe it! I thought she was joking.
“I accepted straight away, I didn’t even need to see it. I just knew it would be perfect. And when I got the keys a few days later and walked through the front door for the first time, I just knew this was going to be it for me. I’ll be here for as long as I possibly can be, I’m not going anywhere.”
The homes have sizable gardens to the front and private gardens to the rear. The majority also have off-street parking with some plots benefitting from a private parking court.
“Having lived in a flat for so many years, I’d forgotten just how great it is to come home to your own front door and feel genuinely safe and secure coming and going.
“I’m really happy with the house itself, with the open plan kitchen living areas. But the best bit has to be having my own garden. The joy of being able to hang your washing out and sit with a cup of tea and soak up the sun.”
The homes have been built to the highest energy efficiency standards, making them more affordable for residents to run. All are powered by air source heat pumps, a technology three times more efficient than gas boilers, and have solar PV panels on the roofs.
And when asked about her new neighbours, Janice smiled.
“My oldest son lives just over the way, in one of the other bungalows. He suffers with Perthes’ disease, a rare condition which affects his hips, which has really impacted his mobility and means climbing stairs is difficult and painful. So, getting out of his third storey flat has been brilliant for him, and it’s nice we’re living so close to one another.
“I also know a few other people who have moved in, just from living locally for as long as I have. It’s nice to see that some of the homes have been given to people who live in the area, letting them stay here rather than having to move elsewhere.”
When asked to reflect on the move and what it means for the future, Janice said: “This is my forever home now, definitely. Moving in has changed everything for the better, I couldn’t be happier.”
The new homes are part-funded by Homes England, through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with the government’s housing delivery agency.
Building new homes on Byker land development sites
Building new homes on Byker land development sites
Meetings are ongoing with NCC to discuss the development of our remaining sites including Byker South and St. Lawrence Square, where we plan to build new homes to meet local housing need. We will submit a pre-planning application or these homes in the coming year which will help us achieve our overall target of 150 new homes as part of delivering our Community Pledge.
Hobby rooms
Hobby rooms were incorporated into Erskine's original redesign of the Byker Estate. There are 80 hobby rooms which vary in shape and size and were originally designed for social enterprise and community activities, encouraging community interaction and cohesion. Although a number of hobby rooms remain empty, several are still used by the Byker community for their original purpose.
26a Raby Way
A former photography studio, 26a Raby Way secured £240,000 Heritage Lottery Funding to transform the space into a community archive, celebrating the past, present and future of the estate.
Work started on site with RE:GEN in March, and we are working with community members to train as archivists and to offer tours.
66 Raby Way
Planning permission was granted, and funding secured through social value and our Place Budget to transform this space into a new community hub where residents can socialise, share meals, develop skills and access advice. We are progressing the procurement and refurbishment with RE:GEN/ Straightline and expect work to start during summer 2026.
Historic England Heritage-at-Risk Funding
Karbon was awarded £99,000 by Historic England to bring two hobby rooms back into use at St Michael’s Mount and Spires Lane, supplemented by £47,000 from our social value fund.
After a tender process, we appointed contractor CLC to carry out the refurbishment work, with the rooms expected to be completed in April 2026.
Spires Lane will be used as a community space focussing on employment and upskilling in partnership with our community partners Big River Bakery, Newcastle United Foundation and Foundation Futures, and St Michaels Mount will be an artist's studio.
We are working with involved members of our community and young people from Foundation Futures to select an artist in residence. We will then work with the artist to apply for funding to run community art projects.
The Chevron Kitchen Project
We invested £4,354 of Karbon social value funding and £10,443 from our place programme in a new kitchen in The Chevron hobby room, which is used by youth charity Foundation Futures. A full kitchen was fitted along with extensive rewiring, and the building was redecorated internally.
Social value
Karbon continues to support the Byker Estate through social value funding.
£73,000 has been invested in assets across the Byker Estate – four hobby rooms and the Dunn Terrace MUGA project.
