Whitley Bay

A local resident, Vera, talks about the difference made by Whitley Bay Big Local and its community hubs.

A local resident, Carol, talks about the difference made by Whitley Bay Big Local and its community hubs.

Sarah Sutton reflects on the three community hubs that Big Local has created since 2015.

Sarah Sutton guides us through the entrance and ground floor of the Big Local building.

Sarah Sutton guides us through the top floors of the building, explaining how the space is used and plans for the future.

Whitley Bay Big Local has invested in a Tidy Town worker for many years (see previous posts). Assisted by volunteers, the Tidy Town Worker supports residents to improve the environment of the town. This film looks at some of the work that has been done, from the perspectives of the Big Local Chief Exec, David, and from that of a volunteer, Taylor.

Film 5: June 2022. David continues his video diary about the creation of a community eco-hub for Whitley Bay and the challenges, and sometimes frustrations of managing the development process - achieving the steps one by one, all the work going on behind the scenes, trying to find what will work for everyone and maintaining it as a community-led project.

The community eco-hub is in development on the inside. But the connection to the outside also matters. Here, David gives us a tour.

In this short video diary series, David Carnaffan talks about Big Local's ambitions to create a bustling community hub and securing the funding to make it happen.

In this 3rd video diary, David talks about the development of a community-led environmental action plan for Whitley Bay

This is the second video diary from Whitley Bay Big Local. Here, David Carnaffon talks about the involvement of residents in the design, the aims of the community eco-hub and the variety of ways in which the funding is being pieced together.

Whitley Bay Big Local has long held dreams of owning its own community space. Having rented buildings since the start, it is now creating a community eco-hub. This is the first of a series of video diaries about the process of buying and transforming an old job centre building into a fit for purpose community eco-hub.

This was the first Bay Create craft and chat at Whitley Bay Big Local over Easter. The painted pebbles of iconic Whitley Bay images were fantastic as you can see!

A community group has joined forces in lockdown to knit a special birthday tribute to the Tyne and Wear Metro. The knitters took up their needles and wool to create a colourful 12ft Metro carriage, piece by piece - celebrating the network's 40th anniversary. More than 30 volunteers worked on each individual piece, before it was carefully sewn together by local artist Kelly Sheridan. Whitley Bay Big Local's Community Development worker, Sarah Sutton, directed the Stakeholder Relations Team at Nexus, to the Knit and Natter Group to undertake the project, which has culminated with their woollen wonder going on public display at the art gallery in Tynemouth Metro station. Nexus said that the finished work was a wonderful tribute to Metro's 40 years. It was one of only a few anniversary events to come to fruition due to lockdown: "Metro is part of everyday life in the communities that it serves, so it's great to see a local group coming together to showcase their talents, despite all of the challenges posed by lockdown. ... Our iconic Metro train has been so carefully recreated in wool by a group of knitters who have had to rely on meeting up over Zoom calls during the pandemic. Over 30 local people collected packs to take home to create one of the many panels that would be joined to create the knitted Metro, complete with is iconic colour schemes from the down the years. Local Artist Kelly Sheridan came into to pull the project together as part of Whitley Bay Big Local's Creative Civic Change project. "It's been a great effort, bringing local people together in a creative way during lockdown."

Sally and Cath will be wandering the streets of Whitley looking for people to join in with the project. They are hopeful to hold workshops inside Big Local but in the meantime all the workshop activity will be going on outside, including in the Big Local garden. They will arrive in different locations with their trolley. This is a finding out/getting to know you exercise and opportunity to have a go at simple printing. They will make textures that can be used on your flag, generate ideas for the design of your Flag of Hope and decide what methods/ genres will be used to make it. Residents will decide on the theme, imagery and what you'd like to include. The second meeting at the Big Local/ street or group location Sally and Cath will start to work on your design scaling up using big bold shapes and colours. This can be done through printing, appliqué, collage, or other techniques. Paper flags will be digitally printed and the textures created in our first visit can be incorporated. You will then work as a group to create you flag " with help from Sally and Cath if needed. There will be a regular slot/day at the Big Local and your street can arrange a time slot to work on the flags with us, Covid restrictions permitting (One of the team could be on call to visit streets/groups, the other in the Big Local) Once the flags are complete they will be hung on the flagpoles by the War Memorial outside the Spanish City.

It may be a grey day but there is plenty of colour in our building window! Come and be inspired by the creativity of local people! New skills and passions developed during lockdown.

After just a 30 minute appointment, Neil from @northcyclerepair was able to sort out the cycles of 8 of our local community. " Wow, is that it all fixed? We thought it had something seriously wrong with it?" Said one satisfied customer today! "That'll save it from being stuck in the shed unused," said another.

With Salto Arts Productions Whitley Bay was lit up for a Festival of Light in December. St Nicholas had a whole new shimmering robe made by local school children as part of the Shimmer and Creative Civic Change programme in the town.

