From the start Ashley was a real pleasure to work with. He was extremely professional, yet approachable and was really passionate about developing comedy projects which benefited local communities. The comedy course was a key element in the success of the East Manchester Arts and Culture Regeneration Programme and played a pivotal role in not only providing a course which enhanced the lives of participants by developing their self confidence and self esteem but it also helped to raise the profile of the arts and cultural work taking place in East Manchester with features in the Guardian, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Radio 4 and the Manchester Evening News.
Whenever I bump into people who took part on one of the courses, which ran over three years, I am never ceased to be amazed at how much their confidence has grown and how the course has given them the confidence to try new things. for many the course has helped them to take those tentative steps to become a professional comedian whilst for others it has given them the push to go for that job which has been out of reach for so long.