A new docuseries is putting North East voices, places and ambitions in the spotlight, as Mayor Kim McGuinness covers the region’s spectacular 140-mile coastline speaking to amazing people helping shape the North East’s future.
The series, Coastal Walks with Kim, follows Mayor Kim’s journey from Crimdon Dene in County Durham to the Scottish border in Northumberland, using the coastline as a backdrop for conversations about the people, projects and ideas driving change across the North East.
Along the route, Mayor Kim discovers what makes the North East so special, hearing stories from local entrepreneurs, sporting icons, creatives, influencers and community heroes about the challenges they have faced, and their ambitions for the future of the region.
Each episode of the ‘Coastal Walks with Kim’ series delves into the different issues affecting people who live and work in the North East, from child poverty and jobs to environmental challenges, with local guests sharing their experiences and hopes for the region’s future.
North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness said:
“I’ll always champion this region, and I think pride in the North East is what connects everyone up here. This series is all about listening to people who know this region best - the entrepreneurs, campaigners, community leaders and local voices with incredible stories to tell. Pride in the North East connects us, but so does a shared determination to make life better for people here.
“Throughout the walk we talk about all sorts of issues affecting people, like the awful nurdle crisis earlier in the year, men’s mental health, and support for mothers through childbirth and hear directly from people about the challenges they have faced and the future they want for our region.
“There are memorable moments, plenty of laughs, and some truly inspiring conversations along the way.”
In the first episode, Sara Davies, entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den star, kicks off the journey with the Mayor, walking from Crimdon to Blackhall in County Durham.
Together they explore the challenges affecting local entrepreneurs and business owners in the North East, and Sara shares the pressures she felt to relocate her business to London, and passion for growing film and TV industry in the North East.
Sara Davies said:
“The North East is mint. It is my home, and there is nowhere else I would rather do business. But so many people in this region have moved to London to find success. But it is changing. The investment, the jobs and the opportunities are coming, and there’s nobody better to tell you about it than Kim.”
The first episode is now available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuOl0LzeOT0
To find out more about the topics discussed in each episode, visit: Coastal Walks With Kim