Middleton young people revamp local day care centre for the elderly

Groundwork Prince’s Trust Team members with centre users and staff from Woodclough Day Centre

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A motivated group of unemployed young people from Middleton have been working hard to make a difference at Woodclough Day Centre. As well as working on a project which will benefit their local community, they have been making changes in their own lives.

The group of seven young people aged between 16 and 25 are currently completing The Prince’s Trust Team programme with Groundwork to increase their skills and confidence to help find a job or further training. 

The team has been working on the day care centre for three weeks as part of their community project. The work has involved painting hall-ways and rooms as well as carrying out improvements to the land surrounding the centre.

Andrew Ashworth, Manager of Woodclough Day Centre, said: “Possabilities CIC who manage Woodclough Day Centre would like to thank the young people from Groundwork Prince’s Trust who have painted our building to make it a more pleasant environment for our elderly service users.”

The community project has seen the youngsters take part in a variety of activities which has helped them to gain skills for life.

David Robinson, age 25, from Heywood, is one of the young people involved in the project.

David said: “Since our team have embarked on this project, we have developed skills in confidence, leadership and working with others. It has been rewarding to make such a positive difference to a worthy community organisation. The staff and clients have been extremely supportive and we have all enjoyed our time here.”

Jill Eckersley, Prince’s Trust Team Leader at Groundwork, said: "I am incredibly proud of the work the Prince's Trust team have completed at Woodclough Day Centre. They have gone beyond expectations and completed more decorating work than originally planned, this is down to their hard work, effort and determination. It has been wonderful to see them achieve so much and see them gain so much positive feedback from the staff and service users who gave us a warm welcome each day".

The Prince’s Trust will help 55,000 disadvantaged young people this year, giving them the confidence and skills to turn their lives around. Three in four young people on Prince’s Trust schemes move into work, education or training.