Community Action on Need
Community Action on Need (CAN)
In April 2025 Riverside were granted funding from the National Lottery to support our new Community Action on Need (CAN) project.
Since 1980, we have been dedicated to making Newcastle’s West End a healthy, thriving community. The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund—the UK’s largest community funder—will mean Riverside can bring local people together to tackle the important issues in their local community. This project builds on Riverside’s strong history of being community-driven, ensuring local voices shape its work.
“Our vision is to start where the community is and move forward together. It won’t be easy, but we are absolutely sure it will be worthwhile, and we’re excited to get started.” Lou Horsefield, Chief Executive.
Community Led Action
The sole focus of Community Action on Need is to promote and support community-led action. We will do this by working alongside community members to tackle important and concerning issues that matter to them, while striving for positive change within the community. Key aspects of community action include:
- Problem-Solving: Community action helps communities identify and address issues that affect their well-being, whether it’s social, economic, or environmental.
- Empowerment: It aims to give communities the skills, tools, and resources they need to act and improve their lives.
- Collaboration: It often involves partnerships between communities, local authorities, and other organizations to achieve common goals, allowing residents to be involved in decision-making processes related to their local area.
- Community-led Initiatives: Community action can also involve the creation of community-led services or projects, where residents take the lead in designing and delivering them.
How to get involved
You can get involved in the Community Action on Need project in whatever way feels right for you. Whether you’d like to join conversations about local issues, write to local decision-makers, or take part in community activities and actions, you can choose the level of involvement and time commitment that suits you best.
No matter how you decide to take part, the Community Projects Team will be there to support you every step of the way. Support can include advice and information, one-to-one chats, group discussions, training opportunities, connections to other organisations and local decision-makers, and ongoing encouragement throughout your journey.
If you’d like to find out more about the Community Action on Need project or get involved, please get in touch here or call 0191 2260754 to speak to a member of the Community Projects Team.
What we've been doing so far
Since launching in April 2025, our Community Action on Need (CAN) has been working to reach, listen, connect, and organise with local residents to tackle the issues that matter most to them. In just six months, the team has engaged 73 community members through one-to-one and group conversations, uncovering key concerns around racism, crime, anti-social behaviour, and rubbish and fly-tipping across Benwell.
A series of lively events – including the Scotswood Community Event, Unity in Diversity, Chatty Cafés, and the Community Cook-off – have brought people together to share stories, build trust, and spark ideas for positive change. Through these conversations, residents have begun to develop practical solutions such as improving bin systems, supporting local clean-up efforts, and promoting better understanding between communities.
Many participants say the project has been transformative. One local resident shared, “It made me more confident. I can share, reflect, and make things better… it made me feel I am contributing in some way that helps make change in my community.”
You can read more about the progress of our project here