Snoop Dogg meets Salford teenagers

This is an archived news story from July 2010

Rapper Snoop Dogg rolled into Salford to help teenagers give their local youth club a makeover.

The American hip-hop star and actor picked up a paintbrush and joined young people to bring a new lease of life to a mural at Ordsall youth centre.

He met and chatted to young people who use the centre and invited them to a game of football outside the club with guest star Manchester United ace Rio Ferdinand.

Rio Ferdinand and a group of young people

The visit was organised by Orange RockCorps, a national campaign to encourage teenagers to get involved in community projects.

Around 50 young volunteers from the club gave up four hours of their time to paint the building inside and out and create modern artwork on the walls.

In return for giving four hours, each volunteer earned their tickets to watch Snoop Dogg at the Manchester Apollo.

Ordsall youth centre is one of nine city council run clubs in Salford for young people aged 13 - 19.

It provides sports activates, educational support, trips out and art and music workshops.

It is open on Monday and Friday nights and Thursday afternoons for unemployed young people.

It also caters for people up to 25 year-olds. John Cilgram, known as Aych, is a youth worker at the Ordsall centre.

He said: "It's not everyday that young people get to the chance meet the artists who they're listening to on their iPods and it was a brilliant day for the teenagers.

"It really helped to their lift spirits and get them excited about their youth club and being part of the community which is what we're trying to do.

"We hope the project will encourage more people to use this youth centre and others across the city and get involved in the activities they provide."

Nicky Hobbs, communications manager at Orange RockCorps added: "The Ordsall centre provides a much needed resource within Salford. The volunteers were fantastic and worked incredibly hard to improve the centre for everyone who uses it.

"We hope everyone can now enjoy the centre even more."

More information on Salford’s youth centres.

Notes for editors

Snoop Dogg visited the centre on 8 July.