One Street at a time: how an old police station is bringing a Whitley Bay community together
Helen Arnold, Founder of H Social
Sometimes, the best community projects don’t start with a committee, a strategy or a pot of funding. They start with a few neighbours, a conversation and an idea.
That is exactly what has happened around the newly renovated Old Police Station in Whitley Bay.
After years of sitting empty, the Grade II listed building has been given a new lease of life by Bluerock Homes. But alongside the bricks, mortar and restoration work, something else has been happening around it.
A community has been coming together.
At the heart of it are Steve Beveridge, Resmina Reed, and a group of local residents who were the driving force behind a community street party held at the Old Police Station this summer.
What began as a celebration of an important Whitley Bay building quickly became something much bigger.
More than 100 people came along, including residents from the surrounding streets, local businesses and organisations. For some neighbours, it was the first time they had properly met, despite living only a few doors away from one another.
And that matters.
Image by Emma Solomon
Rebuilding something very basic
Because the group believe one of the simplest ways we can begin to tackle some of the issues affecting our towns, including anti-social behaviour, litter, traffic, safety and a lack of respect for shared spaces, is by rebuilding something very basic: community.
As Res explains:
“The best that has come out of this for us is the amazing connections we have made with our neighbours as well as the wider community.
“The positivity in people has become so apparent to us and the desire to be part of the change by being a collective, to collaborate, to help and support each other and also to speak up about concerns and worries for where we live has made us want to continue.”
During the street party, residents were invited to take part in a “Have Your Say” wishing tree, adding their ideas, concerns and hopes for the area.
Suggestions ranged from community gardening, more trees and better litter provision to traffic calming, improvements to Whitley Park, community events and ways of making the surrounding streets feel safer and better cared for.
Helping local organisations tell their story through social media
One Street at a Time
Rather than allowing those ideas to disappear once the party was over, they want to turn them into action.
And so One Street at a Time was born.
The idea is simple: start small, work together and see what can be achieved when the people who actually live in an area become part of the solution.
Initially focusing on Laburnum Avenue, Jesmond Terrace, Fern Avenue and Clifton Terrace, the project aims to strengthen relationships between neighbours, businesses, community groups and local services, creating a cleaner, safer and more connected neighbourhood.
There is something particularly fitting about that work beginning at the Old Police Station.
An important Whitley Bay building
Steve, who has a passion for writing and local history, became fascinated by the story of the building during the project. He has since researched its history and written a short book charting its journey from its earliest days right through to its renovation and the 2026 community celebration.
The book is intended to create a lasting record of an important Whitley Bay building for residents, former employees and their families, local history enthusiasts and visitors to the town.
But it will also help write the next chapter.
Money raised through sales of the book is intended to support One Street at a Time and help turn some of the ideas generated by local residents into reality.
I became involved through H Social after getting to know Steve and Res and hearing what they wanted to achieve. H Social will be helping them establish and promote the One Street at a Time Facebook community, giving residents somewhere to connect, share information, raise ideas and, most importantly, get involved.
Supporting businesses and communities inWhitley Bay.
For me, it represents something that Whitley Bay has always done particularly well.
Local businesses, residents, community organisations and individuals all bringing their own skills to the table, not because anybody has told them to, but because they care about where they live.
Steve and Res describe these small connections as creating “silent waves” of trust, respect and camaraderie.
It’s a lovely way of putting it.
Nobody involved is pretending that a Facebook group, a street party or a community project can solve every issue associated with anti-social behaviour. But knowing your neighbours, looking out for one another, taking pride in the street where you live and giving people a way to speak up and get involved is a pretty good place to start.
One street at a time.
By Helen Arnold
H Social Ltd
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Old Police Station Whitley Bay
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to know more about One Street at a Time, the Old Police Station and how the project began? Here are a few quick answers about the people, places and ideas behind the initiative.
Want to get involved?
What is One Street at a Time?
One Street at a Time is a community project in Whitley Bay created to help neighbours, local businesses and community groups work together to make their area cleaner, safer and more connected.
How did One Street at a Time begin?
The idea grew from a community street party held at the renovated Old Police Station in Whitley Bay. More than 100 people attended, and residents were invited to share their ideas, concerns and hopes for the surrounding area.
Which streets is the project focusing on first?
The project is initially focusing on Laburnum Avenue, Jesmond Terrace, Fern Avenue and Clifton Terrace, with the aim of strengthening connections between the people and organisations in that part of Whitley Bay.
What role does the Old Police Station play in the project?
The Old Police Station provided the setting for the street party that brought residents together and helped spark the idea for One Street at a Time. Its history has also inspired Steve Beveridge to research and write a short book about the building.
What is the book about the Old Police Station?
Steve Beveridge has written a short book covering the history of the Old Police Station, from its earlier years through to its renovation and the 2026 community celebration. Money raised through sales is intended to support One Street at a Time.
How is H Social involved?
H Social became involved after Helen Arnold got to know Steve and Res and heard more about what they wanted to achieve. H Social will be helping establish and promote the One Street at a Time Facebook community so residents have somewhere to connect, share information and get involved.
How can local residents get involved?
The project is about local people contributing ideas, raising concerns and taking part in improving the area together. The One Street at a Time Facebook community will provide another place for residents to stay connected as the project develops.