Blog

Wednesday 21 September

Candlelit vigil
Patrick McSweeney, Drug and Alcohol Action Team

As part of the Ordsall SNAP, THOMAS (Those on the Margins of a Society), a Salford based drug and alcohol project, along with Salford Drug and Alcohol Action Team held a candlelit vigil at St Joseph’s Church. The service was attended by over 50 people, many who are in recovery from drug and alcohol problems themselves. Father Jim McCartney, Chief Executive of THOMAS, who led the service, said: "This is an opportunity for Salford to come together as a family and remember those who have lost their lives due to addiction as well as those who are actively engaged in treatment programmes."

Clean up at Ordsall Youth Centre
Skippy Roberts, Senior Neighbourhood Youth Work Manager

A small group of local young people responded to the request for help in clearing up some of the ground around Ordsall Youth Centre. In two hours the team, supported by workers from Salford Integrated Youth Support Service cleared the car park, gate ways and pathways to make the centre look more inviting to visitors.

Eight sacks of weeds and rubbish along with an old bed and scraps of wood were cleared from the area. Afterwards, the group relaxed in the centre over tea and biscuits and a game of pool. A massive thank you to the young volunteers and staff involved.

Tuesday 20 September

Roller disco
Stephanie Williams, Assistant Neighbourhood Sport and Leisure Officer

SAYO (Sports, Arts, Youth in Ordsall) organised a roller disco session at Fit City Ordsall on Tuesday evening, aimed at local children and young people who live in Ordsall. 

Nearly 40 people came along, aged between 8 and 15. Some of them were learning to skate and others came just for the enjoyment of skating. All of them are enthusiastic to carry on attending roller skating sessions held at the centre. 

The team was given great feedback from parents and young people:
"It's great and gives the kids something different to do, I used to do it at Clarendon when I was young."

Salford Community Leisure are planning to run a weekly roller disco from Fit City Ordsall, which will take place on a Monday evening 6.00pm to 7.30pm.

Mobile youth bus
Sheila Allcock, Youth Work Manager

During this session young people could come on board the mobile youth bus which has an Xbox 360, Wii console, DVD player, internet and computer access, board games, sports equipment and information regarding youth provision in their area. The bus offers young people the opportunity to chill out, meet new friends and take part in different activities. During the session the bus was located Ordsall Park area, then moved around to different parts of the estate.

Monday 19 September

Activities and advice
Sheila Allcock, Youth Work Manager

Youth workers met up with some young people on the Ordsall estate this evening. The young people took part in an exercise about the effects of smoking and drinking - first they used the Smokerlyzer, which measures the carbon-monoxide levels in the body. None of the young people who took part in this programme smoked, but wanted to see if the fact that their parents smoked affected their level. Some group members also tried on the beer goggles, which give the effect of being drunk. An exercise was set for the young people to see if they could kick a plastic bottle wearing the goggles, which none could achieve! This lead to discussion around alcohol and the affects it can have on health and well-being.

This page was last updated on 20 October 2011