News
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
17th May 2025
Our team loves to receive cards and messages like this. Being a part of a tenant's journey to change their lives for the better is what it's all about.
We are so thankful for our whole team at
Positive Directions N.E.
Thank you for going above and beyond every day, we appreciate you all.
To all our tenants leaving us, thank you for working so hard and making positive changes.
It can never be sad when you leave our provision because we know what this huge step means for you, your loved ones and your lives.
We could not be happier in these moments and we are filled with an overwhelming sense of pride in your progress and success.
It's why we do what we do!
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
8th March 2025
Happy International Women's Day!
Today we celebrate the incredible achievements of women around the world.
It is also a day to recognise our amazing female tenants and our female colleagues and their invaluable contribution to our team.
To our whole team at Positive Directions N.E. thank you for going above and beyond every day, we appreciate you all.
To all our tenants thank you for working hard and making positive changes. We are very proud of you all!
#IWD2025
#InspireInclusion
#PDNE
#CIC
#makingadifference
#supportedhousing
#communitykindness
#positivechange
#health
#recovery
#wellbeing
HOPE IN HELL - SEASON 2, EPISODE 4
8th March 2025
The newest episode of the
Hope in Hell Podcast is here!
Season 2 | Episode 4 is now available on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon and iTunes!
‘Three Pillars of Freedom – Employment, Accommodation and Support’
HEALTH SQUAD DAY
6th February 2025
Today at Positive Directions N.E. HQ we held our second Health Day for our tenants.
Aptly falling on the same day as Time to Talk Day, it was an excellent opportunity to talk about general health but also mental health.
We invited our tenants to take part in a full health check with the amazing Health Squad team from County Durham Wellbeing For Life Service.
The team not only offers important advice and guidance on health and wellbeing but are an absolute pleasure to have around and are so fantastic with our tenants, putting everyone at ease!
Wonderful to see so many of our tenants who took part today, and such a positive that they have left with better knowledge to look after themselves with further support given to improve their overall health.
Amazing 🤩
Time to Talk Day is an annual awareness day held in February run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness
#healthandwellbeing #healthsquad #health #mentalhealth #TimeToTalkday #PDNE #makingadifference
HOPE IN HELL - NEW YEAR, NEW SEASON
16th January 2025
New Year, New Season of the Hope in Hell Podcast.
Featuring Gary Crooks our CEO and Tom Batty our Criminal Justice Lead.
Season 2 | Episode 1 is now available to watch and listen.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
25th December 2024
The PDNE elves were very busy this week visiting our tenants and delivering their Christmas gifts sponsored by Bailey Capital.
We loved seeing all the fabulous Christmas decorations too!🎄❄️
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from Gary, Kelly and the team at Positive Directions N.E.
💙☃️💚
HOPE IN HELL - EPISODE 6
1st November 2024
This episode of the "Hope in Hell" podcast offers a powerful and moving testament to the human capacity for change. Prince's story is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by vulnerable youth and the importance of providing positive support systems.
It is also a hopeful message of redemption and the possibility of breaking free from the cycle of violence. This podcast episode has the potential to inspire others who are struggling with similar challenges and to raise awareness about the urgent need for criminal justice reform and community-based interventions that address the root causes of crime.
WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 2024
10th October 2024
It’s a day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters.
Talking about our mental health can help us cope better with life’s ups and downs. Being able to share openly with others can help us feel connected and less alone.
We are so proud of our amazing tenants who strive everyday to overcome struggles and barriers they face to move forward in a positive way.
A big thank you to our incredible team for all that you do to support our tenants. We are very thankful for your hard work, passion and dedication.
Today, why not check in with your friends, family, or colleagues, and start a conversation about mental health!
HOPE IN HELL - 24 MINS of 24 HOURS
19th September 2024
24 minutes of 24 hours!
View our turbo charged episode with all the best bits so you don't miss a thing!
HOPE IN HELL - EPISODE 3
22nd August 2024
Episode 2 of the Hope in Hell Podcast is now LIVE featuring our CEO Gary.
A hard hitting, no holds barred discussion around the issues affecting inmates and staff in prisons today - This week we hear from a nurse, a former inmate and a long serving prison officer about the challenges they face on a daily basis and the support available to both staff and prisoners.
