Made by the community. Brought to the surface. Now free for everyone.
Since May 2024, I Love North Shields has been quietly building something special.
What started as a community-led magazine has grown into a living record of North Shields — its people, places, histories and everyday moments. Written and photographed by those who know this town best, the publication has always had one clear purpose: to bring to the surface what already exists.
Not to invent a story — but to notice it.
Why we’re opening the archive
From the beginning, I Love North Shields was never about ownership or gatekeeping. It was about service. About creating space for local voices, documenting what matters, and making sure the stories of this town are not lost or overlooked.
Now feels like the right time to take the next step.
We are opening our archive and making all previous I Love North Shields magazines free to read online, as an open community resource — accessible to everyone.
This means anyone can explore the issues, revisit stories, and discover the people and places that shape North Shields, without barriers.
A publication made by people who love this town
Every issue of I Love North Shields has been shaped by its contributors.
Local writers, photographers, artists and volunteers have shared their time, talent and trust to help document North Shields as it is — honest, evolving and full of character.
As we open the archive, it’s important to be clear:
- All writers and photographers remain fully credited for their work
- Copyright stays with individual contributors
- This archive exists because of the generosity and care of the people who created it
Authorship matters. These stories have names behind them.
What we mean by “open access”
Opening the archive means the magazines are free to read and freely accessible as a shared cultural record of North Shields.
It does not mean removing credit or control from contributors.
The archive is intended to be:
- A resource for residents
- A record for future generations
- A place for reflection, pride and connection
If you wish to reuse content beyond reading, we ask that you contact us first.
Explore the archive
You can browse every issue of I Love North Shields online via our digital bookcase:
👉 https://fliphtml5.com/bookcase/afvlh/
Each magazine can be read cover to cover, just like a physical copy — allowing the stories, photography and design to be experienced as they were intended.
Support the work & subscribe
Opening the archive is about access — but it’s also about sustainability.
If you value independent, community‑led journalism and want to help us keep telling new stories, there are two simple ways to support I Love North Shields:
- Support our work by sharing the archive, spreading the word, or backing us when you can
- Subscribe to the magazine and receive four beautifully printed issues delivered straight to your doorstep
A subscription helps the platform and ensures this publication can continue to serve North Shields.
👉 Subscribe here: https://ilovenorthshields.com/product/annual-subscription-4-issues-2026/
What comes next
Opening the archive is not an ending — it’s a foundation.
By making past issues freely available, we can focus on what comes next:
- New stories
- New voices
- Creating opportunities
- New ways of serving North Shields
The town continues to change, and so will we.
Thank you
To everyone who has written, photographed, volunteered, shared an idea, bought a copy, or stopped us in the street to say “I loved that piece” — thank you.
This archive belongs to North Shields because it was created by North Shields.
Read it. Share it. Keep it.
This is your story too.
