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Olympic sprinter backs Moss Side jobs drive

Olympic sprinter Darren Campbell swapped his baton for a hard hat to support a jobs drive in Moss Side.

The sprint relay gold medallist threw his weight behind the jobs workshop at the Millennium Powerhouse in Raby Street, Moss Side, alongside former Big Brother contestant and Bramall employee, Lisa Huo.


The workshop was organised by Salford-based housing specialists Bramall Construction, Manchester City Council and City South Housing (part of the impact Manchester) to encourage young people to join the construction industry.

The youngsters, all aged between eight and 25, were also given the opportunity to inquire about potential new apprenticeship schemes in the area.

Lisa Huo, an apprentice plumber, laid on some taster sessions ranging from bricklaying, plastering and tiling to quantity surveying to give visitors an insight into the construction trade.

Darren has not received any payment for attending the Millennium Powerhouse and has pledged to donate a £500 bursary to a member of the Powerhouse. Bramall Construction will organise a competition asking the young people to write a letter detailing why they deserve the money and how they intend to spend it.

The Millennium Powerhouse was officially launched as a youth centre by Sir Bobby Charlton in 2000, using a £1.4m grant from the Millennium Commission.

Speaking at the event, Darren Campbell motivated youths at the Powerhouse, urging them all to achieve their potential.

He said: "I grew up on the Sale Racecourse council estate where I was raised by my mum and went to Princes Road primary school in Moss Side.

"I thought to myself that if I believed in myself, I could achieve anything.

"I tell any young person that I speak to that I was the product of my environment and they've got to believe in their own potential, they just need to be shown the way and that's why I was very keen to support today's event.

"You often hear negative things said about young people when we should embrace the positive."

Bramall Construction has been revamping the Powerhouse since November, 2009, kitting it out with an extended library, gym and state-of-the-art kitchen facilities as part of a £780k project, being delivered under Manchester City Council's Framework one Contract.

Bernard Core, Manchester City Council's Framework One Manager, said: "I was extremely happy to open the Construction Careers Event at the Powerhouse. The event was organised brilliantly by our framework partner Bramall Construction and was well attended by the young people of Moss Side. Manchester City Council is keen to promote wider community benefits associated with delivering capital projects across the City and this event is an excellent example of added value being brought to the framework. The careers event complements the Council's initiative to engage young people into the construction industry via our framework arrangements. This initiative began last year and has started to roll out into its second year."

Paul Hughes, Bramall construction's Area Director, said: "We're doing a lot of work with City South in the area and anticipate we'll be able to offer people apprenticeship opportunities in the coming months. There will also be the opportunity for youngsters to find out more about the Aspire Apprenticeship scheme which is run by Manchester City Council."

Dave Power, Chief Executive of City South Manchester Housing Trust, added: "We are delighted to support such an innovative approach to recruiting local people. Working with Bramall Construction, we have already helped eight local people into jobs. We hope this next recruitment drive will create even more jobs to help us continue our massive improvement programme to homes in Hulme, Fallowfield, Moss Side and Whalley Range."