Support group deepens Wearside roots

A Wearside-based social enterprise is expanding its operations to support more people and businesses.

Not A Statistic Northeast CIC, which runs mental health support sessions across Sunderland and County Durham, has opened its first dedicated office at Houghton’s Old Rectory. 

The new premises will provide co-founders Shane Knox and Ruth Haynes with a central workspace and room to grow their operations.

Shane said: “After facing my own mental health challenges and seeing so many others fall through the cracks of an overstretched system, I realised there was a need for something different – something human, accessible and rooted in real understanding. 

“That’s where Not A Statistic Northeast CIC was born. 

“I wanted to create a space where people could feel heard, not judged; supported, not fixed.

“A space that says, “you matter”.

“To date, we have delivered over 1000 hours of free, peer-led mental health support, creating safe spaces for people to talk, connect and feel understood.”

The office also supports the launch of Not a Design Agency, a creative arm offering web design, development and brand services to local small businesses and charities. 

Revenue from the agency will feed back into the group’s wider community initiatives.

Shane added: “We’ve grown from a single idea into a movement – with three weekly support groups now running across Sunderland, Houghton-le-Spring and Washington.

“But we also knew that to keep that support going, we needed sustainability and that’s how Not A Design Agency came to life.

“It gave us a way to fund our mission while helping other CICs, start-ups and socially minded businesses grow their impact too and the new office will be key to ensuring we can do just that.”

Expansion plans include recruiting two University of Sunderland interns, one to assist with creative projects at Not a Design Agency and another to provide research and support for Not A Statistic CIC.

Shane added: “We are partnering with the University of Sunderland to bring in two interns, which will really enhance our offering.

“We’ve seen a real growth in the number of people attending our support sessions over recent weeks and months and we have a few projects in the pipeline for Not a Design Agency, so they will be pivotal to ensure we have the revenue and resource to support even more businesses and people in the future.”

The project has benefited from support by the North East BIC, where Shane previously worked from a shared co-working space. 

The BIC’s Wear Together Initiative helps social enterprises develop across Sunderland, backed by £148,638 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via Sunderland City Council.

Anthony McDermott, social enterprise adviser at the North East BIC, said: “It’s been a pleasure working with Shane throughout his entrepreneurial journey to date.

“Watching him grow from the person who walked through the doors onto our Veterans RV programme to now seeing him well networked, knowledgeable and now playing a key role in offering support and guidance to others across the sector. 

“Shane embodies everything we try to embed in our clients and seeing the development of the Not a Design agency in a quest for him to make his CIC more sustainable in the long term is great to see. 

“We can’t wait see what’s next.”

Shane added: “The BIC has supported us in so many meaningful ways – both personally and professionally.

“It started with the Veterans RV programme, which helped lay the foundations for Not A Statistic Northeast CIC. 

“Since then, the support has never stopped. 

“From ongoing business advice to access to incredible events like Connecting for Good and Growth Lab and working out of the coworking hub, the BIC has opened doors we didn’t even know existed.”

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