£770 of in-kind support including drainage surveys and artwork installations has also been provided.
Bi-annual customer care visits
Bi-annual customer care visits
These visits include a property inspection and ensure customers update/review their personal details that we hold. It is also an opportunity for reporting repairs, discussing any customer concerns and sharing opportunities to get involved on the estate.
- Q1: 99 customer care visits were carried out.
- Q2: 156 customer care visits were carried out.
- Q3: 181 customer care visits were carried out.
- Q4: 203 customer care visits were carried out.
Customer Scrutiny Panel
The Customer Scrutiny Panel is reviewing our Vulnerability Policy, gathering feedback directly from customers and making recommendations to enhance service delivery.
Their review will conclude during 2026.
20
Customer net promoter score
7.82%
Stock turnover
99.55%
Customer satisfaction with letting process
Health, wellbeing and mindfulness
Community engagement events and projects that support health, wellbeing and mindfulness.
Foundation Futures
Foundation Futures is a youth charity operating in the heart of the estate from The Chevron hobby room.
The charity offers six sessions weekly for family support and guidance. The programme has been funded for three years, starting September 2024, by The National Lottery Reaching Communities.
The Adult Wellbeing group had over 150 attendees, and the Life Skills Group (16-25 years old) started in November 2025 with 30 attendees.
Christmas parade
Foundation Futures hosted its annual Christmas parade, where 500 selection boxes were given out to young people living on the estate, along with a Christmas gift giveaway. This giveaway supported 50 families with Christmas gifts, and 65 families received Christmas food bags (funded by CPF). Karbon provided £1,000 of funding.
Children and Family Newcastle Byker Sands Family Hub
Children and Family Newcastle Byker Sands Family Hub
Located in the heart of the Byker Estate, the Byker Sands Family Hub offers family and health related services and support to the community and beyond.
Maternity Tobacco Dependency Service
Maternity Tobacco Dependency Service
This service supports people to quit smoking during pregnancy. At least 22 people accessed the service throughout the year.
Well Baby Clinic drop-in
The clinic provides new parents and families the opportunity to have their baby weighed and to raise any questions or concerns about their baby’s health. Sessions are held weekly at Byker Sands, and around 200 people in the Byker community have accessed this service.
Pregnancy social
The socials provide a relaxed, informal and friendly environment for expectant mams. Held weekly from Byker Sands, at least 14 people have accessed the socials this year.
Little Minds in Mind (Children North East)
Little Minds in Mind
A service for parents and caregivers who are experiencing difficulties in their relationship with their baby, during pregnancy or after their baby is born.
Affordable food
We have continued to support the successful delivery of affordable food provisions across the estate including:
The Byker Pantry: 50-60 weekly customers supported by 15 volunteers
The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT): 40-50 weekly customers supported by 15 volunteers
Foodbank referrals - 186 food provision referrals were made.
Shopping Vouchers - 112 food vouchers
Feeding Families packs – 73 boxes were handed out.
Children and Family Newcastle Byker East Hub also have staff registered with the Trussell Trust to provide food vouchers for families.
The Byker Pantry
The Byker Pantry is a “Half Price Shop” set up to serve the people of Byker, ran by Vineyard Church. Not only is it a place to come and get a weekly shop at half the regular price, it also has a warm and welcoming space set up for locals to enjoy a cuppa and a chat with each other and the friendly volunteers.
They provide additional advice and support and occasionally run cookery courses and other activities. During 25/26 they have supported around 190 households, with an estimated 500 people supported from the Byker community. They have saved members in total around £20,000 or more. For a member that shops weekly and spends £5 a week on average, that would equate to over £600 annual saving on their grocery bill.
The Bread and Butter thing (TBBT)
The Bread and Butter thing (TBBT)
TBBT is fully established on the estate, with an average of 40-50 customers using the service every week and 15 volunteers from the Byker Estate supporting the programme.
In November 2025, we arranged a trip to Sunderland Winter Museum and Gardens for the volunteers to celebrate the project operating successfully in Byker for over two years. Ten volunteers attended the day out with transport and lunch provided.
