Helen Richardson

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Helen Richardson |Austen Shakespeare

Labour has retained the mayoralty of North Tyneside after beating Reform UK by a thin margin. Karen Clark tallied 16,230 votes, putting her just 444 ahead of John Falkenstein. Clark, who effectively becomes leader of North Tyneside Council, said the close result was down to people using a protest vote over the national political landscape. The Conservatives, who are the official opposition on the local authority, came third.

1 month ago | bbc.com | Helen Richardson

Labour narrowly wins North Tyneside mayoral raceHelen RichardsonPolitical reporter, BBC North East and CumbriaAusten ShakespeareLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceBBCKaren Clark said the political picture nationally affected the vote in North TynesideLabour has retained the mayoralty of North Tyneside after beating Reform UK by a thin margin. Karen Clark tallied 16,230 votes, putting her just 444 ahead of John Falkenstein.

Mar 23, 2025 | bbc.com | Helen Richardson

Family 'begged for help' with son's violenceHelen RichardsonPolitical Reporter, BBC NewcastleBBCLindsey Brown says her son, who has severe and complex needs, first became violent during the Covid pandemic. The mother of a teenage boy with a severe and complex autistic spectrum disorder says there is not enough support for families experiencing violence from their own children. Lindsey Brown, from Northumberland, first suffered abuse from her son during the Covid pandemic.

Mar 22, 2025 | bbc.com | Helen Richardson

'Society thinks you are a child abuser'Helen RichardsonCourtesy of Her CircleWomen who have experienced the trauma of having their children removed have been expressing their emotions through artA mother whose children were taken into care says she no longer feels "shame" and has "recovered hope" after joining an art therapy support group for women in the same position. The woman, who the BBC has agreed not to name, lost her child after struggling with alcohol addiction.

Mar 16, 2025 | bbc.com | Helen Richardson

'When it's your kids hitting you, you can't leave'Helen RichardsonPolitical Reporter, NE & CumbriaJane DownsBBC North East & Cumbria InvestigationsGettyAlthough data can be recorded differently across police forces, the number of reported assaults on parents and carers by children as young as eight appears to be increasingParents and guardians who have suffered violence at the hands of children in their care say support services are a "postcode lottery".