AN APPEAL has been launched to help a short-staffed youth club.

Radcliffe Girls and Boys Club, which is used by up to 200 children every week, is in desperate need of new volunteers from the local community and donations to help refurbish its run-down base in Withins Avenue.

Owen McGrattan, the club's charity co-ordinator and children's representative, recently resigned after five years at the club as he prepares to start university in September and is aiming to drum up as much support as possible before he leaves.

He has issued an appeal on social media for Radcliffe residents to either give up their time to volunteer on Tuesdays and Thursdays or help replace the club's kitchen worktops, pool table, and football nets.

Mr McGrattan said: "This list might seems like a lot but if the family of Radcliffe show their support, this club will stay strong and be able to help more children and families.

"I have actually already left my position at the club, but I am available to help with things until September when I start at university. Our regular volunteers will still be there, but we need more adults to come forward to give up their time. About four people would be enough to cover us on a Tuesday and Thursday.

"Because the kitchen is used by our children and by the public, it needs to have easy-to-clean stainless steel worktops, and we can't afford to have new surfaces installed at the moment.

"The cloth on the pool table has been ripped and needs replacing, as do the football nets outside because the ones we have at the moment are very frail.

"We also need to fix a hole in our fence, which will cost us about £200. If we can get some help with this other stuff, then it will be much easier for us to cover those costs.

"We see between 100 and 200 children every week, which is a massive part of the community. I don't want things to fall apart after I'm gone."

To help the club, call 0161 723 2061 or 0161 723 2061. You can also email rbagc@outlook.com or owenmcgrattan@hotmail.co.uk