Food and toiletry boxes
Food and toiletry boxes (separate toiletry bags for male and females) are now available on the BCT reception for customers that come in on a Friday afternoon ahead of the weekend when other support services are closed.
Nourish Food School
Nourish Food School is a North East England–based social enterprise and mobile cookery school that works to improve people’s relationship with food by building practical cooking skills, confidence and positive food habits across all ages.
Nourish Food School requested BCT community partnership funding to run education and cooking skills workshops.
Six cookery workshops were hosted and recipe kits dropped off every other week. Sixty-nine customers engaged with the cookery classes and recipe kits.
A tea party was held for residents at over 55’s scheme Tom Collins House in August where Nourish School attended and delivered a food demo. Fifteen customers attended and Karbon provided £100 in funding.
Newcastle United Foundation
The Foundation supports the delivery of the Primary Learning package at Byker Primary and St Lawrence primary schools. Primary Learning allows pupils to enjoy more physical education and helps teachers to gain knowledge, skills and confidence to teach PE.
Total attendees: 4,115
Total unique participants: 283
Sessions delivered: 150
After school physical activity sessions for children in the Byker community. All sessions are highly engaging and tailored to pupils’ abilities, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and interests.
Total attendees: 1,364
Total unique participants: 31
Sessions delivered: 44
Free physical activity sessions across the school holidays for children from Byker Primary School with lunch included.
Total attendees: 3201
Total unique participants: 291
Sessions delivered: 10
NUF held a Byker Easter Camp for Byker Primary School students over the easter holidays. The camp took place over eight days providing young people with structured physical social experiences and daily nutritional support. The programme aimed to increase physical activity levels and promote teamwork.
Total participants: 34 young people.
IDOS Health
IDOS Health delivered a number of informal drop-in sessions to those attending The Byker Pantry to provide a better understanding of sleep, exercise, nutrition, changing behaviour, mental health and red flags in health. These sessions are very discreet for those who are collecting their shopping or sitting having hot drinks.
Five informal drop-in sessions were held at The Pantry where 25 people attended.
Working with community partners, BCT completed a health mapping exercise to identify support/opportunities for priority conditions, which include:
-
high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes
-
depression and anxiety
-
chronic lung disease
We’ve been working with Child Health and Wellbeing Network on one of its key health priorities through the Asthma and Healthier Together project to look at what we can deliver in Byker.
A report has been produced which details a host of recommendations around linking community and strategic partners with the NE Asthma Network. The asthma nurses have been introduced to the BCT team and attended both Strategic and Community Partnership Groups.
Community Asthma Advisors attended the Byker Community Partnership meeting to talk about their work. This has led to further meetings with Byker Sands and other partners. They also attended the BCT team meeting to share details of what to look for and how to signpost families with children who may not be managing their asthma as well as they could.
Community Asthma Advisors also attended the Byker Food Market in October
Discovery work is now underway exploring opportunities to improve oral hygiene.
Income maximisation
Providing opportunities for customers to access training and employment as well as increasing the range of financial products and services available, which will improve the economic activity of customers and the community.
A Cleaner Greener Byker
Educating and enabling customers to take responsibility and support waste management improvements to ensure the results are meaningful and have a lasting impact on our community.
Litter picks
Litter picks were held in April, May, July, August and September. Nine customers attended.
Community Bug Hunt
We held a bug hunt held at Northumberland Terrace in May. Two Natural History Societies came along and held education and craft sessions with the children. The Recycling Team from NCC came along to do some recycling education with customers as part of the communal bin area introduction. Karbon provided £200 in funding .
Twenty children and six adults attending and engaged in activities. Snacks and refreshments were provided.
Harbottle Park event (coordinated by Newcastle Parks and Allotments)
Harbottle Park event
Byker Sands, alongside the park and allotment’s Rangers, ran a session on blossom posies for people to take away with them and The National Trust ran blossom bathing and meditation sessions.
