Welcome to the Whitley Bay 'Our Bigger Story' website. This is part of the multi media evaluation of 15 Big Local areas in England. The website is an opportunity to follow what is changing in Whitley Bay as a result of Big Local over a ten year period.
The aim of the website is to share the learning from everything that is happening in Whitley Bay with other Big Local areas and highlight what works in communities with a wider audience of practitioners and policy makers
This film shows the public opening of the Whitley Bay community hub September 2023. Partnership members describe the opportunities made possible by the building and their aspirations for building community in 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.
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."
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.
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. 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
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'
WBBL's Community Involvement Coordinator talks about their Small Sparks grant programme.
Alan Dickinson talks about Whitley Bay Big Local and his time as Chair which ended in September 2019.
Thanks to Whitley Bay Film Festival for bringing the amazing Cabin to our Community Forum event today. Ema and Mal talk about their unique project. Whitley Bay's Creative Civic Change funding helped with some of the finances. Good luck with the project! (With apologies for the dodgy wind and traffic noise.)
Whitley Bay Big Local Community Building was open to the local community at our 2nd community forum of 2019. Hear thoughts about the new venue from a mix of residents, people that use the building regularly, MPs (OK, only one MP), volunteers, people that run groups and generally lovely Big Local folk. A great mix that has evolved over the last few years.
Whitley Bay has been running a small grants programme for many years. it is open to individuals with ideas and passions who can apply for up to £250. In this film, residents talk about how projects have grown and the impact on the whole community.
Local residents, small business owners and board members came together for a discussion about what is changing in Whitley Bay and how Big Local is helping to make this happen. In this film, people talk about the overall impact of Whitley Bay Big Local - the value of their community shop, the importance of making connections, the diversity of the community, their influence over the environment, and relationships with strategic partners.
We're Coming Home' celebrating Whitley Bay, was created by three locals: author Sue Miller who wrote the script, teacher Stephen Mason and the film maker Chris Ainsley. "I've lived in Whitley Bay all my life,' explains Chris. "¦.. I could see the changes that had happened and sense the difference in the way people were starting to feel. I wanted to capture some of that ¦." Teacher and actor Stephen Mason, who for years worked in local pubs and clubs said: "I jumped at the chance to take part ...it felt like a great opportunity to challenge how we all think about our individual responsibilities to those around us - what we each do and what we say to make a difference." "Creating our community means how we all choose to live together. Everyone has a part to play, so the film's really a call to arms".
We worked with some Whitley Bay High School students and staff to support their Enquiry Based Learning project. Their target was to produce a short film to be posted on this page - mission accomplished! They made this short film over a couple of days and did a great job - researching, interviewing, presenting, video and audio recording, scripting and editing. Thanks to all that participated!
Our Community Involvement Coordinator talks about the value of Big Local operating from a community shop space in Whitley Bay town centre.
Whitley Bay Big Local has supported the carnival for several years - with time and money. Resurrecting the carnival was something a lot of residents wanted to see and everyone is encouraged to participate. Lots of work goes into helping people think about how they want to be involved, making costumes, providing workshop space etc. This film of the carnival tells the story of why it is a significant local event and illustrates how fun events are so important.
This film outlines how WBBL has responded to local concerns and the kinds of activities it has delivered - from contributing to the council's seafront regeneration to the community activities taking place in the community hub.
On 5th August 2016, WBBL brought together residents, volunteers, community organisations, local businesses and public agencies to tell their stories about how Big Local is making their town an even better place to live.
Residents of Whitley Bay come together at their Big Local Community Forum to reflect on what's happened so far and share ideas for the refreshed community plan.