Link for Photos

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Young people now adults

Gerard (far left) and Kath (middle) with former student John (middle) and a host of ex youth group members from the mid 1990s, at the ICP closing party on Friday 19th April at the Live Theatre, Newcastle.

Sit a While: The Octavia Hill Thing Video

The DVD is about the journey of a group of young people from deprived parts of Newcastle exploring the importance and life of Octavia Hill, one of the founders of the National Trust. Made in 2012, the young people were part of the National Trust Inner City Project's youth groups.

Their journey took them to Octavia Hill's birthplace in Wisbech, to London and the Lake District exploring places she saved and also places she did not. Without people like Octavia Hill our parks and other green spaces may not have existed, taking away our opportunities to sit a while, play a while, or stroll a while.

With the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund Young Roots Programme 'The Octavia Hill Thing' project helped us to understand the importance of what green space means to us and future generations.

3 Mile Club (age 65+) Memories and Recollections

We have been collecting our thoughts and rich memories of all the wonderful things we have done since we joined the Walker Walkers in 1990. At some stage the name changed to the Three Mile Group and, over the years as we got older and less able to walk, the group has continued to meet every week at the Holy Jesus Hospital, with support and a warm welcome from the staff at the ICP, who continue to introduce us to new experiences, e.g. a visit to the archives at Seven Stories the National Centre for Children's Books.

We did lots of walking in the early years, learned to read maps and plan routes, and saw beautiful countryside. We have made lifelong friends and our weekly meetings continue to be an important part of our lives.

In the early 90's we remember raising funds for the ICP minibus: we held a Christmas Fair. One member spent weeks knitting mittens for sale, another baked cakes for two days, we collected clothes to sell, gave bottles for the bottle raffle, provided tea and refreshments, and had other stalls - and thoroughly enjoyed giving our time and energy to it.

Over the years we have sold hundreds and hundreds of books of National Trust Raffle Tickets at outdoor events, concerts and properties including Gibside, Wallington and Cragside, and of course the Holy Jesus Hospital. We didn't get home till late after coming back to Newcastle in the mini-bus after evening performances, but were happy to have helped the Trust.

We also sold raffle tickets at other events where the ICP wanted a presence, such as at the Green Festival, Plant Fairs and even on the Turk's Head, a ship which came into port here and on which we sailed up the River Tyne. Members of the group still treasure photos of themselves with the Captain!

The Plant Fairs were an ICP undertaking to raise much needed funds for the ICPs work: the staff set us on labelling and pricing plants, carting them to venues for us to sell. Inevitably we shared our knowledge of gardening and plants and had interesting conversations both among ourselves and the public. 

We also volunteered to work at Wallington for family fun days and other open days where hundreds of cups of tea and other refreshments were required. Wallington also benefitted from our painting and cleaning skills when we helped refurbish the cottages: one member can remember having the task of cleaning the toilets!

We cleaned and dusted Gibside Chapel, following instructions of how to do it right, and Prince Charles met us all - and we remember him asking us 'if we were the backing group?' We still treasure photos of that day.

At Cherryburn, we laboured in the garden to sort out trees that had fallen down in a gale and needed carting to the bonfire for burning. We did all the tasks with good humour and enjoyed working together for the benefit of the Trust properties.

Different members of the 3 Mile Group spent days at Gibside, Cragside and Wallington helping organise and run the Easter Egg Hunts, the Easter Bonnet competitions, the MouseHouse competition, etc - engaging with families and making the visitor experience more memorable.

Another memory is of the Challenge Days, another way of fundraising for the ICP at Gibside and Wallington. Members of the group were in charge of the different activities - archery, blindfold canoeing, to name but two - to ensure that the teams all 'played fair'. The best bit was the BBQ at the end of the day and chatting to all the competitors about the ICP and the National Trust. We would come back in the mini-bus, tired but happy.

When the lake at Wallington overflowed into the Walled Garden, we came in the mini-bus and gave gladly of our time: weeding, washing plantpots, deadheading flowers, wheeling wheelbarrows to the compost heaps. All good memories.

