Building for the future

ALL together now: Norman Stoller (left) and the super patrons on their tour of Mahdlo

Super-patrons take tour of youth zone
MAHDLO — Oldham’s £5million state-of-the-art ‘youth zone’ — hosted its first meeting this week.

Club president Norman Stoller CBE headed a party of entrepreneurs and business leaders on a guided tour of the under-construction building.

Helen Taylor, chief executive of Mahdlo, hosted the conducted tour of the super-patrons group — individuals who have all made huge financial commitments to the future of the exciting new venture, due to open early next year.

The youth zone is being built on the site of the former Marjorie Lees Health Centre, just off Oldham town centre. It will cater for hundreds of local youngsters every week of the year.

The visitors were shown areas inside the building which will include a gym, dance studio, badminton court, boxing room, climbing wall, cinema, cafe and football pitch.

There is also a number of areas where young people can sit and hang our with their friends.

After the visit, Mr Stoller, who kick-started the development with a £50,000 donation and has committed to further major investment over the years to come, said all the super-patrons had been delighted with what they saw.

“We were all overwhelmed with what will surely be one of the very best youth clubs in the country — which is something Oldham richly deserves.

Mahdlo board chairman William Lees Jones said the visit had been a huge success.

“The turnout of super-patrons was brilliant.

“These are extraordinarily busy people. Giving up time for this visit just underlines how committed they are to what is a truly exciting project which will bring huge benefits to Oldham,” said Mr Lees Jones.