This project explored young people’s ideas and priorities for the future of Rochdale Town Centre. Workshops delivered in schools and during half-term, focused on creative activities to design hypothetical new spaces for young people in Rochdale Town Centre and to introduce careers in places and design, such as architecture and planning. Packed with interactive games, site visits, creative activities and model making, the programme was designed to help young people develop new skills, build confidence, and ensure their voices are heard in the development of their town and community. This project was funded by Rochdale Borough Council’s Community Regeneration Partnership funding from the UK Government, administered by Rochdale Development Agency. It is also part of Rochdale’s boroughwide ‘Place Partnership’ project with Arts Council England.
Rochdale Partnership Academy
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PLACED delivered school workshops in Rochdale, Middleton, and Heywood, a career event, and a four-day programme during the February half-term, bringing together young people to explore the future of public spaces in Rochdale Town Centre. Combining creative design with a strong focus on careers and pathways across the built environment sector, the programme offered participants a hands-on introduction to architecture, planning and place-making.
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PLACED supported young people from diverse backgrounds across the borough to feed into the town’s ambitious regeneration scheme. Across all the workshops and engagement activities delivered, young people from Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood demonstrated what their town centres currently offer and, more importantly, what they could become. Many of the young people engaged during the half-term programme expressed ambitions to continue working with PLACED and explore career pathways into the built environment.
“I would say it was very informative to be able to explore the different kinds of roles
involved in design and architecture. It was also very fun, with a variety of mini games taking place, and being able to express my creative side.”