We remember helping advertise the National Trust Inner City Project by agreeing to abseil off the Causey Arch - the oldest surviving single arch railway bridge in the world - with a large display board which was very difficult for one person to hold 30 metres above a river, and gave much hilarity to all.

Through the ICP's support, we also tried completely new activities, such as cycling, Canadian canoeing, archery and even horse-riding. We climbed Simonside in the snow which felt like quite an achievement!

We had a great laugh remembering doing a play, which we wrote ourselves, in the Civic Centre for National Trust members. It included, as we recall, a scene set at Cragside involving Octavia Hill, the big fireplace and some really out-of-tune singing, which still makes us chuckle!

Besides all these activities to help the National Trust, the staff at the ICP enabled us to go away for residentials at a cost that we could afford, through their applications for funding from local charities to cover the real costs of the weekends away.

We have great memories of well-organised and action packed weekends and weeks at St.John-in-the-Vale, Kielder, St. Andrews Youth Centre in Coniston, Masham and Blubberhouses in Yorkshire, and even a visit to Northern Ireland to Newcastle. As well as lots of walking in the hills and mountains, we did art, drama, and even had a fancy dress competition. Memories of lovely scenery, a ride on the Gondola on Lake Coniston, a visit to the old slate minem and Campbell's (of Bluebird fame) grave are but a few of all the recollections we treasure and still talk about when we meet together at the Holy Jesus.

In the Centenary Year as part of the celebrations we found ourselves helping at Gibside, and we still have a photo of our group with the TV presenter's boom in the picture.

We are well aware that, all these things that we've had a chance to experience, we wouldn't have been able to without the ICP. Also, by going to places together as a group we have all these wonderful shared memories and a great set of friends. 

We feel fortunate that the ICP has continued to let us use the Holy Jesus Hospital on a weekly basis, and also has made the mini-bus available for outings in the summer to places like Seahouses, Holy Island, The Secret Garden as well as our favourite National Trust properties: without the mini-bus we cannot get there.

Not all of us had even heard of the National Trust before we got involved through walking and volunteering at the ICP, but now several of us have got family members who have a car and have become members of the National Trust. So in the long-term the ICP has 'increased membership' and contributed positively to the 'visitor experience'.

And no-one can take our memories away...

darren

well its such a shame that other people can not in the future access this project. It has in the years changed the lives of so many. it takes long time to realise that project like heninner city project  makes a difference.
with me its has given me a foundation of my future work. helped me give me a focus in life and be able to give other i work the opportunities the inner city has given to me.

People are Power and Power is People.

to the future of offering the community access to another world and something different to the normal life we are portrayed.

A big thanks to gerard and kath for the inner city project and those before who may have forgot the beginning of the story  but the end is never..

With gratatude

Darren Simspon

It kept us off the streets.....

We used to use the term 'it keeps us off the streets' so often when discussing why we went to the Inner City Project and at the time it seemed like such an easy statement to make when we couldn't think of anything else to say.  Looking back now there was no place I would have rather been.  It showed us that there was more to life than hanging around on the streets like the other kids.  Huge thank you for the memories :)

Debbie Thornhill
Class of 94' (ish!!!)

big thanks from willy

got to say a really big thanks to everyone who supprorted us in the national trust project coming from a local area such as walker we were limited to the things we could it made a change from the day to day routine being able to get away to do things such as rock climbing orienteering also managing to go on the outward bound  course for two weeks ulswater, as well as northern ireland.

to new and old friend big thank you

It was a windy afternoon back in 1993...

Thank you for:
All my experiences
Good and Bad

Thank you for
Keeping me on the straight and narrow
You made a massive impact on my life
And gave me massive opportunities to see there was more than just Walker
And I can not thank you enough
Theres no words to say....

(singing) I love you!!!!

John Paul Couley
Youth Group (1993 ish)
(When I was a pup)

Thanks for everything !

