A Northwest-based charity called GRUMPY, the Greater Manchester Play Resources Unit, is to take over the management of The Angels community centre in Gorton.
Set up by the Monastery of St Francis and Gorton Trust, The Angels community facilities were developed by the Trust in 2005 and provided a base for their work until they moved into the newly restored Monastery in 2007. The Angels building continues to offer a range of community activities, meeting facilities for local groups and charities and a twice weekly luncheon club for local residents run by the Probation Service. It is also home to the Monastery's other success stories, the well known Gorton Voice Community Choir and Gorton Visual Arts Group and a Sure Start centre which accommodates 12 children aged between 0 and 5 years.
Allan Hargreaves, GRUMPY's Managing Director said: "The Angels is an incredibly special place and it's a privilege to be involved in its future development. The location is perfect for us and the outdoor space will give us a chance to provide play activities and training in the open air.
"GRUMPY regards play as being essential to every child's life and vital to the processes of human development. Experience gained through play, during the years of childhood and youth, form the basis of adult behaviour. The Angels will provide a safe and creative environment for the young people of Gorton to enjoy and learn from play."
Libby Graham, Director of Social Regeneration at New East Manchester said: "It's great that this partnership between GRUMPY and The Angels has been formed as to lose the activities based there such as the Sure Start programme for families in the area would have been tragic. The Monastery Trust have done a remarkable job over the past four years in running this wonderful centre that has benefited so many local people. I know that GRUMPY will do an excellent job of ensuring it retains its vital role for the residents of Gorton."
Elaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of The Monastery Manchester said: "This partnership marks a new and bright future for The Angels. Creating this community hub and seeing it grow and thrive has been immensely satisfying. The Trust was not set up just to restore Gorton Monastery. It was as much about using that work as an inspiration and a catalyst for breathing new life into the area. The Angels became the base for all this important community activity. I am so glad that GRUMPY's professional team are able to take the centre on to its next phase and I know it will be in safe hands."
Pam Tideswell, Head of Sure Start added: "The partnership with GRUMPY is a valuable one and we look forward to stronger links being built between the partners".
GRUMPY is a grant aided voluntary organisation funded by a variety of sources including Manchester City Council and AGMA.
The Angels Community Centre is based in the former All Saints primary school on Endcott Close, off Gorton Lane.
