Steve Russell discovers a region packed with positivity, demonstrating that come what may, our indomitable Northern spirit will never be defeated.
These are strange and deeply troubling times. Heartbreaking images of patients on ventilators, the awful daily death toll, and crippling economic pressures are enough to induce despair. However, amidst the darkness, there is so much light. Our incredible NHS staff (and all the unsung heroes in care homes, schools, shops, takeaways, factories and delivery vans etc), the explosion in creativity, beautiful acts of kindness, and remarkable individual endeavours, such as that of Captain Tom Moore, remind us that the best of humanity often emerges from the most extreme adversity.
On a personal level, I’ve taken my fledgling ukulele career into ever more psychedelic territory, and recreated surrealist works of art for a hoot of a Facebook group! As a diversion from my slow descent into depravity, I thought I’d highlight some of the amazing things happening in our region, and how you can do your bit to ensure it remains a fabulous place to live when this finally ends. So here goes!
No sector has been hit harder than the arts, but as you would expect from those clever creative types, there’s been a remarkable response. One of the best ways to support your favourite venues is to purchase tickets for events later in the year, or vouchers in lieu, available direct from venues or via appeals like Stockton’s ‘Help the Georgian Theatre’ on Crowdfunder. Uncertainty and speculation continues around exactly when venues can reopen, but there are some fantastic autumnal treats on the horizon, including award-winning Kinks musical, Sunny Afternoon, at Sunderland Empire, the Horrible Histories tour, visiting Whitley Bay Playhouse, Darlington Hippodrome and Durham Gala Theatre, and the acclaimed Dad’s Army Radio Show at Alnwick Playhouse. You should check before booking, but refunds or credit are generally guaranteed, should social distancing be extended beyond the summer. One UK-wide initiative well worth a look is ‘National Theatre at Home’, where you can view some fantastic filmed stage productions for free, via their You Tube channel, with premieres airing on Thursday evenings.
Two iconic independent venues hit particularly hard, were The Tyneside Cinema and The Cluny in Newcastle. Both issued appeals for funding in the early days of the crisis and were overwhelmed by the generosity of the response. This has given them vital breathing space, but like hundreds of venues across the region, they will need more help the longer this lasts, so let’s keep our future vibrant! Newcastle blues bar, Billy Bootleggers, has promised to double any donations to their Crowdfunder appeal in the form of drinks vouchers, so what better reward for charitable spirit than their delicious moonshine!?
One of the great innovations of this crisis has been the at-home concert. Barnard Castle Facebook collective, BC: Locked Down and Loaded, hosted an evening in April which raised over £12,000 for the NHS. Gareth Beddard, who set up Live Jam @ Lockdown on Facebook with other local musicians, tells us how it came about:
“Myself, Mark Dickinson, Kirsty Jamieson and Chris Kinley set this up to combat the prospect of three months without work, and as a means of keeping the local scene together. We put together an initial line-up, which went down really well, and the group now has 28,000 members. We’ve been running 9 shows per night from Friday to Sunday, and we were inundated with requests from performers, which shows how much talent is out there! We’ve raised vital funds to get PPE equipment for front-line workers via the ‘Masks For NHS Heroes’ appeal, and although we’ve decided to scale back our shows to a monthly schedule in the wake of the government’s decision to ease lockdown measures, we’re exploring the possibility of a celebratory festival in 2021”.
Another North East musician raising funds for the NHS, is pianist, Mark Deeks. Mark’s Facebook concerts have included his brilliant interpretation of Mark Knopfler’s classic (and NUFC anthem) ‘Local Hero’. This has proved so popular, that Mr Knopfler himself has allowed Mark to release his version as a charity single, available for a minimum donation of £3 from markdeeksmusic.com.
While they await the green light to reopen, many local pubs and restaurants are offering takeaway services, and ordering some of your favourite grub is a great way to keep their coffers flowing. Most are listed on delivery websites, with many also taking orders directly. Some vendors are also participating in vouchers schemes, such as the ‘Street Food Vouchers’ Crowdfunder initiative, set up by The Free Trade, The Cumberland Arms and Mean Eyed Cat in Newcastle, to support indy food traders like Scream for Pizza and Goodtimes Tacos. Wylam Brewery have joined forces with other independents across the UK, under the ‘Buy the NHS a Pint’ banner, where online donations will be used to create a tab for NHS staff to enjoy some richly-deserved tipples when this is over.
