About

Digital Voice works with participants often excluded from digital media, helping individuals and communities to gain a wide range of benefits. Our award-winning team supports partner organisations and clients to harness the power of digital to make life better, through sharing stories, growing skills and self-esteem and communicating key messages creatively.

Digital Voice is a multi-award-winning, not-for-profit social enterprise that has delivered digital inclusion projects nationally and internationally since 2007. This short video gives examples of how people of all ages and abilities are using digital activities and skills to improve their lives.

Our six main products are listed on our Programmes page. These are tailored to your needs and use whichever forms of media are most suitable, from tablets to video, audio, digital photography, animation, digital installations, print and the web.

Digital Voice is committed to happy and safe projects, minimising damage to the planet and promoting fair access to media outlets for all community groups. Free advice on fundraising and overcoming barriers to access is provided to disadvantaged groups.

Our work would not be possible without our wonderful partners, funders and supporters. Many thanks to them all.

Many people and organisations have worked closely with Digital Voice since our social enterprise was founded in 2007, special thanks are owed to every one of you!

Awards

The 2018 Awards for the Royal Television Society in the region presented a Technology Innovation Award to Digital Voice for Communities.

The project was commissioned by Gateshead Council’s Children’s Rights Service because of its pioneering and creative techniques to “give a digital voice” to people who need to retain anonymity. It was also funded by The Ragdoll Foundation.

More than 400 people from the media industry saw the trophy presented by Sky Television’s Pete Graves to Julie Nicholson, DV Director, along with project developers Ronnie Johnston and Robin Cowings. Gateshead’s Children’s Rights Worker Chris Hulme praised the DigitalMe service as

“a great project from a great organisation.”

North East Innovation Awards

Our team was delighted to have been recognised at the 2022 North East Innovation Awards.
Steve Key, Innovation Lead from Believe Housing who sponsored the award, was struck by the impact our work has, and how we manage to help people in such innovative ways.

We are so proud to work with a team of innovators who work so hard to reach people who are digitally excluded.

Tech4Good Awards

DigitalMe was also runner up in two categories of the 2018 national Tech4Good Awards: the Community Impact Award and the People’s Award.

Meet the Team

Julie Nicholson

Managing Director

Julie Nicholson is founding co-director and Managing Director of Digital Voice for Communities.  She set up the organisation in 2007.

She is an award-winning filmmaker and has worked since 2001 as a facilitator of film and digital media projects in a range of settings. 

She has also worked as a housing adviser at Citizen’s Advice, a TEFL teacher and youth and community worker which have helped her understand the importance of skills development and giving a voice to the most vulnerable.

Jan Debognies

Operations Manager

Jan is passionate about digital inclusion and digital storytelling and has been working internationally in the field as trainer, manager, coach and fundraiser for 10 years. Jan has been working with Digital Voice for Communities since 2017. He is enthusiastic about the creative potential of digital media and how it can empower people who are at risk of being excluded. He is also a qualified teacher.

Chanise Armstrong

Project Worker

Chanise has a passion for creative and digital media, graduating with a degree in Contemporary Media Practice from the University of Westminster. Chanise joined Digital Voice as a volunteer in 2018 going on to do a Business Admin Apprenticeship within the organisation leading to her being employed as the Admin Assistant. She is also one of our freelance creative team and is a trained youth worker.

Susan Mulholland

Project Manager/Copywriter

Susan works for Digital Voice as a Project Manager, overseeing our courses and projects. She has over 20 years’ experience in the North East's cultural sector. She is a skilled creative producer who has established a range of creative programmes and regular events for children and young people to engage in arts activity. Susan is also a playwright, specialising in work for very young children and their families - her work is diverse in subject but always maintains a sense of humour and wonder about the world in which we live.   

Ben Hunter

Digital Media Worker

Ben is the Digital Media Worker for the organisation, writing and scheduling social media posts as well as assisting on courses and filming. He studied Media Production at college where he achieved a Level 3 Diploma, as well as a Level 2 Diploma in IT. He worked for Collectables on their social media channels before looking for something different. 

