Howdon Community Hub

Our home in the heart of Howdon

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In 2017, we took over management of the building formerly known as Howdon Community Centre and rebranded it to Howdon Community Hub. Today, the Hub is a home with deep roots in our community; a foothold that allows us to have an impact in many different ways for residents from all walks of life.

Howdon Community Hub offers:

  • A vibrant timetable of activities and sessions for all ages, facilitated both by our staff and local businesses and organisations.
  • Howdelicious Café and Catering: offering delicious and affordable drinks and food, as well as external catering for all occasions.
  • Tiana’s Pals: our dedicated service offering sensory and play sessions for ages 0-8. Sessions are designed to be engaging and educational, for just £3. They all take place in our newly refurbished and bespoke playroom.
  • An outdoor MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area), facilitating a range of sports sessions as well as private hire. Perfect for a kick about!
  • A thriving garden area, with a large polytunnel and shed for our regular gardening clubs.

We’re always on the lookout for green-thumbed volunteers!

  • A fully equipped Gym, with single sessions costing only £2.50 and memberships £15 per month. Our Gym is perfect for those looking to get back into exercise, or fit a quick session in around a hectic life. For those who need guidance, Dropzone Elite Fitness offers tailor made personal training services from our Gym.
  • Direct access to support services offered by our Family Services Team, Health and Wellbeing Coaches and our colleagues in other charities.
two middle aged women laughing together at the hub one is wearking a pink flowery tshirt the other is wearing a pink jumper there is a picture of an elephant on the wall behind them
a middle aged man and six children leaning over a raised bed to weed it

Activities Timetable

Partner Spotlight: Newcastle United Foundation

a group of young men and women dressed in leisurewear standing in front of NUFC boards and posters listening to a talk

The love for Newcastle United runs deep in our area, and we understand that the club represents a trusted and beloved brand for a lot of our community members. That’s why we’re proud to be a dedicated and close partner of the Newcastle United Foundation.

This work started out when we became one of the venues for the Foundation’s Premier League KICKS sessions: a weekly, free football programme for ages 8-18. These sessions quickly became some of our most popular, and an excitable queue of young people is a regular sight on floodlit Thursday nights.

This partnership eventually grew as the Hub became home to the Prince’s Trust TEAM classes delivered by the Foundation. TEAM allows young people to develop new skills, work in a team with new people and ultimately gain qualifications. Family Gateway helps them achieve this by offering work placements during the 12-week courses.

In early 2024, we cemented this partnership even further with the signing of an agreement to deliver the United for Opportunity programme, alongside the Foundation, to young people aged 16-24 living in Howdon including those transitioning from the care system. The project will empower participants to raise their own aspirations and identify next steps that spark their passion.

In addition, this agreement included a shared member of staff to develop the sports offer at the Hub and new branding in what became the Foundation’s permanent home in our centre.

Partner Spotlight: Dropzone Elite Fitness

Since leaving the army I have wanted to be able to help people change their lives, through health and fitness. I have the skills to enable people to achieve real results, not just physically but also help them build that mental strength and improve overall health.Our regimental motto is ’Utrinque Paratus’ (‘Ready for Anything’). It is therefore my aim for you to achieve the level of fitness and health you wish to obtain, and my goal is for you to maintain that level with Drop Zone Elite Fitness—so you too will be “Ready for Anything”. If you’re serious about your health and fitness, I can help you make the transformation you want to see.

Graham Donaldson

After a career serving proudly in the parachute regiment, Graham Donaldson set up Dropzone Elite Fitness to share his passion for physical fitness and boxing, and the massive impact it can have on people’s lives.

This first took shape at Howdon Community Hub when he came to us with an idea: Fit Mind Boxing Warriors.

Since 2022, these free 6-Week courses have allowed local young people aged 7-16 to develop their confidence, self belief and fitness through intensive non-contact boxing training. A core programme on our timetable, these courses take young people who are often struggling at home or at school, and show them just how much they can achieve when they dedicate themselves to their goals.

In 2023, Graham added Women’s Boxing sessions to our timetable, and brings that same tailor-made approach to coaching women who are often the parents of our Fit Mind Boxing Warriors.

Graham has recently expanded his offer by basing his personal training sessions in our Gym. Whether you’re looking for 1-on-1 or small group training, our Gym is the perfect place to work towards your fitness goals under Graham’s watchful and experienced eye.

a middle aged very fit man shows a woman in tshirt and leggings how to do a strength exercise on the floor

Partner Spotlight: The Bread and Butter Thing

A young man in a blue tshirt and jeans standing in the back of the van with his thumbs up looking straight into the camera the van ahs the words the bread and butter thing on it

The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT) launched in Manchester in 2016, with the aim of putting food that would normally be destined for the bin onto the tables of families across the country. They work with supermarkets and food producers to identify opportunities to reduce or redirect food waste, and distribute it as shopping through their network of community hubs.

A basic package of 3 bags costs members just £8.50 a week, and is available to anyone who wants to keep food bills down as the cost of living crisis continues to bite. TBBT has continued to expand and is now approaching 60 hubs, where they regularly distribute over 100 tonnes of food a week. In 2022, they distributed 5000 tonnes of food, which is roughly equivalent to 12 million meals, and saved their members a collective £4.8 million!

In April 2022, we became TBBT’s first base in North Tyneside. We were so excited to be a partner in their work and soon after had a dedicated team of volunteers who attend every Friday to make sure this invaluable service is provided to our community. TBBT has become a key part of our weekly schedule and has been an enormous help in increasing the number of people who are aware of the Hub and our wider work.

The cost of living crisis is one of the issues we are beginning to see affect more and more of the people we work with, and this is one of the easiest ways to save money quickly on your monthly bills. New members can sign up by texting 07860 063 304 with your full name, postcode, and quoting “Family Gateway”.