Mark Law, founder of Barca-Leeds shares a few highlights from his “My Barca Story”, celebrating over 30 years of leading the organisation.

We asked Mark about when exactly he started working in the charity sector.

I have worked in the charity sector for most of my life with a few years in the private sector and Local Authorities however in Leeds I started working in Bramley for Bramley Parish community project in September 1990 (Barca was founded in 1994). So almost 32 years ago.

When asked about the origins of the name Barca-Leeds, Mark talked about the community projects that came before Barca-Leeds.

Barca acronym of Bramley and Rodley Community Action, was established in the summer of 1994 and grew from its origins in the former charity Bramley parish community project. Within a couple of years our work began stretch beyond the Bramley ward and it became clear they were working across the city. Bramley and Rodley community action no longer reflected our city-wide focus and we needed to change it. When we consulted our key stake holders, they said “why change your name when everyone knows you as Barca?” So, we carried on with Barca and changed our name to Barca-Leeds.

When asked how he would summarise his Barca story, Mark talked about leadership and how it played a role in shaping his approach to running Barca-Leeds.

I don’t come from a conventional managerial perspective with linear thinking, structure and plans, I like to define a clear sense of vision, with a shared purpose and a strong sense of values that need to be reflected throughout the whole organisation. Clearly, I recognize the need for structure and plans so therefore I have always ensured that members of the senior management and leadership teams have those skills in abundance. I am proud of our team and I fully trust them to fulfil and develop the vision, and I have sought to provide the support to enable them to determine the shape and structure of the organisation. Barca-Leeds has a strong culture and a clear set of values that defines us as a distinct organisation providing outstanding services throughout Leeds.

When asked about his career highlights, Mark reminisces about his more memorable moments with Barca-Leeds.

Within my first week of starting at Bramley Parish Community Project BPCP in late August 1990 my first job was to paint four porta-cabins following a massive donation of paint from Dulux. In those early days we did some ambitious and innovative work such as organising a whole train trip to Bridlington and summer canoe project on the canal and many residential trips at our centre Lumley-Fee in Cumbria. As Barca emerged from the former BPCP we expanded our youth work and established a new Youth Inclusion Program, Connexion service and Counselling. We were the first organisation to deliver a harm reduction and street outreach service including community-based needle exchange. We rapidly developed our work around play and family support, we were leaders in the citywide approach to “Think Family”.

I am particularly proud of some of our innovative approaches to significant problems such as Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC), WY-FI and Barca Outreach service. We have a long history in developing public health services and establishing the west Leeds Healthy living network which re-joined us and became the foundation for our Better Together team and Social Prescribing service PEP. Our early work in harm reduction developed into a significant part of the city drug and alcohol treatment services and we are now proud members of the Forwards Leeds Partnership. Other significant and successful partnerships include Engage Leeds and Linking Leeds. Our influence has always gone beyond the services we deliver and include International Federation of Settlements, Correlation (European Wide partnership of Harm Reduction agencies), Locality and many citywide strategic partnerships including YLL, Safer Leeds TSL.

Mark told us more about Barca-Leeds approach to delivering these kinds of services.

I think the simple philosophy behind that is that we are a person cantered organisation so within professional boundaries we are not over prescriptive about what our staff do, we let our clients determine what their priorities are, so we try and get solutions right the first time.  We seek to address the underlying challenges rather than just the presenting issues.

Mark also gave his advice on working in the charity sector and the kind of mindset you need to start a community organisation.

Be driven by what you feel is right and be selfless but realistic, you’re not going to have an affluent lifestyle working in our sector but the rewards are incredible. Focus on making sustainable difference rather than just addressing immediate needs.  Look at the long-term difference you will make and understand the impact of Social Policy and influence it at every opportunity. Selfless leaderships is really important and you have to get your rewards from the impact you have, rather than any financial or any economic benefits.

Thanks Mark for all your service to Leeds, we know you are moving on to other opportunities and we look forward to hearing more about your future achievements.