Tom Collins House garden
Residents requested improvements to their communal garden and applied for CPF of £440 to buy a greenhouse, which was approved.
RE:GEN agreed to update benches, and it was agreed that certain aspects of the garden would be funded through the Environmental Upgrade Programme.
Work to the garden was completed in March.
Skip days
Skip days are regularly scheduled across the estate at different locations and advertised in the BCT newsletter for customers to get rid of fly tipping. Twenty skips were provided throughout the year.
Neighbourhood walkabouts
Walkabouts are regularly held with customers to discuss issues in person with their Neighbourhood Housing Officer. Twenty-two customers attended across the year.
Customer feedback
Satisfaction with grounds maintenance service overall 95.59%
Satisfaction communal areas are kept clean 71.95%
Satisfaction with Byker Wall cleaning contract 100%
District Heating System
Work to replace heating pipework set in concrete in occupied homes is still ongoing, which will improve the condition of the pipework and reduce the risk of flooding. We continue to plan the work in a timescale that meets the needs of our customers and look to have work in all homes complete by April 2027.
Fourteen properties were completed out of 30 throughout the year. We are due to renew kitchens in the homes which require internal pipework improvements within the next three months. Work is also being undertaken when properties become empty.
Fly tipping
We have taken a joint approach with NCC to tackle illegal fly tipping across the Byker Estate.
Through this, our aims are:
- improved perception of Byker as an estate of choice
- targeted enforcement around illegal fly tipping
- improved waste management in the Byker Wall.
CCTV
We have worked in partnership with NCC to jointly fund temporary CCTV cameras on the estate. G&A Security installed 34 cameras and monitor the CCTV.
As of April 2026, there have been:
-
41 incidents of fly-tipping where a person has been identified by the cameras. They have been processed by NCC, and fixed penalty notices have been issued.
-
9 incidents have been captured and dealt with via different methods eg tenancy action.
-
13 incidents have been caught via the permanent CCTV on the communal walkways of the Byker Wall.
The Project Support Officer and General Operatives have also submitted an additional 22 witness statements to NCC where addresses have been found on items that have been fly-tipped.
Representatives from G&A Security, NCC and BCT meet every two weeks to discuss progress. They have successfully identified 85 perpetrators of fly tipping and taken action taken against them as part of the project.
A meeting is being arranged with NCC to review the success of the CCTV project, the reduction in fly-tipping being collected, opportunities for further community engagement and possible extension to the project.
Byker in Bloom
The annual Byker in Bloom competition returned in August with a celebration event held at the Grove, a music and event space in the heart of the estate.
A safe place to live
Working with customers, the police and partners together tackle crime and the fear of crime in Byker. We take a preventative approach to anti-social behaviour, working in partnership through education, diversion and empowerment.
116
Number of ASB cases opened per 1,000 homes
71.79%
Customer satisfaction with your landlord's approach to handling ASB
Children and young people
Working with partners to create opportunities for young people in Byker to widen their educational attainment and raise aspirations. We aim to create meaningful experiences which will enhance their outlook on life and encourage them to be the best they can be.
Little Explorers (Children and Family Newcastle Byker Sands Family Hub)
Little Explorers
A free group for babies/children aged between one and three years-old, their parents, grandparents and carers. A space that aims to be family friendly, to explore indoors and outdoor activities i.e. messy play, songs and stories.
At least 90 people attended the sessions.
Byker Tuesday Baby Social (Children and Family Newcastle Byker Sands Family Hub)
Byker Tuesday Baby Social
A friendly group for carers with babies who are not walking. There are lots of games to play and activities to help babies develop. Twenty-nine people attended the sessions.
The Children’s Foundation Baby Box (Children and Family Newcastle Byker Sands Family Hub)
The Children’s Foundation Baby Box
We support our midwifery and health visiting colleagues to identify pregnant women we feel are eligible for the box. This is now being rolled out citywide.
