Did you enjoy Barrow’s summer of fun 2023? Take part in our new survey! 

Crowds standing around a rectangular arena watching dinosaurs.

A survey has been launched to gauge the success of a series of fun events and activities held in Barrow this summer.

The Brilliant Barrow Summer of Fun programme offered a range of family-friendly entertainment in Barrow's town centre and at The Dock Museum.

The events, alongside the Festival of Transport and The Soap Box Challenge, organised by Barrow BID, helped to attract around 30,000 people to the area, increasing footfall and boosting the local economy.

Now, those who attended any of the events are asked to complete a short, online survey. The results will be used to determine what worked well and what people would like to see more of in the future.

Click here to take part in the survey, which should take around five minutes to complete.

Steve Cole, CIO and Operational Improvement Director at BAE Systems Ltd and Chair of the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Board, said: "This is the second Summer of Fun that has taken place in Barrow, bringing thousands of people to the area to enjoy the events on offer.

"What we want to know now is what people enjoyed this year and also whether having a free programme of events like this has helped them to feel more positively about Barrow as a great place to live, work and visit.

"This information will help us to evaluate what has gone well and whether the project is helping to change perceptions of Barrow more widely.”

Working with Westmorland and Furness Council, the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal will use £25 million from the Government’s Towns Fund to deliver seven ambitious projects to help transform the town for future generations.
One of these projects - Place Development - is already under way with the inaugural Summer of Fun attracting 15,000 people to the town centre last year.

Further plans include the creation of two dedicated event spaces - at The Dock Museum and to the rear of a redeveloped Barrow Market Hall.

Councillor Jonathan Brook, Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council and Deputy Chairman of the Brilliant Barrow Board, said: “The events this summer have successfully brought thousands of people and families together to enjoy the entertainment and activities on offer.

“A bustling town centre that acts as a focal point for the community while attracting people from further afield is exactly what we want to see and points to a very bright future for Barrow.

“I hope anyone who attended an event this year can take just a few minutes to fill in the survey to help us shape more events in the future.”

Click here for more information on the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal.
 
On July 27, 2019, the Prime Minister announced that the Towns Fund would support an initial 101 places across England to develop Town Deal proposals, to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth.
A Town Deal is an agreement in principle between Government, the lead council (Westmorland and Furness Council) and the Town Deal Board (the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Board). It sets out a vision and strategy for the town, and what each party agrees to do to achieve this vision.
Each of the 101 towns selected to work towards a Town Deal also received accelerated funding for investment in capital projects that would have an immediate impact and help places “build back better” in the wake of Covid-19.