In May 2024, I Love North Shields started with a simple question:
How do we make sure people know what’s happening in their own town — and feel part of it?
At a time when local news is shrinking and digital content moves too fast to hold meaning, we set out to create something different:
a community-powered platform, rooted in print and supported by digital storytelling, that reflects real life in North Shields.
Eighteen months on, I Love North Shields has grown into a recognised local voice — shaped by volunteers, trusted by residents, and embedded in the cultural life of the town.
This is a look back at what we’ve built — and a look ahead to where we’re going.
How It Started (May 2024)
I Love North Shields launched as a grassroots magazine and online platform with no corporate backing and no agenda — just a belief that local stories matter.
From the beginning, our focus was:
- Everyday people, not headlines
- Community projects, not press releases
- Accessibility, not algorithms
We invited local residents to write, photograph, contribute and collaborate — many for the first time.
As one volunteer later reflected:
“Being part of I Love North Shields gave me the confidence to write again. It made me feel like my voice mattered.”
That principle still defines everything we do.
What We’ve Built Together
Since launching, I Love North Shields has grown into more than a magazine.
We’ve:
- Published multiple community-created print editions
- Built an online archive of hyperlocal stories
- Documented the lead-up to North Shields 800, ensuring everyday voices were part of the town’s historic year
- Supported and promoted dozens of grassroots projects through reporting and storytelling
- Hosted photowalks, exhibitions, pop-ups and community meet-ups
- Connected people to volunteering, creative and community opportunities
Our platforms have generated thousands of engagements, but the real impact is human.
One reader told us that while housebound, reading the magazine made them feel “connected to the town, to people, to everyday life again.”
That’s the work.
How We Create Impact (Not Just Coverage)
We don’t just share what’s happening — we help it happen.
By writing about projects, reporting on events and documenting local work, we help initiatives:
- Reach new audiences
- Build credibility
- Attract volunteers and collaborators
- Create a visible legacy for their efforts
For many groups, our coverage is the first public record of their work.
As one project lead told us:
“Without I Love North Shields writing about us, people wouldn’t have known what we were doing. That article changed everything.”
This is how we connect the dots — between people, projects, places and possibilities.
Why Print Still Matters
Print remains at the heart of what we do — especially in a town like ours.
A printed magazine:
- Reaches people who aren’t active online
- Gets shared in real spaces — homes, cafés, community centres
- Creates a lasting record of local life
- Encourages slower, deeper engagement
In small communities, local information supports:
- Belonging and pride in place
- Reduced isolation
- Increased volunteering and participation
- Stronger social networks
Print isn’t nostalgic — it’s practical.
Volunteers: The Backbone of the Platform
I Love North Shields is volunteer-powered.
Our contributors gain:
- Publishing and creative experience
- Confidence and transferable skills
- A supportive network
- Opportunities to collaborate
Where possible, we actively seek opportunities for those involved — from paid work and commissions to exhibitions, partnerships and signposting.
As one volunteer put it:
“It’s not just about contributing — it’s about being valued.”
Where We Are Now
Today, I Love North Shields is a recognised, trusted local platform — used by residents, community groups, artists, businesses and organisations to share stories and stay connected.
We’ve proven that:
- Community-led publishing works
- People want local stories in print
- Volunteers will step up when given space and support
Now, we’re building on that foundation.
Where We’re Headed (2026 and Beyond)
Looking ahead to 2026, our plans are clear and realistic.
We will:
- Publish four community-created print magazines
- Continue documenting local life, heritage, creativity and change
- Deepen collaborations with community groups, artists and businesses
- Expand volunteering pathways and creative participation
- Support local projects by amplifying their work through reporting
Our focus remains people-first, place-based and rooted in lived experience.
This Is an Open Invitation
I Love North Shields isn’t a finished product — it’s an ongoing project.
You don’t need formal experience to be involved.
You just need curiosity, care and a connection to this place.
Whether you want to write, photograph, volunteer, collaborate or simply read and share the magazine — there’s space for you here.
Why This Matters
When local platforms disappear, communities lose more than information — they lose connection.
I Love North Shields exists to make sure that doesn’t happen here.
Because towns are built on people.
And people deserve to see themselves reflected in the places they call home.