The box contains a changing mat, bath towel, blanket and thermometer to get families started with baby care. The box is also packed with stimulating toys, and books with a focus on laughing, playing, reading, singing and counting.
Antenatal classes
Midwives continue to deliver sessions in Byker Sands Family Hub.
131 people attended the sessions.
Baby Massage (Healthworks) Byker Sands
Baby Massage
These sessions encourage bonding, soothing colic and teething, and improving sleep.
79 people attended in total.
Streetwise (sessions held at Byker Sands twice a week)
Streetwise
A safe space to get support from Youth Workers at Byker Sands. Activities include sports, games, arts and crafts, along with food prep and cooking.
97 young people have been supported from Byker.
Daisy Chains SEND Toddler Group
Daisy Chains SEND Toddler Group
This group is an early intervention space for families with autistic children or those undergoing diagnosis, helping them access support. Each session is tailored to meet the needs of both the child and their parent/carer.
These sessions were held weekly at the Byker Sands Family Hub in April and June, where five children attended.
Autism Family Hubs (Children and Family Newcastle Byker Sands Family Hub)
Autism Family Hubs
Provide support, information and guidance to parent and carers whose children and young people are pre, during and post diagnosis of autism.
Drop-in ‘Do you think your child may be neurodivergent?'
Session held in January at St Martins in Byker. Customers could chat to services about the support they offer.
Foundation Futures Easter activities
Foundation Futures Easter activities
With £500 CPF funding, the youth charity held an Easter scavenger hunt, litter pick and circus activity day for 20 young people during the Easter holidays.
Fair on the Square (Newcastle City Council)
Fair on the Square
Part of the East End High street project, a traditional funfair was held at Hadrian Square, Byker over two days in May 2025.
Ouseburn festival (Building Culture)
Ouseburn festival
The annual Ouseburn Festival returned with a pop-up street theatre event held in July on Kendal Street and Kendal Place with street performances.
It was a family friendly performance delivered and created with and for the people of Byker. Approximately 10 – 12 people attended.
Byker customer trips
This year we hosted eight free trips for the community. We provided transport to and from venues anda packed lunch for all attendees, and we covered admission costs.
Locations included Alnwick Gardens and Lilidorei, Diggerland and Hall Hill Farm. 454 customers attended.
Newcastle United Foundation
Eighteen NUFC match tickets were gifted to BCT and allocated to children in Byker Primary and St Lawrence’s primary schools.
Eden
With £200 CPF funding to purchase gifts, Eden held a Christmas toy giveaway in December for local children.
Byker Pantry
Byker Pantry held an alternative Halloween event, ‘No Trick Or Treat’, including craft activities, candy floss, cakes and drinks.
60-70 Byker residents attended the free event.
ACANE
With £500 CPF, ACANE provided free meals to young people during activities over the February half term.
Forty young people attended the events.
The Mental Shift CIC
£500 CPF supported the Mental Shift CIC for a six session Muay Thai programme exclusively for Byker young people.
The aim of the project was to support young people who may be out of education/employment and at risk of crime/substance abuse.
Byker REAL
From January 2021, Foundation Futures has been providing Byker REAL targeted youth group sessions twice a week from The Chevron. The sessions target young customers at risk of or are involved with knife crime. The programme has been funded by Willan Charitable Trust until May 2025.
The sessions involve games, minibus trips out of the estate and safety workshops. Ten young people aged between 14 and 20 living on the estate are actively involved. Over 20 signed up to the project who can access support.
The young people have collectively attended the youth group over 400 times throughout the year.
Byker Futures Youth group
Since September 2022, Foundation Futures hold a weekly Byker Futures Youth Group, these sessions are more open to young people but can be signposted to the targeted groups for extra support. The programme has been funded by Badur.
The sessions involve arts and crafts, and a group of 12 young people who regularly attend the group were involved with the recent street art project creating the welcome sign on Commercial Road.
Through this group, 10 young people were able to attend a four-day residential trip.
Young people involved with the group have collectively attended the sessions over 400 times throughout the year.
