New Green Team springs into action

The team putting up fences around The Cray

A group of unemployed young people from Rochdale have started on a highly successful programme that combines training and work experience with public space improvements.

Green Team provides participants with training, qualifications and work experience to improve their chances of finding permanent employment. Whilst enrolled on the scheme Green Team members improve green spaces and designated areas on land managed by RBH.

Joe Blackburn, aged 22 and from Spotland is one of the new recruits to benefit from the Green Team partnership.

Joe said: “The team has been putting up fences around The Cray near Kingsway. We’ve gained lots of new skills that will help us later on in life.”

The current Green Team have already completed a large fencing and gardening project for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing. Team members have installed new fences around residential properties, learning valuable skills and gaining experience to add to their CVs.

Paul Dockerty, Environmental Manager at RBH commented: “It is now nearly five years since the Green Team was established and in that time they have become an integral part of our continuing and very popular environmental improvement project. Our environmental improvements provide real visual and practical benefits to those neighbourhoods where our tenants live and also important training and employment opportunities for those taking part”.

Green Team is a partnership between local charity Groundwork and housing provider Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH). The programme offers six months paid employment to previously unemployed young people.

The Green Team partnership between Groundwork and RBH has seen nine teams being delivered since 2009. More than 80 previously unemployed young people have taken part with 87% progressing into training or employment soon after completing the scheme.

Phil Treaton, Land & Design Manager at Groundwork, added: “The Green Team model is an excellent example of a win-win programme with benefits for many stakeholders. We are delighted to continue this partnership with RBH so that more young people from Rochdale can kick-start their careers.”