We have recently had fun working on a community project with No More Nowt (Formerly East Durham Creates), Artists Luca Rutherford and Lizzie Klotz and photographer Amelia Read. We started out not being completely sure of what we wanted or how we could include the wide range of people and groups that access and support the village hall, however Luca and Lizzie spent an intensive couple of weeks with us, speaking to people from every group who visited the hall and they came up with a plan!
The final product of the project is a huge gallery of photographs mounted on the outside walls of the village hall featuring adults, children, animals and scenery, giving a picturesque view of what Quakies is and what it means to be part of village life here.
To celebrate the installation of the artwork we held a free, family friendly launch party. Alongside being able to view the actual display, there was a display of postcard sized images and a projected display of all of the photos that were taken. Visitors enjoyed free food and drinks, craft activities for children and screen-printing where people could create a tea towel featuring an image of the Quaking Houses pit wheel, followed by an evening of live entertainment from Dan Graham and some very talented local people taking part in the buskers event.
If anyone missed the event but would like to have a look please pop in to the hall as we have a small number of photo books here featuring more of the pictures that were taken but did not make it onto the wall.

As a result of the great collaboration between ourselves and No More Nowt we have been asked to become one of their cultural hubs, which entails being a local venue to experience various creative activities and trying out new ideas. We look forward to working with them Ellen, Vonni and more of the team as the project develops.

Many thanks to everyone who joined us for the Halloween events this year. We had fun and food (funded through DCC fun and food team) where we made scarecrows, had visits from the reptiles, snakes and spiders and carved pumpkins. People ventured through the forest of fear and enjoyed the trail, activities and treats. Then we hosted a Halloween Party with Project DJ and the children thoroughly enjoyed the games.

Quaking Houses were visited by the assessor from Northumbria in Bloom back in August and we have just found out that we have been awarded level 4 (Thriving). Hopefully next year we will be back up to level 5.

South Moor Banner once again joined Craghead Banner and the Craghead Colliery Band on their annual outing to Durham for the Miners Gala. The day began early with a parade from Craghead Village Hall to The Vic Club where we boarded the buses and set off for Durham. From the Market Square we joined the procession across Elvet Bridge and over towards the show field. This year it was Craghead Colliery Bands chance to stop and play in front of the County Hotel for the officials on the balcony. We made it to the show field in time for breakfast and to secure seating in the shade (and shelter) of the trees which helped keep us dry during a slight shower. Luckily it didn't last long and had passed by the time it was our timeslot to process back through Durham to return home. Our bus had a great return journey singing Bus Karaoke although I'm not sure the driver appreciated it as much! Overall, a great day was had by all who marched with both banners and we are looking forward to next years Gala which will be held on Saturday 13th July.
If anyone would like to join us please get in touch.

We unveiled the new South Moor Miners Banner display case, celebrate our mining heritage and officially reopened our hall at our Gala event on Saturday 25th September 11-5pm. This was an exciting opportunity to come together and enjoy the first large family event in our newly refurbished hall following the lifting of Covid restrictions, The Gala event, supported by the Durham Miners Association and the Marras, included a picnic*, a display of local mining banners and mining information. Entertainment was provided by a local brass band, inflatable play equipment and a colourful mini march through the town. The march featured banners from local community groups and schools, made and designed by children to represent their community identity. We were delighted that the raffle and tombola raised a fantastic £xxx. which will be invested back into our community

We have recently become the new home of South Moor Miners Banner and are in the process of having a new cabinet made to display it in the reception area of the village hall. A fairly new banner, it was commissioned by a group of local people in 2017/2018 who were keen to replace the damaged banners of the past. On its first outing to the Cathedral to be blessed and the Miners Gala 2018, it was accompanied by around 100 people. It was previously housed at St Georges Church, South Moor however this has recently closed and with the cancellation of the Big Meeting for 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions, the banner has not been on display for quite a while.

Thanks to the generosity of the National Lottery Communities Fund, County Durham Community Foundation and the Stanley Fund, we have a lovely, shiny new hall. As well as decoration throughout, the sports hall has been refurbished, we have a new bar area and partitioned meeting room and new equipment. Our outdoor space has seen a considerable improvement with children's play area, seating, grass and attractive planting. We are extremely grateful for their generous support.