Founder of an art group is celebrating a new milestone ahead of its two year anniversary.

Debbi Brown, founder and owner of Debbi Doodles, a specialised art space for children at The Forge Studios in Allendale, is celebrating the expansion and recruitment of a new staff member to her business.

Debbi created the Debbi Doodles after she left mainstream teaching in 2021 and had the intent on creating her own unique business model.

She is now working alongside her former arts specialist and teaching colleague Neil Cole who created and runs The Museum of Classic Sci-Fi in Allendale.

Neil offers a different set of art skills to Debbi’s own and expanded the alternative provision that the small business could offer children.  

During the upcoming business' anniversary and ahead of the summer holidays, Debbi and Neil have announced that they are expanding  ‘Debbi’s Doodles’ and decided to make the business a CIC – Community Interest Company.

A CIC will typically not be dependent on donations and fundraising as it will have a mix of income including contracts, trading income and grants.

Adding to the positive news for the business, Debbi’s Doodles will add an extra staff member to the team and will be looking to take another child into their exciting creative programme.

The studio offers alternate provision, one-to-one sessions ,workshops and birthday parties and educational visits. The business can accommodate small school visits and incorporate the museum of classic sci-fi as part of the visit.

They also deliver workshops for cubs, fairs, youth groups and Newcastle PRIDE.

"From my experience of working in the classroom, I encountered children who often struggled in the rigid confines and routines of the schooling system," Debbi said.

" Some of these children could not remain in school at all and required alternative provision. 

"So I knew that I could relate to these pupils and wanted to try and better assist them, therefore I opened ‘Debbi’s Doodles’ which works individually with each child, developing an arts-led, tailor-made pathway to help build skills, understanding and confidence."