Community Documentary Filmmaker: Heart of The Hirst – An Inspiring Story
As a community documentary filmmaker, I created Heart of The Hirst: A Documentary About Community in 2018 to capture the resilience, heritage, and identity of Ashington’s Hirst neighbourhood.
This Ashington community film shines a light on a town shaped by its people and their enduring sense of togetherness.
The Hirst, a historic part of Ashington, was once at the heart of one of the world’s largest coal mining towns. Its rows of pit houses and close-knit streets were built around a way of life shaped by the mines. Although the pits have long since closed, there is still a strong sense of community. Yet, there are also many social issues that The Heart of The Hirst hopes to address, from isolation and disconnection to the need for safe and welcoming spaces—issues that this Ashington community film, created by a committed community documentary filmmaker, brings into focus.
Working in partnership with Museums Northumberland, this film explored how arts and heritage can strengthen local identity. From the bustling community hub on Second Avenue to the annual Party in the Park, every scene captured what makes The Hirst unique. There is warmth, resilience, and the belief that even small acts of care can hold a community together. As a community documentary filmmaker, my role was not only to record events but also to ensure that this Ashington community film gives a voice to the people who live here and reflects their lived experience.
The film features social photographer Mick Critchlow, who has documented Ashington for over 40 years, alongside artists Walker and Bromwich, who led a spectacular community procession involving more than 200 local people. Their work, combined with the voices of residents sharing personal memories and hopes for the future, creates an authentic portrait of life in The Hirst. This collaboration between art, heritage, and community spirit is what makes this Ashington community film, directed by a community documentary filmmaker, so deeply rooted in place.
The Heart of The Hirst is a tenant and resident community group based in Beatrice Street, in the heart of the Hirst neighbourhood of Ashington. Run entirely by local volunteers, the group meets monthly and organises everything from street clean‑ups and neighbourhood improvements to social events and newsletters. Their mission has always been simple but powerful: to “restore pride, spirit, warmth, and joy” to the people of The Hirst. As one volunteer explains in the film, “We’ve got people in the hub who are welcoming, who are trying to do things for other people in the community. If they can come to us, we’ll get them in the community and we won’t expect anything from them.”
In 2018, The Heart of The Hirst became the driving force behind Party in the Park, the central event in this Ashington community film. The annual festival turned Hirst Park into a lively celebration, drawing together hundreds of residents for a day of connection. “It’s almost like a village party,” one organiser says, as volunteers set up craft stalls, dog shows, and bouncy castles while others baked tray after tray of scones and cakes for the crowds. The film captures these small but powerful acts of generosity and joy. As another resident remarks, “We haven’t got the money, but we can put on a bloody good show.”
The documentary also reveals how events like Party in the Park do more than entertain. They rebuild trust and rekindle the neighbourly spirit many feared had been lost. “When people start talking to each other and acknowledging each other in the streets,” one volunteer reflects, “that’s what we want. We’ve started to get a lot more of that since we moved here.” These moments illustrate why The Heart of The Hirst’s work is about much more than one event. It is about renewing a shared identity rooted in care and belonging—something that this Ashington community film, guided by a community documentary filmmaker, set out to capture.
For me, filming this project was a reminder that being a community documentary filmmaker is not only about recording events but about honouring the human connections behind them. From volunteers who give their time freely to families gathering in Hirst Park, these are the stories that show why community filmmaking in Ashington remains vital.
Ashington is changing. Former pit houses are now privately owned and new residents have moved in from across the North East. Yet the spirit of The Hirst endures. As one organiser proudly says in the film, “Everybody’s been laughing and joking, talking to each other, which is what we want them to do. We’ve all had a nice day. We’ve all got together. That’s how it should be.” This Ashington community film, shaped by a community documentary filmmaker, stands as a testament to that spirit.
If you would like to watch more of my work exploring community stories, creative resilience, and diverse subjects across arts, heritage, and the environment, you can explore all my films here: https://alanfentiman.co.uk/films-by-alan-fentiman/
Follow me on Instagram: @alanfentiman