I would like to just say thanks for everythin; the opportunities you gave me like meeting new peope and going to place where i would never have gone without the group.
i have gained a lot of confidence from the different social activities we have done  and i am very thankful for the 4 enjoyable years i have been in the group.
its been a pleasure, a big thank you to Dave,Kath and Gerard and all the best for the future.
from Bilal Sulaman

ABBY AND DENNYS MEMORIES

our memories have been amazing, we have made new friends and have done things we would never have thought we would have done. this project has given us amazing experiances and couldnt wish for better. we have met some amzing people through out this project. this youth group has given us confidence in meeting new friends and going places.
a big thanks to Dave, Gerard and Kath for giving us these chances and experences, we give you the best for the future!
from
Abby lightfoot and Denny lightfoot!

TRUST BENWELL.

HI AM CAROL JAMIESON A MEMBER OF THE TRUST BENWELL GROUP . I WANT TO SAY THANKYOU FOR ALL THE FUN THINGS WE DID.AND ALL THE GOOD TIMES WE HAD.THE ABSAILING, SAILING, CANOOING,CAVEING, IT WAS A VERRY GOOD TIME. HOPE I CAN GET INVOLVED WITH OTHER ACTIVITIES. SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE.

Amins memories

I have enjoyed the National Trust Inner City Project in my 2 years of being here. I have done alot of great things like Waterfall jumping, Strawberry Castle visit (Gibside), Beamish visits, Cragside visits and the worst walk i have ever done the walk around Derwentwater which took a really really really really long time :(. I have really enjoyed doing The Octavia Hill Thing Research and moie as we got to go to London and Wisbech  which are some of the places i never would have gone to in my life as a child . If this project carried on it would have been amazing but sadly because our last night is on Wednesday we might get to go/do things/places again.This has been a really good experience for me as i made new friends and had a lot more fun than i usually would have on Wednesday nights.so i would like yo say thank you to all the I.C.P staff and good luck for the fututre



Amin Sulaman

Things I enjoyed

I really enjoyed being a pry of the Inner City Project because I have done some spectacular things whilst I've  been here. These things include: Helping out at Beamish, Heritage Open Day@ Jesmond Dean, Lake District Residential@ High Wray Basecamp and Playing lots and lots of new games. I have also done a project called "The Octavia Hill Thing" which I have throughly enjoyed. I also went down to london which was the first time i have been down to London with a group of friends. I will miss everybody very much as I have built such a great relationship with them. I will especially miss Kath, Dave and Gerard as without them I would not have had the opportunity to do some of the spectacular things and more.

Aaron Whitenstall

Please share your memories in the comments below :)

Any crazy stories...? Any moments that made you smile...? Anything at all - we'd love to hear them!

Letters from Older Project Members November 2012

Walker Walkers and the 3 Mile Group

My name is Doreen Fear. I am 81 years old.

I first became involved in the ICP after retiring 22 years ago. I joined the walking group which was just starting and had 15 wonderful years packed with fun and comradeship; this opened up a whole new experience of seeing new places. When eventually I had to give up walking we met every Wednesday as a 3 mile group which helps us keep in touch with friends and socialise which is very important to health and well being as we get older. We have also been involved with voluntary work when needed.

Additional Photos of the Walker Walkers can be found here

















The Art Group

I would like to thank the Inner City Project for giving me the opportunity to get involved with art. Something I have wanted to do for a long time.

The staff have been so helpful in getting the art group storage space for their equipment (paper, brushes, paints etc) and a room in which we can practise.

We have all benefited from this and as a result the progress every one of us has made over the past few years is really noticeable.

We are very grateful for everything the staff have done for us and hope it may continue for years to come.

Yours Sincerely,

Dennis

Additional Photos of the Art Group can be found here
















Pathfinders

Way-back-when I was reluctantly persuaded to join the PATHFINDERS. I don't drive so it helped me visit countryside places I wouldn't normally get to see and to meet other like-minded people of a similar age.

I soon realised walking once a month wasn't sufficent and was encouraged to join other groups - I now walk regularly twice weekly.

