https://www.hoodex.charity/home daily 1.0 2026-03-27 https://www.hoodex.charity/contact daily 0.75 2026-02-03 https://www.hoodex.charity/general-4-1 daily 0.75 2025-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/583dd0d9-8b83-4ac7-b8c3-899522df6a90/boxingteeblack3+Medium.jpeg Our Story - Ricky Gleeson Our Founder, and one of our Trustees, is Ricky Gleeson, an ex-offender with a string of offences and negative behaviours who turned himself around and changed his approach to life. Having served in the navy and worked in a number of short-term jobs, spending some time on benefits and with previous short term mental health challenges, Ricky set up the charity to help change other young lives. He also recognised the lack of provision and facilities for young people too and really wanted to do something about that. So in May 2024, we set up Hoodex Charity and are applying for registered charitable status, which we expect to have imminently. It’s very much our and Ricky’s vision and passion to turn round young lives that has driven the ambition and development of the charity. We are now building a great team to take that vision forward and make a real difference. As part of that we launched the Turn-Around Mentoring Project on 1st June and appointed Jo Christie as our Project Co-ordinator. We are new, but we are ambitious to be a force for change and positive development in Tyneside and beyond, bringing people together to make good things happen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733303505878-IV7EHKQW1YQUB27LPUHD/unsplash-image-1FI2QAYPa-Y.jpg Our Story - Something you can help with? If you would like to be part of out story - and support the positive life stories of young people, please get in touch. https://www.hoodex.charity/general-6-1 daily 0.75 2026-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Mission Vision Values https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Mission Vision Values https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694644871-IC85FNH781UNZSZEGHDR/Aro+Ha_0428.jpg Mission Vision Values https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733304252423-F7Q5UM3N146Q0ZYDRMH2/unsplash-image-mG28olYFgHI.jpg Mission Vision Values - Making a Difference Hoodex is here to change lives, and by changing lives, to change our community, and by changing our community we aim to make the world a little bit better too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733422624324-KCS3RV8G4DV3BI0JL56P/unsplash-image-_AdUs32i0jc.jpg Mission Vision Values - Growing better lives Helping young people recognise and achieve their potential is powerful and transforming for them - and for the communities they live in. We work on a person centred model and approach and we work to align other services and organisations to support their ambitions and hopes for the future. Collaboration and partnership is key to best outcomes and effective support. We work as a catalyst for co-operation and to ensure we complement what other agencies are doing in a young persons life. That includes, health and social service, police and education as well as other community groups. https://www.hoodex.charity/team-2-1 daily 0.75 2026-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/98fed6f4-7099-44c0-b406-de66b2b91733/personal+1.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/935f083c-80c4-4976-9ff5-57c4bff8b643/WhatsApp+Image+2024-11-29+at+20.41.21.jpeg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/831a8f25-8c5b-49cd-ab6f-48be18069abe/Ranjana.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/fafe2cbb-616e-4623-a465-d2be46d49649/Billie+Jean.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/e83969d9-5ec5-4cf4-bc0d-0427f8b63eac/Kelly+Turnbull.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/078eb7b3-45e5-4875-9e94-e815bca50579/Harrison+Askew.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/3a2bcbdf-265b-4e3b-9796-369ad6ecdd34/HoodEx+Christinae+Hiley.jpg Our Team https://www.hoodex.charity/about-1-1 daily 0.75 2025-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733510748894-WLPL95HIQQGOJDQ29UHE/unsplash-image-0NaQQsLWLkA.jpg Our Volunteers - Our volunteers - the heart of hoodex At HoodEx, volunteers aren’t just helpers—they’re the heartbeat of everything we do. From mentoring and coaching, to fundraising and admin support, our volunteers make change possible where it matters most. Every hour given, every skill shared, and every conversation offered helps a young person in Tyneside and beyond take positive steps away from crime, gangs, and negative influences. “I never imagined I could make such a difference just by showing up each week. Watching a young person grow in confidence has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.” – HoodEx Volunteer We’re proud of our volunteer team and the difference they make every single day. Whether you’re a mentor guiding a young person, a fundraiser bringing fresh energy, or someone working quietly behind the