Our 1 Community is a South Tyneside-based not-for-profit organisation supporting young people and adults into employment, enterprise, and sustainable careers, with a strong focus on SEND inclusion, accessibility, and social value.
We design and deliver employability programmes, supported self-employment pathways, training, qualifications, and real-world work opportunities, working closely with employers, colleges, local authorities, and industry partners across the North East. Our work is rooted in lived experience and co-production, ensuring the voices of young people and communities shape everything we do.
Our flagship programmes include Don’t Dis My Ability (DDMA), which supports young people with SEND and neurodiverse needs into supported self-employment, consultancy, and paid work; Spotlight, which provides paid gigs, industry access, and career pathways for young people in music and the creative industries; and One Academy, delivering enterprise, life skills, digital skills, and accredited qualifications for post-16 learners.
Alongside this, we support businesses through accessibility audits, training needs analysis, inclusion and SEND awareness training, helping organisations improve recruitment, onboarding, customer experience, and workplace inclusion. We work with partners such as Newcastle College to unlock funded training and resources for employers.
Our mission is to reduce barriers to employment, close the disability employment gap, and create inclusive local economies, ensuring people in South Tyneside can access meaningful opportunities to learn, earn, and thrive.