Prince's Trust team decorate RBUF premises as part of their community project

Prince's Trust team shopping for decorating supplies

A team of teenagers from the Prince's Trust have decorated the Rochdale Boroughwide User Forum (RBUF) premises as part of their 12 week Prince's Trust Personal Development programme.

Part of the course asked the teenagers to do a community project to gain part of the team’s qualifications.

A spokesperson for the Prince's Trust said: “After ringing round and viewing a few places where we could have done our community project, we choose RBUF as our project. We could see how much of a big difference it would make to the staff and service users that use the building.”

Rachel Ginnelly, Chief Officer at RBUF, said: “It has been an amazing experience for RBUF to be working in partnership with the Prince's Trust. The young people have brought a tremendous energy to the organisation and have demonstrated a fantastic ethos in working with the mental health service users.”

Rochdale Boroughwide User Forum’s mission is to bring communities together from across the borough in a cooperative effort to ensure that, in every aspect of mental health and social care, the needs and views of people with mental health issues and their carers are taken into account by those who purchase or provide services.

Ryan Cowan, Chairman of RBUF and Pennine Governor, added: “I am both delighted and impressed by the decorating work that the Prince's Trust and Groundwork volunteers have undertaken for us. The room is beautiful and very sensory friendly. As a former Princes Trust project participant, I am very pleased that the Prince's Trust is continuing to help and support young people in the Rochdale Borough.”

Nick Rogers, Project Coordinator for the Greater Manchester Youth Project, said: “It’s really great to see more young people learning about the great work at RBUF. As a youth focused organisation it is really important that people feel comfortable in this space and having the young people from the Prince's Trust design the room, lets me know that this is a space that all young people can feel comfortable in.”

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk and Councillor Janet Emsley, Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Well-being will officially open the renovated building at an event in late November.

A spokesperson for RBUF said: “We are really proud of the great work the team has done and we would have no hesitation in recommending members of the team to other organisations because of their enthusiasm, positive energy and hard work.

“We are really delighted here at RBUF that two of the Prince's Trust team have asked us if they can do their formal work experience here in November and we look forward to supporting them and developing their potential as members of the RBUF team for a fortnight each.”

RBUF is also interested in hearing from any local companies who might be able to provide material to support the charity. The charity is particularly looking for donations of paint so they can continue the makeover, as well as any IT equipment that can help them develop their computer and IT suite.