Tea dance is step in right direction for
unemployed young people

A group of unemployed young people organised a tea dance to celebrate the opening of a new community centre in Wrexam.

The event at Pendine Park was the climax of an "inspiring" three-week programme called team Truth about Youth - Who Cares? which is funded by The Cooperative Foundation.

The course was run by the Prince's Trust in partnership with our training arm, Smartcare.

Pendine Park is throwing open its doors to the wider community, particularly older people, by providing a meeting place and somewhere safe and warm where they can get together socially.

The Gwern Alyn Community Centre at the Hillbury House Care Home was officially opened by Mayor of Wrexham, Cllr David Bithell, and guests were served a feast of sandwiches, cakes, coffee and tea by the enthusiastic team of 14 young people aged between18 and 25.

The dedicated group also performed an energetic, funny, and thoughtful play about remembering the little things when taking care of people.

The event ended with the tea dance which saw Pendine Park residents and staff, as well as the crew from The Prince's Trust strutting their stuff.

It was the culmination of a three week course where members of the group gained experience and qualifications in the care industry with the aim of helping them onto the first rung of employment ladder.

Malcolm Crosby, 82, whose beloved wife Audrey was a resident at Highfield Care Home, Pendine Park, from 2007 until she died a year ago, thinks the community centre is a great idea.

He said: "I think this community centre is wonderful.

"It is a further example of the quality of Pendine Park that they're always looking for improvements in the wellbeing of everybody. I'm sure I'll be coming here for a cup of tea in the future.

Mayor of Wrexham, Cllr David Bithell said: "Council services are under pressure so having a new community centre opening is really positive

"The community centre another plus for the area. It will bring people into the centre and they can get together which is absolutely wonderful. it gives them the opportunity just to come here for a cup of tea and a chat, and make friends.

The Prince's Trust supports 3,500 young people in Wales each year through its programmes. Three in four young people supported by The Trust move into work, education or training.

Among them is Nathaniel Wells, 23, who spent 12 years caring for his mum Mary who died in March aged 59.

He said: "It's been brilliant - absolutely fantastic. I really enjoyed it. It's not like other training courses. Here you learn on the job. It's very interactive. The training wasn't just learning from a chalkboard."

Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE, said: "This is another opportunity in a small way to do something that is good for our community and the people who live in it.”