Green Heart's Next Chapter
As everyone may now know, Green Heart NE CIC has made a huge shift from the physical store on the High Street in Gateshead to a mostly online business with a studio in Greenesfield Business Centre! This shift has come after some time of decreasing footfall from the Gateshead flyover demolition, causing small businesses to suffer. Despite more investments to improve the area, there have been continued concerns for businesses with "the flyover closure being the final push in a town centre that's been on the edge for years" (Sheed, 2026), as described by Chronicle Live. Throughout this process, volunteers and friends have showed up to support Green Heart along the way! Of course maybe they were just coming because they knew dogs were going to be there, and who can turn down their cuteness overload?
Photo with MP, Mark Ferguson on the day the shop closed 
Despite this being a sad time for people involved with the organisation, the community ethos of Green Heart has held everything together during this transition. On the initial move in day, Helen had some doubts about the challenging process and was feeling quite overwhelmed, and so was I. 
However, while still somewhat in a transition phase, Green Heart NE CIC has made some immense progress ! As we continue to settle in the business centre, the website has undergone a refresh, an upcycling workshop and sewing classes event schedule has been outlined and will be made live soon, and there will be even new developments to do stalls and events within Trinity Square!
Please do stay up to date with our progress and go check out all the new things!
In the meantime, Green Heart NE CIC will continue to sell online through the website, Etsy, and Vinted. Additionally, we have been making appearances at local stalls and markets to sell our amazing upcycled items. Volunteers are still showing their support and have come to visit Green Heart at the Greenesfield Business Centre, but in Helen's eyes, the experience still doesn't feel the same. It will take time. While in a different chapter, Green Heart's mission will always be Community + Sustainability + Creativity. This is such an exciting time, and we look forward to new opportunities for the future as a CIC.
