Sir Steve gives rowing masterclass at myplace visit

Five-time Olympic hero Sir Steve Redgrave, along with other myplace ambassadors, have been lending their support by visiting projects in the north of England.

The gold medal winning rower, supported by model Mandy Smith and musician Bongo Eddie Folk of Kid Creole and the Coconuts, recently stopped by at Blackpool's Southpoint Centre, and the OurPlace youth centre at the Huyton Arts and Sports Centre in Knowsley to help inspire the children and young people involved with the project.

Whilst there he had a chance to see the proposed plans for the projects and have a chat with the young people to find out what makes them tick and to pass on some of his thoughts and experience.

Upon visiting the project in Blackpool Redgrave said how much centres such as these can make a real difference in the lives of children and young people.

He said: "I was so excited to see the plans today. As I was growing up down south, there wasn't an awful lot to do, and I had two elder sisters. But my mum decided to set up a youth club for us. All we had was table tennis and a record player, but it made such a difference. This centre is definitely needed here in Blackpool, and it will be amazing to see children get away from street corners.

"Luckily, messing about in boats I was kept occupied from a fairly young age, and I became involved with the scheme in the hope that learning sports and music does the same for these children."

He also had great praise for the young people he met when visiting the Huyton project: "There are some talented kids here - organised, motivated and enthusiastic."

After meeting with the young people at Blackpool and giving a talk on what facilities such as these can do for an area, he gave a crash course in rowing on the gym machines to delighted pupils of Palatine High School.

Pupil Jonathan Broadstock, 15, was full of praise for the Southpoint project and in particular Sir Steve's involvement.

He said: "There are quite a lot of sporting opportunities in school, but outside I don't know of anything in the area. It will be brilliant to have a centre and the plans look very good. I was very excited to meet Steve Redgrave, I'm a big fan of his, and I think him being an ambassador for myplace will really help the project."

The new centre, which received a £4m myplace grant, is being developed on an existing campus with a children's centre, primary school, sports college, leisure centre and library, will use modern construction methods, including transparent cladding, to open up the building to the community. It will include a community kitchen, café, ICT suite and a gym.

Open seven days a week, the centre will offer circus skills, arts classes, music tuition, sports coaching, DJ training, bike maintenance and advice services to help young people get back into education or employment, as well as other services.

David Lund, Director of Children's Services for Blackpool Council said: "We worked very hard at securing and it is a very exciting prospect. There is a lot to do for holidaymakers but not so much for children in the town. It will transform the resort for our youngsters."

When visiting the OurPlace project at Huyton Redgrave also gave the youngsters a rowing masterclass before watching them race one another in teams.

Having received a £5m myplace grant, the centre will provide indoor facilities for a creative performance and media space, arts suite and recording studio, not to mention a café with terrace and shop, IT area, offices, climbing wall, dance studio, gym space, games room and a wildlife and flower area. It will also open up exciting new spaces for adventure and environmental activities, including allotments and a BMX/skate park.

Targeting youngsters aged 13 to 19 and those up to 25 years with learning difficulties, the centre will be open at the times young people want, such as Friday and Saturday evenings, for advice on teenage pregnancy, sexual health, drugs, alcohol, jobs and careers.

Additionally, youngsters will be able to access maintenance courses, and accredited learning projects and training. The centre will also encourage visiting coaches and artists, celebration events, youth exchanges, and intergenerational work and will work in partnership with 4Children, and the National Children's Charity for Children.

Having ambassadors such as Sir Steve Redgrave is fantastic for everyone involved in the projects. It is great for the children and young people to meet someone so inspiring who has done so much in his career. If some of his passion and experience can rub off on others then that can only be a good thing. Seeing what he has accomplished can show what every young person can achieve if they want it enough.

Similarly, it is great for all the adults involved in the projects, for someone like Sir Steve to come along to a centre they have poured their blood, sweat and tears into for the past however many months, and give it such glowing praise.

That the ambassadors take time out of their undoubtedly busy schedules to travel the length and breadth of the country is testament to them and their work really does make a difference in the myplace process.

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