Today, I’m working from Tales Without Borders.
Like many people, I can work from almost anywhere – home, a cafe, a client’s office, but every now and then, it’s good to change the scenery. Not because you’re running away from work, but because the right environment has a way of changing how you feel about it. For me, that place is Tales Without Borders.
Nestled inside the Community Enterprise Centre, just a short walk from Blyth Quayside, the space sits alongside the River Blyth, or simply “the river” as most locals still call it. It’s one of those parts of the town where life seems to move at its own pace. Step outside and you’re greeted by the water, the sea air and a reminder that not everything has to happen at full speed. Walk through the building on the first flow (there is a lift for those who cant do stairs) to room 116 and the first thing you’ll probably notice is the collection of flags from around the world that decorate the space. They’re colourful without being overwhelming and remind everyone who walks in that this is a space where different cultures, backgrounds and experiences are welcomed. Most importantly, these flags don’t feel dominating, they simply set the tone.
I know I might be slightly biased because the space is run by Teakisi, the community organisation I started during the pandemic. But the nicest compliments time and time again have come from the visitors who describe the space as warm, welcoming and unlike anywhere else they’ve been in the area. That’s probably the greatest compliment it could receive. It’s difficult to describe Tales Without Borders as just one thing because it was never designed to be. For one, it can be a library as it holds various books written by diverse authors, many of which we believe you cant find in our libraries in the region. And throughout the weeks it becomes whatever the community needs it to be; conversations here begin over cups of tea and coffee, meetings take place around, school clubs have also been known to take place including different groups suing it for all manner of activities. There are comfortable spaces to sit, reliable Wi-Fi to keep you connected and, importantly, no pressure to rush off after half an hour.
Perhaps that’s what makes the space feel different. It doesn’t try to impress you, it simply makes room for you. Whether you’re popping in for ten minutes, spending the afternoon working, attending an event or meeting someone for a chat, you never feel like you’re in the way. You feel as though you belong there. I often think we underestimate how important places like this are. We spend so much time talking about community, yet community doesn’t exist without spaces where people can actually meet, talk, learn, work and simply be together. Those spaces don’t appear by accident. They exist because someone believes they matter enough to create them.
For me, Tales Without Borders has become one of those places. Somewhere I can be productive without feeling boxed in. Somewhere that reminds me that work doesn’t always have to happen behind the same four walls. Somewhere that quietly reflects the kind of communities many of us would like to see more of – welcoming, diverse, generous and connected.
So if you ever find yourself near Blyth Quayside and fancy a change from the usual coffee shop or home office, you might just discover that this little corner of the Community Enterprise Centre has exactly what you didn’t realise you were looking for.
