Young volunteers transform land around Castlemere Community Centre

Nicholas Mockridge (Prince's Trust Team Leader), Debra Madden (Additional Learning Support Officer), Nasima Khan (Director at Castlemere Community Centre) with team members Hayley Foster, Lawrence Mitchell, Alex Edwards and Carly Hall

A group of unemployed young people from Rochdale have made a big impact in their local community, by clearing, tidying and renovating the land surrounding Castlemere Community Centre.

The seven young people have been working on the garden and land surrounding the community centre for two weeks. The team cleared a skip full of vegetation and waste, removed sharps, tidied plants and bushes, planted herbs, fruit trees and spring bulbs, and improved the play area of the nursery next door.

Alex Edwards, 21 from Kirkholt is one of the young people involved in the project. She said: “It’s been the best few weeks of the programme but hard because of the weather. The staff at the community centre have been totally amazing.”

Team member Lawrence Mitchell, 18, from Rochdale, said: “I’ve met some amazing people at the community centre. I’ve made some life-time contacts who have also helped to find me my work placement.”

Team member Hayley Foster, 23, from Kingsway, commented: “It’s been incredible to see the transformation from start to finish. It will be amazing to come back in about 10 years and see the trees in full bloom.”

Tina Sohail and Nasima Khan, Directors at Castlemere Community Centre, commented: “They are an excellent team of young adults who have made a significant difference to the community centre.

“The team have also made a very good impression to the whole of the community and the Mosque. We look forward to seeing them all again soon and our doors are always open to them.”

They raised over £120 by completing a seven mile sponsored pyjama and onesie walk around Hollingworth Lake to allow them to complete the project.

The youngsters are currently completing The Prince’s Trust Team programme with Groundwork, to give them the skills and confidence to find a job. During the 13-week course, they have been fundraising, helping communities and building their skills to help them find work.

Nicholas Mockridge, Prince’s Trust Team Leader at Groundwork said: “This team have worked their socks off and the feedback we’ve received has been excellent. The local residents and staff at Castlemere Community Centre have been extremely welcoming and heaped praise on the team for the work that has been carried out.”

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.