“South Shields is not just a place to visit - it is a place people feel, remember, and return to.”

The Stories From Shields, Neighbourhood Pilot has successfully captured and articulated a distinctive sense of place rooted in food, coastline, and community identity. Through storytelling, creative production, and placemaking, the project has developed a compelling narrative grounded in real voices and lived experience.

At its core, the pilot demonstrates that South Shields’ greatest strength lies not only in its assets, but in its stories - stories that connect people to place through memory, culture, and emotion. The programme has created a strong foundation of content, identity, and engagement.