About Making Changes NE

Making Changes NE is an organisation based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead and Northumberland which works to build communities through education and activities; while improving mindfulness and wellbeing.

Aims

Making Changes NE were looking to recruit a member of staff to help with their digital marketing presence, including social media and blogging, as well as assistance with their online shop.

Actions

North East Ambition Skills Facilitator, Linda, supported the managing director, Jasmine, to develop the social media role and helped the C.I.C to make an informed decision on how to take it forward, by providing her with information and advice on the Kickstart Scheme process. Jasmine chose direct contact with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Linda facilitated this relationship between them, to advertise, promote and appoint to the vacancy.

Linda also supported with shortlisting and the candidate interview process for the social media assistant role and signposted Jasmine to further business support. The North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) provided support regarding the contract of employment and PAYE for the Kickstart employee.

Impact

A candidate was successfully appointed and started work in September 2021. They work on the social media marketing and blogs, which has enabled Making Changes NE C.I.C to build up their online presence and to recently open their online shop.

It has also given Jasmine the time to focus on funding and new projects. In the future, she hopes to be able to earn an income with the online shop and for the C.I.C to have their own community centre.

"Linda has been fantastic support. When I have been unsure on something or needed more information, she has always gotten back to me in record time. She checks up on me regularly which is a great help and prompts me to keep going. This has been especially helpful when trying to prioritise my workload too and in helping me to remember to do some forgotten jobs. She is fully ready to be 100% helpful in any way she can." - Jasmine Inaiyah, Managing, Director at Making Changes NE

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