Students chip in to transform Northwood Stadium cabin

Joinery, painting and decorating students from Stoke on Trent College recently completed a project, which aims to breathe new life into a part of Northwood Stadium.

The college was approached by City of Stoke Athletics Club, who took over running the stadium in 2023 from Stoke-on-Trent City Council, to help with improvements to the grounds.

After successfully bidding for funding, the Athletics Club agreed for students to start the project earlier this year, with the work recently being completed.

The cabin, located near the stadium’s racetrack, has had new timber security shutters installed by joinery students while painting and decorating learners have also refreshed the paintwork, to give the facility a new lease of life.

Learners and apprentices from Level 1 and 2 Carpentry and Joinery and Painting and Decorating have all contributed their services to the project and enjoyed using their skills to help support the local sporting community.

Dave Morgan, Skills Coach in Carpentry and Joinery, said: “We were approached by the team running Northwood Stadium about helping out with refurbing the cabin’s outer shell. We worked with Keelings Timber to secure materials and Level 1 learners have manufactured the shutter doors here on campus, with Level 2 apprentices in both Carpentry and Joinery and Painting and Decorating completing the work just a few weeks ago.

The cabin, located near the stadium’s race track, has had new timber security shutters installed by joinery students

“This has been a great community project to get involved with and gives learners the opportunity to work at a sports facility, which has a rich history within the city.”

Bill Dixon, Chair at City of Stoke Athletics and Community Sports, said: “The team of students from Stoke on Trent College did a fantastic job refurbishing the shutters and doing other much-needed work on the pavilion at Northwood Stadium. Thanks to them, we’ll be able to offer a safer and smarter environment for stadium users and the unique facilities provided for the community across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.”

Lisa Capper MBE, Principal and CEO, commented: “This is yet another example of our College embedding itself at the heart of the community. Our learners gain great experience participating in projects like this and they’re proud to support such valuable organisations that provide such wonderful opportunities.”

To find out more, see www.stokecoll.ac.uk/courses.