A grassroots platform built with no formal backing is gaining attention across the North East — as I Love North Shields celebrates its second anniversary this May.
At a time when local newsrooms are shrinking and community voices are increasingly underrepresented, I Love North Shields has quietly built a powerful alternative: a community-led magazine and media platform documenting everyday life in North Shields.
Founded in 2024, the project has grown organically through local support — producing 16 print issues, reaching thousands of readers, and creating a platform where residents, creatives and businesses can share their stories.
What makes it different is its approach.
Rather than focusing on headlines, I Love North Shields captures what its founder describes as “everyday culture” — the lived experience of a town: its people, streets, heritage, independent businesses, and creative energy.
“We’re documenting the town as it really is — not just the big moments, but the small ones too,” says founder and creative director Simone Harper.
“This is about pride in place. It’s about people seeing themselves reflected in where they live.”
Despite operating with limited resources, the platform has:
- Published 16 community-led magazine issues
- Supported hundreds of local businesses and creatives
- Built a growing digital audience across the UK
- Delivered grassroots events including markets, photo walks and collaborations
- Created opportunities for local contributors to tell their own stories
Every issue is created by the community, for the community — with contributors ranging from first-time writers to established creatives.
Free, accessible, and rooted in place
In a deliberate move to keep the platform accessible, all 15 previous issues are available to read online for free:
👉 https://fliphtml5.com/bookcase/afvlh/
Printed copies are also distributed locally — with readers able to:
- Pick up a copy at Barry’s and The Waterfront (while stocks last)
- Subscribe to receive issues delivered to their home
The model is simple: community support sustains community storytelling — through local sponsorship, partnerships, and reader backing.
A town telling its own story
The anniversary comes at a pivotal moment, as North Shields builds momentum around its cultural identity and future ambitions, including the UK Town of Culture 2028.
In that context, I Love North Shields is doing something increasingly rare — creating a living, community-owned record of place.
“This isn’t about one voice — it’s about many,” Harper adds.
“People care deeply about North Shields. This platform just gives them somewhere to share that.”
Two years in, the project continues to grow — not through large investment or corporate backing, but through something much simpler:
people showing up for their town.
Media Enquiries
Simone Harper
Founder & Creative director, I Love North Shields
📧 simmie@ilovenorthshields.com
🌐 www.ilovenorthshields.com
