Manchester home improvement partners "save the day" with free kitchen for new youth club

A Manchester youth club has been rescued from its own ‘Kitchen Nightmare’ by the partners working to bring home improvements to thousands of properties in the area.

Connaught Partnerships Ltd, who has been working in partnership with Parkway Green Housing Trust (PGHT) to provide Decent Homes improvements across Wythenshawe, has donated and fitted a kitchen to the brand new Norbrook Youth Club after a gap in funding meant they might have to go without.

Constructed to replace the old youth club built in 1958, funding for the new £555,000 building came primarily from GMPTE who needed to demolish the original youth club as part of the Metrolink extension from Chorlton through to Manchester Airport via Wythenshawe town centre. The new clubhouse remains close to its roots on Bordley Walk in Northern Moor and offers much improved facilities, yet it was without the funding required to provide a kitchen to adequately serve the increased number of users anticipated.

Bernard Caine, vice chairman of the Norbrook Youth Club, explained: “We have waited a long time for the new building, with it being approximately 16 years since we were told GMPTE wanted to run the metro line through the old building, and we wanted to make sure we have the best facilities available for local people who really deserve it.

“The lack of funds therefore made it a real worry when it came to fitting a new kitchen so it was such a relief when Connaught kindly donated one as well as fit it for free. It is more than we ever dreamed we would receive and if Connaught hadn’t donated the kitchen then I really don’t know what we would’ve done. It’s no exaggeration to say that they saved the day as we can now provide hot food and refreshments for local people taking part in the huge number of activities on offer.”

As well as money from GMPTE further funding came from Greater Manchester Federation of Clubs for Young People and since replacing the dilapidated old building a much greater number of activities will be on offer for local people. Bernard explained: “The old building really was in a terrible state and the roof not only leaked but was on the verge of collapsing yet still the youth club served as a valuable community facility for so many local people.

“As a result of the new building we can now offer weekly Bingo sessions, over 50s chair exercises, a guitar club, 5-a-side football and many other social events. In addition, the new specially designed cushioned floor also enables us to host both Morris and Line Dancing classes so there really is something for everyone.”

Kate Kenney, Connaught customer experience manager, said: “Throughout the programme to improve properties across Wythenshawe Connaught has been committed to having an impact above and beyond our contracted works. We were delighted therefore to be able to assist Norbrook Youth Centre with the provision of a new kitchen and we hope it will help the club continue to be such an integral part in the lives of local people.”

Ian Gregg, Parkway Green Housing Trust Director of Communities and Investment, said: “Parkway Green Housing Trust is delighted to support the Norbrook Youth club and initiatives that will leave a lasting legacy in the local community. The new centre is a very important part of moving the community forward and Connaught has done a fantastic job in donating and fitting the new kitchen to ensure that the centre was ready for its opening.”

Councillor Tony Burns, Chair of the Parkway Green Housing Trust board, said: “The Youth club is a very important part of the local community and Parkway Green is proud to support it. Connaught has done a fantastic job in donating and fitting the new kitchen and we hope the centre can continue to be a major part of the community into the future.”

Connaught is working in partnership with Parkway Green Housing Trust to deliver Decent Homes improvements as part of the wider Impact Manchester partnering agreement that aims to deliver improvements to almost 40,000 homes in the city.