It all started with a Game Boy.
I was in Super Games World in Middlesbrough when I spotted an original DMG-01 Game Boy on the shelf. Instantly, I was 10 years old again—stood in the school playground, secretly playing Tetris or Super Mario while my mates crowded around, desperate for a turn. I had to buy it.
When I brought it home, my 10-year-old son William was just as hooked. He played it for ages, then took it to show his friends—who were equally fascinated. That moment sparked something in me.
Teesside has some great museums and places to visit, but there’s nothing that really captures the spirit of modern technology—nothing that inspires the next generation.
I remember a school trip to what was then the Bradford Film and Photography Museum (now the National Science and Media Museum). I was mesmerised—gadgets to play with, exhibits that showed how things worked, a proper deep-dive into tech and media. It stuck with me. So I started wondering: why isn’t there anything like that here?
I floated the idea to a few people and every single one of them thought it was brilliant. One of them was my good friend James—we’re trustees of another charity together. He just said, “Let’s do it. I’m in.” And that’s how Re:Wired was born.
I’ve got a clear vision of what this place can be and how it could shift the futures of young people in Teesside. I grew up here—I know how hard it can be to find opportunities or even figure out what path to take. Re:Wired could be that spark for someone with a curious mind and nowhere to channel it yet.
Teesside is one of the more deprived areas in the country, and a lot of families simply don’t have access to technology. Re:Wired can help bridge that gap—offering hands-on experiences and opening doors to ideas, skills, and careers they may not have considered.
And it’s not just about me or James. We want this to be something the whole community feels ownership of. Local people, schools, businesses—they’ll be part of the journey as we grow. Re:Wired belongs to Teesside.
No responses yet