National Portfolio Organisation (NPO)
Contents
Overview
South Tyneside Libraries are a National Portfolio Organisation from 2023 to 2026.
The funding from Arts Council England allows us to support arts and cultural activity and events across our libraries.
Most activities are free and accessible to everyone.
The funding covers the following libraries:
- The Word
- Hebburn Central
- Jarrow Focus
- Cleadon Park
- the Home Readers Service
Active Libraries
We have created Active Libraries, through the funding, to supports people to have active minds, active bodies and be actively involved in our library service.
Our 'Try Something New' programme of activities is one example.
We plan to offer more activities in the future.
We are also seeking community feedback to improve our programme.
You can read more about what we have done so far, at The Word: Blog.
Oversight group
Our NPO oversight group helps manage our activities.
The group meets quarterly to make sure we are delivering the activity we have agreed with the Arts Council.
This group is chaired by local community member Diane Gray.
Members of the group
The group includes:
- Diane Gray - Chair of the Oversight group
- Angela Reed - community member and artist
- Lisa Smith - community member and finance professional
- David Julien - Director at First Contact Clinical
- Liz Peart - Partnerships Officer (Beamish)
Council officers:
- David Brooks - Head of Culture and Leisure
- Julia Robinson - Principal Librarian
- Christina Hardy - Senior Public Health Practitioner
- Ian Burden - Finance Advisor
We aim to increase the diversity of our group to represent all community sections.
If you are interested in joining the oversight group, please email library.support@southtyneside.gov.uk outlining why you are interested and what skills and experience you could bring to the group.