Sarah Gorman

Chief Executive Officer

Caroline Beckett

Community Projects Manager

I joined Edberts House towards the end of May 2018 as Community Projects Manager. Over my long, long career (oh my goodness I have got so old!) I have provided a range of support to voluntary and community sector organisations in both Gateshead and Newcastle. My dream job has always to be to manage a community centre and with Edberts I currently manage two! - Edberts and Pattinson House.

My first few months have been amazing - I have loved getting to know everyone. And, in December my career peaked when I got to be both a Womble and Mrs Santa. Now, that is certainly going to take some beating.

In my spare time I am making the most of the time my teenage sons are still at home. I dread them leaving the nest. Sometimes, I think about exercising - but that is a work in progress...

Jackie Jamieson

Hi, my name is Jackie Jamieson and have recently taken up the role of Community Linking Project Manager. I’ve worked in both further education and local authority for a number of years, mainly in project development and external funding, but have spent the last five years working in the voluntary and community sector which I find extremely rewarding. I feel my skills are much better placed to support the sector, with the impact and the difference made within communities far more tangible.

Away from work I love to visit the theatre, cinema and generally enjoy life, for me it’s all about what you make it!

Gillian Richardson

When I joined the Edberts’ Team I didn’t realise how many opportunities would come my way - from delivering courses, facilitating trips, and organising teams for the colour obstacle rush to dressing as a white rabbit in our annual pantomime and an Oompa Loompa for Edberts Funday! I’ve met so many different people and have made some great friends along the way.

I enjoy spending spare time with my daughter, socialising with family and friends, walking the pooch, art, and playing guitar.

At both Edberts and Pattinson House the kettle’s always on so if you pass by call in for a cuppa and a chat to find out more about what we do!

I started to work at Edberts in January 2011, on a 3-month contract and no-one has told me to leave yet… so here I still am, loving all that I do here!

Since then I’ve witnessed so many changes at Edberts: new courses, new staff, and some great steps taken by individuals and by our community as a whole. Increased levels of confidence, people gaining qualifications (in some instances, their first ones ever), our young people coming together to raise funds to put on Fun Days, buy popcorn machines, gain Food Hygiene qualifications, and the whole community working together at the end of each year to put on their own Christmas Pantomimes. Nothing excites me more than to see our community stretching itself to find skills and abilities that people didn’t realise that they had already inside themselves, flourishing (nothing except the thought of another David Bowie vinyl album, I suppose).

I have recently taken on a new role as Central Support Manager, heading up the team which looks after the back office functionality of the Edberts House Charity, operations/finance/training etc…

Long may Edberts continue to help people achieve their potential, no matter what age they are, and long may that 3-month contract keep being renewed…

Hello, my name is Lindsy Thompson. I am Community Development Worker for Pattinson House in East Gateshead.

Prior to working at Pattinson House, I worked for Locality as a Community Organiser in Sunderland.

My current role at Pattinson House involves supporting the community, working alongside local people to maintain and expand community support, activities and services. We offer guidance and opportunities to enable and initiate social change, by working with local volunteers to ensure that community involvement is at the centre of all programme activities.

My family and my job mean everything to me. As a child I always had a desire to help others - I feel that my dream job and my lifelong ambition of working with people in the community have been achieved within my role at Pattinson House.

I hope to continue growing my working knowledge and experiences at Pattinson House!

Hello my name is Fiona, I haven’t worked for Edberts House very long but I am thoroughly enjoying spending time with lots of people and getting involved in the fun and varied activities.

I’ve worked in Gateshead for about 12 years now, I previously worked for a charity working with people experiencing homelessness. I’ve always loved working alongside people, when I’m not at work I can often be found crocheting or hiking about in the woods with family and friends!

Moira Underwood

Community Link Operational Lead

Hi. My name is Moira Mae Underwood and I am Operational Lead for the Community Linking Project.

I joined Edberts in 2016 as a Community Link Worker, working in two surgeries in East Gateshead. I feel that it is a privilege to work with the people of Gateshead. In the 4 years that I have worked in the project I have seen the very real difference that a Community Link Worker can make to peoples’ lives, treating the person as a whole and not as a group of individual difficulties.

I became Operational Lead in April 2019 and love liaising with the practices throughout the borough of Gateshead and supporting the Link Workers in their day to day role.

My background is mental health, I worked as a qualified psychiatric nurse for many years. It was my passion then to empower people to take control of their own health and lives and I see the Community Linking Project as a natural extension to that.

I worked in Mental Health Carer support in South Shields, supporting the carers of people who have mental health difficulties. Whilst in that role I worked closely with the CNTW (mental health) trust, ensuring a smooth carer and patient journey throughout their contact with the Trust.

I have experience working with homeless people and the difficulties that can bring to them.

In my spare time I enjoy cooking (and eating!), reading and walking throughout the County Durham countryside.

I absolutely love what I do and I still have THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD.