BBC RADIO
1st August 2024
Our Hope in Hell Podcast podcast hosts Chris Connel and Gary Crooks visited BBC Newcastle yesterday to talk all about the podcast with Presenter Anna Foster!
We will let you know when the show airs and how to listen!
Stay tuned!
HOPE IN HELL - EPISODE 1 AVAILABLE NOW!
25th July 2024
It's finally here!
Episode 1 of the Hope in Hell Podcast featuring our CEO Gary Crooks is now LIVE!
How do you survive a long prison sentence? What are the first 24 hours inside really like? Can a career criminal truly find redemption?
In this week’s episode of the Hope in Hell podcast we talk to a former inmate, a prison officer and a prison nurse to find out what life behind bars is really like.
Please give it a watch or a listen and like and share it.
Let us know what you think!
EXCITING NEWS!
24th July 2024
Introducing Curious Matter Productions, an exciting new collaboration with our CEO Gary Crooks!
Check out the website!
5 YEARS!
22nd July 2024
5 years ago today we announced that we were starting our Supported Housing Company!
What a journey it has been.
We are so proud to have helped so many tenants over the years, providing them with a safe and quality home along with the support they needed to move forward in their lives.
We are grateful that our provision has grown in size and strength and we now offer support to over 40 tenants with the help of our partners Holmes and Bailey providing the best quality properties.
We congratulate all our current tenants for how well they are doing and the progress they have made and continue to make. Not forgetting our amazing team who work so hard and go the extra mile every day to continue to make our company a success, and delivering the best support.
Thank you to all those who have supported us over the last 5 years. We really appreciate it.
Onwards and upwards with an ongoing commitment to
#makingadifference
UNIT 65 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
5th July 2024
We are delighted to confirm that from Monday 8th July Unit 65 will be free to attend for all those Under 18 years old!
The team at Positive Directions N.E. are very proud to be a part of this very special place.
There is such fantastic work happening at Unit 65, and those involved care passionately about helping and supporting people, we hope this recent decision will benefit so many.
See you in the gym!!
QUARTERLY FORUM
20th June 2024
Our Directors Gary and Kelly attended the Non-Commissioned Supported Housing Forum in Spennymoor in June.
The forum is a great opportunity to catch up with the Durham County Council team, members of the SHIP (Supported Housing Improvement Programme) team, and other supported housing providers in the county, to network and discuss collaborative working and best practice.
POSITIVE 4 PEOPLE
19th June 2024
How wonderful to see so many of our tenants at today's Positive 4 People session!
A HUGE well done to all of you for attending today. It shows great bravery and strength to show up, share your journeys and show your focus and drive to move forward in a positive way, with the support of our team.
So proud of you all.
HAPPY RETIREMENT JULIA!
May 2024
THANK YOU!
On behalf of all the team at Positive Directions N.E. we want to wish our wonderful friend and colleague Julia Middleton a very happy retirement.
We are very lucky to have worked alongside Julia for many years, she has worked so hard and we thank her from the bottom of our hearts for the passion, dedication and loyalty she has always shown to the company and to the whole team.
We hope you enjoy a well deserved rest and time with your family, at the beginning of this new chapter.
We will miss you so much!
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK
13th May 2024
'Movement: Moving More for our mental health' is the theme for 2024.
This year's theme #MomentsForMovement parallels the fantastic work taking place at Positive Directions N.E's fantastic initiative Unit 65, helping our tenants and the wider community not only with their physical health, but mental health, trauma and recovery.
Mental Health Awareness Week is also a time to acknowledge, reflect and nurture our mental health and well-being. Today, we honour the strength and courage it takes to confront the challenges we face within ourselves and those around us.
We are so incredibly proud of all our tenants who have taken the difficult challenge of confronting their past and present struggles and decided to move forward in a positive way, and as always our amazing team for their passion and hard work every day!
WELCOME TO THE TEAM!
10th April 2024
A HUGE welcome to Vicky and Frances the newest members of our Positive Directions N.E. team!
We are so happy to have you both here as part of our PDNE family
Wishing you both the very best in your new roles!
