Taking a Pitstop with Go Karts and more in Halifax

Well I can truly say I just met my local hero, Mr Adrian Woods, MBE. Sat at his desk in a NZ All Blacks rugby shirt, with one of his fledgling schoolkids, Adrian just gave me some of his valuable time to explain how PitStop 2000 Ltd came to be, how it came to be, and why.

5 minutes into our conversation I realised the true extent of PitStops work. Not just go karting, not just a schoolkids dream day-trip or evening social event .. so so much more.

Started as a short term project to reduce car crime in North Halifax, PitStop is currently renovating the large Bridgefield Mill which sits inbetween the Calder and Hebble rivers, Calderdale, West Yorkshire. Adrian heads a large network of "people from all walks of life" whose common ground is being actively concerned with the well being of struggling local young people. PitStop provide re-education with an element of fun and security. They also provide accreditation for each youngster, which automatically gets the schools interested as credits mean exam results mean funding.

In case you hadn't heard, KO2 are now taking the bread and butter route (chip butties) and are basing their UK core activities in North Yorkshire, hoping to do some of the same but with dirt-bikes, under Adrian's sound advice. We'll be providing activities to kids who simply need a push in the right direction, not a push out the door.

This is Adrian with some of the local youngsters handy work .. a terraced bird house BRILLIANT..! .. only in Yorkshire (and thats coming from a Lancashire lass!)














PitStop also have the kids building the go-karts from scratch, servicing them, there's a fantastic music room with professional mixing equipment and drum sets, a large social kitchen area (soon to be finished) where the kids can cook healthy varieties of home grown dishes, soups etc. There's European exchange trips, camping trips, a carpentary workshop, beehiving, organic farming with even a trackside allotment for growing vegetables that the kids can take home to astounded parents, some of which wouldn't even think to provide their kids vegetables, let alone grow them. Bilberrying locally they even invented the "instant cheesecake; take 1 ginger biscuit, smother in greek yoghurt and then balance as many bilberries on as you can. Eat .. in one go if possible!" All these activities count towards ASDAN and other youth achievement awards including Duke of Edinburgh's.

Partnered with West Yorkshire Police, the European Commission's Youth In Action Programme, Nokia's Life Routes Scheme and many other community initiatives, Adrian is available on 01422 311 299 if you want to get involved.

Right now, in this economic downturned climate, is EXACTLY when to help others.
Every Child Matters .. Worrrrrd !