Mark looks Positively to the Future
06 Jul 2010
Mark Hendrick visited Preston Positive Futures and the Groundwork Trust on Friday 25th June 2010 to find out more about the community-based activities being delivered to young people in the area.
The project operates from the Hub site on Albyn Bank Road in Avenham which Mr Hendrick opened back in November 2002. Positive Futures Preston engages young people from the age of eight up to 25 years by offering a range of sports, arts and leisure activities including, ice-skating, fishing, rock-climbing, Thai boxing, museum trips and textile design. The open access youth club also provides young people in the area with a place to go to relax, play games and receive one to one support and guidance on important issues such as healthy eating, sexual health, drugs and alcohol.
Positive Futures Preston is one of 91 Positive Futures community-based projects working in deprived communities across the UK. The programme is funded by the Home Office and managed by the young people’s charity Catch22 and aims to help young people steer clear of crime and drug and alcohol misuse and support them to move forward with their lives.
Mr Hendrick said: ‘I am delighted to have been asked to return since I officially opened the Hub site over eight years ago. In that time, we’ve seen some real improvements in the area which as a result of the excellent working partnerships Preston Positive Futures and Groundwork have forged in the community is having a knock on effect into other parts of the city. I really enjoyed meeting with the staff, volunteers and young people who work so hard together to improve the life chances of our young people.’
Azaila, aged nine comes to the Hub several times a week and said: “It was great to meet our local MP and show him some of the things we enjoy like computer games, music and art.”