Alison Fisher

Project Manager

With an extensive experience in project management in the artistic and charitable sector, Alison started with Digital Voice in 2023. Following years of volunteering in museums as a teenager, Alison went on to gain a History BA and Museum Studies MA from Newcastle University, where she completed a thesis on effective evaluation of community outreach work. Alison went on to become Exhibition Curator at Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children's Books, collaborating with authors, illustrators and community groups to curate exhibitions which toured nationally. Alison also worked with NSPCC, which grew her interest in working directly with communities to ensure safe access to the digital world. Alison's role is funded by The National Lottery.

Ronnie Johnston

Freelance Creative

Ronnie Johnston is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with over 25 years’ experience. He has a strong track record in community filmmaking, particularly with young people and adults with learning disabilities. Ronnie was the founder of the ‘Gateshead Community Reporting Unit’ and has worked with Digital Voice since 2007. He has developed several of our programmes, including DigitalMe and is an experienced digital inclusion trainer.

Andrew Coats

Freelance Creative

Andrew Coats is a professional film maker who has been working with our team since 2005, before Digital Voice even became a CIC!

He regularly works on our creative media projects and has particular expertise in working with people with additional needs.

Laura Crow

Freelance Creative

Laura Crow is a professional filmmaker and animator, with expertise in community digital projects. She started volunteering with us on graduating from Northumbria University then went on to work on the Culture Shock digital storytelling project. For some years now she has lectured in media and has worked with us since 2007.

Robin Cowings

Freelance Creative

Robin Cowings is a professional photographer and photography lecturer. He has been working with our team since 2002, before Digital Voice became a CIC! He is our PhotoClub resident photographer and regularly works on our other creative media projects. He was part of the Digital Voice team that won an RTS award for innovation for DigitalMe in 2019.

Sarah McConkey

Freelance Creative

Sarah is a talented artist and teacher. She studied Fine Art at university and once she’d completed her Masters she continued her practise as a painter until her children were born. After she became a mother, she focussed on teaching at Sunderland College. Sarah was selected to exhibit a painting at the National Portrait Gallery in London as part of the BP Portrait Prize as well as winning awards for her work.

Directors

Olwyn Hocking

Company Secretary

Olwyn is a founder director of Digital Voice for Communities. Her career of editorial and managerial experience spans print journalism, broadcasting (BBC, ITV.) Fellow of the Royal Television Society, awarded lifetime membership of the National Union of Journalists, former advisor to Ofcom (the UK’s communications regulator).

Terry Kirkham

Chair

Terry joined DV in 2019 with the task of supporting the Managing Director in the development of the business with an emphasis on strategic matters.

Terry has a wealth of experience gained from an international career with roles including sales operations and CEO. Since 2008 he has run his own business consultancy, assisting companies with strategic and operational issues.

Jim Pickles

Treasurer

Jim Pickles has been Digital Voice’s treasurer since 2019. He is a chartered accountant with broad financial and general management experience in large and small companies. As well as his professional career, he has many years of experience as a volunteer trustee for a range of charities.

Monjer Rachid

Director

Monjer is a founding co-director of Digital Voice for Communities.  He has extensive experience in youth and community work, and has worked for a range of organisations including Princes Trust. 

He is passionate about equality and justice and is an activist in the areas of enterprise, leadership, volunteering, and creative arts. 

Monjer is a well known trainer and consultant, and has a portfolio ranging from Participatory Techniques, Equality & Diversity, Youth Leadership, and Event Management.

Elaine Scott

Director

Elaine Scott has been a Digital Voice director since 2011 and is also Centre Manager at North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence. Her career has given her enormous experience in areas relating to marketing, public relations, strategic focus, and project and people management.

Interested in working with us?
We’d love to hear from you!

Have a look at our range of programmes