Member Article

Challenge 4 Change on a high after extending lease

Challenge 4 Change has agreed a five-year extension to its lease on the 19,000 sq ft Trafford Park building which houses its activity centre.

Richard Hamilton, a partner and the head of property at law firm Davis Blank Furniss, acted pro bono for the charity on its agreement with the building’s owners.

The former Tate & Lyle sugar refinery on Trafford Park Road has been the charity’s base since it was established in 2008 by former prison officer and Salford RL player Chris Whiteley.

Challenge 4 Change, which employs eight staff, is visited by 8,000 people a year. Its facility includes an arena with aerial and ground-level assault courses, a climbing wall and a mock jail, as well as seminar and conference rooms.

Challenge 4 Change is used by groups from schools and colleges, housing associations, businesses, sports clubs, charities and community organisations. The charity aims to help people build their confidence, improve their problem-solving and communication skills, and encourage team working.

Its lease has been extended until December 2023 and chief executive Dave Djordjevic said Challenge 4 Change, which is supported by The Growth Company, can now press ahead with plans to expand the range of activities it offers.

Dave said: “We’re delighted that we have agreed to extend our lease, as it gives us a solid platform from which we can plan for the future.

“We’re now able to look at adding to the activities we offer, including raising money for a zip wire.

“With a Metrolink station being built very near our building, we will be even more accessible and this adds to our confidence for the future.

“We are grateful to Richard and his team at Davis Blank Furniss for their pro bono work in helping an innovative local charity to secure its future.”

Richard said: “Challenge 4 Change is a fantastic organisation that does some amazing work for the local community, so we were delighted to help them with this new lease – especially as it helps to give them stability and security for the next five years.”

The building is owned by three private individuals who support Challenge 4 Change’s charitable ethos.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Challenge 4 Change .