Fashion store and building society are latest to support Carlisle Youth Zone

Fashion retailer White Stuff are the latest organisation to support Carlisle Youth Zone’s “Team 500” by sponsoring a young person to attend the Youth Zone for a year. Presenting the charity with a cheque for £671.75 Store Manager Mike Tyson said, “We raised this money through customer events and chose Carlisle Youth Zone as our charity partner after visiting the Zone to see what they do for the young people. Once we saw the Zone we had no hesitation in nominating Carlisle Youth Zone as our charity of the year for 2012 and we hope this is the first of a number of donations for the Zone this year.”

“Team 500 is a fantastic way to support the work of Carlisle Youth Zone”, explained Colin Powell, Business Development Manager at the Zone. “We estimate it costs around £500 for a young person to attend the Youth Zone for a year, so this is a very real way that companies and organisations can support us and know how their support will be used.”

In less than 12 months, Carlisle Youth Zone has attracted almost 2,500 members from 8 to 21 years of age. A place of opportunity and challenge it offers a quality experience making the youth zone the place young people want to go to, keeping them safe and out of trouble.

However, it is so much more than an exciting building with lots of activities for young people to choose from. It is a place where they can belong, and have people that will listen and challenge them to realise their potential.

From this foundation, it can help young people to raise their aspirations, give real practical help through mentoring and support.

They can tap into their creative talent, raise self-esteem and confidence and make a real difference to their future. It enables young people to explore their potential. For more information about their work visit, www.carlisleyouthzone.org.

The Cumberland Building Society has added to their continued support of the youth zone with a donation of £5,000 as the second instalment of a three-year partnership of support.

Handing over the cheque, Mark Byrne, Assistant General Manager at the Cumberland Building Society said, “We recognise the important work the Youth Zone is doing helping young people from the area. Carlisle Youth Zone is an outstanding facility and really gives young people a great opportunity.”

“We really appreciate support of this kind,” explained Colin Powell, Business Development Manager at Carlisle Youth Zone. “It is only thanks to the on-going support of local organisations and companies that the Youth Zone can grow and develop.  We have a number of new initiatives we will be introducing this year and none of this would be possible without the support of companies such as the Cumberland Building Society who recognise the important work the Youth Zone undertakes.

Carlisle Youth Zone is an independent charity that offers a range of activities for young people between 8 and 21 years of age. (25 for those with disabilities or learning difficulties) Since opening in May last year almost 2,500 young people have joined as members and attend the Junior Club (8 to 12 years olds), the Senior Club (13 to 21 year old) or the Inclusion Group for young people with special needs. Each club meets three times a week and entry is only 50p per session.

Stephen Mason, Chief Executive at the Youth Zone told us, “The Youth Zone is quite a unique facility offering young people in the area a place of opportunity and challenge that is also safe. Run by skilled professional youth workers it has become a really popular destination for many young people.”

Picture shows shop manager Mike Tyson, Product advisor Vicky Thompson and Product advisor and Youth Zone volunteer Jess McKinley