Socialising and activities

We want to enable the people of South Tyneside to live better lives.

We want people to know what choices are available to them locally, make greater use of our communities and where to access the right information including, local activities, day centres and more.

There are eight library facilities in South Tyneside offering events where you try activities and meet new people, including reading groups, knit and natter, crafts and cultural events.

Library facilities can be found at Boldon Lane, Cleadon Park, East Boldon, Jarrow, Hebburn, Primrose, The Word, and Whitburn.

If you are unable to get to the library for yourself, or to carry books through disability, sickness or old age, the Home Reader service offers a personal, friendly and free library service delivered to individuals in their own home.

Find out more about Libraries in South Tyneside.

There are six leisure facilities in South Tyneside, where between them you can enjoy:

• gym sessions
• exercise classes 
• swimming
• sauna and steam rooms
• leisure waters and bubble spa 
• running track 
• other sports facilities (e.g. badminton, basketball, football)

The leisure facilities include Hebburn Central, Haven Point, Temple Park Centre, Monkton Stadium, Jarrow Hub, and Jarrow Community Pool.

A range of leisure memberships are available to suit individual needs, including discounted memberships. The memberships give access to all six facilities. Get Active cards also allow you to save money without committing to a membership. 

Find out more about Leisure facilities and memberships.

Parks and green spaces provide a perfect environment for getting out and being active. 

Research shows that increasing your exposure to green space delays the onset of health problems in later life

In South Tyneside we are fortunate to have some outstanding and award winning parks.

• The South and North Marine Parks take prominence at the sea front and have a range of facilities and activities that take place. 
• Bents Park is home to many events including concerts over the summer.
• Harton Quays Park is the perfect place for a riverside walk.

Find out more about Parks in South Tyneside

The Green Gym concept encourages people to improve both their physical and mental health through participation in practical and conservation or horticultural activities and is suitable for people of all levels and abilities.

The Green Gym sessions offer a range of activities including:

• environmental management in parks
• formal park gardening
• nature reserve conservation

The sessions are friendly and informal and are designed to cater for all abilities and individual needs. The sessions provide an excellent way to keep active.

The Green Gym is ideal for anyone new to exercise, or those with existing medical conditions that would benefit from support to begin to increase their physical activity.

For full details including how to get involved, session times and contact details see Groundwork North East and Yorkshire

Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier.

It's underrated as a form of exercise, but walking is ideal for people of all ages and fitness levels who want to be more active.

Regular walking has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, stroke and some cancers.

If you feel you could use additional support there are a number of organised group walks available throughout South Tyneside.

For days and times as well as how to get involved, see Walking for Health: Health walk timetable

A Safe Place is somewhere you can go for extra support when you are in town. It could be a shop, a library or a church. Find out more about Safe Place in South Tyneside.

Changing Spaces are designed for people with complex needs and their carers so people can be supported to change with dignity. Find out more about Changing Spaces for people with complex needs.