An impressive £500,000 pounds has been raised to support Youth Zone Darwen – a vital lifeline for many youngsters in the town.
The impressive milestone has been topped thanks to the support of new patron, Darwen-based J&A Kay Ltd.
The company is the 15th patron to pledge its support for the charity which has helped hundreds of youngsters by offering them a safe place go and access to new opportunities.
Youth Zone Darwen Trustee and Chair of the Darwen Town Deal, Wayne Wild said:
Youth Zone Darwen is helping change lives – it inspires youngsters and raises aspirations.
At the start of last year we set out to raise £250,000 to ensure the Youth Zone Darwen offer could be made permanent.
“To be a little over 12 months on and having doubled that initial £250,000 is just incredible and it’s all down to the amazing support of our patrons – many Darwen businesses and partners including Blackburn with Darwen Council.
Them, like me, could see the difference that the Youth Zone is making and wanted to do everything they could to help. I can’t thank them enough.
As a dad myself and the Chair of the Town Deal, I’m proud to see the service continue to go from strength-to-strength and, as I keep saying, this is just the start.
Youth Zone Darwen, based at Meeting Places in the town centre, welcomes children aged eight to 19 – offering a safe and exciting space for them to spend their time.
In 2022, more than 6,000 different activities were delivered with more than 3,000 free meals provided too.
The charity also uses facilities across the town to host sessions, including Junction4 Skatepark, Darwen FC, Darwen Leisure Centre and more.
Chief Executive of Blackburn Youth Zone and Youth Zone Darwen, Hannah Allen said:
After seeing the impact that Youth Zone Darwen had during the pandemic and the difference we were able to make we would’ve been devastated to have to close our doors.
However, thanks to a lot of effort on Wayne’s part and the outpouring of support from our patrons and partners, not only have we been able to stay open, but now youngsters can visit seven days a week too.
This is a fantastic example of a community rallying together to support youngsters and it’s been brilliant to see.
At Youth Zone Darwen, our visitors have access to a safe and inspiring place which is designed to raise aspirations, reduce anti-social behaviour and support the most vulnerable in the community.
We’re making a real difference to lives every single day and I’m incredibly proud of everyone involved.
Late last year, Youth Zone Darwen received £100,000 from the John Lewis Foundation Trust through patrons Herbert Parkinson – a John Lewis Textile Factory based in the town.
The money will be used to help create 75 new jobs for young people across the town.
J&A Kay is a manufacturing company specialising in plastic forming and fabrication.
The business, based in Cotton Hall Street, started just after the war in 1946 by Joe and Annie Kay and it remains a family business to this day.
Find out more by clicking here.
The full list of Youth Zone Darwen patrons includes:
Herbert Parkinson Ltd
Multevo Ltd
Watson Ramsbottom Ltd
SUEZ Recycling & Recovery Ltd
WEC Group
J&A Kay Ltd
Crown Paints
Brookhouse Aerospace Ltd
Kay Group
Vampire Vape
Darwen Bars and Leisure Ltd
S Murphy Ltd
Liberty Flights Ltd
The Cardboardbox Company
Symclean Industrial Ltd
To find out more about Youth Zone Darwen and what’s on, please click here.
To find out more about becoming a patron, please email: melanie.thomas@blackburnyz.org
