Increasing access for kids in Rochdale to health & fitness training.

Youth Performance Pathway (YPP) is an athletic development centre based in Rochdale for kids aged 12-17 years. Their aim is to make kids stronger, faster, more agile, and harder to injure. And now, with funding from gbpartnerships foundation and FES Group, more young people will be able to access their services – free of charge.

YPP was set up in 2016 by a local gym trainer, Andy Lavery, to teach kids at a young age how to adopt a patient, but rewarding approach to strength training for long-term health, fitness, and performance.

The donation from gbpartnerships foundation and FES Group will support the extension of the delivery of YPP’s free of charge fitness training sessions for children in Rochdale and also extend the offering to their parents and special schools in the local area, with support from the Will Ferry Soccer School.

The extended YPP programme launched at the official opening of the Trident Health & Performance Centre, Rochdale on Friday 6 January. Andy Lavery commented:

“I'm delighted and extremely grateful for the donation and support from gbpartnerships and FES Group. Our goal is to promote and engage our youth in lifelong physical activity. This donation allows us to remove a large barrier to inclusion by offering free sessions. Thank you.”

gbpartnerships foundation was established to deliver a programme of support - financial and time based - for good causes, charities and charitable organisations, local to the areas in which it works. FES Group is one of the largest independent technical services companies in the UK and works together with gbpartnerships in delivering estate management services for health & wellbeing centres across Manchester and the West Midlands.

Andrew Madeley, Regional Director (Midlands Region) from FES commented:

“We are delighted to be able to support YPP in extending their reach to more young people in Rochdale.”

Wendy Spencer, gbpartnerships Group Services & Quality Director commented:

“We are passionate about supporting young people to unlock their potential. By supporting YPP to deliver more opportunities for young people, we hope that this early intervention will in later life reduce the reliance on NHS and community services.”

The Mayor of Rochdale with the YPP Team at the launch event on 6 January.

Young people participating in the FES Group / gbpartnerships supported fitness training session.