An innovative new partnership between police in south Birmingham, Solihull College and youth charity The Prince’s Trust has seen a group of unemployed young people renovate a community centre in Brandwood.

Eleven people, aged between 16 and 25, are working together as part of The Prince’s Trust Team programme, which is being run from Kings Norton police station by PCSO Martin Kennedy and Teresa Byrne from Solihull college.

Team members have spent the last two weeks hard at work painting and refurbishing a community centre set up by a charity in the heart of Brandwood.

The Allens Croft Project, based on Allens Croft Road, supports a wide variety of local people, families and pensioners. The entire building was stripped and repainted by team members who raised more than £700 to purchase materials during a series of bag packs in Rubery.

During the two week renovation, a family play area was designed, new carpets were donated and fitted by a local company, a kitchen was renovated and a multi-purpose office area was created. The team also spent time tidying the back garden of the property so that families could access the space in the summer.

The new look community centre was unveiled last Friday, with members of the local community, service users and senior police officers all in attendance.

Chief Superintendent Emma Barnett, responsible for policing across south Birmingham, said: “It was wonderful to see what an impact a project such as this can have on the local community.

“The inside of the building now looks fantastic and thanks to the commitment and hard work undertaken by these young people, the centre will be able to continue making a huge difference in the local community.”

Thanks to the programme, several of the young people have expressed an interest in a career in policing. Three members of the team have since been accepted into work experience placements with the forensic science and dog handling units of the force.

Other team members are taking on voluntary work, apprenticeships and further education. Three in four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training.

PCSO Martin Kennedy, responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the team members, said: “All of the team members should be extremely proud of the work they have done at Allens Croft, and I hope that the skills they have learned will hold them in good stead for years to come.