scenes—together, you’re changing futures. Want to know more about how you can get involved? Visit our Volunteering page to explore current opportunities. https://www.hoodex.charity/services-1-1 daily 0.75 2026-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733824239954-0MI46R6RAN84DICI32OV/unsplash-image-A7kZhUn-UPs.jpg Forward Development https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733824477128-E6Y5F6AJ06FU4012U5IE/unsplash-image-c9FQyqIECds.jpg Forward Development https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733824928301-0255ZB9GWGZ4SXOINL5K/unsplash-image-Xtnt5xtK03E.jpg Forward Development https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1734371583669-QXNGZUAJ5JS8IDX0VQPN/unsplash-image-NCNzK2vVnpI.jpg https://www.hoodex.charity/about-4-1 daily 0.75 2026-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733304802322-IRIZ29ABZDL1EFC5ROYC/unsplash-image-Clv9DfJLwac.jpg Our Impact - Punching above our weight We are also well networked and well known in the Tyne and Wear community and beyond, all of which we will leverage going forward.  We are usinj a crm and management system which will allow us to track young people’s personal development and progression across all our projects and programmes.  We are committed to evidence-based services and organisational development, to quality and accountability.  We understand the importance of outcomes and impact reporting to shape future delivery and services and to demonstrate to value of working with us and funding us. As we develop , this section of our website will include case studies and testimonials as well as outcome and impact statistics summarised from our detailed records at personal, project and organisational level. We want to ensure accountability and evidence for the difference we make. https://www.hoodex.charity/our-services daily 0.75 2026-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733246943289-V9ZMS4KB7MKKEOKBB1KY/unsplash-image-J154nEkpzlQ.jpg Our Services & Mentoring https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733247070097-0C7353ETS4CA14CXQQO4/unsplash-image-HtJH8BPw_As.jpg Our Services & Mentoring https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/3b26b30c-031c-434e-9460-f7b28f908696/johann-walter-bantz-HG1pkXN7SVA-unsplash.jpg Our Services & Mentoring https://www.hoodex.charity/about-1-2 daily 0.75 2024-12-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733339873658-44W6OZGES0FNU73K983U/unsplash-image-o37-NDE2AHk.jpg Mental Health - Mental Health matters The facts and figures are frightening. Suicide is the biggest killer of young men. One in 8 girls are self harming or receiving treatment - and 1 in 4 who have a mental health issue already. Substance abuse fuels the issue and is also a predisposition to crime and grooming for crime for those who are vulnerable. Many would say this is a lost generation of young people who have had to deal with a pandemic, low employment prospects, economic crises. Its so hard to recover without support, and especially for those who have made a few mistakes or who have already got a criminal record. https://www.hoodex.charity/crime-prevention daily 0.75 2024-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733509442560-8LN1S84WINYE7WVJROC6/unsplash-image-nb6QA56hBIk.jpg Crime Prevention - Crime Prevention Preventing and reducing crime is something we all do together. Many young people have been dealt a bad hand and have had to overcome adverse childhood experiences, bereavements, poverty, exploitation, bullying and much more. When we talk to young people about their personal stories our overwhelming sense is often that they have done incredibly well to survive and get to where they are. We count it a privilege to help and support them to make the best possible future for themselves - and to contribute to the lives of others. It costs around £200,000 every time a young person ends up in a juvenile detention centre. There they will learn how to offend from other inmates and for some, a life of crime will wreck their own life and many others and cost millions to the public purse. We don’t want to just stop the revolving door; we want to prevent young people ever walking through it. https://www.hoodex.charity/about-1-3 daily 0.75 2025-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733510233314-6IJJU49CU6BSTVOLRC8M/unsplash-image-9zlj0JnBxHw.jpg Employability - Employment. Our Turn-Around mentoring programme aims to match skills and ambition. Where we possibly can we find volunteer mentors with relevant skills to share. Whether that’s working indoors, outdoors, in finance of on the shop floor. We have helped young people discover the therapy and socialisation and reward of work. We support young people into retail, office work, construction work, the armed forces and education. Each young person on the programme works through a personal development plan or PATH plan and is supported on a consistent and ongoing basis to get