Without PATHFINDERS I wouldn't be walking as regularly or as far as I do - I wouldn't be as fit or as active - I wouldn't have visited so many and varied beautiful places.

Their support and encouragement, coupled with skills learnt from trips out, map reading and first aid courses, have given me the confidence to lead other walking groups.

They are a grand bunch and I have much to thank them for - long may they continue in the work they do.

Andy

(P.S. When my wife was ill walking gave me a much needed break)

Additional Photos of the Pathfinders Group can be found here
















West End Walkers

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to recommend the ICP. For all the work they do.

For several years I have been involved in their walking group and volunteering. I have mainly been involved with Kath and Dave who are very knowledgeable and understand the needs of older people.

I have gained much pleasure with the ICP, as a carer for my elderly mother who is house bound and needs full time care. I have found an escape and something to look forward to.

Living in a large city with no transport can cause problems the ICP has given me creativity and focussed my sights on outdoor activities.

I can not express my pleasure I have had over the years. The ICP is needed greatly and life without it would be very dull.

Yours faithfully,

Val.

Additional Photos of the West End Walkers can be found here
















I have been a member of the Inner City Project for over 12 years and have volunteered at Wallington, Gibside and the Inner City Office.

Thoughout this time I have been involved in the West End Walking Group and the Art Group and feel that I have become a more confident and positive person owing to the many activities I have experienced due to the 'Kellett Fund', namely swimming, photography, local history, map reading and orienteering. A group of us walked Hadrians Wall - 84 miles in 2004. As a result I found the courage to walk or should I say 'run' the walk through the Samania Gorge whilst on holiday in Crete. Eleven miles in the heat with compulsory water and 10 minute rest stations! The terrain was tough - uneven paths, over rocks, crossing a river and duckboards hugging cliffs. An experience not to be missed!

As you can see the National Trust Inner City Project, with all the staff and all the friends I have made have enriched my life since I retired in 1999.

Sylvia.

Poems from Yorkshire 2004

I see cows munching on the grass
I hear chattering folk and water flowing

I taste cheese sandwiches washed down with tea
I smell fresh meadow grass
I feel I could stay here all day
I think I'll have to come back again

(unknown)

I see my friends around me

I hear the birds singing, the water tinkling

I taste my salty crisps and my coffee

I smell the green growing earth

I feel contentment

I think I am in utopia

by Dorothy

I see many happy faces today in spite of the rain

I hear singing in the bus, old songs because we are old

I smell the lovely soft air of the Yorkshire Dales

I feel this holiday has done me good

I think my week has flown with all different places I have been to and gazed with awe at these farms scattered all over the dales, as a city dweller I ask myself how can they live here? 

(unknown)

Additional photos can be found here

My name Stuart Hughes

I am 17 Years of age. I have lived in the West End of Newcastle all my life; I was brought up in Grainger Park then moved to Denton Burn in 2007.

I started The National Trust Inner City Project in 2007  because my sister was a member of the group and when she’s came home every Wednesday Night she used to go on and on about everything that happened that night, So I thought it sounds like fun and wanted to join. When I first showed up I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect, but, when I got there everything was fine, the staff were polite and had a humorous side.

When I started the group they took us to loads of interesting places including Wallington, Souter Lighthouse, Seaton Deleval Hall, Cragside and especially Gibside where we done loads of activity such as Orienteering, Walks, Spot Light, Residentials and  Low Ropes Courses. We all so done more activities away from The National Trust properties such as Rock Climbing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Walks in the countryside and going to the beach . We also went on residentials to the Lake District where we would do loads of fun activities in the evenings, do a walk on the second day and cook our own food. Our group used to volunteer for the Inner City Project by helping out at Newcastle Green Festival where we use to help raise money for our youth group by selling raffle tickets, making green men and bird boxes then also selling them.

Our West End youth group got cancelled in autumn 2008 because of other group members behaviour and attitude to staff, which I think it was a reasonable choice to make after a number of warnings were given. When the group got cancelled I started coming down to the Holy Jesus Hospital to Volunteer on Wednesday’s to help out around the office and sometimes cook with David.

