Volunteers New Pride

A man who attended a youth club as a boy and is now one of its volunteers enjoyed a proud day when the brand new building and facilities for Norbrook Youth Club are opened.

The Norbrook Youth Club in Wythenshawe was founded in 1958 to provide leisure and community activities for youngsters aged eight to 18.

Since that time the club has become a focal point for many young people from the area, who not only socialise and make new friends, but also get the chance to learn new sports and go on residential trips.

And now, the club, which has 70 members, has been re-housed in a brand new £550,000 building complete with outdoor facilities for training and five-a-side football.

The funding has come from GMPTE who needed to demolish the original building as part of the Metrolink extension from Chorlton through to Manchester Airport via Wythenshawe town centre. But, the new clubhouse will still be close to its roots, as it will still be on Bordley Walk in Northern Moor adjacent to the previous building.

One particularly proud person is Gavin Evans, one of the club’s volunteers and a Wythenshawe regeneration officer at Manchester City Council.

Gavin, 33, used to attend the club, which is part of the charity Greater Manchester Federation of Clubs for Young People, when he was just eight years old and knows how much benefit it brings to the youngsters who use the facility.

Gavin, says: “I got so much from going to the club – the social atmosphere built up my confidence and I made friends that I still see now. It brought a lot of people and families together and still does from the Brooklands and Baguely Wards.

“It helped me so much that I decided to become part of the volunteer team so that I could give a bit back to the community. The sports opportunities in particular have been great and we’ve even had one of our members recruited to the Manchester United junior squad.”

Councillor Sue Murphy, Manchester City Council lead member for services to young people, said: “One of the Council’s top priorities is providing leisure facilities for young people across the city. Norbrook Youth Club is a prime example of the camaraderie that can be developed and the pride that community facilities bring to where we live.”