Multi Use Games Area (MUGA)
An application was successful for Karbon social value funding to renovate the MUGA at Dunn Terrace. £12.5k was awarded and work will start to repaint and jet wash the MUGA, and install new basketball hoops and benches as well as a hopscotch design, all based on consultations that took place with children at Dunn Terrace. Work is due to begin in spring 2026.
Christmas card competition
Pupils from St Lawrence’s Primary School got into the festive spirit by designing our annual Christmas card. All pupils from nursery through to year six got involved and our judges selected a winner from each year group.
Extending our reach
The Men’s Pie Group (Children and Family Newcastle Byker Sands Family Hub)
The Men’s Pie Group
A weekly get-together for men that includes support with making pastry, stews and pies from scratch, eating pies together as a group and a good chat. They support each other, both emotionally and practically, and despite their differing situations and backgrounds, there is always an atmosphere of respect and empathy.
Consisting of young dads and grandads, over 20 people have accessed the group.
Culture exchange (Children and Family Newcastle Byker Sands Family Hub)
Culture exchange
Culture exchange is a group for children and families in Newcastle from ethnic minority groups where English is a second language. The group aims to reduce isolation and improve the mental health and wellbeing of service users. It also enables families to establish friendships in the local community as well as upskilling them through a range of activities.
Throughout the year, over 30 people attended the exchange.
Teen mams group (Children and Family Newcastle Byker Sands Family Hub)
Teen mams group
Working with health colleagues, Children and Family Newcastle work together to identify young mams who may need additional support.
Drop in for Dads (Children and Family Newcastle Byker Sands Family Hub)
Drop in for Dads
A health drop in for dads and male carers runs from the Byker Sands Family Hub where attendees can ask questions, get support and meet other dads.
NE Museums
NE Museums hosted a workshop at Tom Collins House and Mount Pleasant. They brought a box full of items from various decades for residents to look at and discuss the history behind each one.
Community trip
A free community trip was arranged to Seaton Delaval Hall with fish and chips for lunch for over 55s. Fourteen customers attended.
Remembrance Day
With £500 CPF, we supported veterans’ charity Launchpad’s annual Remembrance Day event at the Lighthouse Project in November. 140 people attended including residents and students from St Lawrence’s Primary School.
Christmas carol service
Launchpad held a Christmas carol service attended by the local community and primary schools on 15 December. £267 CPF was provided to support the event.
Roots for Change UK
Roots for Change UK is a charity dedicated to supporting refugees, asylum seekers and marginalised individuals as they adjust to life in the UK. The charity offers a variety of services, including translation and welfare assistance, ESOL classes, organic product workshops, Zumba classes, sports for kids, help with university applications and vocational courses.
Yoga, ESOL and English classes were held at Byker Sands Family hub.
Community training and employment
Working with our contractors and partners to maximise opportunities for customers and their families to access meaningful training and employment support.
Benfield School careers fair
One of our Karbon Employment Advisors attended a local secondary school careers fair for around 300 pupils aged 11-16 years. They had a stall at the event with Karbon employment information and held a Q&A session on how to get into housing.
Byker Sands Outreach Family Fun Day
Byker Sands Outreach Family Fun Day
Our dedicated Byker Employment Advisor attended the Byker Sands Family Fun Day. They provided information on training and employment support available for tenants on the estate.
There were 75 adults and children in attendance.
Optimum Skills DIY Course
Twelve Byker customers attended this course to learn basic retrofit DIY skills such as plastering and flatpack furniture building to improve confidence and pride in homes.
The dedicated Byker Employment Advisor attended the sign-up event.
CAP Job Club
Byker Pantry has set up a job club to help customers back into work.
Eight people attended the session, and one person has been successful in finding work. Other members of the club have grown their confidence, and have a much-improved CV and skills in writing tailored covering letters.
Dedicated Employment Advisor
We have a dedicated Employment Advisor Sean who works alongside our community partners to ensure we offer a wide range of support services to ensure people can live happily and independently in their homes.
