Community Spotlight: A Visit to Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway
Earlier this month, Maria had the pleasure of visiting the Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway, where she was given a personal tour of the site by Colin, one of the project’s Directors. What began just two years ago as a small wellbeing group has grown into a remarkable community-driven initiative with big ambitions.
The idea to restore the old railway – once in a very poor state – was born out of the group’s shared desire to create something meaningful and lasting for the wider community. Today, thanks to the dedication of 18 volunteers spanning a range of ages and backgrounds, that vision is steadily becoming reality.
Colin shared plans to have the railway up and running within the next year. But more than just a restoration project, the team is building something inclusive and welcoming. Located beside Queen Elizabeth Country Park, the site has great potential as a shared space for everyone to enjoy. Colin is committed to ensuring it doesn’t become a closed group – his hope is that anyone who wants to get involved or simply enjoy the area will feel able to do so.
He’s also reaching out to local care homes in Blyth to invite their service users to visit the railway, helping to create meaningful connections across the community. Maria will be following up by making introductions to other community groups who may be able to collaborate and support the project’s continued growth.
The Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway is a brilliant example of how a simple idea can grow into a powerful community asset. We’re excited to see how it continues to develop over the coming months!
Northern Veterans Network Meeting
Maria and Helen recently attended and supported the latest Northern Veterans Network Meeting held at The Hirst. The event brought together a range of veterans’ services and individuals, creating a valuable space for collaboration and conversation.
Coinciding with D-Day, the meeting began with a thoughtful tribute. Caroline Richardson (Prudhoe Veterans Breakfast Club) shared a short video commemorating the day, followed by a minute’s silence. Craig Weir was the guest speaker, talking about his experience as a submariner. His story resonated with many in the room and several veterans’ organisations expressed interest in inviting Craig to speak at their facilities.
Constructive conversations flowed with participants sharing updates, ideas and ways to better support one another’s efforts. There was much positive feedback from the event, reinforcing the value of this network as a hub for connection and collaboration among veterans’ services.
