Kyle's Celebration of Stanley

Youth Social Action / Celebrating Stanley / September 1st, 2025

Kyle's Celebration of Stanley

I’ve learned about the West Stanley Pit disaster, including how many people were killed and what the witnesses said about it. I can’t imagine working in the mines—it was dark, cramped, and claustrophobic. I also found out that the person who made the first film for Universal Studios was actually from Stanley, which is something I’d never heard before.

I don’t think we celebrate Stanley’s history enough—nobody really talks about it, and that’s a shame.

It also feels like not many people in Stanley get along. I think we could improve that by having more community events that bring people together. Right now, there’s no football stadium, no cinema, and no local teams. We could really improve the town by using spaces like the site where the old school is being knocked down. Instead of just leaving it empty, we should rebuild and make the area somewhere people actually want to be. It would make a big difference to the way people feel about Stanley.

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“We could really improve the town by using spaces like the site where the old school is being knocked down.”

- Kyle Shields

Consett Heritage Project / June 27th, 2024

Stephen Robinson - Consett Heritage Podcast

Stephen Robinson, who works and lives in Consett and is an independent councillor at Durham County Council, sits down to talk about his current links to Consett, the impact the steelworks had on him, and advice he has for young people.

Consett Heritage Project / February 3rd, 2025

Helene Wilson - Consett Heritage Podcast

Helene tells us all about how much she enjoys living in Consett and how much being part of the Consett community means to her. She considers the influences of the past, and how Consett has moved forward and is no longer just about the steelworks. Please take a listen.

Aspirations and Future Planning / June 16th, 2023

The Tall Wall - When Coaching Works!

No matter what stage you're at in life, having someone to talk to who you can trust is an invaluable addition to your personal and professional life. Thanks to Helen Cowan’s offer from The Tall Wall, this is an additional service we can now offer our staff and volunteers.