Firm rises to the challenge in style

WORK in progress . . . the team helping to transform the Higginshaw Community Project

£100,000 transformation of former school
A DERELICT community building is being given a new lease of life thanks to some goodwill and hard work.

Property services specialist Styles&Wood (S&W) rolled up its sleeves and lent a hand to help transform the former St Stephen’s School into a multi-use community centre called The Higginshaw Community Project.

Created by Higginshaw Rugby Club, the new centre is less than a mile from where Altrincham-based S&W began life as a small joinery firm.

The firm chose the project as part of the annual Big Challenge — a community-based programme aimed at injecting life back into a worthy local cause.

Following preparation works by the rugby club, S&W donated £100,000 in labour and material costs to renovate the old school hall.

A hand-picked team was selected to carry out the work, including a designer, project manager and quantity surveyor.

Anne-Marie Wedd, head of procurement at S&W and the firm’s Big Challenge co-ordinator, said: “This year’s project stood out from the crowd as a great community facility that’s in desperate need of attention. It’s also very close to S&W’s heart.

“S&W began life as a small joinery outlet less than a mile away from the Higginshaw Community Project.

“The company later started trading as S&W (Storefitting) Ltd and the rest, as they say, is history.

“We’re extremely proud of our heritage and we wanted to give the community a facility they can be extremely proud of.”

John Mellor, secretary at Higginshaw Community Project, said: “We’re extremely grateful for the hard work and dedication that’s been shown by S&W and its team of generous suppliers, as well as our own group of supporters who were involved in over 400 hours of voluntary preparation work before S&W kicked-off the Big Challenge.

“Volunteers have really got stuck into the project with support from local companies, including Ventana Windows, Sponsoring Windows, Wilscaff Scaffolding and Holroyd’s Skip Hire.

“Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale has also been working with Higginshaw Community Project to create a community garden at the rear of the facility, which will give it the finishing touch.

“This project has also involved local school children, who have been helping with the design and planting of shrubs.”

He added: “Higginshaw Community Project will be a proud benchmark community facility for Higginshaw village and all our residents.

“The astounding transformation work that S&W is carrying out will make a considerable difference to the lives of many people in the community.”

Now in its sixth year, the Big Challenge has helped to transform a wide range of community projects including the £25,000 makeover of a dilapidated scout hut in Flint.


The official handover ceremony for the project takes place on Friday