The Education Secretary has described the the new home of Newcastle United Foundation as "incredible".
Nadhim Zahawi visited NUCASTLE, the multi-million pound facility which opened in Newcastle ’s West End, on Thursday afternoon. He was given a tour of the premises by Trustee Shola Ameobi and members of senior management team.
The Conservative MP was shown the charity's brand new facilities, which include fitness and cycle studios, a specialist STEM room and an esports room. He also watched a multi-sports session in the indoor sports hall and a game of walking football on the rooftop 4G pitch.
Read more: The eight new North East railway lines that could transform our region's train services by 2035
When asked what he thought of the community hub, The Secretary of State for Education told Chronicle Live : "It's incredible. I just think that the trust and the brand, that brings the community together, is the secret source here."
The centre, which is powered by Newcastle Building Society, offers education, employability, sport and health and wellbeing opportunities to members of the community. It officially opened at the end of March and employs around 160 members of staff.
During his visit, Mr Zahawi spoke to adults and youngsters who were using the centre and he even took a penalty himself on the outdoor pitch.
He said: "I've heard so much about this incredible facility, not least from Guy Opperman my colleague in Government. This is incredible because I think they raised seven million pounds and they needed that final million pounds and we made that happen, we backed this funding, and actually, when you step back and look around you here, the communities that are engaging with this place.
"Whether it's the little ones who are doing STEM and robotics or the slightly older ones doing a BTEC in gaming or people more my age on the roof playing walking football. They engage here because they trust the brand and because of that trust the Newcastle Foundation can do so much to help this community."
Mr Zahawi, who is MP for Stratford-on-Avon, said that NUCASTLE is the type of facility which should be created by other football clubs across the UK.
He said: "This is one of the most deprived wards in Newcastle, you've got something like 33% of young people on free school meals, this is exactly what we should be doing. That's why I'm here, I want to highlight it, I want to show it, I want to make sure that we continue to learn from this and scale it to other clubs. I know Sunderland are doing something similar, I've been to Manchester City's ground to have a look at their work as well."
Former Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi was at the facility, which is located near St James' Park, to greet the Education Secretary when he arrived at around noon. He told Chronicle Live that Mr Zahawi's visit was "huge" for the charity.
Ameobi, who played for The Magpies for 14 years, said: "I have spoken to him and he's so impressed. He said this is what makes his job worthwhile.
"The reality is, from a sports point of view, we have had a bad reputation over the past few years and it's nice to effectively have a bit of a positive take, and the fact he's come up to focus on that. I think it's important that Government realise that we are doing amazing things up here.
"t's great from my perspective. It's been a long time coming and it's great see this come to light and see it full - from the kids in the sports hall to walking football. It's just amazing to see the impact that this facility has on not just the community but on the wider North East.
"This is my club and this is where I grew up and this is the heart of who I am. I want to help as many people as I can. I was helped as a young kid and I know the impact it had on my life."
Ameobi was joined at the centre by North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll, Premier League Head of Corporate Affairs Tim Vine, and CEO of Newcastle Building Society Andrew Haigh. Hexham MP Guy Opperman was also in attendance.
Back in 2018, the work of Newcastle United's official charity was the focus of one half of the Palace of Westminster for an afternoon.
At the time, Ameobi spoke passionately about the need for the new purpose-built community facility at the House of Lords and highlighted the "immense journey" which the Foundation had been on.
The education secretary was full of praise for a brand new school complex on a visit to Northumberland.
Nadhim Zahawi paid a visit to the new Queen Elizabeth High School and Hexham Middle School on Thursday to officially open the two brand new schools, which welcomed pupils for the first time at the start of the school year.
The minister was full of praise for the impressive new buildings, which were much needed and long-awaited in the town to replace the ageing former buildings.
It was part of an intensive school building programme by Northumberland County Council that has seen new schools built in Hexham, Prudhoe and Ponteland, with improvements and new schools also planned in Berwick, Amble and Seaton Valley.
The minister cut the ribbon in front of the historic hydro building and unveiled a plaque marking the occasion in the entrance hallway. Speaking to the crowd, Mr Zahawi said the school was: "One of the finest I have had the privilege to see during my time as education secretary."
He added: "Your member of parliament (Guy Opperman) is a force of nature. The county council and everybody involved, especially our two brilliant heads, have gone above and beyond throughout Covid and beyond."
Mr Zahawi did not make any additional comment to the local democracy reporting service (LDRS).
Executive headteacher of both schools, Graeme Atkins, also spoke and thanked all those involved - from the county council to contractors and school leaders - for their involvement in getting the project over the line.
But not everyone was so positive - outside the school gates a group of protesters held banners criticising both the government and Brexit. Protester and parent Caroline Gordon explained why they were there.
She said: "The economic hit from Brexit is going to be worse than the pandemic. It's less money for public services such as education.
"As a mum I'm concerned that my children will miss out on the opportunities I had. I was a Erasmus student, but that has gone and the replacement - the Turing scheme - offers much less funding."
The Erasmus programme allows university students to study abroad, but the UK has left the scheme following Brexit. Its replacement, the Turing programme was recently criticised by shadow universities minister Matt Western for not covering tuition fees.
Government ministers said they hoped participating universities would waive fees by partnering with a UK university and exchanging students.
Ms Gordon was also concerned about recent behaviour in Downing Street that led to a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister.
She added: "What kind of example does it set to our children? All the lying and the misinformation."
Read more:
