Success Bites: Building a Stronger Future for Public Safety
Welcome to our first Success Bite Case Study, our quick-read series packed with inspiration, achievement and impact. Each edition packs a big story into a small package, short engaging and full of inspiration, these stories show what's possible with the right support, determination and ambition.
Our first Success Bite features North East Workspace tenant TDI (The Derwent Initiative), a purpose-driven charity that has spent over 30 years helping people create safer communities, workplaces and public spaces.
Meet TDI
TDI (The Derwent Initiative) a Newcastle-based charity that has been helping to tackle sexual offending and sexual harm for more than 30 years. Operating across Great Britain, Northern Ireland and internationally, TDI works to find innovative, joined-up solutions that make communities, public spaces and workplaces safer.
Through training, research and practical support, TDI empowers individuals and organisations with the knowledge, skills and confidence to identify, understand and manage risk. By enabling non-experts to play an active role in prevention, TDI has built a strong reputation as a trusted partner, demonstrating that creating safer communities is a responsibility we can all share.
Facing New Challenges
Like many charities, TDI faced growing financial pressures. Traditional grant funding, which had historically been a key source of income, was becoming increasingly difficult to secure. While successful programmes such as Leisure Watch delivered significant social value, they often generated only enough revenue to cover costs.
The COVID-19 pandemic added further challenges. With face-to-face training at the heart of its delivery model, restrictions made it difficult to reach audiences and maintain services. To continue its vital work, TDI needed to adapt, diversify and build a more sustainable operating model.
How PNE Helped
Support from PNE and the ISN Programme proved instrumental in helping TDI navigate this transition.
Working closely with PNE CEO Tracey Moore, the organisation refined its messaging to ensure it remained clear, accessible and relevant to both community and commercial audiences. This strategic support helped TDI strengthen its proposition while remaining true to its mission and values.
The ISN Programme also enabled the team to focus on areas with the greatest potential for sustainable growth, helping them develop new approaches to reach wider audiences and create long-term resilience.
"You must have passion and belief in what you do. Seek help and join networks to get advice. Connect with people. Be pragmatic about where you find funding to sustain your business and always stay relevant through consistent market research."
Stronger Than Ever
As a result, TDI has successfully expanded its online training offer, enabling it to engage and support more people than ever before.
The organisation has also strengthened its business-to-business messaging, making it easier to communicate the value of its expertise to organisations seeking effective risk management and public safety solutions.
Today, TDI operates with a more resilient and sustainable business model, positioning the charity to continue influencing best practice and raising awareness of public safety issues across the UK.
Looking to the Future
TDI's focus is now on securing long-term, dependable funding that will allow the organisation to remain independent and continue delivering meaningful impact.
By staying visible, responsive and connected to the needs of communities and organisations, TDI will continue to strengthen its position as a trusted provider of public safety training and risk reduction programmes. Through education, collaboration and prevention, TDI will help more organisations protect people, reduce risk and create safer environments where individuals and communities can thrive.
To learn more about how TDI can support your organisation, visit here and discover how their training and programmes can help create a safer future for the people you serve.
If you are interested or want to find out more information about the ISN programme, contact us at enquiries@pne.org