HE Simm puts the spark into Norris Green Youth Centre

24 November 2011

HE Simm is proud to support DIY SOS: The Big Build for Children in Need 2011 by providing electricians for the full 10 day build. The DIY SOS team were joined by hundreds of trades and volunteers from the local community for their biggest ever build which saw them renovate a dilapidated youth centre in one of the most deprived parts of Liverpool (a project that would normally take around 6 months to complete and cost in the region of £1 million).

Norris Green Youth Centre is an excellent youth facility based in an area of high unemployment, high crime and gang violence. They have done some amazing work, transforming the lives of young people by providing a safe environment and a pathway to further education, employment and active community citizenship.

HE Simm provided 15 electricians’ to install an entirely new electrical system including a total re-wire.

DIY SOS project manager Mark Millar said “What has been achieved here is absolutely phenomenal. All of the trades have worked incredibly hard and the end result speaks for itself. Everyone should feel very proud of the part they played. We couldn’t have done it without them”.

Managing director Gareth Simm said: “As a local company trading over 60 years we wanted to make a contribution to the community and were delighted to be able to get involved. The Community Centre on Townsend Avenue has a long history and it’s great that the refurb means many more young people will get the chance to benefit from the potentially life changing opportunities it can now offer.

“We’re really proud of all the staff who worked literally non stop throughout the project. They really enjoyed getting stuck in and meeting Billy Byrne, Mark Millar, Nick Knowles and all the DIY SOS team.”

Norris Green Youth Centre started out as an Old Boys’ Club over 50 years ago. Over time, despite providing vital services to young people in the area, the building became in desperate need of repair. HE Simm worked alongside several local companies to transform the building which will now provide 21st century facilities.

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