From rowdy nightlife to swanky apartments - what does the future hold for Whitley Bay's South Parade? It used to be known as party central to the region's revellers but Whitley Bay's South Parade is undergoing a transformation. The town's nightlife was the stuff of legend, with drinkers staggering between the bars along the so called "party strip'. But there has been big changes over the years as the street's pace slowed down and the bars and clubs that enticed stag and hen parties from across the region called last orders for the final time. However, some of the empty premises left by the decline of the area's nightlife have been given new leases of life. Work to transform the former Rex Hotel and the attached Deep nightclub into a care home continues apace. The Gosforth-based Malhotra Group want to "reuse the original hotel building" and convert it into a luxurious care home. Meanwhile, permission to turn the former Hush Lounge into 10 apartments was granted in January last year. Despite this there is still work to be done. Further up South Parade is the derelict building that used to be home to the Easy Street Pub. But the regeneration of that property could soon be at hand. At the end of March, North Tyneside Council gave planning permission to Blockdale Limited to turn it into eight apartments. At the time a planning statement from the company said the scheme would be good for the area, which is "currently undergoing significant change in character." Since then signage has been removed and a fence has been put up around the boarded-up ex boozer. Ward councillor John O'Shea said the area has improved over the years. He said: "South Parade was notorious for its night time economy and was a blot on the landscape in many respects. "There has been significant change over the last three or four years. The Rex Hotel is in the midst of being regenerated. "There is a one halfway down the road that's got planning permission hopefully that will take off shortly. "I think South Parade is on the up, there's still work to be done to get rid of some eye sores but I am really encouraged by what is going on. "Since I became councillor in 2011 there has been some tremendous regeneration." North Tyneside Council pointed to "major investment" in Whitley Bay's seafront but said its role with privately owned buildings is limited. John Sparkes, head of regeneration and economic development or the authority, added: "It's great to see the major investment from the council and its partners in recent years as part of the Seafront Master Plan for Whitley Bay has inspired confidence in the private sector to invest in the town. "This investment is continuing through our Ambition for North Tyneside plan with the ongoing refurbishment of the Northern Promenade to further improve the area and attract even more visitors. "This investment, coupled with the regular events we have put on, and working with our partners such as Whitley Bay Big Local, has helped change perceptions of the town. "We continue to work with owners of vacant buildings to bring them back into use and offer support to any businesses moving into the area."

As we head into lockdown two, we think it's more important than ever to make connections and build community. We know that the Whitley Bay community is committed to supporting each other but we know how difficult that is when we can't meet up. Our Small Sparks grants can help you bring your ideas alive to connect people. Perhaps you've got a great idea for a digital activity that will bring people together and decrease loneliness. Maybe you can think of a great idea to help bring us together at the end of all this, but need some support to get your idea off the ground. We can help! Our Small Sparks grants are available to anyone living or working in Whitley Bay, and in particular the BIG LOCAL area. We offer grants of up to £200 to fund activities and equipment to bring people together.

Whitley Bay Big Local is celebrating and sharing creativity of local residents. On the weekend of 2nd October its community building windows will be transformed into a Fun Palace so that people who have learned or developed new exciting skills, explored creativity or made beautiful and interesting things during the pandemic can be shared to inspire everyone in Whitley Bay.

A huge thank you to Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and The National Lottery Community Fund for awarding us funds from the £750 million government funding for charities. With this funding we are able to support the community through providing a Covid secure space for people to reconnect and find support. We are also funding @secondbiteacademy to continue to provide meals to local vulnerable people and we'll be buying refrigerators to expand our "community pantry" offer of food giveaways. WBBL are committed to "making #WhitleyBay a better place to live work and visit " and are grateful for this funding to help us be there for our community.

Whitley Bay Big local Knit and Natter group is working with train company Nexus to create an installation for Tynemouth Metro Station exhibition space. It's not complicated...just large!

Well...after a gentle start it looks like we are going to be busy welcoming lots of old friends and new to our building over the coming weeks. We're adapting to our new ways to ensure everyone is safe...and welcome. Feedback this week... "Thank you....great venue and personal service!" "I got up at 7am to make sure I could get here to see people...I've missed you all so much!" 30

Whitley Bay Big Local employs its own Tidy Town worker. Attached are some photos of John at work, but also volunteers joining in to keep Whitley Bay looking clean and spruced up. Here are a few before and after shots, including Trewitt Road, which was looking a little grotty! Little Acorns Childcare took on the painting of their wall, and our Tidy Town Worker, John has spruced up the utility boxes. Great Team Work!

The Creative Civic Change project has been supporting people to be creative.

Whitley Bay Big Local pays for a local 'Tidy Town' caretaker to keep the area looking neat and tidy.

