Brushing up on skills

MAKING a change . . . volunteers who carried out the ground improvements at Crompton Bowling Club with team leader Jo Shaw (front right) and club greensman Graham Kershaw (front centre)

YOUNG people have bowled over older residents with their hard work and enthusiasm to make a difference.

A group marked The Prince’s Trust Make a Change Week by transforming the grounds of Crompton Bowling Club in Shaw.

The week highlights the 20th anniversary of the youth charity’s Team programme, which supports unemployed young people into work, education and training. The programme is designed to help them gain skills and improve their confidence.

The 11 young people are currently completing the 12-week programme with Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale and got stuck into “making a change” by carrying out improvements at the bowling club.

They raised money — holding a cake sale, meal day and sponsored leg wax — and then tidied up the area by cutting back grass and shrubs, clearing rubbish and painting benches and stone borders.

Team member Gary-Graham Coleman (19), from Shaw, said: “It’s been an enjoyable and worthwhile project. The team has worked hard together.”

Fellow member Hannah-Jane Lobb (19), from Shaw, said: “Everyone has improved their teamwork and our confidence has grown. The project has been a good way to show what we can do, both as individuals and as a team.”

Resident Linda Murray (62) said: “It’s very commendable the work they are doing and it is nice to see young people helping and giving something back.”

The programme supports 16-25 year-olds who have struggled at school, been in care, are long-term unemployed or been in trouble with the law.

The programme, launched by Prince Charles in 1990, has seen more than 130,000 young people complete the course — contributing more than 15 million hours of volunteering work worth nearly £70 million to society.

Jo Shaw, Team leader at Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale, said: “These young people like so many before them are gaining skills and increased confidence.”

To find out more about the Prince’s Trust call 0800 842842 or visit www.princes-trust.org.uk.

A new team starts on November 8 at Brook Oldham, Union Street, Oldham.

Anyone interested in attending an open day on November 3 should contact Tom Mills on 0161-624 1444 or 07717-457431.