As of 1st April, North Shields based charity Rise North East and County Durham Sport are joining forces to provide much needed health and wellbeing support across the whole of the North East Combined Authority area.

Rise was formed on 1st Jan 2020 following the merger of Northumberland Sport and Tyne and Wear Sport and employed 16 people. Following a period of organic growth, and the transfer of County Durham Sport, it will employ 43 people on 1st April, with a further appointment starting later in the month.

This growth has seen the charity’s turnover increase from £644k at YE2019 to £1.394m at YE2024, with further growth expected at the end of the current financial year and into FY25-26.

The opportunity to work more closely with, and mirror the footprint of, the new Combined Authority, has been a key strategic driver in both organisations coming together. The move creates a greater reach and scale and opens up a wider range of external funding opportunities to underpin the work that Rise do, alongside Sport England’s existing investment.

Whilst cost of living, demand for services and funding challenges have been significant obstacles for the charity sector in the last few years, Rise has been able to continue to grow its impact in that period, and the amalgamation with County Durham Sport will continue to ensure that the whole of the region has a strong activity-focussed charity delivering with impact.

Clare Morley, CEO of Rise, said: “These are exciting times for Rise. As a leading health and wellbeing charity we’ve grown and progressed significantly as an organisation since we formed in 2020. Coming together with County Durham Sport as one organisation, with one voice, will allow us

to continue to provide the best possible support to our partners and local communities to ensure we carry on the good work we do.“