Sunderland charity, Soundwaves Talking Newspaper, which supports people who are blind or visually impaired, has been given a new lease of life following a pro bono office refresh delivered with support from regional contractor, True North Construction.
Based at Toronto Road, Thorney Close, Sunderland, the work helped revitalise the charity’s workspace and improve facilities for volunteers and service users at no cost to the organisation.
Founded in 2019, True North Construction has earned a strong reputation for delivering bespoke residential builds, high-end refurbishments and certified Passivhaus homes. Its reputation for quality, sustainability and attention to detail has helped drive expansion into new commercial sectors, including hospitality, healthcare, education and workplace fit-outs.
The support was delivered as part of True North Construction’s commitment to giving back to the communities in which it works, including as principal contractor on the regeneration of 177 High Street West in Sunderland, part of Sunderland’s Heritage Action Zone.
Formerly known as The Tyre Shop, the historic building is being transformed into The Friends Meeting Place. The scheme includes the creation of a new ground-floor retail unit, alongside Quaker meeting rooms and office space across the upper floors.
The project is being delivered in phases, with the first phase now complete and the second scheduled for completion by the end of the summer.
As part of this approach, Natalie Henderson, director of compliance and social value at True North Construction, contacted Sunderland City Council for details of local organisations requiring support. Soundwaves Talking Newspaper stood out, having been on the council’s list for some time, and also held personal significance for Natalie and her husband Steven, construction director at True North, who have family members with partial sight.
Natalie Henderson, said: “We wanted to support something local while we were working in Sunderland and Soundwaves really stood out. It’s a fantastic service that makes a real difference to people’s lives and it’s also something that resonates with us personally. Being able to use our skills and resources to give the space a fresh start was incredibly rewarding for the whole team.”
Talking newspapers provide an essential service for people who are blind or visually impaired, enabling them to access news and information in audio format. Across the UK, hundreds of thousands of people benefit from the service, with around 1.5 million people living with sight loss or visual impairment who may otherwise find it difficult to read printed materials. For many users, it is a vital link to local news and community life.
The Soundwaves facility required significant practical improvement, with accumulated waste and underused rooms limiting its usability. True North Construction supported the charity by providing access to skips for waste removal. The team cleared all rooms and also redecorated the meeting room, repainting and refreshing the space to create a cleaner, more welcoming environment.
Philip Oliver, chairman of the Soundwaves Committee, said: “Natalie and her team were very professional and friendly. They worked around our recording schedule to minimise disruption to our programming. This support has made a huge difference to us. True North Construction has completely transformed our meeting room, creating a much more comfortable and practical environment for our volunteers. It will have a lasting impact on the way we operate and the service we provide.”
True North Construction’s work with Soundwaves highlights the role construction companies can play beyond project delivery, using their expertise to support local communities and deliver meaningful social value.