The University of Wolverhampton is the latest supporter of The Way Youth Zone. With less than seven months to go before opening, the University’s financial support will help contribute to the annual Youth Zone running cost of £1million per year. The dedicated Founder Patrons are a group of individuals and companies united by the same aim; to help Wolverhampton’s young people lead healthier, happier and more aspirational lives by giving them somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.
The University of Wolverhampton strikes an impressive record when it comes to the progression of young people with 95% of graduates finding employment or further education.
Professor Ian Oakes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, commented:
“We are pleased to support the project because we are committed to developing the potential of our young people and we feel that supporting Wolverhampton’s new Youth Zone is a perfect partnership which will help them fulfil that potential. We pride ourselves on giving young people opportunities; none-more-so than at this present time with the clearing process underway.”
“Many of our students will benefit from the Youth Zone and the life choices it will offer them will be priceless. We are delighted to support The Way and look forward to the facility opening in January next year.”
The University of Wolverhampton has a long history of providing students with an opportunity to achieve their goals and aspirations and has developed extensive partnerships with businesses to provide students with employment opportunities. The Way General Manager, Alice Davey is delighted the University have opted to make the Youth Zone another one of their partners, she said:
“We are all delighted that the Youth Zones local University has opted to back The Way. The University of Wolverhampton has a fantastic reputation, not just in the city, but across the country and their support and profile is going to be priceless.
“We feel many of the young people who will attend the Youth Zone will in some way feed into the University, be that as a young person who currently attends or a young person who may attend in the future – so the partnership has great synergy.
“The University of Wolverhampton’s financial backing will massively help towards giving all young people of the city, somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to in their leisure time.”
Wolverhampton Youth Zone named ‘The Way’ is a purpose-built facility for the city’s young people aged 8 – 19 and up to 25 with disabilities. The Youth Zone charity, will be located on School Street in Wolverhampton, and is expected to open in January 2016.
Our £5.5 million Youth Zone is being built in the south west corner of Wolverhampton’s ring road and will boast a multi-use four court sports hall, climbing wall, 3rd generation floodlit pitch, fitness and boxing gyms, dance studio, music room, enterprise room, media suite, café, cooking area and a general recreation area.
We promise an exciting range of activities for young people aged eight to 19 (or 25 for those with a disability), ranging from sport, fitness and dance to music, arts and media, coupled with employability programmes, mentoring and leadership skills.
Underpinning the revenue funding from The Way’s Founder Patrons is £5.5 million of capital investment from The Morgan Foundation, The Queen’s Trust, St James’s Place Foundation, Sport England, Garfield Weston, Football Foundation and Keltruck.
Wolverhampton City Council is also investing more than £3m in The Way – towards both the development and running costs.
