• Introduction

A community project backed by Groundwork Manchester, Salford and Trafford is proving a real asset in the fight against car crime on and around Swinton’s Wardley Industrial Estate.

• Objectives

The Swinton Car Project is a wholly voluntary community organisation and was set up in March 2004 by Dave Wood,  at the suggestion of young people living near the estate. It aims to channel their interest in cars in a positive direction

• Process and Results

The project is a partnership between the local community, police, businesses on the industrial estate and outside bodies such as Groundwork. It is open to young people aged from 12-21, some of whom have been in trouble with the police for car crimes and gives them a chance to learn practical mechanical and engineering skills.

The cars used by the project are donated by a firm based on the industrial estate, Nationwide Crash Repair Centre, which passes on scrap cars, parts and old mechanical equipment. Nationwide’s manager, Robert Ayres, is an enthusiastic backer of the project and one of his mechanics, John Scholes, gives up his time to support the young people four nights a week. Other cars have been supplied by the local police impound yard. All cars donated would end up as scrap if not used by the project.

Under the watchful eye of the volunteers, the young people renovate the vehicles, turning them into “banger-style” cars with specially customised bodywork. They work in teams and once finished, the cars are entered into special races ranging from traditional banger races through to the more prestigious V8 classification. As a further incentive, one of the team members gets to race his team’s car against all-comers. Groundwork MST has proved a key ally of the project, providing health and safety advice to help organisers obtain insurance and gain access to funding as well as helping course participants undertake risk assessments while they work on the cars.

Groundwork EBS staff also taught safe handling of the paints and chemicals used while renovating the cars and helped with other training issues as the young people learn practical skills. The key to the project is its emphasis on teamwork. The young people have to work together to prepare the car to race, but if any team members get into trouble away from the project, the whole team is barred from the next race. It has helped teach respect for each other and develop discipline and team-building techniques that are so important in life. Strict regulations apply on cars entered into races, so project participants learn quickly the importance of conforming to regulations and meeting the standards of work demanded by race organisers.

In a move to broaden the project’s appeal, artloving youngsters are also being encouraged to get involved, with young graffiti artists designing the stock cars’ bodyworks. Groundwork MST’s Matt Dean works with the young people and uses this relationship to signpost them on to further learning and training opportunities. Since the project’s inception, car crime in the area has fallen dramatically — by as much as 80 per cent in the Clifton area — and has led to glowing praise from many sources, including local MPs. But this is not its only success. Many of the young people who have taken part have secured training placements and permanent employment thanks to the lessons learned

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