Maddy Parkin - Careers Podcast
Maddy Parkin, 32. Photographer running a business specialising in wedding photography. My main job role is taking photos of my customers' weddings, however, there is a lot of work that goes into this: editing in creative software, creating online galleries, marketing, blog posts, liaising with customers, writing and amending contracts and creating shot lists, arranging client meetings, and more. I have been a Photographer for 9 years. I've specialised in weddings for one year. My passion is creativity, and I feel my job encompasses all of this. I love my job, because not only do I get to witness happy couples getting married, but I can work flexibly around my family, choosing my own hours and setting my own deadlines. Being a Photographer definitely doesn't come without its challenges, however, it has been extremely rewarding for me personally, getting to do what I love every day.
Heritage / June 2nd, 2026
Gateshead schoolchildren honour victims of historic Stargate Pit Disaster
Crookhill Primary School have been working with Building Self Belief on a year 5 and 6 project about the pit disaster as well as learning about life in the Stargate and Crookhill area 200 years ago and about the changes that have taken place in the area since then.
Heritage / June 30th, 2026
'My Empty Heart'
This project was created to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the 1826 Stargate Pit Disaster near Ryton, Gateshead. In this poem, 15-year-old James Robson, this poem reflects on the hopes, dreams, and lost childhoods of the young boys who worked and died in the Stargate Pit Disaster.
Wellbeing / June 8th, 2023
Shoddy Theatre and the Importance of the Arts
What a delight it was to have the opportunity to organise a whole series of drama activities for some of our schools. As part of their national tour, the Shoddy Theatre Company arranged to deliver a series of workshops to engage children and young people in the arts.