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Last week, Community Foundation North East brought together donors, trustees, partners and representatives from organisations across the region for its Annual General Meeting at the Great North Museum, reflecting on a year of charitable giving and exploring the importance of community cohesion and belonging.
The event focused on how people and organisations can help build stronger, more connected communities at a time of increasing polarisation and community tensions. The theme reflects our mission to build a thriving, generous and inclusive North East, where people from all backgrounds and perspectives feel able to belong and participate.
Opening the AGM, our Chair, Phil Moorhouse, reflected on the generosity of people and businesses who choose to give through Community Foundation North East. He shared that we have made 1,169 grants totalling £9.2 million, supporting charitable organisations and community initiatives across the region.
Phil also welcomed Peter Maloney, Chief Executive of Hospitality and Hope, as a new member of our Board of Trustees, before our Treasurer, Paul Farquhar, provided an overview of the Foundation’s investments.
The AGM’s keynote speaker was Jon Cruddas, former MP and co-chair of the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion alongside Sir Sajid Javid.
Established in response to the riots that took place across the UK in summer 2024, the Commission is examining how to build a more united country, where people can come together, share common experiences and feel able to belong and participate in their communities.
Jon spoke about the Commission’s National Conversation, which is engaging directly with people across the country to understand their experiences of community, the challenges facing the places where they live and what could help strengthen connections between people.
With findings expected in early 2027, the Commission aims to develop a clearer understanding of what contributes to community cohesion and how organisations and policymakers can respond to division.
A key message from Jon’s contribution was the importance of stepping into divisions rather than avoiding difficult conversations, and finding areas of agreement that can provide a starting point for meaningful change.
Following the keynote, our Chief Executive, Rob Williamson, led a panel discussion exploring what community cohesion means for the North East and how organisations can help create places where everyone feels included and valued.
The panel was made up of:
- Ngozi Lyn Cole, co-founder of the North East Anti-Racism Coalition (NEARC).
- Oliver Armstrong, a storyteller, organiser and creative practitioner focused on building community power.
- Jane Robinson, Newcastle University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Business, Partnerships and Place, who is also a member of the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion.
Together, they offered different perspectives on the importance of bringing people together, listening to communities and ensuring that people have opportunities to influence decisions affecting the places where they live.
Rob Williamson, Chief Executive Officer of Community Foundation North East, said:
“Community cohesion is central to the kind of North East we want to help build. At a time when divisions and tensions can feel increasingly visible, it’s important that we create opportunities for people to come together, listen to different perspectives and find common ground.
Our AGM was a valuable opportunity to reflect on the generosity that makes our work possible, but also to consider how we can continue supporting the organisations and communities working to make our region a more inclusive place.”
The discussions throughout the AGM highlighted the importance of listening to different experiences, building understanding and finding opportunities for people and organisations to work together.
By supporting community-led activity, encouraging collaboration and helping people participate in the places where they live, philanthropy can play an important role in strengthening the connections that help communities thrive.
We would like to thank Jon Cruddas, our panellists Ngozi Lyn Cole, Oliver Armstrong and Jane Robinson, and everyone who attended and contributed to the discussions.
Through the continued generosity of our donors and the work of organisations across the region, we can help build a thriving, generous and inclusive North East today and for generations to come.