Salford City Council is to invest £3.6 million in providing new facilities for children who can’t attend mainstream schools.
Broadwalk Pupil Referral Unit provides education and support for secondary school age pupils who struggle to cope in mainstream schools and have been permanently excluded.
The plan is to relocate the unit to the former Clifton Green Youth Centre, which has been closed for years but is currently used for some teaching, refurbish the building and add a two-story modular extension. Work has already started.
Councillor Jim Cammell, lead member for children’s and young people’s services, said: “The PRU does a fantastic job and our young people and staff deserve the best facilities to help them achieve their full potential.
“I’m delighted that this development is going ahead and I look forward to seeing young people using the new facility.”
Councillor Jack Youd, lead member for finance and support services, said the contract, will also benefit other young people in the city though the council’s policy of maximising social value from its spending.
“We can get ‘social value’ by making sure any company we contract with is offering opportunities to local people and using local suppliers where possible which puts money back into Salford’s economy and means goods have less distance to travel,” he said.
“The contractors will offer employment opportunities for Salford residents, including supporting our Build Salford scheme which provides construction industry training for young people who might otherwise struggle to get an apprenticeship.
“In addition, they will work with local schools to offer site visits, taster days and work experience to show the many different careers that construction covers and help young people with mock interviews and CV workshops.”
The contractors have also pledged to use materials with low environmental impact, low embodied carbon, re-usable materials and other sustainable options and minimise waste materials going to landfill.