Today, the AutismAble community, alongside South Tyneside Mayor Fay Cunningham and Deputy Mayoress Stella Matthewson, gathered at Westoe Crown Community Hub to unveil a new commemorative plaque. This plaque, which is part of Historic England’s “History in the Making” project, honours generations of Westoe Colliery miners through a unique sound walk experience.

Accessible via a QR code on the plaque and cassette tapes, the sound walk captures the voices, music, and memories of the Westoe mining community. Every element—from the sound walk’s narratives to the cassette’s artwork—was created by AutismAble’s young members, offering a fresh perspective on the area’s rich history.

At the unveiling, Mayor Fay Cunningham praised AutismAble, saying, “It’s an absolute pleasure to come along to help unveil the plaque. AutismAble has done an amazing job in capturing the spirit of the mining community here at Westoe, and remembering the 3,000+ miners and other staff who worked producing the coal that made Britain rich and successful.”

The “History in the Making” grant empowers young people aged 13-25 to discover and celebrate local histories. Last year, it funded 15 projects, including 11 in the North East. For this project, AutismAble collaborated with local musician David Littlefair, the composers Ben Lunn and Jayne Dent, illustrator Jack Fallows and Keiran Carter of North East Heritage Library. The music was produced using gesture and sound-activated instruments, allowing our beneficiaries to play and perform regardless of how familiar they were with a musical instrument.

The sound walk blends music, spoken word, tour guidance from North East Heritage Library and Woodhorn Museum, recordings of Westoe Brass Band to create an audio experience that brings history to life.

The event was a proud moment for AutismAble and everyone involved, creating a lasting invitation for the community and visitors alike to connect with Westoe’s mining heritage in a unique way.