Brenda Johnston 

Community Link Worker

Having worked in the community for over twenty years I have responded to the needs of the communities I have served.

My knowledge has been built on the experiences I have shared with people. People from local communities and amongst people of different cultures. I have always relished being in the heart of things and spending time with people – best job in the world.

Oh?! Did someone else just say that?

Steve Wilkinson

Community Link Worker

Hi, my name is Steve Wilkinson. After three amazing years as a Youth and Community Worker at Pattinson House I joined the Community Link project team within Edberts House. My role now is Community Link Worker based in the East Gateshead area.

I enjoy the variety the role offers and never knowing what the day will bring. Most of all I enjoy the company of the people that I meet and support along the way.

Away from work I enjoy long distance cycling, especially up hills; you can find me in Northumberland most Sundays with the Northumbria cycling club. When relaxing I like to play my guitar - I have a couple of musician friends who come over and we make a right racket.

I live at home with my partner Kate and daughter Blencathra, my perfect start to the day is breakfast with the family. I also have a son living close by who brings my grandson over on a weekend. This is great fun, but as all grandparents know, it’s nice to be able to hand them back.

My personal ambition for the future is to ride across Europe on my bike and to live in a world without borders.

Helen Bell

Community Link Worker

Hi, I’m Helen and I have worked for Edberts House within the Community Linking Project as a Community link Worker since October 2018. With a background in Community Development and Support, including almost 10 years working for Gateshead Council within both the Children’s Centres and the Neighbourhood Management Team, I have been working with individuals and groups in the community for about 15 years. With some interim work in administrative roles in several of the region’s hospitals, and a year facilitating Induction Training for Domiciliary Care Workers in the North West, I am now utilising the combination of my acquired skills in working with all age groups, as Social Prescribing develops in the South of Gateshead.

Away from work, I like to sing (just for pleasure, there’s no chance of breaking on to the West End Stage anytime soon!) and take regular lessons, as well as singing in a community choir. I love the cinema and watching live music, as well as the theatre, and have organised a couple of community pantomimes in Gateshead in a previous role.

I love living by the coast, but have always had a great affection for working in Gateshead, hence, after five years away, choosing to make a return. It’s good to be back!!

Anne-Marie Cohan

Community Link Worker

I worked for the NHS for nearly 30 years in IT Support but in 2012 had a complete career change and started to study Health and Social Care and joined Carers Trust Tyne and Wear as a Carer Support Work. In 2015 I was given the opportunity to change my role and became a Mental Health Carer / Family Support Worker and supported the families and carers caring for someone with mental ill health, which can be very challenging and very different from caring with someone with a physical disability.

Majority of my time is spent with family and friends and out walking the hills with my adorable little dog ‘Toby’ who goes everywhere with us.

Evelyn Brown

Community Link Worker

So far my career has spanned 30 years in local authority for both Gateshead Council and South Tyneside Homes, mainly as a Housing Officer and with the Neighbourhood Management Team working with local community groups and volunteers.

I’m excited to venture into the west of Gateshead now as a Community Link Worker to meet more people and share my skills and keep on learning along the way.

Every weekend you will find me hiking in the countryside and cramming in fun time with our 2 cute cheeky grandsons. Otherwise I’m planning outings and holidays with my family and friends as well as helping our local vicar Kate at St.Mary’s, Heworth to put on a ‘Great God Gig’ baptising local children.

Community Link Worker

Hello, I'm Carrie. I've been working for Edbert's House since April 2019, getting to know people in our amazing community and helping out with lots of activities, from kids' groups to family cooking sessions. I also worked on some of the brilliant, fun days out on our summer programme. I have loved every minute of working with the staff and community members at Edberts and experiencing all that goes on here. I am now a Community Link Worker, out and about in the community helping people with issues that are important to them. In previous roles I worked in the community with adults with learning disabilities, before that I worked in medical publishing.

Outside of work I love spending time with my family, friends and dog.

Community Link Worker

I have recently taken up the Amazing Role of Community Link Worker at Edberts House and am so excited to join the team.

Prior to working at Edberts House I was a Heath Care Assistant/Care Navigator at Bewick Road Surgery, where I worked for 10 years.

I love meeting people and making a difference to their day. This is my dream job, and I am so looking forward to the future.

In my spare time I am interested in holistic therapies and practice Reflexology and Reiki.

Community Link Worker

Hi, I’m Anne Connolly and I have recently joined the team at Edbert’s House as a Community Link Worker. I have had a long career in housing, in a variety of roles and organisations, including working in a health and housing team and most recently in a team to prevent homelessness.

I am excited to be working in the voluntary sector and am looking forward to learning new skills on the way as well as using my experience in my new role. When I’m not at work I enjoy walking my daughter’s dog as it doesn’t seem like exercise but gets me out in all weathers, socialising with friends, following the fortunes of a local football team and travelling - especially planning trips following my favourite bands around the UK.