Published Thursday 24 March 2022 at 9:47
The unveiling of Barbara Castle’s bronze statue in Blackburn has inspired the next generation to find out more about the formidable character.
Children across Blackburn have since been learning about the life and achievements of ‘The Baroness’ as part of Blackburn Children’s University passport project work.
The Children’s University – a charity that works in partnership with schools to develop a love of learning in children – have encouraged youngsters to #BeMoreBarbara by writing essays about Barbara – with extra points for visiting the bronze unveiled in October 2021.
The unveiling ceremony acted as a catalyst to engage with the community and celebrate the role of women – and the official unveiling has seen the council shortlisted for three regional PR categories.
The statue aimed to educate people about Barbara Castle, her connection to Blackburn and her achievements while she was MP for the town.
Instrumental in the Equal Pay Act and championing women’s rights, Barbara also introduced the Carer’s Allowance, as well as road safety legislation that led to the introduction of seatbelts and breathalyser tests.
Engaging with children and young adults was also key during the unveiling, allowing Barbara’s legacy to be shared across generations and communities. At the ceremony, youth groups including One Voice and Blackburn Youth Zone took part in a walking performance during the official ceremony and learnt about the life and role of ‘The Baroness’.
Forty members of Blackburn Youth Zone and One Voice came together to deliver a performance, which featured placards highlighting Barbara’s achievements to the 500 strong crowd on the day.
There were over 10,000 views of the live unveiling ceremony on BwD Council’s Facebook page. And since then, countless people have stopped to have their photograph taken with the ‘Babs’ in Jubilee Square, where the larger-than-life sculpture is the centrepiece.
Councillor Phil Riley, Deputy Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:
I’m really pleased that the communications campaign has been recognised regionally. The statue project was about celebrating and promoting our town’s history and heritage. It’s giving people a lot of pleasure, and we see so many people taking photographs.
It’s great to see so many children learning about Barbara Castle – encouraging them to speak up for what they believe in and #BeMoreBarbara
The statue is already an iconic feature in the town, highlighting important messages about our well-documented grit and determination. We’re also helping restore equality because there aren’t enough statues of inspirational women in this country.
The successful campaign, which saw legendary MP Barbara Castle’s ‘homecoming’ to Blackburn in the form of a bronze statue, is shortlisted in three categories at the upcoming PRmoment Awards North: Public Sector Campaign of the Year, Low Budget Campaign of the Year and Best Measurement Campaign and Evaluation.
The winners will be revealed in May.