Connaught revives Birmingham venue
Cabin & campsite gets a new lease of life from Connaught
14th July 2009
The Connaught Log Cabin & Campsite, a facility that provides a safe-place for young Birmingham people to enjoy a range of outdoor leisure activities, was officially re-opened today.
This important community resource was re-launched by Sir Adrian Cadbury, following an extensive seven month renovation programme worth £125,000 and carried out by Connaught plc.
Once a hive of activity in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, when it was used by huge numbers of young people including the Campbell brothers from UB40, a lack of available funding saw the centre fall victim to a sharp decline in use and has been struggling to stay afloat since.
However the Bromsgrove office of Connaught plc came to the rescue, as part of its UK-wide partnership with Clubs for Young People (CYP) and has completed a major overhaul of the facilities.
The modernisation programme has included completely renovating the venue with a full upgrade of the electrical rewiring and heating system, installation of a new kitchen, plastering, decorating and relaying a new basketball court. It has seen work by more than 80 members of staff, including many of Connaught’s directors through the company’s Management for Excellence programme, and has relied on the goodwill of many of its partner organisations, which it works with to fulfil its social housing contracts.
The Connaught Log Cabin was opened to an audience of invited guests and young pupils from three schools across the Birmingham area, who were invited to take part in various activities on offer at the site including Laser Mission, Forest Schools Initiative, BearCreek Adventure and other fun events.
Those in attendance also saw the sky turn a shade of red as pupils took part in a balloon release to celebrate the opening.
Speaking at the opening, Birmingham Federation of Clubs for Young People, Mike Smith said: “We had been struggling for a number of years but due to the state of the centre we just couldn’t attract visitors, groups and school users to view it as a viable venue.
“We really can’t thank Connaught enough – their determination and drive to turn the centre around has been fantastic. The centre has undergone a radical transformation and now provides a first-class facility to not only locals across the city but also further afield.”
Connaught’s chief executive Mark Davies said: “At Connaught, we have a simple mission - to leave a lasting legacy in the communities we serve, creating happier, safer and better places to live, work and play. Supporting initiatives such as the Log Cabin through our Management for Excellence programme enables our people to experience first hand the positive long-term impact we have on the lives of families in these communities.
“We are delighted to have provided Birmingham with a bright, modern venue that young people will be able to use all year round after helping restore the Log Cabin to its former glory. I am confident that having this superb building, coupled with its fantastic facilities and location, will ensure that young people will continue to enjoy the venue for many years to come.”
The Connaught Log Cabin in Earlswood is set in beautiful wooded surroundings with the well-known Earlswood lakes nearby. The facility now boasts 18 beds, a dining area, a well-equipped kitchen as well as a conservation area which plays host to an abundance of wildlife, flora and fauna.
Sir Adrian Cadbury, who officially declared the venue open, said: “As a former trustee of the Bournville Village Trust, which is linked to the land at Earlswood, I have seen many changes in the Cabin over the years.
“It’s fantastic that this facility has been thrown a lifeline at such a time when, i believe, outdoor activity is such an important aspect in youngsters’ lives. The venue now boasts many facilities which can be enjoyed by a broad range of people, both locally and from further afield. It’s a pleasure to join the celebrations at an event to mark a significant improvement in the Connaught Log Cabin & Campsite.”
Photo: (Left to right) BFCYP's Mike Smith, Sir Adrian Cadbury, Connaught's Tim Ross and CYP's Simon Antrobus
