July 13, 2026
Founded in 1866, South Shields Chess Club has spent 160 years bringing people together through chess. From the very beginning the club was intended to be a place “where learners and lovers of the game meet”, and that simple idea still sums up what we are all about today.
Thanks to support from the Dogger Bank Wind Farm Community Fund, we were able to purchase a gazebo and additional equipment to support our outreach activities. The fund is part of Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s wider commitment to support coastal communities and local organizations that improve quality of life and encourage community participation.
The gazebo gives us a highly visible presence at community events and, just as importantly, provides welcome shelter from the wind and rain that are never too far away on the Northeast coast.
So far this year we have attended Armed Forces Day and the Monkton Relay for Life, introducing people of all ages to the game. We are also looking forward to attending the Ocean Road Mela on 9 August, where we hope to meet even more members of the local community.
A key part of our outreach work is our Play It Forward campaign. The aim is to encourage parents and grandparents to share their knowledge of chess with younger generations. Quite often, though, we find it works the other way around, with children teaching parents and grandparents how to play.
Chess is a game that crosses generations, backgrounds and social boundaries. It develops concentration, patience, problem-solving and confidence, but perhaps most importantly, it brings people together. Time and again we see complete strangers strike up conversations over a chessboard and families enjoy quality time together through the game.
None of this would be possible without the enthusiasm of our members, who freely give their time at events, teach newcomers and help spread the benefits of chess throughout South Tyneside. Their willingness to pass on their knowledge and passion for the game embodies exactly what Play It Forward is all about.
On behalf of everyone at South Shields Chess Club, I would like to thank the Dogger Bank Wind Farm Operator Fund for supporting our vision. Their contribution is helping us take chess into the heart of our community and ensuring that, 160 years after our club was founded, we continue to live up to our motto:
South Shields Chess Club – Where Learners and Lovers of the Game Meet
