Burnley-based Bellyflop TV has created a video showcase to promote Burnley and Padiham aimed at encouraging residents back onto local high streets now that Covid restrictions are easing.
Commissioned by Burnley Borough Council and its partners, and paid for out of the Government’s Reopening High Streets Safely and Welcome Back funds, the video reminds residents about all the things that make the two towns so great, and features a selection of the local business owners ready and waiting to welcome them back.
Mark Robinson of Bellyflop TV said: “We were really pleased to be selected to make this film. We love Burnley and want to see it thriving again, and this video will hopefully help by getting locals to start visiting again after months of avoiding town centres thanks to Covid lockdown. Drawing on our experience of working in reality television we also wanted to share some of the real life experiences of local businesses who are looking forward to welcoming customers back.
“When making the film, we had two main groups of people in mind. The first are probably a bit reluctant to head into town and so we wanted to create something that would reassure them about all the safety measures that businesses have in place to protect them. The second group is probably already much more comfortable getting out and mixing again, and so we wanted to remind them that we’re not quite out of the woods yet and that it’s important to still follow the ‘hands, face, space’ guidance.
“It was a pleasure working collaboratively with Burnley Borough Council, Burnley BID and Burnley Place Brand to help share the positivity that the easing of restrictions has brought.”
Rachel Bayley, Burnley Place Brand Manager added: “As brand manager for Burnley, it was important the videos showcased the incredible high streets we have to offer in Burnley and Padiham. Both are very different but fantastic shopping and leisure experiences. We’re proud of the fact that locals have supported their high streets during these difficult past 12 months, but it’s great to see people out and about once again, being as safe as possible and having respect for their fellow shoppers and businesses.
“Bellyflop needed to balance the requirements of showing the safety of our high street experience and business feedback with a fun and friendly approach to attract consumers, and they managed to do just that. They were efficient and organised and made the process easy from start to finish.”
The Reopening High Streets Safely fund is a £50 million pot available to councils in England that was originally announced in 2020 and from which Burnley Borough Council was allocated £78,757. In April this year, an additional £56 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) was made available to English councils as part of the Welcome Back fund.
Together, the funds are designed to allow local authorities like Burnley Borough Council to put in place additional measures to create and promote a safe environment for local trade and tourism, particularly in high streets as their economies reopen.