there. https://www.hoodex.charity/gallery-1-1 daily 0.75 2024-12-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/5762b91e-3146-498f-8651-e8992d1bd8fb/HoodEx_Web+-+14.jpeg North Shields https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/6f59b778-ad00-48e9-b7c2-9e21ec55a98f/HoodEx_Web+-+15.jpeg North Shields https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/5d42d858-3a25-466c-8596-f1b777f13a0e/HoodEx_Web+-+12.jpeg North Shields https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/e1747745-ef86-4314-bb08-2f41da111c0c/HoodEx_Web+-+13.jpeg North Shields https://www.hoodex.charity/services-3-1 daily 0.75 2024-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1589847890165-I7LPX06YA44DBGGFPSGA/image-asset.jpeg Other Shop Developments - Dream it. It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1589847889324-DFHCXJY7BA7YLNZ26RDC/image-asset.jpeg Other Shop Developments - Build it. It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.hoodex.charity/volunteer daily 0.75 2025-09-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733862311670-2YYGE2T0XRQFVVDZ64YQ/unsplash-image-ft7vJxwl2RY.jpg Volunteer - Play a part in changing young lives We’re a growing charity on a mission to help young people break free from crime, gangs, and negative influences—and we can’t do it alone. Whether you’ve got a few hours a week or a specific skill to offer, there’s a role for you on the HoodEx team. Current Opportunities – We’d love your help with: Volunteer Mentors (NEW!) Support a young person for 2 hours a week over 12 months, helping them build confidence, life skills, and a brighter future. You’ll be fully trained and supported every step of the way. Board Members – Accountant & Solicitor, Head of PRU or Secondary School Lend your professional expertise and help shape our strategic direction. Your skills could make a huge difference as we grow. Admin Support (6–10 hrs/week) Ideal for someone organised who can help us stay on top of key tasks behind the scenes. Fundraisers Plan and support local events, challenges, quizzes, and more. Bring your energy and ideas—we’re open to creative ways to raise funds! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1734021585598-QZTSPZT763DVDEMOKF49/unsplash-image-YbRd8Qqem_Y.jpg Volunteer - Whats in it for you? Tobias Keene, D.D.S. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Tobias Keene brings a bit of unabashed Southern hospitality to all his patients. He moved to Washington, D.C. over thirty years ago as a freshman at Ivy College. Right after graduation, he attended World University’s School of Dentistry. Before opening Keene Dental in 1994, he worked for free clinics and some of the finest practices in the District. He is part of the 123 Dental Association and stays up-to-date on the latest dental discoveries. When not striving to keep his patients happy and healthy, he’s enjoys hiking with his family in Rock Creek Park. https://www.hoodex.charity/events-and-challenges daily 0.75 2026-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733862801594-0XAHOZYLYZM2QAXPD4LX/unsplash-image-WUehAgqO5hE.jpg https://www.hoodex.charity/services-2-1 daily 0.75 2025-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733825623560-77I9OIEWSWA2VJIW2SAW/unsplash-image-3xwrg7Vv6Ts.jpg Donate & Costs - We work hard to keep our costs down and especially look for local businesses and organisations to work with us and support us. Our approach is very person centred and community based. We work with young people where they live and use facilities in that community to help engage the young person with supportive people and mentors local to them. Our mentoring Project costs around £2,000 per young person per year. It runs all year round and each young person will receive around 250 hrs, or more, of personal input, with additional access to our other activities and vocational inputs. The cost of a young person entering the criminal justice system is around £200,000 per annum. A lifetime of crime will cost millions! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/1733825949080-5ZMH72VGHK7CIS378SXR/unsplash-image-FC4z3l4sUYc.jpg Donate & Costs - Getting there! Helping young people gain skills and support is transforming. A workshop session for 10 young people costs £300 to run A gym membership for a young person costs around £25 per month An hour of dedicated mentoring costs around £20 per hour A place on an adventure and experience weekend costs around £400 Every penny we receive is used to the very best effect. https://www.hoodex.charity/gallery-1 daily 0.75 2025-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/e8a10bbd-3d79-49e7-abd6-221eae421e8f/IMG-20241207-WA0009.jpg Gallery and Video https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/df8b2971-55fb-4d66-b7c6-63473e9c4797/IMG-20240821-WA0004.jpg Gallery and Video https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6747151dbc63ba21e76a615b/ef414d09-dcdf-4e25-8699-a395cf332e5a/IMG-20241207-WA0026.jpg Gallery and Video