Toolstation, one of Britain’s fastest growing suppliers of tools, accessories and building supplies, has announced its fourth tie-up with the Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) Community Interest Company, helping fund the young volunteers participation in refurbishing the Middleton Select Amateur Boxing Club, based on Windemere Road. The project will bring brand new, improved changing facilities to the boxing club, aiming to attract new community members and help boost their revenues.

The project saw 18 volunteers, aged between 14-24 years old, the majority of whom are disengaged or excluded from mainstream education and training, help to improve the club facilities. The renovation included adding in new toilets and showers, upgrading the changing rooms, and building an accessible bathroom, which was not available before the refurbishment began.

The female changing facilities was a key focus as part of the refurbishment project, to help female athletes have more accessibility when engaging in local sports clubs. 

16 of the volunteers earned an Entry Level 3 City & Guilds Accreditation in Painting and Decorating and Health and Safety. These volunteers were sourced from local community groups in the area, including:

• Bowlee Community Association 
• Bridgeability Disabled Football
• Newman RC College Oldham
• Middleton ABC volunteers
• Cardinal Langley RC School 
• Spring Lane School Bury
• Bury & Rochdale Youth Service  

In total the group spent 25 days on the project, learning new hands-on skills and gaining meaningful work experience. The City & Guilds accreditations, skills training, and mentoring of the volunteers were funded by Toolstation. 

The initiative is helping more young people learn DIY and trade skills and to consider a career in the construction and building industry.

The VIY programme combines DIY and volunteering and challenges young people to help repair and refurbish community facilities while learning vocational trade skills on the job, helping them become more employable in the construction sector. 

The refurbishment of Middleton Select Amateur Boxing Club is the fourth VIY project which Toolstation has helped to fund, with previous projects including the creation of an outdoor social and exercise space for Coventrians RFC and the refurbishment of a YMCA community centre in Dickerage. 

Toolstation plans on funding a further four VIY projects throughout the year and aims to help over 100 young people gain qualifications and consider a career in the trade. 

Greg Richardson, Head of Marketing at Toolstation says: “We’re delighted to continue our support of the VIY team by helping refurbish a fantastic sporting community space in Middleton. This project will encourage young people to develop confidence and learn practical trade and building skills and earn a qualification.”

Tim Reading, CEO and Founder of VIY says: "This project has been a great example of how VIY enables young people to gain trade skills and employment outcomes whilst helping to transform a sporting community space they use and benefit from"

Martyn Lynch, Head Boxing Coach, Middleton Select Amateur Boxing Club says: "Thanks to VIY, Toolstation and the volunteers for improving our club. They’ve refurbished our shower and toilet facilities and upgraded our changing rooms, which we desperately needed. Watching the Trade Mentors inspire the young people and give them the confidence to roll their sleeves up to help out, w