Kingsway grants six successful community bids

Members of Turf Hill Youth Group with youth worker Katherine Metcalfe holding their grant cheque

Kingsway Business Park has recently announced six successful bids for their Community Engagement Initiative Grants. The grants have been awarded to community organisations from across the borough, each of which will be holding a Kingsway related event for their community. The aim is to raise awareness of the opportunities that the business park will bring to Rochdale, in terms of employment, training and transport. 

The Kingsway Recruitment Team, which is part funded by ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), has been actively working with the community over the past year to raise awareness of the wide range of benefits Kingsway will provide for the town, from jobs to improved transport, economic growth to training opportunities.

This information has been cascaded to the community in a range of ways, from working with existing networks to schools liaison; however their latest Community Engagement Strategy involves empowering the community to spread the word themselves through Initiative Grants.

The first round of applications saw six successful bids, which include two youth projects and four community centres. Turf Hill Youth Group will be introducing a range of activities to encourage further training and education in the Kingsway target sectors, whilst Burnside Youth and Community Centre will be working with local young people, developing their own pieces of drama, dance and music, themed on Kingsway, which they will subsequently tour around their community. 

The four remaining grants were awarded to community centres in Sparth, Heady Hill, Crimble Croft and Back o‘th Moss. These centres will be holding community information days, which will combine fun with the opportunity to learn how they can access the training and employment opportunities on Kingsway Business Park.

A second round of grants is currently open for applications from voluntary and community groups, schools or youth groups. The closing date is on 28 September 2007. Helen Darwent, Kingsway Recruitment Team Manager, commented: “Community Engagement is extremely important to the development to ensure local people know about the opportunities awaiting them on Kingsway and as a result ensure maximum local benefit. We are looking forward to the work and events resulting from this first round of grants.” 

Kim Fletcher, Area Youth Worker for Turf Hill Youth Group, said: “The Kingsway Initiative Grant will give young people from Turf Hill the chance to try taster sessions in the type of employment that will be available on Kingsway. This will be a great way for young people to find out what kind of work they enjoy and to encourage them to continue in education and gain relevant skills that they can use to secure employment on Kingsway Business Park in the future.”