Keys to £5m youth centre handed over

Construction workers and owners of Mahdlo, Oldham’s new youth centre, met yesterday for a landmark moment which brought the project one step closer to its launch.

Geoff Cunningham, project manager of Eric Wright Construction which has built and developed the centre, gave the keys to the front door to Adam Poyner, project manager of OnSide and Helen Taylor, Mahdlo’s chief executive.

OnSide, a locally based youth charity which focuses on developing services for young people in the North-West, secured a £5 million Lottery grant that enabled the Mahdlo project to go ahead.

It worked alongside Eric Wright Construction to build the centre, something which Geoff describes as a privilege.

He said: “EWC have been privileged to be involved with the building of the centre, and that we look forward to further work with OnSide.”

Helen Taylor said: “We’re moving the furniture in this week, the staff are moving in. This is the next phase.

“I can’t wait for it to be filled with young people having fun, who will hopefully get huge benefits from it.”