How Could You Promote Blackburn?

Despite the inevitable bad things that go with Blackburn and many other towns across the country, there are also some very good things and ways to promote Blackburn.

My task is to promote Blackburn to international students. The majority of students are young people, so my task is to find things in Blackburn that appeal to young people. Being young myself will help with this enormously.

My initial thoughts on what Blackburn has to offer to young people are:

• UCBC - The university centre is the obvious thing that springs to mind. With a brand new multi-million pound, modern building Blackburn is an ideal place to study.
• Blackburn Rovers FC - Football is perhaps the number one sport in the world and with Blackburn being home to a Premier League team there is a chance to see some of the worlds best teams and players play every week.
• The Mall - With an already successful shopping centre The Mall is looking further itself by adding a £66m extension. New retailers are coming to The Mall as well as a new continental market. Shopping is definitely something that appeals to young people.
• Night-Life - Blackburn has many pubs and bars and eateries. They are cheap and cheerful, something which definitely appeals to students.
• King Georges Hall - King Georges Hall is a performance venue that holds many events from comedy shows to pantomimes and to concerts. It has played host to many of the country's top comedy and musical acts.
• Sport - Along with Blackburn Rovers Blackburn is also home to many other sporting venues and clubs. Blackburn Hawks & The Lancashire Raptors play their home fixtures at the Blackburn Ice Arena, and arena which seats 3200 spectators. With teams for all ages and abilities young people could also have a go themselves. Another team based in Blackburn is Blackburn Harriers & AC. They are an athletics club celebrating their 100 year anniversary this year. Whether it be Track & Field, Cross Country or Fell Running you are interested in BHAC cater for all ages and abilities. With experience competing for BHAC they are something that somebody interested in Athletics should definitely consider if you are based in the area. Blackburn is also home to a Rugby club and many local cricket teams.
• Parks - Blackburn has several parks and open spaces to enjoy. Blackburn is also on the fringes of Ribble Valley, a place which is said to have inspired J R R Tolkein when writing The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings.
  UCBC (Image from www.blackburn.ac.uk)

Ewood Park; The home of Blackburn Rovers FC

Artists impression of The Mall's £66m extension which is due soon due for completion.

King Georges Hall.

Social Issues In Blackburn

Though Blackburn has its good points there are many problems and social issues that Blackburn is facing.

One major social issue Blackburn is facing, I think, is unemployment. For various reasons there are many unemployed people. For the period of Jan 2008-Dec 2008 there was 34.3% of the working age population unemployed. In June 2009 there were 4.9% of the working age population claiming Job Seekers Allowance.

Another issue Blackburn faces is teen pregnancies. According to figures released early this year, despite a fall, there are still around 42 conceptions per 1000 15-17 year olds.

Another major social issue Blackburn could be facing is crime and behaviour issues in the younger generations. This is the generation in which the future relies on. It is not all young people but there are many that are ruining it for the ones who want to be successful and work hard. The two previous points could, I feel, also be put into this bracket.

About Blackburn

Blackburn is a large town in Lancashire. It is located to the North of the West Pennine Moors and on the southern edge of the Ribble Valley, close to the Forest Of Bowland, an area of outstanding national beauty. According to the government census in 2001 Blackburn had a population of 105,085. Along with Darwen and the surrounding countryside it forms the unitary authority area, Blackburn with Darwen.

Blackburn's foundations were built on its strong influence in the textile trade. Blackburn was home to the inventor of the Spinning Jenny, James Hargreaves. Blackburn was a boomtown throughout the industrial revolution and amongst the first industrialised towns in the world. The textile industry in Blackburn irreparable decline in the mid 20th century and fell into economic deprivation and housing issues. Since the 1950's the town has seen a significant increase in the muslim population in the town. Blackburn now reportedly has the 3rd highest proportion of Muslims in the population in England & Wales, with the figure standing at 25%. Over recent years Blackburn has received significant amounts of cash from the Government for regeneration.

Blackburn's main claims to fame are Blackburn Rovers FC, former Premier League Champions and it being the constituency of former home, justice and foreign secretary Jack Straw.

Image from www.wikipedia.org

Blackburn; The Place To Be

My task for this brief is to:

1. Produce 3 photographs that could be used to promote Blackburn to International Students, and,
2. Produce 3 photographs highlighting one of the social issues Blackburn faces.

This should be quite an interesting task as I believe there are both very good things to Blackburn and some quite bad things.