- 26 customers moved into employment
- 4 Byker customers have been recruited into grounds maintenance New Start roles .
- 63 active customers engaged with the service from referrals from Neighbourhood Housing Officers or self-referrals
- 24 customers have been guided into training or improvement of basic skills
- 79% conversion rate (from not engaging to engaging)
Drop-ins
Drop-in sessions are held monthly to provide employment support at the following locations:
- Byker Mutual Aid (during food hand-outs) on Wednesday afternoon.
- Byker Pantry
- Foundation Futures
Sixteen customers have engaged through the drop ins.
Full Time ESOL Co-ordinator (NCC)
Full Time ESOL Co-ordinator (NCC)
A full time ESOL Co-ordinator was appointed and offers different programmes in the Work and Thrive Hubs (local to Byker) and is looking to run a session in The Lighthouse Project.
Planned sessions have been arranged with Northern Learning Trust with ESOL themes.
Books
‘Little Big’ book clubs and community library is to host conversational English sessions. This is fully funded through the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.
A community library was established in March, running from the BCT reception.
The Write Turn
We provide a four-week trial course called ‘The Write Turn’ for customers who lack confidence with reading, writing, maths and digital skills. Additionally, Karbon will pay the fee for a provisional driving licence and theory test, and run sessions on how to compete the driver’s theory test.
The initial trial saw:
- 7 Byker customers in attendance
- 3 provisional licences purchased
- 3 theory tests passed.
- 4 theory tests booked for the summer.
- 1 awaiting provisional licence then immediate test booked
Customers have continued to show interest in the course throughout the year.
Funded driving lessons
A customer who started in a temporary New Start role was given a permanent position. To continue to develop their opportunities for employment, they were offered funding for 10 driving lessons. They have now passed their driving test, using the money from their salary to buy a car.
Boost Programme
The Boost Programme was funded by UK Shared Prosperity Funding for Karbon to deliver employability services aimed at economically inactive customers. This can be support for driving lessons, and providing mobile phones, travel expenses, workwear, interview clothes, and ID, reducing the financial barrier to employment.
143 customers have accessed boost this year.
Vocational and Basic Skills Tutor (Building Futures East)
Vocational and Basic Skills Tutor (Building Futures East)
Drop-in sessions are held at Byker Sands Family Hub providing employment advice, CV writing and training.
Offering five months paid work placements, New Start offers customers a new route into employment and gaining new skills.
The New Start Programme advertised and ran events for two cohorts during July including an introduction session, a ‘meet the employers’ job fair, and interview preparation as well as CV and cover letter workshops. Ten customers successfully gained a New Start role over the year.
Green Start programme
In addition to the New Start programme, Karbon has also introduced the ‘Green Start Programme’, which is accessible to all Karbon customers. The initiative is the same as the New Start programme, with five month paid placements focusing on environmentally friendly roles.
Four Byker customers were referred for the programme, two customers completed the course and have since attended interviews. One customer was successful in gaining a Green Start role.
79%
Percentage of engaged customers moving into education, training or employment
Digital connectivity
Working to improve community access to digital services.
Foundation Futures
Mount Pleasant had a new but unused SMART TV, which was donated to Foundation Futures to use during the youth sessions.
We are exploring options for Karbon’s digital coaches to deliver basic digital inclusion support sessions to customers.
Digital inclusion sessions
Karbon digital coaches offered six digital inclusion sessions at Tom Collins House. Seven residents attended.
Fibre connectivity
We’re continuing to explore the installation of fibre broadband in the Byker Wall as part of the sprinkler installation project and working with Openreach to explore connectivity to unconnected parts of the estate.
MyKarbon
MyKarbon is our customer portal. It allows Karbon customers to report and manage repairs, make payments and check account balances, keep details up to date and set up a Direct Debit.
MyKarbon works on all devices and is safe and secure. It's easy to set up and use, and gives customer the freedom to do what they need, when they want.
898 Byker customers are signed up to the MyKarbon portal.
