| The First Internet branch's Mother and Baby Box fundraising Quiz raised a total of £355. It was, as ever, supported by many non MU members. Knowing that this would be the case I asked to host the Provincial Prayer Capsule that night. This enabled people outside our organisation to witness one of the ways in which we are celebrating our 150th anniversary. | |
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As part of the 'Year of Sharing', the Diocese of Newcastle is delighted to be launching its very own pilgrimage route, St Aidan’s Way. From the ‘first cathedral’ on Holy Island, to the ‘new cathedral’ in Newcastle, we’re looking forward to walking in the footsteps of St Aidan, with opportunities to reflect on his role as peacemaker.
The journey will be split into eight stages, Find out More here
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Anne and Derek Marr joined the walkers for a short time as they came through Beadnell on the third leg of the St Aidan’s Way pilgrimage walk from Seahouses to Craster. They were able to show them St Ebba’s Neuk and the foundations of her chapel, and gave them greetings from MU before waving farewell as they walked across Beadnell Bay. |
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| DL Anne Blight delivered all the Greggs Gift Vouchers to the People's Kitchen. These had been left over from when the Christmas bags were filled. They were very warmly received. Thank you to our very generous members. |
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| First Internet Branch provided 24 "Real Easter Eggs", one for each child in North Tyneside Refuge. The 16 women each received an Easter card containing a £10 Greggs food voucher. |
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| Several of our members attended the Provincial Service at Manchester Cathedral on 14 March 2026 |
| A beautiful day in March encouraged our members from Tyne to Tweed to celebrate Midday Prayers and then the Cathedral Eucharist with the celebrant The Very Rev Lee Batson. Why don't you join us next month - April 9th- (1 week later than normal because of Easter.) |
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First Internet branch have bought an outdoor storage unit for Northumberland Refuge, to house the children`s larger toys and small bicycles. The cost of this came from fundraising
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| We made the National Mothers' Union Facebook Page- #GoodNewsTuesday |
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A large bag of beautifully hand-knitted baby items has been passed to RVI Maternity, lovingly made by members and friends of Mothers' Union Newcastle. These knits are a practical gift of warmth and comfort, offering care and kindness to new parents and their babies at a special and often vulnerable time. Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, skills and prayers. Another wonderful example of Mothers’ Union’s commitment to supporting families in simple, meaningful ways. #GoodNewsTuesday |
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I opened up this Diocesan Members day to anyone across the Diocese who was interested in joining us. This was because our speaker that day was a representative from Age U.K. With our aging membership I felt it could be of value to many of our members. More than 30 people took advantage of this opportunity. Age U.K explained the many services they could provide, e.g help for anyone just discharged from hospital, help with on-line skills etc. each attendee received an information pack to take away. As always there was time to socialise over a scone slice of cake and a cup of tea. This proved to be very useful and enjoyable afternoon and I think I shall repeat the idea of an extended meeting |
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| "Age UK. reps with attendees at D.M. meeting" |
| Diocesan Council meeting on Friday 27th March in St, John’s Kingston Park |
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The council meeting covered the business matters quickly and efficiently. One item which caught everyone’s interest was what we are doing for the 150th anniversary celebrations. A highlight will be at Newcastle Cathedral on July 25th. It will start with refreshments at 10.30 followed by the service at noon. There will also be displays. Rev Anne Marr described this other activities and competitions. Information can be found on the website. Also, on the website will be details of what is to happen on Mary Sumner Day. Each branch was given a symbolic candle inscribed with the new logo to use on the day. Information was given about the prayer capsule which will be handed over from Carlisle to Newcastle on May 10th at Hexham Abbey before being handed over to Durham on May 17th. The main highlight of the evening was a talk given by Rev Richard (Ric) Whaite, the director of Mission and Ministry in Newcastle Diocese. Ric talked with interest and faith about how we share prioritising things in a way which the world doesn’t, caring for the “least, leftover little and lost” and helping those whose voices have been forgotten. Members help and benefit non-members and in return members are blessed by those we save. Ric amusingly said that the Special blue and white MU socks which he was given at the end of his talk would be appreciated by members and non-members alike when he wore them on Easter Day |