Most North East museums are charities, and as such have active online campaigns for financial support, but despite their difficulties, they’re maintaining connection with their communities through voluntary work or via interactive online resources. The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Hartlepool has been supporting the community organisation, The Poolie Time Exchange, who are delivering care packages and hot meals to the elderly and vulnerable. Meanwhile, Newcastle Discovery Museum’s website has got you covered if you’ve ever wanted to have a crack at building a balloon-powered car! Contemporary Visual Arts Network North East (CVAN NE) has created 30 Creative Space Residencies, as a means of supporting local artists during the crisis.
With so many of the region’s businesses suffering, The North East England Chamber of Commerce has been actively fighting their cause, as Jonathan Walker, assistant director of policy, explains:
“Through our partners the national British Chambers of Commerce, we have campaigned to change measures which were not helping businesses sufficiently and have successes including the announcement of the new easy access financial support for SMEs in particular. We have also initiated a hub to enable businesses to supply and manufacture PPE where front line services were in urgent need of help which has been really successful.”
The North East COVID-19 Response Group has been launched, with the remit of providing maximum support for businesses in the immediate term and to plan for long-term economic recovery. The scheme is a joint venture between The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), CBI, North of Tyne and North East Combined Authorities and alongside The North East Growth Hub, and is providing a vital resource for guidance and support.
Adrian Waddell, Chief Executive of NE1, describes their response to the crisis:
“NE1 has worked hard during lockdown to help businesses navigate the complexities of the Government’s extensive business support packages. As we look forward to emerging from this crisis we know that things will be different and hope that many of the changes can be for the better.
One positive change we expect to prevail is the spirit of ‘thinking local’. During the crisis, people have discovered the benefits of shopping closer to home and supporting local traders. This trend could crystallise to become a valuable point of difference for businesses as they develop their post-Covid offer.
We know the economy has suffered and it will take time to recover. It is, therefore, beholden on all of us to try to remain positive, continue to talk up Newcastle’s many strengths and maintain enthusiasm for investment and on-going development in the city.”
One organisation at the forefront of the region’s drive to produce PPE equipment is Sunderland University, who have adapted their Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing (SAM) project, in response to the crisis. The ERDF funded project was initially founded to support the implementation of product and process development, and the introduction of technology to the North East SME manufacturing sector. Project Manager, Ken Teears, elaborates on how they’ve refocused their priorities, following the COVID-19 outbreak:
“Essentially there are two strands to what we are doing. Firstly, SAM technical staff and the team at our Institute for Automotive and Manufacturing Advanced Practice (AMAP), have created and manufactured the ‘Hulse Sunderland Face Shield’, an ICU approved face shield, developed in consultation with clinicians at Newcastle’s RVI Hospital. We’ve already distributed hundreds of these to front line healthcare staff, and we are finalising scalable solutions for a company to make potentially 25,000 per week. Secondly, we’re supporting manufacturers to react to COVID-19 through two new grant funds; one for the manufacture of PPE and the other for capital investment to support manufacturing resilience and adaptability. SAM can provide financial support in the form of grants, and our technical team can advise on how technology and processes can be adapted to help sustainable manufacturing. Visit samprojectuos.co.uk for more details.”
This sort of enterprise has been mirrored across the region, and Northumbria Health Care trust have recently established a new manufacturing and distribution hub in Cramlington. The new facility is on lease from Wingrove Motor Company and is producing 6,000 medical gowns per week, for use by frontline healthcare staff. Sarah Rose, MD at Lucas Jacob Ltd and volunteer Michael Rose, were instrumental in its creation, and the facility forms part of a wider network of businesses and volunteers manufacturing up to 71,000 gowns per week for the NHS in the North East.
Innovation is everywhere, exemplified by barber and stylist to the stars, Sam Wall. Sam, who is based at Hidden Heights Creative Studio in Gateshead, launched his own grooming range last year, a range recently supplemented with his rather beautiful ‘Squeaky Klean’ Melon-fragranced hand sanitizer, which has become a global success. Who’d have thought that designer (yet reasonably priced) hand-sanitizer would become a thing!?
One of the most heart-warming stories to emerge during the crisis, is that of the fancy dress postman, Jon Matson, who’s been spreading cheer across South Tyneside by wearing a different outfit every day on his round. Jon, 39, said:
“I’ve gotten to know local people well through my round and I saw how their moods changed when the crisis started. I had a drawer full of outfits so I thought why not dress up and cheer them up!?”
The positive impact upon residents on his home patch of Boldon was instant, and his antics soon went viral, with the national press even picking up the story. Unfortunately, he soon realised that if he was going to keep his new fan club entertained, he would need some help! He began collecting outfits from family and friends and Menswear retailer, Master Debonair, (whose owners happen to be on his patch) even donated a free 3-piece suit with accessories, to turn him into a Peaky Blinder for the day!
