ASSIST: we're Just Networking in Darlington.

We can't wait to welcome you!

Join us for a relaxed morning of genuine connection and support. Assist is where businesswomen from across Tees Valley come together to share ideas, build relationships, and help each other succeed.

Our Darlington Hosts, Sharon Hutchinson, Alicia Neesham and Christine Tarran-Walker will make sure you receive a warm welcome and help you make the most of your time with us.

Whether you're looking for new contracts, want to showcase your product or service, or simply fancy some good business conversation over a cuppa, you're in the right place.

Our Meeting Sponsor for October 2026 is our venue, The Darlington Arena and there will be an opportunity to learn more about them on the day.

Why Come Along?

This is your chance to step away from the office or WFH for an hour and connect with other women from the world of work.

We're big on collaboration and the 'trade local' approach. So many of our members have built solid business relationships through Assist – and friendships have blossomed too.

Use this hour to:

● Meet new contacts and potential collaborators

● Catch up with familiar faces you haven't seen in a while

● Share news about your business, launch, or upcoming event

● Simply enjoy the company of a room full of women with a positive vibe

We genuinely want to hear about you, your business, and what you offer. Are you launching something new? Looking for customers? Got an event to promote? Come and tell us about it – we're keen to help share your news.

What to Expect

When you arrive (from 9:30 onwards), one of our hosts will greet you, sign you in, and hand you your name tag. You'll be invited to add your business card or leaflet to our community board – we'll take a group photo at the end so everyone can stay connected afterwards.

Got exciting news to share? Pop it in the Shout Out Bucket. Three will be picked at random to feature during the event and on our socials.

After signing in, grab a drink and enjoy some informal pre-networking. We know networking can feel a bit daunting, especially if it's your first time, but we promise this is one of the most supportive rooms you'll ever walk into.

Your 30-Second Spotlight

You'll have a quick spotlight moment to share:

● Who you are

● Where you're from (your business or workplace)

● Your 'ask' or 'tell' for the day

It's short, simple, and friendly. Think of it as your mini introduction. This is your chance to tell everyone why you want to connect – and to hear who you'd like to reach out to after the session.

The Details

When: Wednesday 14th October 2026, 9.30am - 11.00am

Where: Darlington Arena, Neasham Rd, Darlington DL2 1DL

Duration: 1.5 hours

Investment: £5

Your £5 meeting fee helps us support the Sisterwood, other campaigns, and keeps the network functioning for others to benefit in the future. We're a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers, and we'll spend it well on our campaigns and operational costs.

We’re incredibly grateful to the business and local community who open their doors to us, and extend a special thank you to Darlington Arena for generously hosting this Just Networking event.

We can’t wait to see you there.

New to Networking?

If networking feels daunting or you'd like some extra support, we may have the solution.

Our team is your Assist Friend we can make the experience a little easier for you, if you let us know as you arrive and we can do some soft introductions – we're here to help.

About Assist

Assist is more than just networking. We collaborate with many organisations, run projects and campaigns on local and national levels, and we're all volunteers with the same aim: to make the Tees Valley a better place for businesswomen, women in the workplace, and our younger people to grow up in.

Come along and find out what benefits you could enjoy as an Assist'er. We have so much more to tell you about what we do!

Women Supporting Women #WSW

What to do now…

Register to let us know you’re coming!

Your donation helps us continue our work into the future.

Come and discover more about the benefits of being part of our Assist network.

New friends and familiar faces are always welcome.

Sharon, Alicia, Christine, and the Assist Team can’t wait to welcome you!

Remember: Women Supporting Women 💜

Credit: Illustration by JiQing Fan

Description supplied by the event organiser.