Reflections on a placement at Cobden Works - Sylvester Mulji

One of those placements has been Sylvester Mulji, who is currently a Creative and Cultural Industries master’s student from The University of Manchester. Sylvester has been with us since December 2024, working as a production assistant, and this is what he has said of his time with us.

My time here has largely been centred around the office, learning new skills that will not only help me work within the fast-paced environments that are creative organisations, but also within the general workplace. I’ve been helping out with some of the admin for Animating Ashington, researching accommodation and food options around the area for the gigs. I also took part in Animating Ashington’s “positive friends’ group” meetings, taking minutes and listening to feedback directly from the community. Such meetings ensure a direct line with Walk the plank and the community around Ashington, ensuring the lines of communication are clear for the events to run smoothly and successfully.  

On top of the work I helped with in the office, the placement also gave me an opportunity to work with Ben and the creative explorers to learn how to work with pyrotechnics and gaining some on site experience at the “Big Heart Little Hulton” event, helping steward and ensure the event ran without any mishaps. Whilst seeing all the elements that Walk the Plank work with put together was a beautiful sight, I found the importance of arts events such as this in reclaiming areas for the community to use and engage with incredibly rewarding and only made me more passionate to engage with the arts even more than I have already.  

This community spirit could also be felt within the office. Having lived in a house of 7 for the past 3 years, I began to identify certain elements that were reminiscent of communal living. The communal kitchen and open plan of the office help ensure these social elements are prevalent within the workspace, making it a more welcoming and familial space that instantly made me feel at home and happy. The gratitude box was another part of this, allowing for everyone to put an anonymous message from themselves to the messages of the office team. Such actions further allowed for these social bonds to remain close and comfortable, and I could clearly see that throughout my whole experience here.  

As I go into my last week of my placement at Walk the Plank, I am eternally grateful for everything I have learnt whilst being here and am sad to be leaving such an amazing space with such incredible people. Though this is my last time on placement with Walk the Plank, I hope it won’t be my last in the office and hope to continue helping the team out with events and installations as I continue my career in Manchester.