Latest news & events

We love creating moments that bring our community together, honour our teams’ diverse backgrounds, and offer gentle opportunities for connection. This month, our Peer Support Group marked Lunar New Year with a beautiful session celebrating the Year of the Horse.

We were delighted to welcome Council Leader Tracey Dixon and Deputy Leader Jane Carter to our peer support group, where they spent time listening to the powerful experiences of those who have been bereaved by suicide.

Natalie and Helen were welcomed by Gill, Glen and Lauren the group facilitators of the Whitley Bay SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide) group.

We’re thrilled to introduce Shadow, our newest — and furriest — member of the team. This incredibly gentle four‑legged friend will be joining us to support members during some of our small group sessions, bringing calm, comfort, and a whole lot of warmth.

For many people, Christmas is a time of warmth and celebration — but for those who are bereaved, it can be one of the hardest points in the year. The empty chair at the table, the traditions that feel different now, and the pressure to be festive can make the season feel overwhelming.

We were incredibly proud to attend the Mayor’s Charity Presentation Night, standing alongside so many inspiring local causes that work tirelessly for our community. Being invited to take part was an honour in itself — and receiving support from the Mayor and Mayoress made the evening even more meaningful.

This autumn marked the start of our new Mindful Monday group support sessions — a gentle, grounding space created to remind us that caring for our minds and bodies isn’t a luxury, but a necessity. In a world that moves quickly and demands so much, these sessions offer a moment to pause, breathe, and reconnect with ourselves.

Recently, Natalie and our team manager Donna joined BBC Radio Newcastle presenters Anna Foster and Matt Bailey during their Thousand Mile Three‑Legged Challenge for Children in Need. Natalie also spoke with Matt for the BBC Children in Need Stories – North East series, sharing how vital this funding is for families affected by suicide.

We are continually humbled by the kindness, generosity, and solidarity shown by people and organisations across our community. Their support not only strengthens our work but also reminds us that compassion truly thrives here in South Tyneside and beyond.

We are thrilled to celebrate the amazing team of runners who took on this year’s Great North Run in support of our work. Thanks to the dedication and generosity of Joe, Kev, Neil, Callum, Dale, Jade, Jessica, Richard and Katie — along with junior runners Harper and Lyle, who proudly completed the Junior GNR with their dad — an incredible £4,000 has been raised.

In June 2025, the charity was awarded the prestigious The Society of Bereavement Practitioners President’s Award of Merit—the Society’s highest honour—for its outstanding dedication, compassion, and contribution to bereavement care.

Charity founder Natalie Kirk of Billy’s Lifeline was nominated for the Best of South Tyneside 2025 Unsung Hero Award. Although she didn’t take home the win, being recognised in such a fabulous and inspiring category—alongside so many outstanding nominees—was a true honour.

Natalie and the team would like to offer our gratitude to Shaun, who has raised over £1,000 at a wonderful event in memory of his dad for Billy’s Lifeline. Thank you to everyone who donated and supported Shaun to make this happen.

We were delighted to have worked with Sareen who has been with us at Billy's Lifeline over the past few weeks for her work placement, as part of her studies at Sunderland College.

Sareen shared with us how she celebrates Ramadan to give us an insight of her religion and community. 

South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade is a shore-based organisation which provides a 24/7 Search and Rescue service to support HM Coastguard dealing with a wide range of emergency incidents in and around the South Tyneside area. The Brigade has been operating since 1866 and is run entirely by volunteers who rely on fundraising to support their endeavours to remain “Always Ready” to help those in peril around our rivers and shores.