Police have pulled the community together using a project to breathe new life into an ageing Handsworth youth club.
Residents, councillors, students and local businesses, joined West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Bob Jones and his deputy Yvonne Mosquito as well as detectives from Gangs Taskforce and the Handsworth Wood neighbourhood team to transform the Oaklands Centre.Dozens came together this week (Monday 14 April) to redecorate the main areas of the centre and installed play equipment, including a pool table and games.
The centre-revamp ensured a welcoming environment for kids in the community to enjoy and keep them safe.
Police and Crime Commissioner Bob Jones said: “Yvonne and I were delighted to be present and meet everybody involved in this project. It is very inspiring to see what can happen when people come together to create something from which everybody will enjoy the benefits. I am sure this centre will become a place in which young people will enjoy themselves and this will help to strengthen good relationships in the community.”
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Yvonne Mosquito said: “This project has clearly strengthened the relationships between young and older people in the area and things can only get better as a result of this.”