Achieving for Children (AFC) is a social enterprise, set up to help provide better social, educational and community outcomes for children within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Following a recent investment from Richmond Council, AFC alongside of Richmond Council leading on project management and delivery of the project took action to revamp part of the popular youth centre - the Heatham House gym, to provide better facilities for the young people who attend, as well as those within the local community.
Heatham House is a Grade II listed building, situated in Twickenham, and is accessed by over 1,000 young people each year. Over the past six months, the venue has been transformed with the refurbishment of its adjacent 'gym' building, which was built to house music and theatre performances, as well as a host of indoor activities. For 25 years Blackout has been supplying many of the most famous theatres and artists and was delighted to use that experience to give the aspiring young performers the best possible venue for creative and performing arts.
Blackout installed 10.5m by 2.5m of grey velour drapes, a matching header and a Triple E Unitrack, to help create a moving theatrical curtain at the front of the stage. Blackout's rigging skills ensured the safe installation of seven aluminium tubes, which lined the walls of the room, in order to hang canvases and pictures created by the children.
Will Bryant, Blackout's hire & sales coordinator, commented, "Achieving for Children is such a brilliant social enterprise we're proud to have helped with its venue transformation. Our grey velour drapes have helped create a multipurpose performance and education area for the children, which we hope will provide enjoyment for many years to come."
Peter Moorcock, Achieving for Children's youth service manager, commented, "Our existing hall was not fit for purpose and was in need of renovation, so we entrusted Blackout to help us achieve a contemporary look and feel which will enhance traditional performances as well as music events and corporate functions. The installation had to be multipurpose as the venue will be used for a variety of activities, including tuition for young people, youth activities, performances, fitness activities and community events. We're really happy with the outcome."
As a social enterprise company AFC is able to provide bespoke children's social care and education support services to other local authorities, schools and partners in the education, health, social care and criminal justice sectors. AFC strives to achieve excellence by putting children and young people first in the design, delivery and evaluation of every service it provides, to ensure that they are supported to live safe, happy, healthy and successful lives.
(Jim Evans)
