Hanley YMCA to showcase £9.5m campus with gym, climbing wall and apartments

A YOUTH charity is to open its doors to showcase the housing, training and sports facilities it offers.

YMCA North Staffordshire has invested £9.5 million in a new campus in Harding Road, Hanley, offering a gym, climbing wall and new independent living apartments.

LIFT OFF: Scott Thompson, left, and Daniel Rimmer with some of the balloons ready to be released. Below, the YMCA, in Harding Road, Hanley.

Its One Big Sunday event, this weekend, will see residents and staff throwing open their doors to the community.

Families are being invited to take part in activities including spinning, nail art and wheelchair basketball, as well as view the facilities.

A series of balloons were released into the skies yesterday to publicise the open day, on Sunday.

Events start at 11am and will run until 5pm.

Taster sessions will run for one hour, and include free running, pilates and drama workshops.

YMCA residents have been helping to prepare for the event.

Seventeen-year-old Kayleigh Pollard, who has lived at the YMCA for eight months, said: "I have been distributing leaflets and selling raffle tickets and will be doing face-painting on the day.

"This event will be a great and will give everyone a chance to see not only what is on offer at the YMCA, but also that it is not full of druggies and lazy homeless people.

"Since living here I have learned that the staff like to get people involved. They encourage you and inspire you to do something with your life."

Daniel Rimmer, aged 21, who has been living at the site for six months, added: "I will be hosting the radio station for the day which will be broadcast around the YMCA.

"This event is not just about the residents, it's also about the community and what the YMCA can offer them.

"We have a lot of support here and the staff are always on hand for advice, so Sunday will give people the perfect chance to come along and see exactly what we are all about."

The young people are also trying to arrange a football game between Staffordshire Police officers and firefighters who will be supervising an abseil off the YMCA-owned Edinburgh Tower.

Nicky Twemlow, business development officer at YMCA North Staffordshire, said: "Our One Big Sunday is an opportunity for people to come along and take part in fun and healthy activities.

"We want to change people's perception of the YMCA.

"We also want to provide a snapshot in one day of all of the services that we offer.

"We have lots going on including members of the fire service running an abseil for young people off the tower, roller disco, break dancing, arts, photography, pottery and loads more. So come along and have a go."

The new complex provides apartments for those ready to move on from the charity's existing hostel accommodation.

The development, which has taken two years to complete, has been funded by the myplace programme run by the Government's Department for Children, Schools and Families, with support from the Big Lottery Fund and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

For further details about One Big Sunday contact Nicky on 01782 222376.