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.
“We could really improve the town by using spaces like the site where the old school is being knocked down.”
- Kyle Shields
Self-Belief and Emotional Wellbeing / October 16th, 2025
Youth Social Action / October 16th, 2025
Know Your Neighbourhood Project / October 16th, 2025
Celebrating Stanley / October 16th, 2025
Consett celebrates opening of new community centre
A local Consett charity has opened the doors to its new premises on Steel Street in the town centre.Building Self Belief, which provides support to vulnerable young people, hopes the centre will be a vibrant home for its range of support services, from group wellbeing workshops to team-building activities.
Consett Heritage Project / November 20th, 2024
My Own Private Hell
My Own Private Hell was created by Tyler, Phillip, Indi-Skye, Erin, Mason, and Adam from Moorside Primary School. The poem explores the awe and danger of working in the steelworks, capturing both the wonders and the harsh realities of the job.
Wellbeing and the Arts / August 16th, 2023
The King's Coronation Celebration - Tow Law Millennium Primary School
Building Self-Belief CIO supported Tow Law Millennium Primary School, County Durham and the wider community in a range of creative activities to mark the King's Coronation in May 2023. The project was generously funded by The National Lottery Awards for All Community Fund.