Volunteers raise record amount

The group of 10 young volunteers from across Rochdale smashed the record for the amount of money raised by a Groundwork Prince’s Trust Team

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A group of 10 young volunteers from across Rochdale have broken the record for the amount of money raised by a Groundwork Prince’s Trust Team.

The team raised £657.58 through a bag pack in Morrisons, Heywood. The team of ten young people worked for five and a half hours to raise funds for their community project.

Groundwork Prince’s Trust Team member, Cherise Bowers, aged 23, from Kirkholt, said: “We’re all very proud of what we raised, it was hard work but we managed it and now we have an excellent amount of money to spend on the project.”

The money raised has gone towards a regeneration project at Arnold Bagnall Court, Rochdale. This is sheltered accommodation for 30 elderly residents who live independently. The residents have a garden that had previously won garden of the year twice but has fallen into a state of disrepair.

The Groundwork Prince’s Trust volunteers removed the weeds and will be refurbishing and painting a 140 square metre fence. The team also carried out small jobs requested by some of the more isolated residents.

The Prince’s Trust Team programme started at Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale in 1998 and this is the most money raised on a bag pack by one team in the history of the programme.

The Prince’s Trust Team programme gives unemployed young people the skills and confidence they need to find a job.

Three in four young people on Prince’s Trust schemes move into work, education or training.

Nicholas Mockridge, the Kirkholt Prince’s Trust Team Leader from Groundwork, said: “I am very pleased and proud to say that this Prince’s Trust team has raised the most money. It reminds me of how privileged I am to be able to continue to support 16 – 25 year olds in Rochdale.

"I also want to say a big thank you to the kind residents of Heywood who donated money to this beneficial scheme.”

The next Groundwork Prince’s Trust Team starts on Monday 11th March at Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale. If you would like to join or know of a young person that could benefit from the programme, please contact Simon Dean on 0161 624 1444 or 077565 101 860.