Barclays.comOld Trafford Sports Barn, Manchester
Manchester United Football Club supports this flagship site, which delivers a range of sports activities in a deprived community.
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair with Manchester United star Ryan Giggs at Old Trafford Sports Barn
What people say:
“Old Trafford Sports Barn has made a tremendous impact on the community,” says Bernie Jones, Chief Executive of Trafford Leisure Trust.
“It has been a catalyst for community integration and development. The facility and staff have been at the heart of improving the quality of life for many residents and developing positive role models. Residents and users of Old Trafford Sports Barn feel it is their facility, and look after it as if it was their own personal property.”
Find out more
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Background
The Old Trafford area of Manchester is one of the most economically deprived parts of the city, with high levels of unemployment.
Old Trafford Sports Barn became the 100th Barclays Spaces for Sports site to open, in September 2006, with the official opening attended by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and players from nearby Manchester United Football Club.
The aims of the site were to provide sports facilities for the community, and opportunities for training and employment.
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Our contribution
We helped fund the start-up costs and construction of the project and awarded a grant to secure the sustainable future of the site and the development of a range of activities.
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How the site benefits the community
The Trafford Urban Fitness Collective (TUF*C) is now based at the Old Trafford Sports Barn, where it delivers a range of activities for young people. Since it launched its sessions at the site, it has supported a series of local youngsters in gaining professional coaching qualifications, providing many of them with part-time employment.
Manchester United FC supports the site by providing coaches to engage with local young people, and well-known members of the team including Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand have visited the site.The club also runs its Kickz project from the centre, in partnership with Great Manchester Police and Trafford Council. Kickz aims to create safer, stronger communities and promote respect by providing young people with opportunities to get involved in sports and gain qualifications and skills in the sector. Kickz sessions run three times a week, and research by Greater Manchester Police shows that while sessions are taking place, theft of motor vehicles in the area drops by 18%.
Manchester United FC also provides users of the Old Trafford Sports Barn with opportunities to act as flag-bearers and ball boys at Barclays Premier League matches.
