Changing Lives

Changing Lives is a registered charity that provides specialist support services to thousands of vulnerable people and their families throughout England.  Founded in 1970 as The Tyneside Cyrenians, we became Changing Lives in 2013 to mark our expansion in service provision and geography.  Today we are a national organisation, based in the North East, tackling social exclusion in all its forms. We work with over 17,000 people each year to help them make positive, lasting changes in their lives. At Changing Lives we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their potential. We know that life isn’t straightforward. People’s circumstances, lived experience or health can mean they face barriers to living a happy and fulfilling life. We work with people who are in crisis or who need support to overcome serious challenges that can limit their opportunities. They include: •    men, women and children fleeing domestic abuse •    people with life-threatening addictions  •    those who live on the streets •    women and men trapped in sex work or ‘survival sex’ We help people to develop the skills and self-belief to move past prior experiences, change their story and achieve a better future – for themselves, their families and their communities. We engage with these people through assertive outreach; building relationships and trust, helping them to take positive steps toward healthy and fulfilling lives. Our services are delivered in many different ways; through our own projects, by working in partnership with others, and through specialist outreach teams in our communities.  We also provide: specialist women's and family services; a 12-step addictions recovery programme; employment opportunities for vulnerable people; and run several successful social enterprises including charity shops and a food redistribution service. Facts and figures •    Our services and staff engage with 6,000 vulnerable people every month •    We have over 500 staff, working across around 100 projects nationwide •    The majority of our projects are in the North East but we have services across the North West, Yorkshire and the Midlands