Nothing about us without us

"Ashington stirred like never before, its streets were humming with anticipation, shopkeepers paused mid-trade, neighbours leaned out of their windows in awe of what was coming. In every conversation and curious footstep, you could feel the town itself reaching out to greet the artists who had arrived on its doorstep. From the first moment the team began the Toy Procession, they were met by warm smiles, car horns and enthusiastic waving. Local children followed on their bikes; café owners felt a sense of hope on the otherwise empty high street and community groups lined up to take part. It was as if the entire town had chosen Walk the Plank to deliver Animating Ashington, with a feeling of - “We’ve been waiting for you”."

So begins the formal evaluation written by Reemer Bailey, commissioner of an arts and cultural regeneration programme delivered by Walk the Plank on behalf of Northumberland Council and the Combined Authority. Our brief was to create a programme of events to raise awareness of forthcoming significant town centre regeneration, to drive footfall to the high street, increase spend and bring colour and excitement to the town. A town that has been systematically neglected and in decline for the past 40 years.

It was on these neglected streets that Gareth, our Head of Production and I stood before the delivery of our first simple but joyous event. The culmination of a tortuous and drawn out tender process which had reduced the proposed delivery time from eighteen to ten months and required an ambitious ten events. We were both fearful that as outsiders, our team and programme may not be welcomed by a community previously starved of investment, marginalised and by many, written off.

The empty high street, Station Road -ironically named as at the time of tendering no trains had visited Ashington for over 50 years, was almost devoid of useful retail outlets. Unless purchasing a second hand sewing machine, pet reptile, tattoo or Greggs sausage roll was on the shopping list. Although there was a local family butchers, newsagents and hardware store crying out for business and the adjacent street, Poundland Avenue, boasted a Weatherspoon’s and Asda. We realised immediately that merely driving footfall to the High Street would not meet anybody’s targets -12,000 audiences and £45 per head spend for the funders and bringing joy, civic pride and the health and wellbeing benefits to residents for us.

It seemed an almost impossible task in the limited timescale, given a community for whom it became clear would insist on an ethos of “nothing about us without us”.

We spent the first 3 months embedding ourselves in the town. We met with key stakeholders, community groups and leaders, presenting and amending our ideas and developing a group of “positive friends” to act as a touchstone for programme development and community buy in. We gained the support of the Civic Lead, Head of the Miners Welfare Centre, Local MP, County and Town councillors, charities, youth providers, Head Teachers and College Principles. It felt at times, like a herculean task, a massive leap of faith in our creative programming, skilled event and production managers, marketing and delivery teams. But most of all in our “positive friends” and their ability to engage and include. But as Reemer Bailey summed up, it certainly paid off…

“That first event in November 2024, on a cold, day, bathed in grey clouds felt almost mythical. With a single song, the air ignited, faces glowed, voices rose in cheers, and for the next 10 months Animating Ashington and Walk the Plank found not just an audience... but a family. Ashington didn’t merely host a series of events, it claimed them. Neighbours became collaborators, people became apprentices, and the town’s everyday places were transformed into spaces of wonder. “ And as for the funders targets, economic targets were achieved and an astonishing 30,000 people engaged.