The challenges facing high street retailers were well documented before this crisis emerged, and undoubtedly, the ongoing situation is perilous. However, hope remains. Government funding has started to make an impact, and enterprises like SaveTheHighStreet.org are a potential lifeline. Founding Partner and Sales Director, Alex Schlagman told us:
“SaveTheHighStreet.org is working closely with local high street business owners, in the North East of England and across the UK, on a 12-week COVID-19 response programme; helping each to reduce their costs, sell through new channels, adapt their marketing, collaborate as a community, access funding and plan for the future. The future of the high street depends on how we all act now. Everyone on the high street needs to protect and adapt their business through the lockdown period to give themselves the best chance of success, both now and for the future.”
At a local level, websites such as durhammarkets.co.uk which is advertising delivery services offered by the city’s market traders, and TyneCollective.co.uk, which is a voucher scheme for local SMEs, have provided viable new trading platforms. The latter was developed by Newcastle-based Vida Creative, and so far, hosts The Stand Comedy Club, Iles Tours, The Fashion Lab, RPM Music, Thali Tray, Tynemouth Surf Co, Tilly & Blue Pet Portraits, Life Saving Training and The Beauty Room in Amble. Vida Co-Founder, Henry Coggin said:
“We’re delighted to be able to use our skills to contribute something valuable to the area during this crisis. We’ve been overwhelmed with the response we’ve had from North East Businesses, and we’re working hard to help as many of them as we can”
With our new housebound routines, health, fitness and wellbeing are more important than ever, and our local experts have wasted no time in adapting. Chris Fairless, Co-Founder of Durham group, Unique Health Clubs, explains what’s on offer for their 700 plus members:
“Our Facebook group is delivering classes by our PTs, and Nutrition and Health seminars with live Q&As and our health food café is delivering amazing, balanced meals to our members. I’m so proud of the team and the positive impact they’re having within the community.”
Similarly, David Fairlamb Fitness in North Shields, has swapped his Saturday morning beach camps for zoom camps, which form part of the great online fitness package he’s built. If you’re looking for something different for the whole family, try Shieldfield’s Circus Central. They are running free fun-packed ‘Wake up and Warm Up’ Zoom sessions Monday to Saturday, aimed at 4-8 year olds, while their full online timetable includes everything from juggling to aerial fitness! There’s loads of great online fitness action, so get out there (virtually) and find something that works for you!
Beyond the virus itself, the impact of the crisis on mental health has emerged as a secondary emergency. In response, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust have produced an excellent booklet full of tips, advice and guidance on how to maintain wellbeing in these extraordinary times. The booklet, which also contains a comprehensive, region-wide directory of support services, can be accessed at www.stopsuicidenenc.org. With family relationships being tested like never before, Relate.org.uk has a fantastic range of blogs, tips and advice on how to maintain healthy relationships in these unsettling times. They are also offering a range of remote services, including online chat, webcam counselling and telephone counselling, to ensure people can still access vitally needed support.
One of the most troubling aspects of the crisis, has been the disproportionate impact upon economically disadvantaged communities, with some areas of the North East suffering the worst infection and mortality rates in the whole of the UK. The reasons behind that may be complex, but it offers compelling evidence of a continuing North/South divide, something which must surely be addressed once and for all in the coming months and years.
BAME communities have also incurred higher-than-average rates of infection, with issues such as language difficulties, living conditions and cultural practices all thought to be contributory factors. Many local community groups and businesses have responded to this worrying trend, including, Wah Akram, owner of Bluebird Care Northumberland South. Wah teamed up with fellow franchisee, David Haswell, from Bluebird Care Newcastle and South Tyneside, to put together hygiene parcels for circulation within the refugee community in the west end of Newcastle. Wah explains:
“Hearing about the high rates of infection within this community, we decided to put these parcels together to help improve hygiene practices and potentially save lives. We produced these in collaboration with Booker Wholesale, who kindly donated supplies.”
While there will be many elements of this crisis which most of us would rather forget (cup of bleach anyone?), it’s the genuine desire to support and care for each other, which may leave the most lasting legacy. The positive stories featured here are the tip of the iceberg, and I could’ve easily filled another ten pages. Our region is famous for its warmth and friendliness, something demonstrated in spades over the past few months. No one is in any doubt that the recovery process will be slow and painful, and undoubtedly, significant investment is required from central government. However, if we continue to support each other, whether that be buying local products or simply offering a helping hand to those who need it, there’s every reason to believe that we can make our home an even more amazing place to live than it already was.
