'HAPPY AND PROUD' AWARD WINNERS

Girls’ ‘Happy and Proud’ Project Wins at Northern Housing Awards

Our Girls Aspirations Project, delivered by Calico Homes and Participation Works has won ‘Resident Support Worker of the Year’ at the Northern Housing Awards 2019.

A quick online search for Burnley Bondholders will direct you towards some interesting statistics. For example, did you know that Burnley’s business growth is currently higher than the national average? And did you also know that in terms of digital business growth, the figure for Burnley is even higher still about the national average?

The Northern Housing Award ceremony took place at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, to promote and celebrate innovative projects and services in the North that are helping to create great communities where people love to live.

The ‘Happy and Proud’ project by Calico Homes and Participation Works supported 13 young girls of primary and secondary school age from the South West Burnley area, helping them to boost their self-esteem and teaching them the importance of developing themselves outside of the school environment. This involved working with heritage partners Gawthorpe Textiles Collection and Participation Works, visiting various museums in the region to learn more about topics such as equality, social justice and democracy.

From this, they then created their own bespoke fabrics and textile banners to reflect their own individual personalities, views and values and gave the girls the chance to interview inspirational women from across the town.

The ‘Happy and Proud’ project received £28,000 funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to provide opportunities for young girls to develop their confidence, learn more about important women throughout history, and to learn new skills with a view to instilling a sense of pride in their home town and raising aspirations.

Alicia Foley, Community Involvement Manager at Calico Homes said: “Happy and Proud has been a truly innovative way of raising aspirations in Burnley's young women and we are honoured that our collaborative approach has been recognised through this award. “The project has made a real difference to the lives of young people in our communities. The girls have achieved so much and we look forward to continuing and developing our work with more young people going forward.”

Lynne Blackburn, Project Manager at Participation Works, said: “The Happy and Proud project has been an amazing success in ways we never thought. It has been a true partnership working alongside the Calico team, creative artists, local business women and our heritage partner, Gawthorpe Hall. “All the girls have achieved so much and to see their self-esteem and confidence grow throughout the project has been inspiring. It’s been a pleasure working alongside everyone involved in the project. Here’s to the next one!”