Consett Heritage Project – Our Youth Banner
Celebrating Consett Youth
“From the red dust of the past, Consett youth forge a better future.”
Having completed a whole series of fabulous sessions as part of our summer youth club in collaboration with the Derwentside Detached Youth Project, the end product is our fabulous Consett Youth Banner. This was achieved with the support of fabulous local artist Tommy Anderson, who helped us bring the sessions to life. Our aim was to use the chosen images and collages created by the young people, to create a youth banner for Consett.
The Design
We decided than what better way to visualise the town than through replicating the well-recognised style of the banners used to represent the workers through the industrial age. The young people decided on the red to represent the ‘red dust’ that smothered the town when the steelworks was open. Plus, the yellow and orange flames to represent the steelwork’s foundry– the dangers of the steelworks, but also the industrial magnificence.
How and Why Consett is Important to Us
Through studying hundreds of photographs, the young people selected images of places and things in Consett that meant something to them. They then created a series of individualised collages. Tommy then created one huge collage that united the young people and the graphic images of the town. The outcome is a fabulous collection of images that symbolise what the town means to the young people.
The Slogan
In the sprit of how the industrialists united in the past, the young people created their own slogan. We ran a group session to work through what we should include, and how we could combine the past, present and future. The young people came up with ‘From the red dust of the past, Consett youth forge a brighter future.’ Which totally encapsulates how they feel about the town, and how they want to celebrate the past, but they also want to look forward to a more prosperous future.
The Launch
Our first Consett Youth Banner was launched at our AGM on 7th September 2023. It is a fabulous way for us to demonstrate how the young people feel about the town and what their hopes are for the future. We are absolutely delighted with our Consett Youth Banner – such an outcome just goes to demonstrate how thoughtful and talented the young people of Consett truly are.
Next Steps
- Apply to be part of the Durham Miner’s Gala, 2024
- Create two further banners – one to show the changes in the environment, another to celebrate the people of the town - past and present.
- The full launch of the Consett Heritage project at Redhills in October 2024- we are very excited about this!



Youth Social Action / November 11th, 2022
Wellbeing and the Arts / November 11th, 2022
Tow Law Primary School WW1 Heritage Lottery Project
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Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / June 8th, 2023
Wellbeing and the Arts / June 8th, 2023
Shoddy Theatre and the Importance of the Arts
What a delight it was to have the opportunity to organise a whole series of drama activities for some of our schools. As part of their national tour, the Shoddy Theatre Company arranged to deliver a series of workshops to engage children and young people in the arts.

Consett Heritage Project / August 10th, 2023
Rob Moran - Consett Heritage Podcast
Rob is Consett born and bred and has been active in the community in many fields over the years, including volunteering with the Consett Green Spaces Campaign and with the local Labour Party. He is involved with the group History of Consett Steelworks where his particular interest is researching its history. He also helps out at our local schools by taking the children on history tours of the ex-steelworks site. He also shares his love of the wider history of the North East, on his own fabulous Facebook group called Alfred's Guide.