Wednesday the 14th November 2012 saw the launch of Antz Junction business park, ‘home to a new industrial revolution for the new millennium’. At its heart is a 2nd Chance café, POPS’ second premises, providing a wide range of refreshments for staff and volunteers across the site throughout the day as well as catering facilities for meetings and conferences.
Based in Swinton, Antz Junction was the brainchild of Martin Ainscough, a north-west philanthropist. Implemented by The Network Fellowship, Antz Junction is a business park like no other, home to a thriving Social Enterprise Centre and a long list of charities, businesses and the Bold Work Ready Training Academy. Once a group of derelict building the concept of Antz Junction has brought new life to the area resulting in many benefits for the wider community. The goal is simple…to grow and to give back.
Here at POPS we are excited to be a part of what is an innovative approach to modern industry, building a community resource which will help engage individuals affected by worklessness assisting them back to work through the provision of work placements, training and employment opportunities.
The launch of Antz Junction brought together organisations and businesses celebrate the hard work of many in bringing the business park to life. POPS CEO, Diane Curry OBE, was invited to address those gathered, emphasising the importance of working in partnership and expressing her delight at the progress that had been made in such a short space of time. Delegates were also privileged to hear from both Anthony (after whom the park is named) and Martin Ainscough.
As part of the afternoon the first piece of artwork created by prisoners at HMP Wymott was auctioned by POPS resulting in an amazing £75 being raised to support our work with offenders’ families. POPS partnership with the art department and inmates at HMP Wymott has resulted in a number of pieces of art being produced which will be auctioned in 2013.
