John Lewis donates £100,000 to Youth Zone Darwen

By Tim Aldred

24 Nov 2022

john-lewis-youth-zone-darwen.jpg

The John Lewis Foundation Trust has donated £100,000 to Youth Zone Darwen to help improve the employment prospects of young people in the town.

The funding will be used to extend the Youth Zone’s dedicated Employment Team who will work with businesses, including Youth Zone Darwen Patrons, to identify opportunities for youngsters  and to ensure they have the right skills.

Youth Zone was encouraged to apply for the funding by Herbert Parkinson, the Darwen-based company which has supplied textile products such as soft furnishings, duvets and made-to-measure curtains to John Lewis since 1953.

Stuart McDonald, partner and head of Herbert Parkinson, said: "We were approached by Youth Zone Darwen to become patrons and, after hearing about the valuable work they are doing there, we encouraged them to apply to the John Lewis Foundation for funding.

"We know that this donation will be put to really good use, supporting young people in the town into jobs."

Wayne Wild, trustee at Youth Zone Darwen and chair of the Darwen Town Deal, said: "We are absolutely blown away by the generosity of John Lewis in awarding Youth Zone Darwen £100,000.

"This is going to make a huge difference to the lives of young people in Darwen through the Blackburn and Darwen Youth Zone Employability Scheme.

"Being able to apply for funding like this has only been made possible through the support of our patrons including Herbert Parkinson, who, in under a year, helped us smash the original fundraising target of £250,000. Their support really has been invaluable and will continue to be so."

The Youth Zone provision launched in Darwen during the pandemic but was only ever supposed to be temporary.

However, due to the demand for services, the fundraising drive was launched to make it permanent with extended opening hours to ensure no youngster was turned away.

Hannah Allen, CEO of Youth Zone Blackburn and Darwen, said: "We couldn’t quite believe it when we received the email to say that we were being awarded £100,000 from John Lewis & Partners – it is the largest, single business donation we have ever received.

"The funding will allow us to extend the fantastic services already being supported by our 11 patrons and Blackburn with Darwen Council. These services are changing lives in the town.

"The focus of this new funding will be on creating new jobs for our youngsters through our Employability Team – helping give them the very best start to their working lives and inspiring them to fulfil their potential."

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

Government set to release £20m in preparation for new combined authority Lynn Williams, Phil Riley and Philippa Williamson

Government set to release £20m in preparation for new combined authority

14 Nov 2024

2

Farleys Solicitors invest in the future with flagship office space Communications House.jpg.jpg

Farleys Solicitors invest in the future with flagship office space

14 Nov 2024

3

Businesses urged to take advantage of expert funded support to help find finance Access to Finance advisers

Businesses urged to take advantage of expert funded support to help find finance

14 Nov 2024

4

Help Cotton Court deliver Christmas this year Cotton Court helping Christmas

Help Cotton Court deliver Christmas this year

14 Nov 2024

5

J.J.Sandham take home three awards at Wyre Business Awards Winners at the Wyre Business Awards 2024

J.J.Sandham take home three awards at Wyre Business Awards

13 Nov 2024

PC PrestonMacan GIF980x120
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
The Lancashire Festival of Business
FOB 315
Exhibitions
30 Jan 2025

The Lancashire Festival of Business

Impact Conferencing, Burnley, BB12 6QP

09:00 - 16:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
11 Jun 2024 - 04 Dec 2024

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 16:30

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 2
Blue-Modern-Land-Travel-Youtube-Thumbnail-2-1024x576.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2024 - 17 Dec 2024

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 2

Community & Business Partners CIC, Blackburn, BB2 3UA

09:30 - 13:00

mBITfor transformative leadership and coaching
mBIT coach Practitioner.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Nov 2024 - 17 Nov 2024

mBITfor transformative leadership and coaching

Unlocking Possibilities training venue, 166 Waterloo Road , Blackpool, FY4 2AF

09:00 - 17:00

North West HR Employers Forum
CBP-logo LBV.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
20 Nov 2024 - 20 Nov 2024

North West HR Employers Forum

Wham Stadium, Accrington Stanley, Livingstone Road, Accrington, BB5 5BX

09:00 - 12:00

LBV119 Magazine Launch Event
DSC9389
Networking
20 Nov 2024

LBV119 Magazine Launch Event

Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe, BB7 9PT

16:00 - 18:00

Live Work Create: Building Community In The Modern World
Live-Work-Create-Building-Community-1024x1024.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
20 Nov 2024

Live Work Create: Building Community In The Modern World

Society1 Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

SPARK The Apprenticeship Marketplace
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
21 Nov 2024 - 21 Nov 2024

SPARK The Apprenticeship Marketplace

University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:30 - 13:00

Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone Quiz Returns for 10th Year!
Quiz Pic.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Fundraisers
21 Nov 2024 - 21 Nov 2024

Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone Quiz Returns for 10th Year!

Accrington Stanley Football Club, Accrington, BB5 5BX

17:00 - 20:30

Emergency First Aid at Work
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Nov 2024

Emergency First Aid at Work

FGH Training, 3rd Floor, Storey House, White Cross Business Park, Lancaster, LA1 4XQ

09:00 - 05:00

NLP Diploma Foundations
nlp nov 24.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Nov 2024 - 24 Nov 2024

NLP Diploma Foundations

Unlocking Possibilities training venue, 166 Waterloo Road , Blackpool, FY4 2AF

09:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Business Day 2024
231124LBVLancashireDayEventweb 5782
Networking
22 Nov 2024

Lancashire Business Day 2024

Blackburn Rovers Football Club, Blackburn, BB2 4JF

12:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV118 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin