In the not-so-distant past of 2017, three buddies – Denise Partington, Racheal Ray, and Kieren Spencer – decided to shake things up in Longridge. They were part of the 'Save Longridge Cinema' crew, dreaming big about turning the cinema into a Community Arts Hub. Imagine a place where folks could unleash their inner Picassos through film, performance, or some good old-fashioned arts and crafts.

But alas, the dream of the Community Arts Hub crumbled, and the cinema hit the market. Yet, Denise, Racheal, and Kieren weren't about to let the artsy vibes fade away. They were still gung-ho about how art can work wonders for people's well-being, cinema or no cinema.

So, they rolled up their sleeves, did some digging around town, chatting with locals, business owners, and other cool cats. Lo and behold, they discovered a gap in Longridge for this creative shindig. The community was thirsty for an artsy movement, and these three amigos were ready to deliver. In February 2017, they officially became Longridge Community Arts, a bona fide charity.

Their debut as a charity was a hit – Arty Pack. They brought young guns together to dive into Urban Art. They even roped in a pro urban artist to help these kids create a jaw-dropping public art installation with spray paint. Picture it – Longridge Recreation Ground showcasing this masterpiece for all to admire. And if that wasn't cool enough, they cranked out one of the first-ever podcasts created entirely by young people for young people. Talk about making waves!

The success of these art projects caught the eye of the police, who were dealing with a spike in anti-social behavior. The Youth Club wasn't pulling weekend shifts, so Longridge Community Arts swooped in with a solution. With some funds from the Police and Crime Commissioner, they flung open the doors for the Friday Night Youth Drop-In project, putting the kibosh on anti-social behavior in town.

Here's the plot twist – they realized they'd outgrown the 'artsy-fartsy' label. Their work was all over the map (in the best way possible), so they decided to ditch the old name for something snazzier – Longridge Community Action. They're not just about paint and podcasts; they're out there making things happen for the whole community.