News
August 2025 Communication
List of events and activities for August. To have an event or information added for September 2025, please email info@northeastcann.org NECANN August Communication (PDF)
Sunshine, Smiles, and Community Spirit at Hadrian School’s Summer Fayre
This past Saturday, we were delighted to see so many of our members and supporters come together at Hadrian School’s second annual Summer Fayre in Newcastle. Held on Saturday 28th June, the event was a fantastic celebration of inclusion, creativity, and community—and the sunshine certainly helped! The fayre was packed with activities designed to bring joy to children and families of all abilities. From emergency service vehicles (complete with flashing lights and sirens!) to bubbleologists, inclusive sports, horse riding, and more, the day was full of energy and excitement. We were especially proud to see several of our North East CANN member organisations attending, showcasing their work and connecting with families. Events like this are a brilliant opportunity to raise awareness, build relationships, and show how much support is available across the region. A huge thank you to Hadrian School for hosting such a thoughtful and inclusive event, and to everyone who came along to support. We’re already looking forward to next year!
July 2025 Communication
List of events and activities for July. To have an event or information added for August 2025, please email info@northeastcann.org NECANN July Communication (PDF)
June 2025 Communication
List of events and activities for June. To have an event or information added for July 2025, please email info@northeastcann.org NECANN June Communication (PDF)
May 2025 Communication
List of events and activities for May. To have an event or information added for June 2025, please email info@northeastcann.org NECANN May Communication (PDF)
Spring Updates from NECANN: New Beginnings and Exciting Events
Hello everyone, As we embrace the beautiful spring weather and look forward to the Easter holidays, we have some exciting updates to share with you! 🌷🐣 Joining BlueSky We’re thrilled to announce that NECANN has joined BlueSky! You can now connect with us on this platform and stay updated with our latest news and events. Find us at BlueSky. Phasing Out Our Private Facebook Group In response to feedback, we’re considering phasing out our private Facebook group. Tagging seems to be working better for everyone, and we believe this change will streamline our communication. If you have any thoughts or concerns about this transition, please let us know. Call for Case Studies and Feedback For our upcoming newsletters, we would love to hear your feedback and gather case studies or examples of how NECANN has supported or promoted partnerships between organisations. For instance, in WYCANN, the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund accessed a grant through Barnardo’s, enabling a new service to be delivered following a Barnardo’s presentation at a CANN meeting. If you have similar stories, please share them with us! Have social media shares boosted an event? Have you made a connection at a meeting? Your stories can help us […]
April 2025 Communication
List of events and activities for April. To have an event or information added for May 2025, please email info@northeastcann.org NECANN April Communication (PDF)
March 2025 Communication
List of events and activities for March. To have an event or information added for April 2025, please email info@northeastcann.org NECANN March Communication (PDF)
February 2025 Communication
List of events and activities for February. To have an event or information added for March 2025, please email info@northeastcann.org NECANN February Communication (PDF)
January 2025 Communication
List of events and activities for January. To have an event or information added for February 2025, please email info@northeastcann.org NECANN January Communication (PDF)
Thank You for a Successful Network Meeting!
A huge thank you to everyone who attended the NECANN network meeting on December 12th at Irwin Mitchell. Your presence and participation made the event a resounding success! We are incredibly grateful for the engaging discussions, valuable insights, and the opportunity to connect with such a dynamic group of professionals. Your contributions are what make our community thrive. Looking forward to seeing you all at our next event!
December 2024 Newsletter
List of events and activities for December. To have an event or information added for January 2025, please email info@northeastcann.org NECANN December Communication (PDF)
November 2024 Newsletter
List of events and activities for November. To have an event or information added for November, please email info@northeastcann.org NECANN November Communication (PDF)
October 2024 Newsletter
List of events and activities for October. To have an event or information added for November, please email info@northeastcann.org NECANN October Communication (PDF)
UK Space Agency boost for Life Science Centre
Newcastle’s Life Science Centre has been awarded a UK Space Agency cash boost to help expand its innovative work with schools from urban deprived or rural areas. Life offers one of the most comprehensive space programmes in the North, with a dedicated space zone, a state-of-the-art planetarium, school workshops and adult events, exploring space and its relevance to our everyday lives. The wide-ranging programme has received praise from astronauts including Helen Sharman, Tim Peake and Chris Hadfield, who have all visited Life. This £97,000 grant will help expand Life’s Space Explorers programme, which was piloted last year and reached over 1,200 children in underserved or rural schools across the region. It will fund a new cutting-edge mobile planetarium – a high-tech inflatable dome, which can be quickly set up in schools, to create a 360-degree blackout theatre to beam visuals of the universe. As well as benefitting from the new mobile planetarium, schools taking part in the Space Explorers programme also get a free visit to the science centre with a curriculum-linked workshop and live online chats with scientists working in space-related industries. Life Chief Executive Linda Conlon said: “Life’s extensive space engagement programme plays an important role in helping […]
New science club for deaf children launched at Life
Budding scientists in the deaf community are being offered a new way to explore science and the universe. Newcastle’s Life Science Centre has linked up with the South of Tyne and Wearside Deaf Children’s Society to launch a new science club for deaf children, who often face barriers accessing STEM opportunities. The launch of the new club coincides with Deaf Awareness Week, 6 to 12 May, a national week to increase the visibility of challenges the deaf community faces and ways to support them. Thanks to funding from the Ogden Trust, a national charity supporting physics teaching, the free science club will run on Sundays for 7-to-13-year-olds. Activities will include hands-on engineering challenges and experiments, exploring space, buoyancy and electrical circuits. In recognition of the partnership work and adaptations made in the science centre, Life has been awarded the Deaf-friendly Bronze Standard from the National Deaf Children’s Society. Life launched its first deaf science club three years ago, teaming up with children at two Newcastle primary schools, and the new science club will build on this successful project. Life Chief Executive Linda Conlon said: “This latest science club will provide a valuable gateway into science for deaf children and their […]
Life celebrates start of Autism Acceptance Week with ‘Gold Plus’ award
Life has become the first visitor attraction to receive a ‘Gold Plus Standard’ Autism Acceptance Award, from North East Autism Society (NEAS). The prestigious award, which comes at the start of Autism Acceptance Week (2 April), recognises the pioneering six-year partnership between Life and NEAS and the science centre taking “autism acceptance to the next level”. This has led to international recognition for the science centre, with Life receiving enquiries about its work and approach, from organisations in France, Italy and Japan as well as across the UK. Working closely with NEAS, Life has implemented a range of improvements in the visitor experience for autistic people, from shaping new exhibitions at the centre and launching sensory-friendly Relaxed Sundays to increasing staff’s understanding of autism and neurodiversity through on-going specialist training. In recognition of the science centre’s innovative approach to inclusivity, Life was awarded the international Mariano Gago award in 2022 for its work with autistic communities. The awards are dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of the professional science engagement world. Life Chief Executive Linda Conlon said: “This latest award from NEAS recognises the pioneering partnership we’ve forged with them over the last six years and our on-going commitment to making the centre […]