High Five to healthy food choices in Chorley

Chorley Building Society has donated £10,000 to Inspire Youth Zone Chorley, to empower young people across the region to take control of their diets through basic nutrition and cookery skills. 

Inspire Youth Zone has been chosen as the main beneficiary for Chorley Building Society’s ‘High Five’ campaign, which commits to donating a minimum of 5 per cent of the building society’s operating profits to local causes every year. 

Karen Hunter, head of fundraising and communications at Inspire, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Chorley Building Society has chosen to support Inspire, and in particular, our hot healthy meals initiative.

“Chorley has one of the highest rates in the UK for teenagers adopting unhealthy relationships with food and 14 % of children aged 10-11 are classed as obese. We want to try and change the narrative and believe it starts with giving young people enough knowledge to begin influencing what they eat at home and during school breaks.

“Inspire’s Learning Kitchen teaches young people basic nutrition and cookery skills in a fun, interactive way. We hope that these sessions will encourage families in Chorley to eat healthily and give children key life skills that will help them thrive at home and school.”

Inspire Youth Zone, Chorley delivers 34,000 hot after-school meals for children aged 10-19 every year, and in the 2021 summer holidays, also provided 12,000 hot meals for children who rely on free school meals.  

Karen added: “£10,000 will make a huge difference to how many Learning Kitchen sessions, and hot after-school meals, we can deliver. Corporate support from companies like Chorley Building Society is so important and helps us to continue delivering key services for young people across Chorley.”

Kim Roby, customer services director at Chorley Building Society, said: “Inspire deliver such fantastic and vital work for young people living within our local community, and we are very proud to be able to support them through our new community initiative.

“Chorley High Five has been set up to support local people during these challenging times and help tackle issues like poverty, homelessness and child hunger. Charities, non-for-profit organisations, grassroots sports clubs and community groups can apply online through Chorley Building Society’s website.

“Our charity committee are keen to support wherever possible and meet quarterly to review applications and charity awards.”

To find out more about Chorley High Five visit https://www.chorleybs.co.uk/high-five/

If you would like to become a corporate sponsor of Inspire Youth Zone, Chorley, contact 

karen.hunter@inspireyouthzone.org