Grant Thornton volunteers support Sheffield youth charity
Grant Thornton’s Sheffield office has helped a local youth charity with the renovation of its new location in the Steel City. In2Change plans to use the building as a place where local people can get together and where arts projects can come to life.
Rutland Hall was initially built in 1906 as a community hub for young people in the area, funded by Dr Helen Wilson, the first female doctor and magistrate in Sheffield. From 1969 it was used by South Yorkshire Printers – however, when the firm relocated the building fell into disrepair and became a magnet for drug users and squatters.
Sheffield charity In2Change took it over in 2014, in the hope of restoring it to its former glory, and its original purpose. In2Change is a non-profit charitable organisation that aims to prevent young people from becoming involved in criminal activities. It does this via targeted interventions designed and delivered by ex-offenders and serving prisoners. The youth offender alternative education service took up residence in Rutland Hall in Neepsend in 2014 to renovate the disused building.
After doing extensive work clearing and securing the building so it was safe to use, the charity continued their renovations with the support of the local branch of global auditing and advisory firm, Grant Thornton. Volunteers from Grant Thornton Sheffield took a day out to help paint for the young people’s charitable organisation’s new hub. Kitted out with rollers and ample amounts of paint, the team set to work painting the new centre staircase and landing.
Before the Grant Thornton cohort commenced their hard graft, however, the volunteers received a tour of the centre by CEO, Brian Wreakes. This included taking in In2Change’s mock court room and prison cell, used to show young people how courts work and the living conditions of people who are sent to prison.
Commenting on the work, Kim Hanson, Wealth Advisory Assistant Manager at Grant Thornton said, “It was an excellent team building day, and very satisfying to help such a worthwhile organisation.”
The volunteering day facilitated by charity South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation has seen In2Change now well on its way to creating a hub of activity and opportunity for the vulnerable and excluded young people they support. Another plan involving the venue will see two Sheffield University English Literature students, Sam Dickinson and Sam Ward, work to turn one of the large, main rooms at Rutland Hall into an arts venue, which will be called The Railway Playhouse after the old Woodhead Line nearby.
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