Sue Shaw with 3 pupils from Thomas Bewick Primary School holding 3-D printed models of buildings designed for Ashington in the future

I should like to pass on an insight into the value of the work of the Northumberland Archives Trust in supporting Northumberland Archives.

The Archives’ educational project Ashington to the Future, led by Jo March, has recently been completed. The Trust arranged funding, generously provided by the Platten Family Fund via the Community Foundation Northumberland Tyne and Wear.  118 Year 5 children from 3 Ashington schools were inspired by Ashington’s past to design its future, using archival material. 

For context, Ashington is getting ready for the future, undergoing significant regeneration in the town centre.  Its new Northumberland Line station providing rail access to Newcastle is due to open this year. 

During the project, the children’s classroom activities included learning how to use an online computer-aided design app.  At Northumbria University, they met computer scientists and took part in a building modeller task.  At the Farrell Centre at Newcastle University, they enjoyed an animation workshop.  They extended their skills by taking oral history statements from members of the Ashington Veterans and Elders Institute.  Finally, their work was exhibited for 6 weeks at Ashington Library. 

My own lightbulb moment came when I attended the celebration tea party.  Held at the Veterans and Elders Institute, it was attended by enthusiastic members of the Institute and pupils from the Thomas Bewick Primary School. 

With everyone sitting, the children delivered a brilliantly choreographed presentation on what they had done and learnt.  It went without a hitch.  Then there was a mutual exchange of gifts, items for a time capsule from the children and a (sweet-free) goody bag for each child from the Veterans and Elders.  Councillor Geoff Watson and I each made a very short speech.  Then there was a generous tea and much animated intermingling.  Some of the children began collecting autographs, including mine, using the notebooks and pens they had just received. 

It was obvious that these confident children had gained much from Ashington to the Future.  Before and after surveys confirm this.  The Veterans and Elders too were enthusiastic about the help they had given.  At one point, the boy in the photo announced to everyone that, when he grew up, he wanted to be an animator.  

When I first volunteered as a Northumberland Archives Trust trustee, I expected my work mainly to benefit historians.  The Ashington tea party brought home to me how wide reaching the potential benefits are.  I told the children how privileged I felt to have played a part in the project. 

Sue Shaw