Youngsters tackle litter

Mark Poscha, Groundwork and Ian Duffy, Rochdale YOT with young people

Young people working with Rochdale Youth Offending Team and Middleton Youth Inclusion Project have joined forces with Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale to give something back to the local community around Spring Vale Social Centre in Middleton.

The youngsters have teamed up to tackle litter and rubbish surrounding the centre on Oldham Road close to Tongue Hall. On Monday 15 February over 15 bags of litter was collected by the eleven strong team. Over the coming weeks the young people will remove litter from alleyways and land around Kenyon Lane.

Ian Duffy from Rochdale Youth Offending Team added: “They’ve made a big difference to the area around Spring Vale Social Centre. Working as a team, the young people have cleared the car park, tackled the land along William Street and removed litter from the trees behind the centre.”

Mark Poscha, Scheme Leader at Groundwork said: “It’s a good example of young people being seen in a positive light. Often all you hear is negative opinions of youngsters so it’s nice to be helping them do something good.”

Middleton Youth Inclusion Project is a prevention service with an aim of reducing anti-social behaviour and preventing young people from entering the youth justice system. There are currently 14 youngsters taking part in Middleton Middleton Youth Inclusion Project who come from across Middleton including Moor Close, Langley and Boarshaw.