About Us

The East End and Ouseburn Community Association is a charity and membership organisation, made up of a group of people with a passion for the Ouseburn and Byker community. The organisation oversees the running of the Ouseburn Festival each year as well as contributing time and skills to other activities within the East End and Ouseburn Valley. It is a membership organisation to which anyone interested in the community life of the organisation is welcome to join.

The current board of trustees are:

Sue Bright
 Sue is currently the Account Manager for Newcastle Autocentre (Byker) Limited in the Ouseburn valley, and also vice-chair of Ouseburn Management Board and chair of Shields Road Business Forum. While she had worked there for 16 years, she has been working in the valley since 1984

Dave Cross
 Dave has been working in the Ouseburn Valley for many years, supporting music businesses locally and elsewhere, and campaigning for the Valley's role as Newcastle's centre for its cultural industries. He had been working in the valley since 1990.

Gareth Cooper
Gareth is a local resident with a long record of working for the community in Heaton and the Ouseburn. Gareth was a Councillor representing Ouseburn from 2003 - 2011.

Ronnie Forster
Ronnie is a musician and bookseller who has been a member of the Byker and Ouseburn community for over 10 years. He has been involved in the festival since 2000.

Jo Hodson
Jo is manager of The Cumberland Arms, the renowned traditional pub on the banks of the Ouseburn in Byker, famous for its real ales and Northumbrian traditional music. She has been working with and supporting the festival for several years.