Children’s Centre gets a helping hand in Brinnington

A team of young volunteers from Bristol is helping improve a local children’s centre this week as part of the Audacious youth festival.

Brinnington Children’s Centre serves the area’s under-fives and their families with a busy programme of activities including baby groups, toddler groups and nursery education. The Centre is also a popular place for health visitors and other community workers. But since the Centre opened in late 2006, its outdoor area had become overgrown and unusable by the young children.

So a dozen young people bussed in from the Audacious festival in central Manchester set about the challenge of digging, clearing paths and planting herbs with gusto.

They were joined by local members of the community in Brinnington including two local dads who bring their children to the centre regularly.

Kim Boughey, Manager of the Children’s Centre said, ‘There’s a real community feel to Brinnington and the Centre is a real hub – we’ve got lots going on here.’

‘Seeing the garden come together is fantastic. It’s creating a lovely environment for our children and families and it’s good to see the team working alongside local people,’ she added.

The project is one of several similar projects in Brinnington this week, part of a wider community action initiative run by the Audacious youth festival.

Driven by city youth charity The Message Trust, Stockport Police, and the council’s Neighbourhood Renewal department together drew up a list of target areas, including areas around Reddish Vale Country Park, the Lapwing Centre, Moat Walk Play Area, St Lukes Community Centre and Church, Brinnington Children’s Centre and Brinnington Community Centre.

Projects have included clearing litter from pathways, cleaning graffiti, cutting down overgrown shrubbery, weeding, painting and tidying up garden areas.

Two hundred young people were involved in and around Brinnington with another 800 serving elsewhere across Greater Manchester.

Joshua Whiddon from Edge Church Bristol led a team of 11 young people working at the Centre during the week. He commented: ‘We’re here at Audacious and hearing about the good things Jesus has done for us. Rather than keep it to ourselves, we want to go out into the community and make a difference, to give the message of Jesus hands and feet.’

‘It’s good for our young people to think outside of their own lives and act selflessly.’

More pictures from the Brinnington projects are available on Flickr.