| You can read the reports here |
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Ponteland White Ribbon service 2025 Our Hexham MP Joe Morris, who I invited to support our White Ribbon service at Ponteland in November, wrote an article for the February ‘Pontnews’. The following is a quote from that article. Sylvia Hickey “I attended the White Ribbon Service at St Mary`s Parish to remember those who have lost their lives to gender-based violence. I was honoured to give a reading and would like to thank Reverend Rosemary New for leading such a moving service, as well as everyone who attended. Tackling violence against women and girls has been a priority for me since my election in July 2024, and I am proud to serve as a patron of Northumberland Domestic Abuse Services”. Joe Morris MP |
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This year we held two services, one at the Methodist Church in Hexham and one in St Mary`s Ponteland. Both services were supported by some M.U. members working with C.A.D.A. In Hexham we put a small exhibition in the library and also a very poignant display along the park railings close to the Abbey. We were helped with this by the mother of Holly Newton, the teenager stabbed to death in Hexham in January 2023. In Ponteland at my invitation, we were joined by our M.P. Joe Morris who showed his support by reading one of the lessons. In both services an orange rose was laid in tribute to each victim who had died in the previous twelve months as a result of gender based violence. This year there were 105 adults and 2 children to remember On the following Monday we took all the petals from the orange roses and floated them in the river by the Three Mile Inn in Gosforth. This symbolised the victim’s freedom through death. As the petals floated away we prayed that God would grant them the peace they so deserved. A big “thank you” to those M.U. members who supported us by attending a service or reading out the victims’ names or taking part in the prayers and readings. Sylvia Hickey |
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| First Internet Branch have put together a large Mother and Baby Box containing everything needed by a new born baby 0-6 Mths and mother. This is for a women who arrives at the N/Tyneside Refuge and goes into labour within only a few days with nothing either for herself or her new baby. Cost £270, money provided from our fundraising events and donations from Ponteland and St Peters M.U. This box is not a “one off”, it will be replaced when first box is used. |
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67 complete Christmas Day meals were provided by First Internet Branch for 2 D.A. Refuges. 29 women and 38 children were supported on Christmas Day by this initiative. Thhe image below shows the items ready for collection from Tesco |
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| St Bart's Long Benton Branch Hearts and Angels Project | |
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At the request of the Marie Curie Hospice for knitted hearts and angels, a group of willing knitters from St Bart's Mothers' Union (MU), the St Bart's Craft Group and a knitting group in Gosforth produced 60 hearts and 40 angels. These are offered to children and adults using their services and in need of their care. Roz Glenn of St Bart's MU, who co-ordinated the project, kindly delivered the items to the Hospice in time for Christmas, where they were gratefully received by Katy Francis, their Chaplain.
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Amble Mothers' Union |
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Upper Coquetdale Branch received the Bronze Rise Up award that they completed in October when Melanie from NDAS came to the meetng to share their work . At the Christmas meeting they shared Mince pies and took part in a lighthearted Christmas quiz on the events around Jesus' birth and learnt more about the symbolism of some of the events. |
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| St Cuthberts Blyth held a Christmas Tree Festival and this was the MU tree decorated by the Branch. | |
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Advent Preparations at Holy Nativity included time to hear some inside stories from a survivor of domestic abuse. With the visual help of some of the art and poetry from her book ‘Breaking Though to Freedom’, Talia helped us to see the difficulties of breaking free and the ways in which Jesus Christ can be the shepherd who holds, supports and accompanies a survivor on the journey to freedom. Claire from Changing Lives explained how they offer refuge and support. Fr Wal asserted that churches should be places of sanctuary and understanding where abuse is never tolerated. |
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St Mary's Church Ponteland held the 2nd White Ribbon Service.
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