When I got the call from the lovely Andrew at Andrew Wren Design, to see if I would meet with Lynne Blackburn and Abdul Haleem from The Participation Works over in Burnley, I was excited.  This was partly because I love writing for not-for-profit organisations in order to boost their profile, but mainly because I’d heard that The Participation Works were based out of the beautiful Burnley Youth Theatre.  Having been involved in some workshops myself at that venue during the years, I was looking forward to getting back there.

Unfortunately, just days prior to our meeting, where it was hoped that I’d be able to offer some thoughts on Lynne and Abdul’s hard-working organisation’s marketing material, Burnley Youth Theatre was sadly subject to a considerable amount of flooding.  It was a traumatic time for all those who benefit from visiting, performing or working at the Theatre, and this includes the team at The Participation Works, who have called the venue home for many years since their inception in 2004.

When I heard the news of the flood, I fully prepared myself for the message from Lynne and Abdul, that our meeting would be cancelled.  Surely, they’d need some time to re-group and get themselves sorted, and I’d be fully supportive of that, of course.  I never got such a call, however, and although we had a quick venue change to sort, I was assured that the meeting was on.

So, after arriving at Costa inside what I’m convinced is the biggest Tesco on the face of the Earth, the meeting began.  I say ‘meeting’ but it was more like a chat with old friends.  Lynne and Abdul are filled with warmth, drive and passion, and they are all about progress and providing opportunities to as many people in their community as possible, from homework clubs for kids to cooking sessions for parents.  It simply wasn’t an option for them to wallow in the fact that they would be ‘homeless’ for the foreseeable future.  It became very clear, very quickly, that Lynne and Abdul wanted to carry on with business as usual in order to make sure that enough people were aware of – and therefore able to access – the host of opportunities that this small but determined set-up are able to deliver out in the community.

With that in mind, keep your eyes peeled for the re-launch of The Participation Works website in the next few weeks, and look out for their promotional literature, which documents everything that the team have done so well in recent weeks and months, and the amazing things they are set to do in the coming year.

I’m delighted to participate, so I’d best get to work!