Tyne & Wear
Tyne & Wear Citizens
Tyne & Wear Citizens Accountability Assembly. March 2022. Image credit: Simone Rudolphi Photography
Tyne and Wear Citizens
Who are we?
We are Tyne & Wear Citizens, a Citizens UK Chapter.
Thirty one members form our alliance from churches, mosques, schools, charities, trade union branches and a university. Together, we organise to tackle injustices in our local communities.
What are we fighting for?
The priority issues voted on by members in our community include:
- Tackling poverty through our campaigning.
- Racial Justice in Education
- Green, Fair, Healthy communities

Founding Partners
- Newcastle Quakers
- Newcastle University - Institute for Social Renewal & HASS Humanities and Social Sciences Department
- CofE Diocese of Newcastle
- RC Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
- CofE Diocese of Durham
Strategic Partners
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle
- Newcastle University
Education
- Newcastle University
- NEAT Academy Trust
- Newcastle University Student’s Union
- Durham University Student’s Union
- St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School
- St Thomas More Catholic High School
- The Sixth Form at Southmoor
Faith
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle
- Northumbria Area Quakers
- Newcastle Central Mosque
- St John the Baptist Church
- All Saint’s Church Gosforth
- Benwell & Scotswood Team Parish
- The Parish of Saint Cuthbert and Saint Joseph, North Shields
- The Parish of the Durham Martyrs
- Communities Together Durham
Community
- Citizens Advice Newcastle
- North East Wellbeing
- West End Woman & Girls Centre
- ReCoCo: Recovery College Collective
- Rape Crisis Tyneside & Northumberland
- Healthworks
- Cedarwood Trust
- International Community Organisation of Sunderland
- Sunderland Lighthouse Community
- Sunderland Bangladesh International Centre
- New Horizon
- Space4
- Tyneside Welcomes
Trade Union
Sara Bryson (Senior Community Organiser)
sara.bryson@citizensuk.org
Claire Rodgerson (Community Organiser)
claire.rodgerson@citizensuk.org
Wendy McConnell (Parent Organiser, PACT North Tyneside)
wendy.mcconnell@citizensuk.org
Austin Oshegbu (Together We Can Associate Community Organiser for the North East)
Since our founding in 2015, we have:
More than quadrupled the number of real Living Wage accredited employers in the North East – including Newcastle University, the University of Sunderland, North of Tyne Combined Authority and Sunderland City Council.
Ran a national campaign – Just Change – so that young people on Free School Meals get the same treatment as their peers.
Ran a rapid response national campaign - so that young people on Free School Meals got access to food during school 'closures' in 2020.
Held a Citizens Mental Health Commission - hearing over 300 testimonies leading to systemic changes for improved mental health and well-being in the region and the establishment of the national School-Based Counselling Campaign.
Reclaimed the Metro and won a Hate Crime Charter for public transport.
and more! Get in touch to find out...
NEWS, STORIES AND UPDATES
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Santa visits Sunderland: How workers won the real Living Wage
First, the University of Sunderland agree to pay all its staff a real Living Wage. Then it joined the campaign to launch Sunderland Living Wage City. And it was all thanks to a group of students, staff and Tyne and Wear Citizens leaders who spread the Christmas cheer by taking action for change.
Read more -
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Want to join our Chapter?
We’re always looking for new members! Get in touch with your local Community Organiser.