Our Latest Insights
Here you can read the latest on news, events, stories, and blog posts.
Heritage / January 30th, 2024
Niamh McDonald - Consett Heritage Podcast
Niamh volunteers with Building Self-Belief as a member of their Youth Panel and is also studying towards a Masters of Planning at Newcastle University. Niamh has been able to support projects run by BSB and add both a professional and personal perspective on a whole host of projects.
Heritage / December 4th, 2023
Sarah Envy - Consett Heritage Podcast
Sarah is Engagement Manager for The National Lottery Heritage Fund North. Until her involvement in our Consett Heritage Project, she was unaware that this area had such a significant industrial past, and that Consett steel was used in the construction of the Eiffel Tower! From photographs she has seen of the old Consett Ironworks, she now realises that you would have been able to see rows of machinery just over the horizon from the Reservoir, peeking over the ridge of the dam. She believes that we need to continue to provide opportunities to access such a significant part of Consett's heritage. She is particularly excited about the latest Heritage initiative that will truly put Co Durham on the cultural and heritage map!
Heritage / November 17th, 2023
Edwin Oxley - Consett Heritage Podcast
Edwin started as an apprentice at the Consett Steelworks in 1961, as a 15-year-old. Over time he developed a whole host of skills and describes the excellent training he received both at technical college in Consett and Gateshead, and on the jobs in the boiler shop, foundry, blast furnace, plate mills - amongst others. He worked in every department! Take a listen to his podcast which gives a fascinating insight into the opportunities made available to him and how this gave him a solid foundation for the rest of his working life. He also gives our young people some great advice!
Heritage / October 20th, 2023
Voices of Consett - Ian Malpass
Ian Malpass, born and bred in Consett, tells us about his time at 'The Works', how it felt when the steelworks closed, and how his family worked and managed after the closure. A great insight into the true spirit of Consett folk.
Heritage / October 11th, 2023
Peter Shaw 'Shawty' - Consett Heritage Podcast
Peter is 4th generation Consett Native (Delves to be Specific), his childhood was spent wandering the now desolate and empty railway lines before they were finally pulled up, playing in and around the remains of the then quiet monsters of industry before they were pulled down. It was his time spent in what was left of the steelworks that has led to a lifelong interest into the heritage of 'the works'.
Employability / Heritage / October 2nd, 2023
Consett Youth Banner
We are incredibly proud of our new Consett Heritage Project banner celebrating Consett Youth. The slogan the young people created is perfect- 'From the red dust of the past, Consett youth forge a brighter future'. Our plan is to use the banner as a force for good and encourage young people to take the initiative and work together for a better future.
Heritage / September 21st, 2023
Voices of Consett- David
David is 71 years old and was born in the Richard Murray Hospital at Blackhill, which was where everybody was born, and lived on Benfieldside Road in Blackhill. His father was a ‘Bevin Boy’, during the war you were either sent as a soldier or down the mines, if you were unlucky the mines were worse.
Heritage / September 18th, 2023
Voices of Consett - Eileen
Eileen has lived in Consett for 64 years, her family live in Consett, she works and socialises in Consett, her grandchildren go to school in Consett, so you could say her whole life is in Consett. She has three children and three grandchildren who all live in this area, one of them teaches in Leadgate, in Consett.
Heritage / August 16th, 2023
The King's Coronation Celebration - Blessed John Duckett Primary School
Building Self-Belief CIO supported Blessed John Duckett 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
Heritage / September 13th, 2023
Anne-Louise Grant - Consett Heritage Podcast
Anne-Louise was born in Consett in 1966, and grew up in a village nearby. Her Grandad on one side was a postman and on the other side a miner. Her Dad was a metallurgist at the Steelworks and she had many family members who lived and worked in the area (and still do). She returned to Consett in 2004 to raise her family, having left to seek employment in London in 1989.
Heritage / August 30th, 2023
Voices of Consett - Mick
Mick is 86, with a long family history in Consett. All of his family bar one lives in Consett, Blackhill and Leadgate and he has lots of grandchildren living in Consett too. His family background in Consett goes back years and years!
Heritage / August 25th, 2023
Voices of Consett - Sharon
Sharon currently teaches at Consett Academy. She has been living in Consett for 25 years when she moved from the valleys of south Wales. These are her thoughts about Consett.
Heritage / 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.
Heritage / 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.
Heritage / July 24th, 2023
Consett Visited by Royalty - Who Knew?
Our Consett Heritage Project is really gaining momentum, and what we love about it is the connectivity that it creates across the community and across the age groups. One of our volunteers, Maisie Dobson interviewed her 96-year-old great grandma, Jean Simmons, for the project and uncovered a royal mystery.
Heritage / June 15th, 2023
Alan Swinburne- Consett Heritage Podcast
Alan worked at the Steelworks for 17 years in the Technical Research Department. Over the last 20 years he has researched the History of the Steelworks given several talks about his memories of his life at the Works. He also has an extensive collection of photographs and memorabilia from the steelworks.