Whitley Bay

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!

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!

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.

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

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.

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!

Due to social distancing we have not been able to hold our weekly Knit and Knatter session...until today! We created a facebook event with the zoom meeting link and also sent out personal invitations to those we hold contact details of. I expected to have to give lots of technical support , but actually it all went quite smoothly. The session was only due to last 40 minutes as we were just using the free app, but this was extended ... and the group stayed together for two hours! They shared their projects, shopping tips, how to make face masks, exercise videos and their sense of community and love! We're going to meet up weekly and are working at ways to remotely train those who aren't so "tech savvy" so they can get in the frame too!

We tried to keep our new community building open as long as we possibly could, recognising that some of our more vulnerable people would quickly become isolated- but as time and circumstances moved on so rapidly we very sadly decided that to keep people safe, it was the only measure we could take. Regular sessions were cancelled, a child's 6th birthday party-cancelled, chances to learn, meet people, share skills and belong all cancelled! The challenge now is, how do we maintain the great relationships we have built up with local people? How do we help people stay connected with each other? How can we can work with other organisations to give practical support that will be needed? New challenges for everyone!

A November 2019 article from our local paper, The News Guardian, about WBBL's new building.

Follow this link to our local newspaper's article about the first Creative Civic Change workshops hosted in our new building: https://bit.ly/2q0klvZ

Lord Lennie of Longsands was a recent visitor to Whitley Bay Big Local. He met our Chair, Big Local Rep and 2 workers to discuss the role of Big Local in helping improve the town for residents and visitors ahead of this discussion on The Future of Seaside Towns. Use the link below and scroll to "8:04 pm" - unless you prefer to read the whole thing. https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2019-07-01/debates/126DE39B-1B97-4F0B-BBE5-FCA096286A03/FutureOfSeasideTowns

In June 2019 Our Bigger Story hosted a 2 day event for all the case study areas. During this time, each of the OBS areas mapped their journey. Here are a few photos.

This short film was produced and directed by Suzanne Halliwell, from Whitley Bay Big Local, about her Big Local's journey to secure a community space and provide affordable housing. Suzanne's story was made with Hamlett Films. Here is a link to the film: https://youtu.be/iKY2cIJo9F4

Four representatives of our Creative Civic Change project group traveled to the amazing Battersea Arts Centre for a national Learning Event. It was good to meet the national project team, funders, artist facilitators and reps from the other 16 CCC areas. We aim to develop a project that will bring a significant funding pot to Whitley Bay to support arts and creative work linked to our annual community carnival.

"Work is taking place to tackle loneliness and isolation among Whitley Bay residents. Whitley Bay Big Local (WBBL) is embarking on a number of initiatives to address the problems affecting young and elderly residents. The charity has been given a boost thanks to a grant of £12,100 from North Tyneside Council and North Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group, which was facilitated by ward Councillor John O'Shea." From Whitley Bay News Guardian, full article can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/2tqdcU8

We are starting our community consultation ball rolling to tell local people about the exciting opportunity to use creativity as a means to achieving civic change in Whitley Bay. We hope to build an inclusive year round programme of creative activity that will focus on celebration at our annual carnival. We'll need to make progress in the next 2 months to be able to submit a plan that our community has shaped. Exciting times ahead...

Whitley Bay Big Local residents will have a chance to discuss our recent community consultation responses and the plan we have drafted for the next 3 years.

After a bit of a disaster with previous website arrangements we decided to work on it in-house. OK, it's not going to win any prizes but we are happy to launch it 'as is' and improve it as we go... Here it is: www.whitleybaybiglocal.org The main thing for us is that the site is low maintenance and for it to link to our Facebook content. In a recent survey we found that nearly 70% of respondents visit our FB page and follow it as a way of keeping in touch with Whitley Bay Big Local events and activities.

We included a questionnaire for local residents in our last newsletter. It launched our community consultation work ahead of us starting to plan for the next few years of Whitley Bay Big Local. We held a prize draw and our local paper, The News Guardian, covered the story: https://www.newsguardian.co.uk/news/resident-wins-prize-draw-for-survey-on-whitley-bay-1-9290277

After a few months of hard work, WBBL felt that it was time to invite anyone and everyone to see our new home, hear about our work and see the inspiring things that our Small Sparks Award Winners have done to bring people together in Whitley Bay!

The new signage on our shop will help everyone to find us!

WBBL has commissioned Citizens Advice Bureau and MoneyWise Credit Union to work in Whitley Bay to provide benefit and debt advice and to encourage safer lending and saving.

We are hoping to involve lots of people in the activities planned in our new shop. These activities are usually led by local people. There are lots of ways to get people together, reducing isolation, learning new skills together.

Whitley Bay Community Carnival is an excellent opportunity to bring the community together, not just for one day but for months leading up to the event. Costume and structure preparation involved young and old and the event itself attracted thousands!

"Following the success of last weekend, we will be continuing the tidying-up of Trinity Churchyard. There is still some litter to pick up but would also like to tidy the garden too. Please feel free to come along and join the effort!

Local people joined Andy our Town Caretaker to help clear up Trinity Church which has been unused and unloved for quite some time. Just a couple of hours work and it's looking a lot better already!

Whitley Bay Big Local, together with North Tyneside Council, has introduced the new seafront telescopes to encourage both residents and visitors to take a closer look beyond the shore and admire the views of the beautiful coastline.

Food Swap and Harvest Market to raise funds for the Refugee Crisis. These took place in Whitley Bay Metro Station BBQ in the Station Master's Garden, food donated by the Whitley Bay Food Bank.