Katy Wheeler

6 days ago | shieldsgazette.com | Katy Wheeler

A charity in South Tyneside that aims to relieve the growing pressures faced by families amid the cost-of-living-crisis has issued an urgent appeal as it struggles to keep up with demand. Founded in 2002, Hospitality and Hope runs three community stores, a charity shop, and a supported living accommodation service, as well as wellbeing and debt advice sessions - and says it is now helping more people than ever before.

1 week ago | sunderlandecho.com | Katy Wheeler

Here’s some museums, coffee shops and structures off the beaten path that you might not have checked out before. 1. The Watch House, RokerThe Watch House in Roker has welcomed a great new mural by Frank Styles - and it's worth visiting the inside, too. The headquarters of the Sunderland Volunteer Life Brigade, it has a wealth of information on its work and the rescues it has carried out over the past 130 years.

1 week ago | sunderlandecho.com | Katy Wheeler

But, there are still a number of outdoor festivals to look forward to in Sunderland this year. Here’s a roundup:1. Sunderland Food & Drink Festival, June 6- 8Sunderland Food and Drink Festival, which last year attracted 30,000 people, is set to return from June 6-8, 2025, with all the usual favourites – and a host of new additions on the menu. The event will feature three days of international cuisine, live music, family friendly entertainment and some top local traders.

1 week ago | sunderlandecho.com | Katy Wheeler

A summer-long programme of performances gets underway in the city's bandstands, parks, amphitheatres and open spaces this weekend. The first event is being held in Mowbray Park from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, May 31. A collaboration with Sunderland's iconic music studio, The Bunker, this will feature live music from musicians who have worked with The Bunker from 11am onwards.

1 week ago | sunderlandecho.com | Katy Wheeler

A city businessman hit the back of the net when he bumped into one of his Black Cat heroes fresh from Wembley on the White Isle. Mark Milroy, who co-owns Slice Sunderland and Slice Seaham, is on holiday in Ibiza with wife Fiona, who owns baby clothes business Littl’en, and their friends Jamie and Paula Malkin. The couples had been enjoying the Nikki Beach beach club when none other than SAFC star Jobe Bellingham and his Real Madrid midfielder brother Jude came in.