We held our first online community conversation this weekend! Our Environment Theme Group were able to share the great stuff that WBBL has done and influenced around our town. Here are the slides from the meeting

Watch out for this Bin of Beauty right in our town centre. Created by local sculptor @Richard Broderick.

Here is our Special Edition Newsletter with lots of stories of good stuff that has been going on during lockdown! We'll be delivering copies through doors in the Big Local area in the next week- or if you'd like a copy you can call by the porch of our building on Tuesday or Thursday.

The Making Spaces team have been up to their making tricks again....pop by and be inspired to get YOUR making on! Some rather odd birds have landed, why not pop down and take a beak? Whilst you are at it do admire and add to our window display, we would love to include your artwork on the theme all things nature. Post it through the letter box at WBBL shop

The Making Spaces team, supported by Creative Civic Change, have been updating their beautiful "signs of life" installation in the window. While we have been in lockdown- nature has continued to flourish, and this art is a reminder to us that life, however different, goes on!

Making Spaces 'Signs of Life' project - the community garden next to the Big Local building hjas been spruced up.

So many of our makers have enjoyed getting together, sharing stories, meeting new people and making connections that will last beyond Covid-19. Many have said they have felt a purpose and enjoyed doing something useful, sharing their skills. Some have rediscovered their love of sewing and knitting.

During the pandemic, Whitley Bay Big local joined forces with Whitley Bay Round Table and Evan's Bistro to provide a hot meal every day to homeless people and those who were isolated.

We have such a creative bunch of crafty volunteers who love to get stuck into a community project; from poppies for St Paul's Parish Church, Whitley Bay ArtHouses, Trauma teddies and of course Whitley Bay Carnival. There is no end to their talents!

Thursday morning volunteers help to make everyone feel welcome and valued through listening, chatting and supporting

Friday mornings and lunchtime have always been a special time at the WBBL building. Our Knitters and Natterers get together, and while the crafting goes on lunch is prepared. Many volunteers have pitched in to make this "stone soup" community lunch happen. Often someone will bring in pudding from home! There's a real family feel about Fridays..... and there's always plenty of soup for anyone and everyone!

The annual Whitley Bay Carnival usually features a spectacular parade and entertainment, and it attracts thousands of people This year plans were amended to keep the carnival going despite the lockdown. A series of 'how to' videos were streamed prior to the event to help people to make their own costumes and create decorations. The whole event was live streamed on the day - 23rd May.

The local paper covers the story of how Whitley Bay Carnival plans to go ahead despite the lockdown.

Getting ready for the Whitley Bay Lockdown Carnival - on line guides and publicity to make the event special despite the lockdown

The annual Whitley Bay Carnival usually features a spectacular parade and entertainment, and it attracts thousands of people This year plans were amended to keep the carnival going despite the lockdown. A series of 'how to' videos were streamed prior to the event to help people to make their own costumes and create decorations. This film hows costume making.

The annual Whitley Bay Carnival usually features a spectacular parade and entertainment, and it attracts thousands of people This year plans were amended to keep the carnival going despite the lockdown. A series of 'how to' videos were streamed prior to the event to help people to make their own costumes and create decorations. This film shows how to make puppets

Whitley Bay Big Local has joined with other organisations to coordinate the volunteers who have been making for the NHS. Hundreds of volunteers have donated fabrics, their times and skills to make pairs of drawstring laundry bags for NHS and care staff to take their clothes home from work. Pairs of hearts which are given to patients and families as a symbol of connection when separated have also been created. The collaboration between WBBL, North Tyneside Business Forum, Sixpenny Memories, Pink Spaghetti and Mendys has provided the safe coordination and distribution of the makes to hospitals, surgeries and care homes all over the region. The weekly online get together allows the makers to share their stories and build new connections.

Whitley Bay Big Local has teamed up with another local charity, Whitley Bay Round Table and has identified people in the Big Local area who were not receiving statutory support. The "Big Batch Cook" project has a chef preparing freshly cooked meals in the kitchen of a local restaurant and these are delivered to up to 40 local residents by a team of volunteers. The funding has come from Round Table and WBBL and local traders are supporting the project with huge discounts on their fresh produce. As well as a nutritious and tasty meal our recipients are looking forward to the daily contact with someone and we have been told that "just knowing that someone cares" is making a big difference to the mental health of some of our local folk.

The annual Whitley Bay Carnival usually features a spectacular parade and entertainment, and it attracts thousands of people This year plans were amended to keep the carnival going despite the lockdown. A series of 'how to' videos were streamed prior to the event to help people to make their own costumes and create decorations. This short film shows how to make a 'rap'

Whitley Bay Big Local invited a goat to join in its 'Happy to Chat' online session.

Sunday Roast...prepared at Evan's Bistro as part of our #bigbatchcook project with Whitley Bay Round Table. Another 36 meals delivered with a smile and socially distanced chat with our new friends!