Youngsters' club night a huge success

Mayor Robin Parker and Mayoress Ann Jones with youngsters at the Project X club night at Honey.

Three hundred young people from across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale enjoyed an evening at Honey Nightclub in Rochdale Town Centre for the Project X under 18’s club night.

The project, developed by Pride Media Association and funded by Connexions Rochdale, gave young people not in education training or employment the opportunity to gain transferable skills and make a positive contribution in their town.

The night saw eight participants between the ages of 16 and 19 plan and manage a club night event for other young people in Rochdale.

The event was the finale of a training programme through which the participants will receive an NVQ in Event planning and co-ordination.

Participant Matthew Watson, aged 16, said: “Being involved in planning such a successful event was a really positive experience for me. Watching the club night come together was really exciting, it was a brilliant night for everyone.”

On the night young people took on responsibilities including ticket sales, counting young people in, hospitality, selling merchandise and taking photographs.

The participants hoped that the event would provide the perfect environment in which young people could enjoy themselves and meet new people.

There was a strict no smoking, no alcohol policy inside the club ensuring that all young people could enjoy themselves in a safe and positive environment.

Since the event there has been an influx of positive responses from the young people who attended the club night and responses show that there is a huge demand for further similar under 18’s events to be delivered.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale also took the time to visit the club night and chat to the Project X participants.

Leaflets and advice were also on hand from local service providers Early Break Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Services and Rochdale’s Crisis Intervention Team specialising in Sexual Health.

Jonathan Burns, Managing Director of the project, said: “Project X Launch Party was hugely popular with almost 300 young people enjoying a safe, enjoyable evening. The Project X team of young people have worked tirelessly over the past few months planning the Project X event. Their hard work and commitment paid off in making the night a huge success.”