The Way in Wolverhampton celebrates £420k investment
A £420,000 cash injection is being celebrated by staff and youngsters at Wolverhampton's Youth Zone less than six months after its launch.
The money was raised at a golf day and gala dinner hosted by Wolves owner Steve Morgan. The businessman was praised by impressionist Rory Bremner, performing at the fundraiser, who said: "The UK needs more people like Steve Morgan."
The £6 million venture, The Way, which opened in January, has been backed by a number of high-profile names, including One Direction's Liam Payne, Steve Bull and rock legend Robert Plant.
The mentoring project, aimed at providing inspiring and affordable leisure activities for young people, signed up its 3,000th member in March, smashing a yearly membership target in just six weeks. It boasts a high-spec music room, 3G pitch, enterprise media suite, climbing wall, four- court sports hall, cafe, dance studio, gym, cooking area and general recreation area.
Earlier this year it was nominated as the beneficiary of the fifth charity Golf Day and Gala Dinner which took place at Carden Park in Cheshire on Saturday, and attended by more than 250 people.
Speaking of The Way, Mr Morgan, founder of housebuilding firm Redrow and The Morgan Foundation charity, told guests: "Trained staff help young people, often from disadvantaged and dysfunctional backgrounds, to find a way forward with their lives.
"The Morgan Foundation's aim is to make a difference and I would like to thank all of our golf teams and gala dinner guests for playing their part and helping to make this project a reality."
The venue in School Street provides activities for youngsters of all abilities, with an average 200 people visiting each session. Young people from Walsall and Staffordshire also regularly travel to the site.
Paying tribute Rory Bremner who is patron of the ADHD Foundation, one of the projects supported by The Morgan Foundation, said: "The UK needs more people like Steve Morgan. The outstanding philanthropy that The Morgan Foundation is doing makes a real difference in the heart of some of our most deprived communities.
"The Way Youth Zone provides a much needed safe place for young people in some of the toughest communities and I am proud to have played a very small part in the proceedings."
Voice finalist Sasha Simone, from Willenhall, also performed at the gala dinner.
It was a double celebration for Mr Morgan who was made a Commander of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours list on Saturday for his work through the Morgan Foundation.
