Case Studies

Big time action for some big time pupils!

One of Imagine You Can's most successful (and obviously great fun!) projects saw young people from schools in Blackburn with Darwen formulate a partnership with Premier League football team Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park Stadium!

So what did we do?

All nine schools involved in the programme received posters and DVD’s to promote our planned "Imagine invasion" as young people of all ages were invited to a big screen presentation by the Imagine You  Can crew in the quite posh surroundings of the Blackburn Rovers corporate suite! Over 500 students came out in force along with (“nosey” as the kids called it) parents, friends and families.

The audience were given details on every aspect of the project from audition dates, location, workshops, showday as well as the oh so important, detail. The team also pointed out the really important bit – that this isn’t the X Factor! No harsh judges, no embarrassing auditions. We really do welcome anyone at all. Application forms were handed out to the ever growing queue and asked to bring them along to the auditions outlining their workshop preference and critically, their parental consent form signed. No signature, no deal!

Audition day arrived

Over 450 young people attended the Ewood Park venue. 4 areas were allocated for singing, dance, marketing and media along with filming and editing. The slightly nervous, but excited singers were auditioned on an individual basis (yes how much easier is that!) whilst the dancers were taught a short, simple routine in groups of 10. Marketing and filming students meanwhile were individually interviewed to chat about their interests, enthusiasm and even their favourite songs and movies! As the open auditions drew to a close over a 120 students were invited to take part in the town’s most exciting project ever.

Day one

The first day of the Imagine workshops arrived as students nervously rolled up for course registration (and the chance to chill with their newly acquired friends) followed by a relaxing introduction to their Imagine You Can group tutor. The media workshop got off to a bang as they met the Deputy Editor from the Blackburn Evening News who gave a real insight to the daily workings in the rapid-fire world of professional media.

Students were then given the chance to create their own mini newspaper and write articles about the project as well as their thoughts and views, no matter how random! And the best bit? Their work would be published in the very same Blackburn Evening News paper. The livewire dance workshop meanwhile were busy learning their funky routines in preparation for the on field live show in front of 26,000 people! What a challenge!

Likewise, the singers were studiously learning their lines and developing their raw talents in readiness for the world famous “Grease” show. Wannabe Spielberg and Tarantino’s in the filming crew meanwhile began scripting their very own "Fly on the Wall" documentary.

And it didn’t stop there

Whilst the beehive style workshops took place, Blackburn Rovers made a number of star players available for youngsters to interview and arranged a real life Press Conference for pupils to enjoy and develop their skills and confidence – and didn’t they just! Along came club chairman, John Williams, Head of Business development Nick Hall, the Lord Mayor of Blackburn, Jessica Byrne from the Local Authority.

Students were given a genuine insight into how a top class Premiership football club is run on a daily basis from a business perspective and how they perceive their ever important social responsibility within the community. Club manager and football legend, Graeme Souness was also happy to be interviewed by the media & camera crew who thrived at being able to chat with the former Liverpool, Rangers and Sampdoria icon.

The show was on&hellip and on

At the climax of the project the students performed the pre-match entertainment, live, at the Blackburn Rovers v Newcastle United Premier League home game at Ewood Park. The match, featured on BBC1's Match of the Day, saw "Rover's" give it the extra glamour factor by featuring the pupils live via Rovers TV the Big Screen!

Such was the impact, success and sheer enjoyment of the event that it was replicated for the "Lord Mayor's Show" at King George's Hall Blackburn. The project was then given an extra Imagine style twist as the kids were invited to team up with Rotherham project pupils to perform once again at the Bradford Bulls v St Helens Super League game; featured live on Sky Sports TV. Yes, wow! Big time action for some big time pupils!

Why does it work so well?

Here at Imagine you can we attribute our success and popularity with both education partners and young people to one critical factor - there is no such thing as "failure" on the programme! We don’t believe in casting people aside or embarrassing them at auditions. We firmly feel that it’s about fun, different levels of development, personal or educational and making the best of what you have got.

We simply offer curriculum-based learning with an effective, practical link of education to industry.

It’s about encouraging an (all too rare) common sense approach and letting young people use their creative instincts; interacting with each other, chilling together and working hard together. It’s a potent mix! It’s not about where you come from, who you are, your age, background or ability.

What we are about can best be written in three words: believe, achieve, inspire.

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