Now I am studying towards a NVQ Level 1 in Business Administration, which I intend to complete by the end of September, and am on Work Placement at the Inner City Project.

The Inner City Project helped me to gain a lot more confidence within myself, they also helped me discover the outdoors because I would never of thought about going to places like Rock Climbing or Warkworth beach, where they use to take our group. They also give me the opportunity to try new things. They also helped me meet a variety of new people from people from different background’s to people with problems, to try new challenges and learn new skills. The Inner City Project gave me the motivation and confidence so I could “Get Something Out of Getting Out” and enjoy my life.

25^th August 2009

Walking Hadrians Wall 2004

So what did we get out of it? What were the benefits?
Well first and foremost a terrific sense of achievement!

Here we were a mixed group of retired people who completed a quite demanding walk of approximately 80 miles along Hadrian's Wall, from Wallsend in the East, to Bowness on Solway in the West. 

It gave us all a great feeling of confidence in our ability and a determination to see this challenge through to completion.  At the planning stage it all seemed a bit daunting, yet we all finished at the same time, without too many blisters, bruises, or aching joints.  

If anyone missed walking a particular section of the wall because of holidays or other commitments they had the courage and a desire to go back at a later date and cover that bit of ground - thus enabling the WHOLE GROUP to say "WE HAVE ALL DONE IT". 

We learned patience and consideration for each other and people appreciated assistance over stiles and rough ground on many occasions. This was a TEAM effort of folk in their 60's 70's and 80's with mixed physical abilities so awareness of how each of us was coping was vital.                

We were a group drawn together from 3 different areas around Newcastle, therefore not everyone knew each other so it was very interesting to walk along with new acquaintances exchanging various life stories and learning about their interests and hobbies.  It's amazing how quickly the miles were covered with good company to pass the time with!              

In the beginning many of us felt we couldn't possibly walk more than 6 miles in a day - but were overjoyed when we managed to do between 6 and 10 miles and even covering 30 something miles on the last 4 consecutive days. We all felt much fitter and healthier from being outdoors in the fresh air and more relaxed after taking in the wonderful scenery around us.        

From a historical point of view the walk was very educational.  It helped us understand what life must have been like for the soldiers living and working on the wall all those years ago.  We also benefitted from the guided tours of the forts and came across temples in Benwell that we didn't know existed.. Publicity of this event from the NATIONAL TRUST and THE INNER CITY PROJECT was most encouraging and I know several members received telephone calls from friends saying that they had seen our photographs and write up in the magazine, and how impressed they had been with our achievement.  Even our grandchildren thought we weren't just "old dodderers after all.  I believe this is what is known as STREET CRED!  

There was a very happy and cheerful atmosphere throughout the whole journey even on the last day when the weather was a little nasty and we walked for the most part in pouring rain there were still plenty of smiling faces and a sense of pride in what we had achieved, especially when we received our certificates in the pub at the end.                                         

FINALLY We couldn’t have achieved this without the help of the NATIONAL TRUST the HADRIAN'S WALL TOURISM PARTNERSHIP (who enabled us to keep costs down to  an affordable minimum) and the INNER CITY PROJECT.  So many thanks to all concerned and special thanks to Pete and Wendy for their support and driving of the two mini-buses.   

We must have enjoyed this challenge as already we are looking at suggested walks to see if we can repeat the experience next year.        

Pam and Len 2004             

Click here for more photos

Ian Johnson 1980 - 1998

We looked at you and saw a friend
Who's golden world could never end
But don't believe that's all there was to prove
We'll never know the real you.

You smiled through a thousand tears
And harboured adolescent fears
You dreamed of all that you could never be
And waded in insecurity.

We won't say you took it all for granted
We were aware of all you had
We don't think you were disenchanted
But we understand.

It seems as though we've always been
People on the outside looking in
Well here we are for all them to bleed
And no-one can bring us to our knees
And though we knew you through and through
We'll never know the real you.

Written by the East End Trailblazers youth group 1998.