A CHILDREN’S charity is hoping to enable more people to continue to discover its history as Blackburn Orphanage, if a lottery bid is successful.

Following the interest created by its archive project in 2012 it aims to create a more permanent exhibition for the public at the Whalley Road site in Wilpshire.

It also wants to create a film as a centre piece for the exhibition using local people to tell the story of founder James Dixon.

Heritage project manager, Harriet Roberts said: “The work we did in 2012 around ‘The Hidden History of James Dixon’ marked a significant development for Child Action Northwest in using our 120 year history to raise our profile, recruit volunteers and raise funds.

“With Heritage Lottery support our archive project also enabled us to bring back pound day, recruit two high profile patrons, Josephine Cox and Wendi Peters and develop important partnerships with organisations like Oswaldtwistle Mills.”

A consultation day will be held at the charity’s headquarters in Whalley Road, Wilpshire, on Monday, February 4 at 6.30pm.