A pretty good year: Digital Voice in 2025
This year Digital Voice turned 18 and what a year it’s been!
We’ve delivered creative digital projects across all of our different strands, kept up with rapidly developing AI technology, worked with thousands of people across the North East, won several awards. Oh and we moved our offices from Chopwell to the wonderful Winlaton Centre.
Behind all of this incredible work, is a brilliant team of people who each bring creativity, innovation and care to each project; I caught up with them before we broke up for Christmas to see what their personal highlights have been in 2025.
One of the biggest projects was a series of events marking the centenary of the Chopwell Lockout, it was a firm favourite amongst the team, with Julie, Chanise and Jan choosing it as their highlight:
“The Chopwell Podcast- the whole Chopwell project, really but that bit in particular, listening through all the archive of oral histories from people who'd been active during the lockout.”
“It was lovely to be able to commemorate such an event and be part of history, especially since Chopwell is my home.”
“I really enjoyed the Chopwell Lockout Centenary project, seeing how it brought the community together.”
Rhys, Alison and Ben were inspired by the vital work we’ve done getting people comfortable with technology this year:
“I enjoyed working at Weardale for a long term TechTogether course. It was great to see people who began being terrified of the Internet, develop to using devices daily.”
“For me it’s the Doctor's waiting room project across Gateshead. We helped people where they need it most, in the waiting rooms, and we had so much lovely feedback and happy people who were happy to get a bit of help and patient support. It felt great to have been able to give that time over a long period, and work with staff too to continue it after we were gone. And now I know more than I ever thought I would about the NHS App!”
“My project highlight this year was definitely the inTouch course at Teams Life Centre. The group were so friendly and appreciative of everything we were showing them, and with the 1-1 sessions, it gave us a real opportunity to sit with one person and iron out their specific issues with the technology.”
As you can see, at the heart of these projects, are the people we help. Whether that be getting people online, making a film, creating a podcast, learning to animate, we get to work with some wonderful folk. This is great source of pride for the whole team:
“I’m so proud that three of the Emerald Explorers PhotoClub girls want to have a career in photography because of us!” - Julie
“Whenever I get to assist with Unity on a project, this year with the First Aid project, it is lovely to see how enthusiastic they are and how genuinely happy they are to see you each week.” - Chanise
“I recently rewatched a video from our East End Stories project - I think it just expresses so well what heritage projects can do for people. It helped them discover digital technology, and how it can capture heritage and bring it to life.” - Jan
“Hearing that the person who commissioned it cried (good tears) at my edit of the Bibliotheca Magica promo film was pretty heartwarming.” - Ben
Our work has been recognised with several high-profile awards this year including;
Inclusive Innovation: Tech for Good at the Northern Power Women Awards and
Best Documentary at TVIFF for ‘One Punch’. We were also finalists at the North East Charity Awards and recognised as Champions at the Asian Business Connections Inclusion by Default awards.
I asked the team what fictional awards they’d award their colleagues and there was a clear winner.
Best Quiz Team, they need to have us on University Challenge, we'll destroy that Oxbridge lot.
Best lunch time entertainment (we do quizzes and it’s brilliant)
Best quizzers
Others included:
Jan for Balon D'or (Jan really wanted the Fifa Peace Prize but we’re not sure of the nominating procedure).
Most efficient office movers
Most versatile! Superstar movers, fundraisers, tech wizards, organisers, tutors, communicators, ... you name it.
So much to celebrate and be proud of, we’re looking forward to a break and for a host of new projects starting in 2026.
Happy New Year from all of us.