About Imagine North East
The Imagine North East project was based in Benwell in Newcastle and North Shields. It was part of a larger programme of research looking at the ways people and groups imagine the past, present and future of their communities and work for positive change.
A team from Durham University worked with community organisations in Benwell and North Shields. These areas were sites of the first area-based anti-poverty projects (Community Development Projects, CDPs) in the 1970s and multiple regeneration interventions subsequently.
Despite numerous community development and regeneration initiatives, these areas still experience relatively high levels of disadvantage and stigmatisation.
In attempting to answer our research questions, we sought the perspectives of past and present local residents, community activists, community workers, politicians and policy makers and other people with an interest in Benwell and North Shields.
These insights gave us an understanding of the past as shaped by community action and policy direction. It also taught us about the kinds of tensions and agreements that existed and currently prevail between different parties.
Our research involved looking at documents relating to public policy and investment. We also looked at charitable and voluntary sector activity, the role of the private sector and the informal community sector, including community action.
Find out more about the whole Imagine project.