Wolverhampton's Light House celebrates partnership with Paycare that will 'save' venue
An exclusive event has been held to mark a fresh era for the iconic Light House Media Centre in Wolverhampton.
The launch celebrated a brand new partnership between Wolverhampton-based Health Cash Plan provider Paycare and the Light House, and the start of a new lease of life for the historic local venue.
Paycare join the UK's largest independent drinks wholesaler LWC and tuckshop sponsors Blakemore Foundation as the latest business partners the venue say are "key to their future operations".
Paycare has announced an offer of support in the form of a partnership investment, which will enable the venue to continue to operate and build new audiences, maintain its current programme of contemporary films and streamed theatre shows, whilst developing family film seasons, new ideas and venue hire.
Paycare also sponsor other local causes - from sports teams like Wednesfield Ladies FC and Penn Cricket Club, to community youth initiatives like The Way, and accessible facilities such as the Wolverhampton Community Trust and the Disabled Supporters Lounge.
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Kevin Rogers, CEO of Paycare said: "As an organisation which has been based in Wolverhampton for over 140 years, we are hugely proud of our roots and are absolutely thrilled to be supporting such as iconic venue that has also been an integral part of the city for a number of decades.
"We are passionate about protecting and promoting everything that makes Wolverhampton such a fantastic place to live, work and play.
"With such a vital community asset as Light House tragically hit with crippling funding cuts, we jumped at the chance to partner with the team to help secure its future.
"Our support will not only enable Light House to continue to operate, but our ongoing partnership will ensure that it is able to truly thrive and prosper, and retain its reputation as one of Wolverhampton's most valued and treasured community landmarks."
New signage, symbolising the start of this campaign and funded by loyal customers, was unveiled by Kevin Rogers CEO of Paycare, Kelly Jeffs CEO of Light House and Jas Kapur, Technical Manager at Light House.
Kelly Jeffs said that: "The support Paycare has announced will for the time being 'save' Light House.
"To operate long term we'll continue to be heavily reliant on customer donations, but this corporate help has enabled us to stay open while we put our new business plan in place, and we are hugely grateful.
"Our customers too have shown that they passionately want to save our community venue.
"The way that they have rallied round with donations over the past year have been so uplifting.
"It has demonstrated that the public need for an independent cinema and cultural destination with the personal touch".