FORUM MEETING
20th March 2024
The team were delighted to attend the Non-Commissioned Supported Housing Forum today in Spennymoor.
As always it's great to meet with the Durham County Council team, members of the SHIP (Supported Housing Improvement Programme) team, and other supported housing providers in the county, to network and discuss collaborative working.
Our CEO Gary Crooks shared his inspirational journey, the story of Positive Directions N.E. and the creation of our supported housing provision. Also giving an update about our work in prisons across the country and our continued commitment to #makingadifference.
We were so proud of our tenant Billy who was also invited to share his story today with the forum. A true example of the impact of lived experience and a real inspiration to us all. Billy has experienced trauma, battled addiction and a life of criminality to turn his life around and is already showing great promise and commitment to helping and giving hope to others.
Happy Wednesday indeed!
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
8th March 2024
Today we celebrate the incredible achievements of women around the world.
It is also a day to recognise our amazing female colleagues and their invaluable contribution to our team.
To our whole team at Positive Directions N.E. - CIC thank you for going above and beyond every day, we appreciate you all 💙💚
"HOME ISN'T A PLACE, IT'S A FEELING"
5th March 2024
We have been so happy to welcome new tenants to our Supported Housing provision over the past couple of weeks.
Both Positive Directions N.E. and Holmes and Bailey are so fortunate to be able to provide a person with a home where they can feel safe and supported, providing them with a foundation to move forward positively into the next chapter of their lives.
What a privilege.
Overcoming challenges and barriers can be hard, but our tenants make us proud every day and prove what can be achieved with an extra helping hand.
PRISON DELIVERY
13th February 2024
We are delighted with the delivery so far of our Positive Impact sessions in HMP Durham, HMP Holme House and HMYOI Deerbolt, led by our CEO Gary Crooks and Criminal Justice Lead Tom Batty.
8 sessions delivered so far!
We are also looking forward to the next sessions of The Hope Project to be delivered in prisons across the country in partnership with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and Rethink Mental Illness, following a successful first session in HMP Hull in January.
The feedback from the groups has been so positive and our CEO Gary has received many letters already from those that attended. We hope to be a source of support to those during their sentence and upon release to help them move forward with their lives.
HOPE
18th January 2024
The Positive Directions N.E. team were delighted to begin delivery in HMP Hull this week, led by our CEO Gary Crooks, Criminal Justice Lead Tom Batty and Operations Director Kelly Mennear.
Over the coming months the team will be delivering sessions for The Hope Project in prisons across the country alongside partners from Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and Rethink Mental Illness.
We were delighted with the overwhelming positive response and feedback from those that attended this first session of its kind.
A huge thank you to the commissioner, our partners, prison governors and prison staff who helped make this happen.
Looking forward to the next one at HMP Humber!
CHRISTMAS CALLS!
28th December 2023
The support team have been busy today visiting our tenants across Durham.
It's so nice to see our lovely tenants as always and see that everyone is doing okay over the festive period.
The team enjoyed some top notch hospitality too! Thank you.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE
24th December 2023
Our tenants have been getting into the Christmas spirit with lots of festive fun, hamper deliveries and a few cheeky selfies with our team!
We are loving their decorations and Christmas trees too. Amazing Effort everyone!
CHRISTMAS HAMPER TIME!
18th December 2023
Christmas Hamper time!
We love spending time together every year as a team to prepare a little something for our tenants at Christmas time.
The Positive Directions N.E. team have been hard at work preparing our yearly food hampers to deliver to our tenants to make sure they have some meals ready for the festive period.
We know Christmas can be a very difficult time of year for many and not everyone has that festive feeling, but we want our tenants to know that we are there not only to support them, but to make sure there's something in the cupboard, one less thing to worry about!
We hope you enjoy your hampers!
PRISON WORK
22nd November 2023
Huge well done to our tenant Billy who was instrumental in the delivery of today's training session at HMYOI Deerbolt, alongside our CEO Gary and Criminal Justice Lead Tom.
Billy shared some of his journey today as part of our Positive 4 People programme, which was really well received and inspiring to those currently serving sentences within the prison.
NEW HOME DAY!
