A promotional film produced by Spagnoli Media for Newcastle City Council about their ‘Going for Growth’ initiative to regenerate the long-term future of the city. Presented by Gateshead born actor Michael McNally, the film begins by exploring why the initiative is needed, what needs to be done and the benefits it will bring. Throughout the film Mike speaks with a cross section of people who are involved in the project from councillors, businesspeople, educators, and members of local...

A promotional film produced by Spagnoli Media for Newcastle City Council about their ‘Going for Growth’ initiative to regenerate the long-term future of the city. Presented by Gateshead born actor Michael McNally, the film begins by exploring why the initiative is needed, what needs to be done and the benefits it will bring. Throughout the film Mike speaks with a cross section of people who are involved in the project from councillors, businesspeople, educators, and members of local associations as well as people on the street all of whom support the initiative. Title: Newcastle City Council. Going for Growth Archive footage of Newcastle, the various heavy industries that made the area famous and the construction of a high-rise apartment block as well of demolition work taking place of old terraced street. The main office of NEI Parsons Ltd and staff coming out of the building at the end of the working day. Inter-titles provide details on the decline of the city in jobs, manufacturing, and houses between the 1960’s and 1980’s. Phantom car ride along streets of derelict houses, another street of semi-detached houses and a street of shuttered up shops. Another series of intertitles relating to the number of vacant properties in the city, the decline in the city’s population and rise in surplice school places. A graph shows the number of vacant properties in the city and the rising waiting list for those wanting council properties between 1983 and 1997. Presenter Mike McNally walks along a street of derelict houses changing to a vox pop with local people. They talk about the issues with the area they live in such as crime, violence, and vandalism. A young man is asked if the prospect of jobs in the area have improved, he says not. Another man says that living in this area goes against him when applying for jobs. While walking through the gardens next to the Civic Centre, Mike speaks with Jill Preston Director of Community and Housing at Newcastle City Council. She talks about what she likes about the city and believes there is a sense of optimism. She states that council is making re-generation a top priority. With the seahorses atop the Civic Centre and a set of traffic lights in the background Mike McNally talks about taking Newcastle into the next century. Using the red, amber and green of a traffic light Mike outline possible solutions from managing decline, stabilisation or go for growth. Interview with Brian Ham Director of Enterprise, Environment and Culture at Newcastle City Council who sees going for growth as the only sustainable way forward. He is looking to bring both the numbers and ranges of jobs back into the city and developer a diverse range of residential properties for those now working in Newcastle to live. Interview with Michael Collier, Chief Executive of One North East, the new northern development agency. He states that the aims of Newcastle City Council’s going for growth is a priority of the organisation, they are not looking for short term solutions. A panoramic of Newcastle featuring the Tyne Bridge changes to several primary school children walking past. Interview with Dame Mavis Grant, Head Teacher at Canning Street School about how education fits into the regeneration of Newcastle. She believes it is a priority and is providing not just education but employability skills for her pupils, life skills that will raise low expectations and aspirations in children. At a council run training centre Mike McNally helps to clear away grass cuttings. Interview with James Gargett, an apprentice Gardiner, and Michelle Nicol, an apprentice Joiner, about what they are learning and why it is important for the future. Michelle works with a tutor on site to building a wall. In an office interview with Rich Shabilla who is an Administrative Trainee about his apprenticeship and the support is he gets from the city council. Inside Newcastle College Melanie Devine, a student in HND Graphic Design, sit at a computer working on a design. She is interviewed about the work experience she is receiving through placements at the college in this new industry, she is leaning how business is done with deadlines to meet and live briefs to work from. At the Wellstream North Sea factory at Walker Riverside interview with Managing Director Brian Coxedge. He explains that of the 250 employed by the company only eleven come from outside the region. An aerial of the factory site along the River Tyne and Brian Coxedge talking about working with local schools to encourage children to consider technology and engineering. An aerial over Newcastle changes to a launderette where two women are sorting washing. One of the women passes a basket to Mike McNally sitting nearby, he opens a dryer and while folding a towel talks about the need to support enterprise with a focus on community. In the bakery next door, a woman puts out cakes as Mike looks in. As the woman serves a customer interview with Jim Gaunt, Community Business Development Worker about how both the laundrette and baker as community enterprises were saved from closure and are now thriving and employing more people. While walking through a new housing development Mike McNally asks if private house builders, housing associations and the council can provide the homes people want to live in. Interview with Doug Taylor, Chair of the Newcastle Group of Housing Associations who says that building a range of attractive homes, in an appealing and secure environment will be appealing to people. A large crane beside the Tyne changes to an aerial of the city. Mike stands outside a Northumbria Police station and talks about the importance of people feeling safe. From the Byker Wall estate an interview with Scott Thomson, Community Police Officer for Byker. H explains what a community police officer does, liaising with the public and tenant association to make an area feel safer. Interview with Taj Mohammed from the Asian Residents Association who explains the work of the association is to help make the place where people live and work in as safe as possible by working with the police and local community. He hopes these endeavours will attract more people to the area. Mike McNally walks along a street of council houses and knocks at the door of Val Noble from North West Partnership. She answers and invites Mike inside. She explains to Mike the reason why the work she does succeeds is because of community involvement, gearing it to peoples living style. Mike McNally outside the Freeman Hospital talking about issues of health changes to buses coming along Grainger Street. Interview with Ruth Abrahams, Chair of Newcastle Disability Forums about public transport needs for the disabled. General views of Newcastle and its skyline changes to an interview with Councillor Tony Flynn, Leader of Newcastle City Council about the importance of the ‘Going for Growth’ initiative to work with a range of partners to produce new communities which will stand the city in good stead for the next thirty to fifty years. Title: Newcastle City Council. Going for Growth A montage featuring some of the ethnic communities in Newcastle offering people opportunities in employment, education, housing, culture leisure and the environment making the city an attractive place to work and live. Doug Taylor, Tony Flynn and Taj Mohammed each talk about the long-term future of the city by working together. The film ends on a woman being interviewed on the street, she says that people just need to be give a change and encouraged, there is a future if you want to take it for your children she explains. Title: Going for Growth. Want to say.. have your say! Contact the Going for Growth Team, Newcastle City Council, Civic Centre, 6 Jesmond Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4PQ. Tel (0191) 232 8520 xtn 5181. Newcastle City Council Title: Archive footage courtesy of Northern Region Film and Television Archive and Tyne Tees Television End title: Produced by Spagnoli Media