I have very fond memories of the North Kenton YWCA boys club. (Yes, that does stand for Young Women’s Christian Association, but we were affiliated to the National Association of Boy’s Clubs). It was therefore with a certain level of curiosity that I got to visit a 21st Century club. The excuse was a community day, organised by our IT department for a worthy cause in the local area. The club was known as MAPA (which stood for the McMillan Adventure Playground Association) , a small educational charity. It had started out in a concrete hut which had been extended in the 90s and now it had a large extension in the form of a dance hall and smart external facade. (Round the back its humble roots were still visible though). The centre needed decorating badly as it was mostly unfinished MDF, plaster and unstained doors, along with fresh brieze block work where windows had been sealed and openings re-arranged.
The club had the inevitable pool table but also boasted a recording studio and what looked like a Chroma-key video room.
We all turned up in old clothes (Dobber Clobber) and were given branded T shirts to wear. I was on roller duty (one of those long handled ones for painting high areas) but first we had to wash the surfaces down with sugar soap, rubber gloves and all. I put on one of those all-over disposable oversuits with elasticated wrist and calf cuffs and was described as looking like a crime scene investigator. Later on, I was stretching to pick up something and i heard (& felt) a big rip, as my paper suit split in twain.
It was a two day project but I was only there for the first day. Hopefully the day two team were able to build on our preparations & leave it looking much better than when we arrived.