2nd November 2023
"There is nothing more important than a good, safe, secure home" ~ Rosalynn Carter
Our team worked so hard (as always!) preparing another one of our properties ready to welcome a tenant last week. Such a beautiful home to be proud of.
WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
10th October 2023
Today is World Mental Health Day.
A day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters.
It's also a day to let people know that it's okay to ask for help, no matter what you're going through.
Our amazing team are wearing their green ribbon pins to show their support for World Mental Health Day today, and everyday!
NEW PARTNERSHIP
26th September 2023
We are delighted to announce the brand new partnership of Positive Directions N.E. and Holmes and Bailey.
Our collaboration with Holmes and Bailey is a significant and exciting development, providing quality housing, sustainable living and exceptional support to the tenants in our provision.
Holmes and Bailey have a wealth of experience and knowledge in acquiring and developing property for social and supported housing, and have an important mission to eradicate rough sleeping in the UK.
Together, we are committed to making a difference and in combining our expertise and resources, we aim to unlock the full potential of providing support to vulnerable individuals and wider communities, fostering growth, resilience, and prosperity for all.
MEET THE TEAM
11th August 2023
Meet our amazing Housing Support Officers Carly, Paul and Bev!
Every department in our company is integral to its success and we are very proud that all members of our team are passionate and dedicated to #makingadifference, but the support we offer is by far the most important part of our provision here at PDNE.
Our 'fab three' help and assist our tenants to maintain their tenancy and take those important steps to move forward in their lives.
Bev, Paul and Carly have a holistic approach to their roles, developing an individual support package for each tenant to nurture and support them, to help develop their skills, raise their confidence and self-esteem, and give them the best chance of maintaining positive change and succeeding with their goals.
Thank you for your hard work and contribution to Positive Directions N.E. - CIC we couldn't do it without you!
MEET THE TEAM
21st July 2023
Meet Naomi, Courtney and Julia from our Admin Team!
These lovely ladies are instrumental in the running of our Durham office, looking after admin covering support, property, finance and maintenance.
Thank you for all your hard work and contribution to Positive Directions N.E. - CIC we couldn't do it without you!
Sky News
11th October 2022
We were so very proud of our fantastic tenants for bravely sharing their stories on a special report for Sky News on Friday evening.
Also, our wonderful staff who go above and beyond everyday, who were also featured in interviews with Sky News Home Editor Jason Farrell.
Click the link below to read the special report:
Amazing Feedback
24th August 2022
We received this lovely thank you card and chocolates from one of our tenants.
Thank you so much!
Ready Steady Cook!
1st August 2022
As part of our tenant support package we help tenants with budgeting and cooking for themselves. Sadiqul had some cooking lessons from our housing support officers today.
If you need this kind of support, contact us on our Contact Us page.
Happy TenantsDecember 2019
Father Christmas came early to deliver some much needed food hampers to the tenants that we support at PDNEHomes.
Merry Christmas!
Allotment ProgressNovember 2019
Our very first house!September 2019
Positive Directions N.E. HomesJuly 2019
Private LandlordsJuly 2019
We are delighted to announce that Positive Directions N.E. - CIC is now an accredited member of the Durham County Council Private Landlord Accreditation Scheme!
Exciting and busy times ahead for our community interest
company as we branch out and find new ways to help people across County Durham.
Creative SpacesJune 2019
Our handyman team were delighted to install this fantastic display of artwork at Annfield Plain Junior School last week.
A lot of time and effort must have gone into this - Just amazing!
Well done everyone!
Allotment ProgressJune 2019
Super School VisitsMay 2019
Work starts on our community allotment!March 2019
Groundwork NE & Cumbria are on site at our Positive Directions N.E. - CIC Allotment to help transform the space with help from some of our learners as part of their 'Creating Better Places' initiative.
Here are some BEFORE pictures - we can't wait to see the progress over the coming weeks!
Allotment UpdateMarch 2019
Radio Interview - Listen!February 2019
A fantastic end to the year!December 2018
International Survivors of Suicide Loss DayNovember
2018
Let's KO Cancer!October 2018
And the winner is...ELIZABUS!October 2018
Launch of our Great British BusSeptember 2018
New team member!September 2018
Great British BusSeptember 2018
Community AllotmentJune 2018
