Carrie Brookes Communications – Helping you communicate to make change happen

Helping you tell your story and show impact.

Digital development, website, email marketing, content and strategy services for the charity sector.

My services

Get in touch

Strategy

I can develop for you a clear, compelling and effective communications strategy to deliver your business objectives. Let’s work together to help your charity communicate with confidence and achieve greater impact.

Mentoring

Are you working in charity communications and looking for tailored support? I’ll work with you to sharpen your skills, improve your strategy, and ensure your organisation’s voice is clear and impactful.

Training

Do your staff need help in creating better content? I offer courses tailored to your needs, such as using Canva, creating better ebulletins, and capturing case studies.

Digital development

Need to improve your use of digital but don't know where to start? Let me guide you with over 20 years experience of managing websites and helping charities with digital strategy.

Email marketing

From one-off emails to regular ebulletins, I'll design templates and help you create engaging content to reach and interest your organisation's target audience.

Extra support

Don't have the resource for an in-house comms officer? Need some help NOW? Let me be your spare pair of hands!

About Me

I’m passionate about helping charities use communications to help their cause – no matter how small the budget.

With over 20 years of experience in the charity sector across North East England, I bring a deep understanding of the unique challenges charities face. My career spans roles in the IT and TV industries, backed by a Masters in Computing and a degree in Communications Studies. This combination equips me with both the technical expertise and the ability to communicate complex ideas in plain English.

I’ve had the privilege of working with charities of all sizes, offering flexible support when a full-time communications role isn’t feasible. Whether you’re looking for assistance on a long-term contract or need help with a specific project, I bring specialist knowledge and adaptability to meet your needs. Read more about my services.

My diverse experience includes creating communications strategies, managing award-winning websites, running social media channels, producing digital content, editing publications and e-bulletins, and developing successful media campaigns.

I deliver workshops on using Canva, e-bulletins, digital marketing trends and social media strategies, as well as one-to-one masterclasses, all tailored to enhance your communications efforts. Mentoring is my latest service offer for charity comms professionals, which seemed a natural progression having worked in the sector so long. I’m keen to support others into this incredibly rewarding career path.

I’ve also written a book! I was commissioned by my client Community Action Northumberland to write a book on the Heritage of Village Halls in Northumberland, published in 2024. Find out more.

Now working as a freelance consultant for a range of charity clients, I love being able to make a difference while doing what I’m passionate about. I offer personalised support, combined with extensive experience, and have a clear focus on helping charities maximize their communication efforts affordably.

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The vast majority of my work over 20 years has come from referrals through other clients. I’m always happy to provide references or check out some of their testimonials.

You can read more about my services and view my LinkedIn profile, or of course get in touch for a chat.

When I’m not working, you’ll find me cycling, hill walking, running, or camping under the stars. I live by the sea in Whitley Bay with my husband Paul, our four teenagers, and our wonderfully eccentric cat, Darwin.

My Clients

Testimonials

Working with Carrie on our marketing strategy has been great. She’s not afraid to ask the difficult questions, and is empathetic and wise, and has gently brought us to a place of greater understanding and insight about our messaging and audiences. I would definitely recommend her, and hope we get the chance to work together again.

Susie Doyle, Mindful Therapies
Carrie has been brilliant helping us to design a new website which shows the range of services we offer in a fresh and simple way. Carrie helped us discover our “USP” and supported us develop a new approach to our marketing, including designing our leaflets, setting up a Canva account and training our staff to use it, Carrie has always been available to answer questions and take us on this journey. Carrie offers a professional service which I would have no hesitation in recommending.

Simon Luddington, Search Newcastle
As a Finance Officer I’m fine with numbers but sending out our newsletter via Mailchimp was a nightmare. Thankfully, Carrie’s one day training has totally changed my outlook. At first, I wasn’t convinced that I’d get to grips with it as easily as she said, however, I found Carrie’s teaching style to be relaxed, friendly and without jargon. By the end of the day I feel I am able to create and send our newsletter through Mailchimp without the blood, sweat and sometimes tears it cost me in the past.

Pamela Johnston, Abbeyfield Newcastle.
The Mailchimp training was fully interactive and very interesting. I thought the group size worked well and it was good to hear other peoples experiences of Mailchimp. Although I've used Mailchimp for a while I still picked up lots of new and helpful tips and I really enjoyed the day.

Helen Brown, Durham Community Action
Carrie has helped us develop and implement our new Communications Strategy. Her extensive knowledge and experience in this field has helped us identify how we ensure the Trust is able to raise it's profile and continue to reach and work with our beneficiaries, partners and commissioners. I would recommend Carrie to any organisation seeking to work with someone who is passionate about and understands our sector.

Avril Gibson, CEO – Northern Learning Trust
It is a real pleasure working with Carrie. Since joining us as a Communications Consultant, she has brought her strengths and experience in communications and marketing: developing effective communications plans; improving the website, and delivering our e bulletin. Carrie has also provided me with excellent help on developing the Newcastles Passport tourism product for the Newcastles of the World. Possessing strong interpersonal skills and high-level IT skills, Carrie has a very positive and flexible approach, prioritises effectively and delivers on time.

Zélie Guérin, Director – International Newcastle
Carrie worked for Northumberland CVA as the Communications and Marketing Officer on our Bridge Northumberland Employability project and was instrumental in turning the project around. Her excellent marketing skills and ability to relate so well to our client group ensured our marketing strategy was successful, culminating in Bridge Northumberland successfully achieving its targets. I can’t recommend Carrie highly enough.

Anne Lyall, CEO, Northumberland CVA