Pat Farrell/Caveman M8 is an MC, Creative Facilitator, Artist & Community Practitioner based in Manchester. For his project with South Pennines Park, he worked with young people at West End Community Centre and Gannow Community Centre in Burnley to create spoken word art.
Pat talks about his project – Round Here
Over August I worked with young people in Burnley to explore creative writing based on family, home and identity.
My main partner was the team at Burnley West End, a youth and community centre serving the Hargher Clough and Stoop areas. They made me welcome to join their Summer ‘Fit and Fed’ programme, which tackles food poverty and provides much needed respite for local families.
I worked with a group of roughly 30 young people aged 7-13. Our sessions included games, performances, story writing, poetry & lyric writing. After having my dinner with the stoop crew I’d head over to meet the team from Active Burnley, who were providing a similar service at Burnley High School, where we’d do creative writing and songwriting in a hall with basketball and circus skills around us.
I did 8 sessions all in all, culminating in an Open Mic for members of both groups, which attracted local media and council members. The young people involved left me proud of everything they’d achieved, and inspired me with their boundless energy, humour and creativity.
The backdrop of Burnley and the Calder Valley provided a space of peace and reflection for all throughout.
Film and image credits: Studio Bokehgo
