Don’t look down...

Matthew Chester takes part in the outh Council Abseil down the Civic Centre,

EIGHTEEN brave members of Oldham Youth Council stepped over the edge to raise money to help young people across the borough.

The intrepid fund-raisers climbed into safety harnesses on the 200ft-high roof of Oldham Civic Centre before walking off on a sponsored abseil.

The event yesterday was the fourth annual sponsored abseil down the civic centre, which raises money to support campaigns which the youth council is involved in.

This year, the proceeds will be split between the Chris Dale campaign to improve young drivers’ skills, a project to support young people with mental health issues and challenge negative stereotypes, and a campaign to introduce a concessionary bus fare for all 12 to 19-year-olds, regardless of employment or education status.

Councillor Kay Knox, Cabinet member for children, young people and families, applauded their efforts, described by participants as “very brave and daring.”

She said: “This is an excellent event which has quickly become a regular fixture on the Oldham calendar and enables the youth council to raise awareness of issues it feels are important.”

Abseilers hope to beat last year’s figure of £1,000 raised by the event, which was supervised and managed by staff from the Castleshaw Centre, Delph.