This week, colleagues, partners and clients came together to mark four years of Spark delivering support across Blackburn with Darwen.
The event was a chance to pause and reflect on how far the service has come since it first launched in April 2022, while also recognising the people behind that progress. At its heart, Spark has always been about partnership, bringing together specialist organisations to provide accessible, compassionate and person-centred support, and that shared approach was clear throughout the day.
Looking back over the past four years, the programme highlighted just how much has developed. From the early days of setting up the collaborative, through to the growth of group work, community activity and more specialised support for individuals, young people and families, the journey reflects a service that has continuously adapted to meet the needs of the community.
There has also been significant growth in the team itself, with the workforce expanding to reflect both increased demand and the ambition of the partnership. But while those milestones matter, what stood out most throughout the day were the stories behind them; the real-life experiences of people who have accessed support and the difference that has made.
Those stories were brought to life through presentations, conversations and a powerful client journey showcase, helping to show what support can look like in practice. Hearing directly from people with lived experience was a particularly important part of the event, reinforcing the importance of listening, involving and learning from those at the center of the work.
There was a strong sense throughout the day that this is something built together, not just by services, but with the people who use them and the communities around them. That spirit of collaboration and co-production continues to shape how Spark works every day.
A big part of the celebration was also about recognising the people who make that work happen. Staff, volunteers and partners were acknowledged not just for what they do, but for why they do it: bringing care, compassion and commitment to roles that are often challenging but hugely important.
Service Manager Jo Clarke said: “I’m really grateful to see so many people attend and contribute today, and to be able to showcase what we do every day. It has been a great opportunity to take some time to share the good news stories, to see the people who are working in services and accessing services, and to celebrate their successes. This is about them.
“It’s not an easy job, people don’t pick this as an easy option, they pick it because they care, and that’s why it’s important that they get to see the outcomes and take some time to celebrate those because it’s important, they make a real difference. They do amazing work.
“Hopefully what people have seen today is that the people both accessing and working in services care. They care that much, they got up and role played a journey to show how much they love what they do! We see it all the time, we see it in groups, people are always going above and beyond. They’re superheroes.”
The event wasn’t just about looking back. It also created space to think about what comes next, how the collaborative can keep growing, keep responding to new and emerging needs and continue to support people in building healthier, more hopeful futures.
More than anything, the day highlighted that Spark is about people, the relationships built, the trust developed and the belief that change is possible with the right support.
The event also showed how Spark has been built to work as one joined-up service, helping reduce the gaps where people might otherwise lose support, such as when leaving prison or moving between services. Instead of operating separately, the collaborative partnership has worked closely together to provide more consistent support and stronger relationships.
As conversations continued over lunch and networking, there was a clear sense of pride in what has been achieved so far, and a shared commitment to what comes next.
