N:GL Finds New Home At Stretford Mall

• Alternative education provider, N:GL are offering free mentorship, music, sport and life skills as well as paid work for vulnerable young people at Stretford Mall 

• New community meet up space, The SQ, also launched creating job opportunities as part of full circle community project

The social enterprise which supports vulnerable young people, N:GL, has found a home in Stretford Town Centre. The community interest company has set up a free specialist alternative to education and mentoring service at Stretford Mall alongside a new meet up space and coffee shop, The SQ, which will provide a new community hub for the town, as well as job opportunities for the young people using the NGage programme. 

N:GL was founded by David Schofield & Jaden Irving in 2020. Having Initially taught in Pupil Referral Units, they decided to set up his own community interest company after finding that there was so little provision and opportunity for vulnerable young people once they were excluded from school.

The principal of N:GL is to use practical action and support to provide an alternative path for young people with few options and often involved in crime and gangs.

At Stretford Mall, David and his co-founder, Jaden (a top level martial arts professional)  have created a safe space for the young people taking part in the programme and this includes a mixed use martial arts gym, a music studio and furniture restoration workshop, each providing its own opportunity to learn new life and employment skills. N:GL offers a clear path of progression for the young people taking part. 

The new community meet up space, The SQ is also part of N:GL with all proceeds from the coffee shop and hub going to fund the N:GL programme. The SQ has taken over the former Love Coffee space in the centre of the Mall and will serve hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks from 10-3 Monday to Friday.. The venue is a local hub which can be used by the community for events, popups and training, and it will provide paid work experience for those using the N:GL programme.

The venue has been given a makeover and is now transformed with reclaimed wood panels and greenery and aims to be a home from home for Stretford residents. It will even be furnished with items made in N:GL’s upcycling studio with all items available to buy and take home. 

David Schofield said: “At N:GL we are committed to helping young people to transform their own lives. We have seen some amazing results on the N:GL programme because it’s based on very practical support and intervention. We’ve been working with young people for a long time and we offer an experienced support network with clear progression and inspiring opportunities. We’re thrilled with our new home at the Mall and are already building a fantastic setting - it will all complement each other with the new coffee shop and provide a wonderful new space for the community too.”

James Tootle, Head of Retail for town centres at Bruntwood added: “We are delighted to be supporting an organisation like N:GL. What David and his team are doing showcases how we can support young people and invest in communities at the same time”

Cllr Cath Hynes, Trafford Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Children’s Services, said: “This sounds like a fantastic initiative and I am delighted it is to be based in Stretford Mall. Trafford Council is totally committed to supporting young people in all aspects of their lives so this is great news for us.”

N:GL was set up by David Schofield and Jaden Irving in 2020 and is now operating from Stretford Mall five days a week.

Find out more about Stretford Town Centre here.