The bid to the National Lottery Community Fund was developed with local parents. They told us what they needed to support them during their pregnancies up until their children started school. Collectively, with partners in both statutory and VCFSE organisations, the Blackpool Better Start Partnership was formed with a vision and offer of support to ensure that every new baby in Blackpool would enjoy the early care and nurture they needed for healthy development.
Blackpool Better Start has come a long way and improved outcomes for countless families. We could not have achieved this without continuing to work co-productively with our families, refining, evaluating and most importantly listening. This creative evaluation has given us the opportunity to work in a truly reflective way to capture stories of change which will help us to grow the offer both in Blackpool and support other areas to replicate our approach.
STRATEGIC SERVICE MANAGER, BLACKPOOL BETTER START
Blackpool Grand Theatre's innovative approach uses the power of storytelling and creativity to facilitate a relaxed, informal evaluation process. This method creates a safe space for individuals to express their thoughts and feelings, allowing difficult messages to emerge naturally. By engaging participants through arts activities guided by skilled artists, the process encourages people to open up and share their experiences in a unique and meaningful way.
This creative evaluation technique aligns with the theatre's award-winning Story-Led Resilience Programme, which has gained national recognition for its transformative impact on children and young people. The approach not only helps participants explore and define resilience but also provides a platform for them to amplify their voices and co-create artistic expressions of their experiences.
By combining storytelling, guided questions, and artistic expression, Blackpool Grand Theatre has developed a powerful tool for evaluation that resonates with participants and yields rich, insightful results.
HEAD OF CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT & LEARNING, BLACKPOOL GRAND THEATRE
Visual Artist: Kate Eggleston-Wirtz
Story Gatherer: Phill Fairhurst ( Blackpool Grand Theatre)
In a series of creative workshops held in the artist’s studio, a group of dads, brought together by Better Start, learned the art of building miniature box set models. Inspired by the enchanting world of Peter Pan, the pantomime performed at the Grand Theatre, they crafted their own unique designs. Alongside this creative journey, the dads shared personal stories about how Better Start projects had positively impacted their confidence as parents. These heartfelt experiences were woven into their box set creations, which were later showcased at a family celebration event at the Winter Gardens.
Film Maker: Jake Powell
Story Gatherer: Jo Cleasby (Blackpool Grand Theatre)
In a series of creative drama workshops the group shared personal stories about their role in shaping Blackpool Council’s application to the National Lottery Fund. This origin story, with all its challenges and triumphs, was beautifully captured in a film.
The group chose to share their stories across various Blackpool locations. The film was shared widely with the Better Start team, Community Connectors and local families. It also served as a lasting record of their journey, experiences, and the profound impact of Better Start.
Story Gatherers: Phill Fairhurst, Ruth Collinge and Hazel Challinor
During lockdown, we created an innovative online opportunity where parents and carers could book a personal or group story-sharing session at a time that suited them. We used guided questions to get the conversation started, but left plenty of room for additional questions and exploration. The feedback from these sessions was overwhelmingly positive! Parents and carers loved being able to choose their own time slot, even into the evening up to 7 pm. They especially appreciated having dedicated time to be truly listened to and valued for their experiences.
We also made in-person visits to groups recommended by the Better Start team. Using the same guided questions, we invited people to share their stories about their experiences with Better Start. This open and non-threatening process, facilitated by artists and trained facilitators, made it easy for everyone to share and record their stories.